Gorillamel's X- Interceptor Edition

gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Truffle's said:
Mel i personally dont know you but in considering a winch since i can clearly see your an avid wheeler please dont cheap out. A winch that is reliable 365 days out of the year. A winch can save your life and in most cases others. :) but other than my little ramble nice to finally see the bumper coated and finished!
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Agreed and valid point. In my rush to be cheap, I neglected to consider the aspect of wheeling alone and needing a quality winch. I plan to get a winch....just may be further in to future as I save up for a more quality and expensive product.

Ah well. In the mean time, I should be getting the tabs welded on the bumper for my Rigids.
 
dhyde79

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
Truffle's said:
Mel i personally dont know you but in considering a winch since i can clearly see your an avid wheeler please dont cheap out. A winch that is reliable 365 days out of the year. A winch can save your life and in most cases others. :) but other than my little ramble nice to finally see the bumper coated and finished!
Click to expand...

I agree, but, since the new company that HF carries are rebranded milemarker winches, and there are more people online giving good reviews than bad, the prejudice against them just because they come from HF is a load of crap. I don't see anyone on here complaining about smittybilt winches, and there are TONS of reviews against them all over the net. Base a winch on it's performance, not on where you buy it.
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Dropped the X off at the fabricator to get the tabs welded on for my Rigids this morning. Also ordered a new rear Bilstein 5100 shock since my driver side one is busted. FedEx tells me it is on its way home. Yippee!

I cheated on the X yesterday with a 2010 Mini. REALLY liked it A LOT. And then was told if I needed major repairs I'd have to go to either Salt Lake (~5h away) or Portland (~7h away) and pay for it. So, yeah, no Mini in my future.

BUT the dealership had an X for sale that I recognised as a former TNXer's- has revtek front spacers, FabTech rear diff cover, Yakima rack, some aftermarket roof lights, CB set up, etc. I was quite impressed. Did not look at how much it was either. Avalanche 2011 OR I believe.
 
TN4x4Xterra

TN4x4Xterra

Suspension Lift
Location
Knoxville, TN
gorillamel said:
Dropped the X off at the fabricator to get the tabs welded on for my Rigids this morning. Also ordered a new rear Bilstein 5100 shock since my driver side one is busted. FedEx tells me it is on its way home. Yippee!

I cheated on the X yesterday with a 2010 Mini. REALLY liked it A LOT. And then was told if I needed major repairs I'd have to go to either Salt Lake (~5h away) or Portland (~7h away) and pay for it. So, yeah, no Mini in my future.

BUT the dealership had an X for sale that I recognised as a former TNXer's- has revtek front spacers, FabTech rear diff cover, Yakima rack, some aftermarket roof lights, CB set up, etc. I was quite impressed. Did not look at how much it was either. Avalanche 2011 OR I believe.
Click to expand...

Who did it belong to?
 
TN4x4Xterra

TN4x4Xterra

Suspension Lift
Location
Knoxville, TN
Thanks Mel!

Seems like whoever bought that truck had added few mods to it since Ming doesn't mention anything about Loadwarrior, CB Setup, roof lights, etc.
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Agreed. Or, for all I know, it was someone else who never joined a forum. Who knows. Usually I'm pretty good at noticing X's with aftermarket parts, but I've never seen that one before.
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
^I am seriously considering this, esp after looking at Kelly's build. She has inspired me with what she's done with her X. My main goal is to re-gear lower to get away from the crappy stock 3.13s I have now. I wheel the heck out of my X (so much so that I've already bent the frame) and want to go with the strongest possible but also something that won't break the bank. I'll have to research more about the 8-9"ers (*giggle, inch-ers, giggle*).

I do know that I'd like to swap the front with the M205 to have peace of mind with a stronger front axle. Front lockers for me are not as important (at least right now).
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
jy4atuva.jpg


Finally got tabs welded and painted on. Then put my rigids on. Still work!

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Operation replace driver rear shock completed.

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We thought about cutting the bolt off since it was seized pretty badly (even after I PB blasted it and let it sit). In a moment of frustration my friend kicked the ratchet while attatched to the bolt and lo and behold- it worked!
Only took about 40min to do.

