MotuMute
FRF Addict
Raptor Run / Expedition Effect:
I'm beginning to think the guys at ADD, ICON, Outlaw, RPG, SDHQ, TMX, WSI, etc have figured out the best way to get us to realize we need their awesome stuff is to encourage us to get out and push our trucks to the limit on an expedition/run. Ve haf vays of making you mod!
What has happened to you on your adventures that convinced you to upgrade? Why did you go with the choice you made? How has it changed your ride? Definitely a steep learning curve here, and there are getting to be alot of choices out there - lucky for us!
As for me, I was fortunate enough to get a last-minute work reprieve so I could make it to the 1st annual Texas Raptor Run. In "A" class I ran my stock "new to me" lightly-driven 2010 6.2L SCab plus a last-minute DIY $100 SDHQ frame reinforcement kit (although not a definitive solution, it actually did it's job pretty well & very glad I had it - never would have guessed just how brutal it would be jumping around that rocky hill country baja track at Texana ranch).
Result:
1) I shredded new BFG's
2) Knocked my right front wheel out at a severe angle after landing hard on it - had to drive home that way, but amazingly it still drove straight like nothing had happened! (with the stock leafs at speed, I wheel-hopped badly all the way around that course)
Turns out it was the camber adjustment bolt on the lower control arm that got knocked loose.
3) Drug my exhaust back home after hanging it up somewhat with a coat hanger. (Note the dangling trailer electrical connections with the missing flip-lid face plate)
4) Blown left rear shock and bent leaf spring - making truck lean that direction & fooling me into thinking I had bent the frame there.
5) Bashed in the skid plate (as did everyone running low perch - a lot of my woes could have been prevented by being on mid perch setting)
6) Had to keep stopping to check if Airaid filter had fallen off after particularly nasty butt-pucker impacts
7) Stock seat belts kept over-tightening with each jarring impact - cinching up until could hardly breathe - had to keep unbuckling at inopportune times to readjust (surely there is a mod/solution to this - 5 pt harness?)
During this torture-test I beat the living shit out of this truck (didn't set out to do this intentionally, but had the time of my life doing it!). It took all I gave it and asked for more... it even drove like a dream all the way home after all I had put it through. This is one tough truck! But I pretty quickly realized during this run that some mods were in order if I plan on doing much of this (and now that I'm addicted, well...)
The good news is that thanks to all the early trailblazers there are a ton of great mods that address these issues - and I (like most of you) have been very busy checking out our awesome vendors. This forum has been great for getting ideas and my truck is still a work in progress so any input is greatly appreciated. Pics to follow...
I'm beginning to think the guys at ADD, ICON, Outlaw, RPG, SDHQ, TMX, WSI, etc have figured out the best way to get us to realize we need their awesome stuff is to encourage us to get out and push our trucks to the limit on an expedition/run. Ve haf vays of making you mod!
What has happened to you on your adventures that convinced you to upgrade? Why did you go with the choice you made? How has it changed your ride? Definitely a steep learning curve here, and there are getting to be alot of choices out there - lucky for us!
As for me, I was fortunate enough to get a last-minute work reprieve so I could make it to the 1st annual Texas Raptor Run. In "A" class I ran my stock "new to me" lightly-driven 2010 6.2L SCab plus a last-minute DIY $100 SDHQ frame reinforcement kit (although not a definitive solution, it actually did it's job pretty well & very glad I had it - never would have guessed just how brutal it would be jumping around that rocky hill country baja track at Texana ranch).
Result:
1) I shredded new BFG's
2) Knocked my right front wheel out at a severe angle after landing hard on it - had to drive home that way, but amazingly it still drove straight like nothing had happened! (with the stock leafs at speed, I wheel-hopped badly all the way around that course)
Turns out it was the camber adjustment bolt on the lower control arm that got knocked loose.
3) Drug my exhaust back home after hanging it up somewhat with a coat hanger. (Note the dangling trailer electrical connections with the missing flip-lid face plate)
4) Blown left rear shock and bent leaf spring - making truck lean that direction & fooling me into thinking I had bent the frame there.
5) Bashed in the skid plate (as did everyone running low perch - a lot of my woes could have been prevented by being on mid perch setting)
6) Had to keep stopping to check if Airaid filter had fallen off after particularly nasty butt-pucker impacts
7) Stock seat belts kept over-tightening with each jarring impact - cinching up until could hardly breathe - had to keep unbuckling at inopportune times to readjust (surely there is a mod/solution to this - 5 pt harness?)
During this torture-test I beat the living shit out of this truck (didn't set out to do this intentionally, but had the time of my life doing it!). It took all I gave it and asked for more... it even drove like a dream all the way home after all I had put it through. This is one tough truck! But I pretty quickly realized during this run that some mods were in order if I plan on doing much of this (and now that I'm addicted, well...)
The good news is that thanks to all the early trailblazers there are a ton of great mods that address these issues - and I (like most of you) have been very busy checking out our awesome vendors. This forum has been great for getting ideas and my truck is still a work in progress so any input is greatly appreciated. Pics to follow...
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