You've got a pretty sweet truck, and a great build going! I really like the little pieces of craftsmanship that you've put into it, like the wood console and switch panel.

I have an OME lift as well, and even with the medium duty springs it was pretty stiff in the back. I think it took about 3 months for the leafs to fully settle. I still keep about 200lbs of gravel in the back just because it makes it ride that much smoother.

I'm looking forward to more progress, keep up the good work!

 

Thanks man. I love doing my own custom work on my cars. Makes them feel more like mine.
I think this tire carrier will add some needed wait to the back. When I have the bed loaded up with a bunch of stuff for work it smooths out the ride a lot.
Next I plan on doing some much needed brake upgrades, and then after that do an electrical system upgrade with some new lights and one of those fancy SPod systems. Dual batteries and a DC-AC converter for tools and stuff.

 

Got my Aussie locker in today. Definately needs some brake in, and I need to learn how to drive with it. Its not as loud as I thought it would be, but doing tight turns like at the end of a dead end is way different then it used to be.


I also got the open position latch all welded up.

 

 

Not so happy with the Aussie locker so fare. I think it would be decent for a trail rig, but for a a daily driven truck its not so good.
I think I am going to take it out and save up for an ARB air locker. Maybe the tax refund will help out a bit.

 

Yeah after reading several DD's not liking the aussie I have decided to use 1 of 3 for the rear, a Detroit Trutrac, Yukon have to research the Grizzly and the Spartan

 

Not sure what the Grizzly is, I know Yukon makes an air locker much like ARB's but it has weeker internals.
Detroit true track would be sweet. All the Jeep guys seams to LOVE them especially for daily driver rigs.
As fare as I know the Spartan is a "lunchbox" style locker just like the Aussie, and people have the same exact issues with them.

 

Grizzly is the LS of the Yukon if i read it right
Didnt read the problem with the Spartan
More points for the Detroit it seems, long trusted name, looks like I found the one ill be after

 

Starting a fiberglass safari snorkel build.

 

Wow, that's something! How exactly are you planning on making the snorkel? It looks like it will be pretty legit!

 

I think Ill use a combo of foam tubing and some of the yellow expanding foam for shaping. Then glass over that, split it open when its dry, carve out all the foam, and then stick it all together again with another layer or two of glass.

 

Some more progress on the snorkle.
First I made a sort of foam mold over the original fiberglass I made. Used some pipe insulation and expanding foam used for closing cracks and holes in houses.
Looks messy but that changes.

Then a day later when it was all set, I carved it down to the shape I wanted and covered it in some more painters tape to give a more even surface and help with the glass releasing later on.

Then I did two layers of glass. Ones this is cured Ill shape the end at the bottom and the end at the top for the pre-filter to sit on. Then Ill pop it all off, split the two pieces apart, mold in some fasteners, and then join the two pieces with some more glass, bondo and paint.

 

Just got caught up on your thread, I really like your swing out tire carrier, turned out really good. That's a cool idea for the snorkel, can't wait to see it finished.

Just curious on your choices for lockers, why not an e-locker?

 

Honestly I am going to change the locker out for ether an e-locker or an air locker of some kind down the road. I decided to try the lunch box style locker just because it was "cheap" and easy to instal with out doing much measuring or any kind. Not happy with it though.
I still need to mount some tools on the tire carrier and get my gold out table built. Works been real slow so funding has dried up. I built the tire carrier out of aa free F-150 bed rack from work and the fiberglass is relatively cheap so that's been nice.