wow, M715 ENVY!!!! i've wanted one for a while, because i'm a full sized jeep guy at heart.

it turns out the trip didn't happen for me, but there were others to make it for the trail adoption segment. my XJ decided to spring a fuel leak when i was filling up on my way out. i left a puddle at the station and parked it back at home, so we hopped in the CX-9 out to cape kiwanda for the day.

Al

 

bummer you did not get to go, but better to find out about the fuel close tohome than in the middle of firebreak 5

wifey and I are gonna head down to the coast in a couple of weeks too. need some away time from the kiddos..something relaxing about the coast even if you are only down there for a few hours..

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Nothing major to update, changed out all the gear oil since I have got 2 runs and about 500 miles on the dual cases and the lockers. No chunks of metal so I am happy about that. The rear case seems to seem a little 90w but Derek said he would take care of that when I take it back down for the cage work.

My AC compressor was pulled by a previous owner a long time ago so thought I would get rid of the condensor to allow more air flow to the radiator. I think Scoopers 'survivor build' reminded me it was on the list of things to do.
That stupid condensor pretty much fell apart...

 

I cut the stereo wires when I put my Tube doors on and have been too lazy to run some new ones and splice in new connectors.
So I found this little jem at a local store for $12.99
It it is a set of portable speakers runs off 'AA's and hooks to your Ipod or whatever, in my case a Sansa Fuze:


30 second installs are nice

 

Very nice! I need to get an ipod set up for my big road trip coming up. Sick of having to change out cds.

 

Picked of some free stuff today:

a friend has a few 4Runner tops around, this one got munched by a tree. Since the Trekker bed/cap is fiberglass I thought could use the 4Runner top to practice fiberglassing on...

 

Good idea. That's got to be a good skill to have, especially since you own a Trekker.

 

not a bad idea. looks like that top came from 85turborunner...

Al

 

I finally found my replacement shifter bushing kit, it has fallen down behind my roll around tool box along with some other miscellaneous goodies..stuff had only been misplaced for a year and a half...

Tried for 2 days off and on to get the stupid shifter collar out...used a ton of penetrating oil and about beat the thing...it one. just plain old rusted in there.

the problem with having a sloppy shifter other than being a PITA is that when I have the front transfer case in low range and put the transmission in reverse-the transmission lever kicks the TC out of low range and into neutral..another pain:

so as an interim fix until I have some more time to remove the shift lever thingy from underneath I used the extra TC lever I had and a $1 unknown shifter from the U-Pull it and dog legged the front TC lever...no more getting knocked out of low range:


might need to shorten the dog leg a little bit, but this will work for now...thought it might hit my leg while driving but a trip around down it seems fine.

 

I have been kicking around the idea of some kind of rear storage in the bed of the Trekker similar to what a Honda Ridgeline has.
PM'ing with Corey (slacker the toyota fiberglass king) he felt the fiberglass bed should be able to support a small storage item with ease.
Saw another thread about it and it brought the idea back to life. I hit U Pull it Today with my trusty Ryobi Grinder and sawzall, 3 charged batteries and a few cut off wheels and sawzall blades.

About 30 Minutes of wandering around the yard, than 20 minutes with the cutting tools needed me a 1995 Kia Sportage rear storage area. It was $5.49 :hillBill:
It measures 28"x10"x5 " deep. It will give me a place to keep the jack (has a bolt in clamp for that ) wrench, jumper cables. The usual Misc junk. And I can make another cover for it with a lock if I decide later.
I need to trim some excess metal, but it should give me a good spot for the necessities that is out of the way


hope to have it in early next week...

 

Even with as built as your trekker is, you still carry a stock jack?

I guess I did end up using mine last summer when I had to replace my tie rod and stuff at Rubicon last summer. . . Damn Stock steering! lol But I'm in the process of going to High Crossover steering.

Looking forward to seeing how you install ur new box. When you said like a ridgeline, I thought you meant you were going to cut out the floor and install an "under bed" storage area with the lift up floor like the Ridgelines have.

 

I carry both a Hi Lift and a Bottle jack when on the trail, there are times that one will work when the other won't. A bottle jack on the side of the road is a lot safer than a Hi Lift, plus I don't carry a hi lift around town

Your thinking was right on track, maybe didn't explain my whole plan. the storage thing I am planning is just like a Ridgeline (though not as big) I will cut out a section of the floor to mount the Kia storage thing. I have a large rubber matt in the floor of the bed that can just get lifted up for access.

 

Sounds like a pretty sweet idea!! Just don't drag it on a rock! lol

Ya, I have my hi-lift mounted to the side of my bed 100% of the time! But I do still have the stock jack behind the seat. I should get a better bottle jack tho. What size do you carry? (height and weight capacity)

I'm looking forward to seeing how this mod works for you!

 

Hey Grant: I just use a standard 4ton bottle jack. It works just right to get under the axle on a flat surface for a flat tire...


It was really hard to work on the truck today with things like this doing laps around the sky above my house...I love old planes



OK on to today's project:
I had recently cut out a small floor storage unit out of a 1995 Kia SPortage.
cut off some excess metal:

checked under the bed of the Trekker to see what I might run into. I wanted to mount this thing a little closer to the back but was limited by a crossmember>

measured for my cut

than out came the jig saw, no turning back now:

sealed the storage compartment in with some windshield sealant and bolted it down:


it has enough room for the jack, jumper cables, lug wrench, duct tape, oil and other misc junk.
I have some old tool box locks, I may make a lockable lid for it with some aluminum diamond plate I have....supposed to be 80* plus tomorrow so I might just say screw it and try to go wheeling

 

Awesome build. The trekker is looking amazing.

 

That looks Trick!!! I Like It!

Can you get some pics with a slightly larger area of coverage? I'm curious what it looks like from below too.

 

thanks, I like projects like this on my truck that come out costing less than $15 ($5.61 for the Kia part, a few bucks for sawzall blades and cut off wheels and some paint )

Here are some other shots, hope these work for you:
Inside (yeah truck is a mess)--I think that if I had some more metal/fiberglass skills I could have worked it out so that the lid would have sit flush with the bed, I think I will go ahead and cut some aluminum Diamond plate to use as a lid, that should drop it down a little more flush, probably reverse hinges too.


It doesn't go below the crossmember, only 5" deep. It could get whacked on an obstacle but will probably catch the crossmember or bumper first

frame needs some time with the flapper disc and some POR-15--it's on the list
--other I never realized until I took this picture is that my LSPV has been bypassed (it wasn't me ) so I am gonna need to order a proportioning valve ASAP. The truck seems to brake fine though..of course the v-6 calipers etc help but the rears will lock up in a panic stop

And since it has been sunny and warm lately I threw the tube doors on last week, found another excuse for them, Makes the drive through ATM easier

 

Looks Great! I like it. And with the heavy mat, you shouldn't hardly notice it. From underneath it almost looks factory! : ) I like how it doesn't go below your crossmember. I was afraid it would set deeper than that.

 

thanks Grant..

 

nice work. hey, what are you doing at my credit union? so that's where all my money went!!

Al

 

yep, your's and mine no my missus works there so I ended up there too