🛠️ Member Build Overtrail Upgrades

[Bluegill]

🛠️ Member Build - Overtrail Upgrades

That bumper is hardcore for sure. I'd do that bumper on a 2024 GX550 that I picked up as a lease return in 2027 with 35,000 miles for $44,000. I'm just not at the point where I want to get out the sawzall and dremel to get that much approach. Remember, you still have to drag the ass over...

www.lexusgxforum.com

 

[jclaffee]

Bill, what are your thoughts on the Hele sleeping platform now that you've had it a while?

 

[Bluegill]

Bill, what are your thoughts on the Hele sleeping platform now that you've had it a while?

It's great, perfect size and comfortable. The only downside is that it's a bit tedious to set up and take down. Popping apart the actual platform with the little push-button tabs is no big deal but tightening and loosening the little clamps on each of the 6 legs with an Allen key is kind of ridiculous. I guess you could throw it in the cargo area or up on the roof partially assembled but I like to pack my cargo area like a Tetris game so it has to go neatly back into it's carry bag each time.

 

[Bluegill]

Now I feel a need to go camping.....

 

[jclaffee]

Now I feel a need to go camping.....
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Damn, I was thinking about the single size put that pic may have changed my mind.

 

[Bluegill]

It's really nice to be able to stretch out. I just can't sleep inside mummy bags anymore, I like to roll around and I don't always keep my feet next to each other.

The Hele Duo platform is 72" long X 40" wide.

I put an Exped LuxeMat Duo in medium double size on the platform. It's perfectly sized at 72" x 40.9" x 4" thick.

 

[jclaffee]

I gave up on sleeping bags too. Current backpacking quilts are perfect imho. Something like this would be great on that platform. The minimal "footbox" keeps everything nicely in place but it's easy to stick a foot or leg out if you want.

Accomplice 2-Person Sleeping Quilt

 

[Bluegill]

I bought my cool mountains and pine tree sunset blanket from Gorilla Dirt. Cool website from similar-minded off roading guys & gals. They have puffy blankets and fuzzy (sherpa) blankets. Mine is fuzzy and it lives on the couch in my office when it's not camping. I just layer a few blankets while camping (add some Costco fleece blankets) and call it a day. I've been camping down to about 15 degrees F and been fine. Ideal camping is in the 40s at night in my opinion.

Blanket - Gorilla Dirt

 

[jclaffee]

I bought my cool mountains and pine tree sunset blanket from Gorilla Dirt. Cool website from similar-minded off roading guys & gals. They have puffy blankets and fuzzy (sherpa) blankets. Mine is fuzzy and it lives on the couch in my office when it's not camping. I just layer a few blankets while camping (add some Costco fleece blankets) and call it a day. I've been camping down to about 15 degrees F and been fine. Ideal camping is in the 40s at night in my opinion.

Blanket - Gorilla Dirt

Bookmarked. I'd never heard of them, so thanks!

Great, more cool sh*t to buy...

 

[Bluegill]

I was impressed with the blanket, it's a very high-quality item. My wife and boys all fight over it now.

 

[SandMonster]

Jacked the whole bumper assembly up into place, fit very well, everything lined up perfectly. There is a bit of play side to side so you can get it centered just right.
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One major problem - this lower mounting bracket on the central section of my bumper was bent. Remember all the damage from shipping? I didn't realize until this point that this bracket was bent up (on the left). Those 2 surfaces in the red circle should mate up perfectly flat.
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I used my brain to figure out a solution - bolted both of the JW Offfroad-supplied lower mounting brackets to this bent bracket to act as a lever and used the truck's bottle jack to straighten out the bent portion.
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Worked like a champ!
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I'm impressed with the number of bolts holding this bumper to the truck - my old Land Rover bumpers had 4 bolts per side. This bumper has 2 on top, 4 on the vertical face, and 2 more underneath for a total of 8 if I did the math right. Here are the 2 on top:
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Inside the "box"
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Sidebar - I ordered replacement white LED fog lights and turn-assist lights and this was the perfect time to install the bulbs.
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There's the stock bulbs under the blue connectors
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The Hyuga replacement is on the left. Very nicely made, the base is metal.
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After about an hour of figuring out how all the finicky tabs and plastic liners go back together, we're back in business. I still need to trim the lower wheel well liner where it hangs down a few inches below the new bumper.
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that's a great build! Any particular reason you went with that front bumper/winch brand/setup?

