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SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4

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  #51  
Old 09-30-2011
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Originally Posted by SteelDirigible
well found something real cool today. picked up some 12V fluorescent lights from work. about 3 ft long. Think I'll mount them in the camper shell. should be pretty cool.

My plan is to wire some accessories in the shell, brake lights or spotlights, interior lighting, etc, and use a trailer plug harness for quick disconnect. Mount a 6 way outlet in the bed, and use that to power up to 5 accessories. and one pin for ground.
Thats a neat idea.
you gonna rig up a second battery, or get a bigger one? thats alot of juice.
 
  #52  
Old 09-30-2011
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meh. i've got an optima. i've considered it though. if i can get my hands on an isolator.
 
  #53  
Old 10-24-2011
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Cool topper, eh?- http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/2667064949.html

btw, the Leer topper you got is exactly like the one on the '94 Dakota my dad just bought. And it should probably be painted too...
 
  #54  
Old 10-24-2011
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Originally Posted by SteelDirigible
ha probably cant get 150 for the hitch. maybe 75. andrew do you have any pics I can see how it is in the frame/crossmember?
I used a curved hitch for my front hitch. Works just fine!
 
Attached Thumbnails SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-dscn1539.jpg  
  #55  
Old 10-25-2011
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Yeah I figured it would work fine! Gonna try and get it on this weekend hopefully.
 
  #56  
Old 10-25-2011
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i have the same roof basket but i got the extension to go with it and it looked alot better on the truck. it covered the topper front to back.
 
  #57  
Old 10-25-2011
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Originally Posted by cchsbuzz19
I used a curved hitch for my front hitch. Works just fine!
The only problem with putting it in there like that is it looks like its just welded to the front cross member which isnt very strong. it would be better it was also connected to the frame.
 
  #58  
Old 10-25-2011
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mine will be lower (not body lifted) so it should nestle right in between the frame rails
 
  #59  
Old 11-01-2011
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Originally Posted by littlered
The only problem with putting it in there like that is it looks like its just welded to the front cross member which isnt very strong. it would be better it was also connected to the frame.
I just haven't gotten it reinforced yet. It can be with a simple plate welded between the frame and the hitch. Just haven't done it yet. I have been pulled twice with it not reinforced up a tow truck ramp and from another truck when my truck broke down another time and surprisingly it held well. I still plan on getting it reinforced though. Any updates?
 
  #60  
Old 11-01-2011
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no updates from me, I am planning to get Josh (Josh40601) to help me get it welded in sometime in the next few weeks.

probably won't do anything with the topper until spring.
 
  #61  
Old 11-12-2011
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well I got my front hitch in with a little help from josh (actually a lot of help)
i've never really done any fab kind of work so i got a little hands on experience with that and i've never taken apart my front end so completely before haha.

but I will get some pics up later tonight or tomorrow. my camera is out in my truck which is surrounded by a cold ky november night so we'll see.
 
  #62  
Old 11-12-2011
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Attached Thumbnails SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-dsc_0001.jpg   SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-dsc_0002.jpg   SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-dsc_0003.jpg  
  #63  
Old 11-13-2011
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looks pretty good! Especially that yellow ranger in the back ground
 
  #64  
Old 11-13-2011
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yeahh haha thanks again for the help.

post up the pics of her all torn apart when you get a chance.
 
  #65  
Old 11-13-2011
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Looks good, Crooooow!
 
  #66  
Old 11-14-2011
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we have a fellow MST3K fan in the house?
 
  #67  
Old 11-14-2011
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my phone lens is really dirty.... Here are the pics







 
Attached Thumbnails SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-ef3ec220.jpg   SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-0404da78.jpg   SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-bb66f6f8.jpg   SteelDirigible's Ultimate 06 4x4-70d8d39b.jpg  
  #68  
Old 11-14-2011
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Slick install man. welded in right?
 
  #69  
Old 11-14-2011
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Of course
 
  #70  
Old 11-14-2011
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what he doesn't tell you is what it was before..... He brings over a freaking class III or IV hitch off a Superduty! He pulled that sucker out and i was like, "Damn Mike! What the hell did that come off of???"

So we mocked it up, drew our cut lines, then i passed the glasses and the cut off wheel to Mike. He cut everything out and we kept marking, cuting, grinding, repeat until we made it fit just right. Then i tacked it in, we removed the front end to keep it away from sparks, grinding discs, me, etc. I burned in the sides and back, then finished up the front. Cleaned it all up a bit with the flap wheel, and shot a coat of satin black on. Then we bolted everything back up. I think it turned out real good.
 
  #71  
Old 11-14-2011
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That started out as a super duty hitch?!
You got any pics of how that mounts up from the bottom? that looks like it was fun to weld on.
 
  #72  
Old 11-14-2011
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haha yeah here's the hitch in full, no pics from the bottom though. hard to believe i only paid $30 for it, seems like they pulled it off at the dealership!




it's basically just slid right up under the skinny part of the crossmember. about even with the tow hooks but pushed up all the way where it actually hits the crossmember.

and i ended up giving the cut off pieces with the bracket part on em to buggman. i think his plan is to make a bolt on hitch at some point, so hopefully he'll get some use out of my scrap.
 
  #73  
Old 11-16-2011
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yea that hitch was super clean. I think it will work well for what you are using it for
 
  #74  
Old 11-16-2011
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Any other update for camping?

i've kinda put mine on hold till next spring, getting cold to work outside and trying to pay off some bills right now.
 
  #75  
Old 11-16-2011
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nah not really. toppers off likely until spring to get some paint or something. it looks pretty bad now, but it's for function, not form. I still have the roof rack under my bed, i'd REALLY like to get it line x'ed.

most of that will come in the spring though. getting too cold to do that now (painting) and i dont think i'll be trying to do any winter camping anyway.

Depending on the money situation i think the bedryder seats would be really useful. but we will see about that.
 



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