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2
 
AZhiAZiAM

AZhiAZiAM

Suspension Lift
Location
Fresno,CA
mel i got a question for you, how are those red labels holding up for you. on road, mileage you have on them? looking to buy some for my new project.
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
The compound they are made of holds up very well. They've been on almost 2yrs now (about 30k on them). My only complaint is lack of sidewall grip. Thus mud/snow gets packed in there and does not come out too well. Otherwise they grip surfaces very well. They are loud, so turn up your radio. Sidewall is very thick, which is very nice for rock rash and stabbing tree branches into them.

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2
 
MadMike

MadMike

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Funny, I don't think my red labels are too loud, but then again I was running km2s before so comparatively I find they're pretty quite.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
 
dhyde79

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
My km2's are as quiet or quieter than my thornbirds were, and both are MUCH quieter than my Goodyear mtr's or even the old BFG mudterrain.

If the grabbers are even quieter? That's getting into being on par with the BFG all terrains or other such tires....

How are they for tread wear? I've got 35k on my km2's and still have plenty of tread to make it to 50k or better...
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
I'll probably have to replace my tires by the end of the year if I want to continue to do serious wheeling. I have less than 50% tread left now. Before my Red Letters I had Michelin AT2s. So compared to those, yeah the Grabbers are louder.

Went wheeling today with the local NWX club near Portland, OR @Tillamook SF. Some members from WA came over, too. Here are some highlights:

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gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
New and improved pics.

Photo c/o Jesse Baker @TSF
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Washed the X today and gave it some much loving after a bit of neglect since I injured myself and was unable to drive it:
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gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
I have not done much with the X lately. Life has been too busy and I've been dealing with a work injury that prevents me from doing much of anything. Alas, no wheeling for me b/c of the injury.

Today I gave the X some much needed loving in the form of flushing out and changing many of the fluids that needed changing (I'm at ~170,300mi). Due to my injury, I had to take the X to a shop to have it done.

Things done:
  • Change/flush Power Steering Fluid
  • Change/flush Coolant
  • Change oil & filter (Mobil 1 synth extended performance)
  • Change front and rear diffs (synth Redline)
  • Checked brakes to see how much left...needs changing but cannot afford manpower (already have pads/rotors)
  • Replaced rear tail light (I got wrong bulb, oops)

Apparently I sheered off one of my bolts holding the rad skid to the bumper. I said f-it and did not care. There are still plenty of other bolts holding it on, haha!

I am very glad I changed the PSF. There is a very noticeable difference in how tight the steering handles. Wooo!

Last week I stopped by my original fabricator's shop to see about getting a custom roof rack built akin to DepHep but with .50 ammo big boxes built in for storage. *grins* We'll see how that goes since I am caught with wanting to keep the cross bars to use to transport my kayak. Anyone have an aftermarket rack and transports kayaks/canoes on it?
 
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gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
^yeah, I keep breaking my wetbox (just getting old and well, used). So I figured having a more reliable storage container and one that looks awesome, would be best.
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
gorillamel said:
I have not done much with the X lately. Life has been too busy and I've been dealing with a work injury that prevents me from doing much of anything. Alas, no wheeling for me b/c of the injury.

Today I gave the X some much needed loving in the form of flushing out and changing many of the fluids that needed changing (I'm at ~170,300mi). Due to my injury, I had to take the X to a shop to have it done.

Things done:
  • Change/flush Power Steering Fluid
  • Change/flush Coolant
  • Change oil & filter (Mobil 1 synth extended performance)
  • Change front and rear diffs (synth Redline)
  • Checked brakes to see how much left...needs changing but cannot afford manpower (already have pads/rotors)
  • Replaced rear tail light (I got wrong bulb, oops)

Apparently I sheered off one of my bolts holding the rad skid to the bumper. I said f-it and did not care. There are still plenty of other bolts holding it on, haha!

I am very glad I changed the PSF. There is a very noticeable difference in how tight the steering handles. Wooo!

Last week I stopped by my original fabricator's shop to see about getting a custom roof rack built akin to DepHep but with .50 ammo big boxes built in for storage. *grins* We'll see how that goes since I am caught with wanting to keep the cross bars to use to transport my kayak. Anyone have an aftermarket rack and transports kayaks/canoes on it?
Click to expand...