 

[Bluegill]

I chose the JW Offroad bumper for the following reasons:

• The winch fairlead is a bit higher on JW's vs. other bumpers - some more options are available now but the main competitor at the time was the Victory 4x4 bumper. If you compare JW to Victory, the fairlead on JW is where the light bar is on the Victory. I wanted the fairlead up as high as possible to help keep it from getting stuffed in dirt/mud, on rocks, etc. and it's just easier to access.
• Cutting for installation - minimal on the JW, about the same for the Victory, considerable cutting needed for the Dissent. Of course you get more ground clearance with the Dissent but I'm not building a rock crawler here.
• General appearance - the JW is plain Jane without all the frills and fancy logos on some of the others.
• Price is also an important consideration - JW is only $1550 powder coated.
• Regarding the winch, I wanted a 12k and since they are all basically the same internals now, I tried something new with the Overland Vehicle Systems SCAR 12k winch. I am very happy with the OVS 180-degree awning so I gave them some repeat business. Price was right too. Can't really comment on the winch as I have yet to use it. I'm doing a 4-day trip at the end of May and I'll give the winch a trial run.

 

[Bluegill]

Finally got to use the rear cargo door lights out in the pitch black while camping. Well worth the money and wiring hassle. They make a huge difference. The red light is really nice too.

 

[Garauld]

That'l sure scare Bigfoot away!

 

[Bluegill]

I put the white/yellow strobes on for a few seconds and my head nearly exploded

 

[texastate]

I finally put my shade canopy on the side. I bought this canopy 2 years ago for my LR4 but I could never figure out a good way to mount the canopy to the tubular Terrafirma roof rack I had on the LR4. Mounting was easy on this Westcott rack. I'll take some picks tomorrow of what I think is a rather clever mounting setup.

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Bill,

Sorry to divert but that wonderful hood wrap black on your hood... do you have the dimensions so I can find a local shop to source it? Any idea if there is template already selling from anywhere? Regards!

 

[Bluegill]

I just brought my truck to a local wrap shop shortly after i bought it and the guy did a custom wrap/cut for the hood. I would think there are stock pieces you can buy by now but I really have no idea. Mine is holding up fine after nearly 1 year.

 

[texastate]

I just brought my truck to a local wrap shop shortly after i bought it and the guy did a custom wrap/cut for the hood. I would think there are stock pieces you can buy by now but I really have no idea. Mine is holding up fine after nearly 1 year.

Awesome.. its a square so I am sure any shop will be able to figure it out haha.. But i figured I'd ask.. i like the look of what you did! Also, do you have the right link for the steering wheel wrap? I went to their site but couldnt find it!

 

[Bluegill]

The wrap guy showed me what he used....it's a very thin border tape that actually cuts the wrap when you pull it up. So he carefully laid out the border tape to the desired shape, then applied the wrap a bit bigger than what was needed, then pulled up the border tape and it cut the wrap to the exact desired size.

It's not quite square and there is a bit of ambiguity about where you start and stop the lines (how far into or up the curved sheet metal you want to cover with black).

I just checked the link for my steering wheel cover in my email from when I ordered the cover - the link is dead. Reach out to Stickerfab and I'm sure they'll help you find it.

 

[texastate]

The wrap guy showed me what he used....it's a very thin border tape that actually cuts the wrap when you pull it up. So he carefully laid out the border tape to the desired shape, then applied the wrap a bit bigger than what was needed, then pulled up the border tape and it cut the wrap to the exact desired size.

It's not quite square and there is a bit of ambiguity about where you start and stop the lines (how far into or up the curved sheet metal you want to cover with black).

I just checked the link for my steering wheel cover in my email from when I ordered the cover - the link is dead. Reach out to Stickerfab and I'm sure they'll help you find it.

Totally appreciate you going the extra mile on all that... I'll reach out to them...

Yeah, on the wrap I'm sure its not an exact template considering the hood is an irregular shape and the valley looks to be beveled and complicated to trace.. we'll see what we can come up with!