I've just been using surfboard pads on the gobi...see pads...
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Like this...
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gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
^Sorry for the late response! I didnt see your post. I used quickfists. They are about $8 for a set of two. I got mine at Cabela's. I also use them to mount my shovel on my roof rack. Very handy. They come in larger sizes for fire extinguishers, too. Here's a useful link: http://www.endroad.com/index.php/quick-fist-mounts.html

In other news Ive been putting some serious thought into my X and the direction I'd like to go with my modding. I love my X dearly and consider it basically the only child I will ever have (hopefully, vile evil uteruses...wish I could sell mine on ebay). There are so many places I want to explore and see and do and realised building my X for rocks would not help me accomplish this and reading the Expo forum regularly does not help. Therefore, MEL's new plans for the X:

  • Suspension is fine where it is, no need to change it (i.e. probably keep axles I have)
  • If do change axles, will only do it to re-gear
  • Dual Battery mod
  • Get winch
  • Build shelf/drawers in back
  • Probably remove rear seats
  • Get roof rack (probably DepHep)
  • Install back up lights on B&M bar
  • Get 2nd full size spare and store it on roof, unless I have the RTT up there, ha!
  • Air compressor and store in spare tire spot under rear
  • Get Maxtrax type of recovery
  • Get RTT
  • Get GPS system

So far I am working on the GPS system. I contacted ToyMan (OR peep) who has an AWESOME GPS tracking system on his X. I emailed him and got the low down:

A large screen Garmin Nuvi which I seldom use.

A SPOT II satellite tracker.

A Scan Gauge which I use for checking engine temp. VERY handy.

And I just installed a rear view mirror with outside temps.

A backup camera. And a just installed dash cam.

And a ham radio, CB radio and ????

BUT for mapping in the back country I use National Geographic’s TOPO! Program which has been discontinued.
I think De Lorme has a somewhat similar mapping program.

I used to run it on a Samsung 7” tablet mounted on the dash but I recently converted to a Microsoft Surface Pro computer/tablet. (Love it….)
It is my main computer and my mapping computer. About the size of an iPad.

I use a Garmin GPS60 to feed a GPS signal to the computer.

Before I go on a run I generally plot my route in the TOPO program and then as I drive the route I have the ‘follow me’ function turned on which traces my track.
If the trace does not follow the plot, I am in trouble.

If I go with a group or just wander then I activate the ‘follow me’ so I will have a map of where I went.

I have a lot of work ahead of me, but hopefully the X will be ready for my intended Alaskan expedition in a few years time. :) Oh, nearly forgot, need a firearm too for up there, haha!
 
Slasa

Slasa

Lockers Installed
Location
Denver
RTT! RTT! For the win! Good luck with the build. I would love to go expeditioning in Alaska. One day when kids are out of the house . . .
 
jmnielsen

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
If you are ever interested in a temp gauge for outdoor temp look on eBay. Bought one for my X when I had it and it was $6 shipped to my door (from china unfortunately) but worked great!
 
gamecock257

gamecock257

Skid Plates
Location
Clinton, SC
I think X's make fine expo rigs. Sounds like you have a solid plan and you already have a kick ass rig anyways.

If we had more open and public land out here with opportunities for multiple day off road trips I'd probably go expo style myself.
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Thanks, All!
There are plenty of places in Idaho to do expedition type exploring. Next week I'm hitting up the Magruder Corridor (from Dixie, ID to Darby, MT just north of Frank Church wilderness) w/ a decked out FJ. Let's just say we definitely need chainsaws on this trip.

Got my 12,000lb winch today, too. Woo! And got the SPOT II off expo portal for a great deal.

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
Winch installed. SPOT wont arrive by the time I leave for my trip tomorrow. This is the route I'm taking: http://goo.gl/maps/6xPQp Going to take Lolo Pass to Missoula, MT ish area and the head SW on Magruder Corridor. Woo! Sounds like we'll be the first 4x4s of the season on there according to the Ranger Stations at either end. We're prepped and ready for all the fallen trees ahead.

Expo partner has an amazingly badass FJ. Blew my breath away with the well thought out mods. He even gave me a cooking camp stove and a shelf he made to put in the back of my X (bye bye Plano sportsmans trunk!).
 
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