Kaiser's Blue Flame Build / Journal

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KaiserM715

Kaiser Söze
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My family got bigger, so I decided it was time to get something with a real back seat. I decided on the Raptor as it was a do anything truck in the off-road sense (as long as it fits on the trail...) and I have always been a truck guy and was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to haul enough stuff in a Jeep.

I ordered a 2010 Blue Flame Super Cab 6.2 (no graphics) on 3/9 with the luxury package, trailer brake controller and rear view camera. My delivery date was June 1st. I picked it up on June 3rd.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/someone-picking-up-his-raptor-friday-6295/

truck.jpg


Here is my "big" truck, my Jeep Kaiser M715:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f42/m715-5437/

Getting the Raptor meant I would have to sell my beloved Ranger, which had served me faithfully for over 10 years, and lots of adventures. I was sad to see it go :(
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f29/2000-ford-ranger-4x4-sold-6259/

caddy001_edited.jpg

IMG_1545.jpg



The first thing I did was add an AgriCover Lorado bed cover. This truck will see a lot of road-trips and I wanted a bed cover to keep everything in the bed dry and out of sight. I chose this one due to cost and that it would roll up (getting it out of the way for big loads) and was easy to remove by myself.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/agricover-lorado-5391/
It has been a pretty good cover, but some of the fasteners that hold the velcro strips to the cover rails have been corroding.

Then I added a Line-X spray-in bedliner. I opted for the Line-X as it had a lifetime warranty that is covered by dealers nationwide. Plus, the cost was almost the same as the other options available to me locally.


In July, I did my first big road trip, which also included some off-roading, to Red River, NM and the Canadian River, north of Amarillo.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/canadian-river-red-river-nm-6760/

IMG_2765.jpg

IMG_2810.jpg
(This pic was featured as a Reader's Ride in Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-road)


I decided a fire extinguisher would be a good idea and settled on an Amerex 2.5lb Halotron unit.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f67/fire-extinguishers-5779/index2.html#post106726


October brought another off-road trip with some work buddies to Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area. I learned some good lessons about the size of my truck on this trip...
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/barnwell-mountain-gilmer-tx-988/

06c.jpg



My next off-road adventure was to the Outback Adventure Track in Stanton, with frogslinger.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/outback-adventure-track-stanton-tx-989/

IMAG0027_crop.jpg


I had put off getting recovery gear for WAY too long, so I picked up some essentials to get me and / or someone else unstuck.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f67/recovery-gear-8143/
(lots of good info from others in that thread as well)


Fixed a door panel rattle:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/door-panel-rattle-fixed-8449/


Bought some NATO gas cans for extended range (which worked great at the Texas Raptor Run):
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f29/scepter-gas-cans-expedition-portal-8193/


Relocated the wiring harness on the driver's side of the frame to get it out of harms path:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/wiring-harness-re-route-9648/


I had wanted some cargo rails in the bed similar to the Nissan Utilitrack system to strap down cargo, luggage and / or trail gear. This system worked great on the Texas Run.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/cargo-rail-install-12218/
I have a few tweaks in mind, however...
IMG_3465.jpg


And, I went to the Texas Raptor Run!!
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/texas-raptor-run-picture-thread-12733/
 
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KaiserM715

KaiserM715

Kaiser Söze
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Posts
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Location
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I did the door seal mod on 4/21. I did this in hopes of curing some of the door rattling I experienced during the TRR.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/door-seal-fix-surgical-tubing-11515/
I was not sure that I liked this mod, initially. You definitely have to have a firm follow through when you shut the door, which is very unusual for any newer car these days. I have gotten used to shutting the door firmly now. I still need to get it off-road to see if it helps with the squeaks / rattles.


I also had the purge canister TSB completed on my truck by a local dealer.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f39/tsb-11-1-5-canister-purge-valve-1347/


Got my Ham tech license on 6/2.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/become-ham-radio-operator-11756/


Moved to the mid perch on 6/2. The primary reason I wanted to do this was to increase ground clearance for the front end. I, and many others, have drug the front skid plate in a variety of situations and would like to avoid it in the future.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/perch-mod-shocks-truck-14082/
I have noticed that the additional preload in the springs has firmed up the front end. This has also changed the coupling with the rear suspension, as I have noticed on some speed bumps.


Alignment and camber / caster kits installed 6/4:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/your-raptor-its-alignment-539/index7.html#post212270


Rigid 20" E-Series LED lightbar installed 6/22:
Here is the post on my install:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/...tion-instructions-6499/index7.html#post220547
Here are the reference threads I used:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f45/aux-switches-wiring-diagram-2794/
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/rigid-20-lightbar-duallys-installation-instructions-6499/
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/pass-thru-wires-155/


Adjusted my headlights post perchmod 6/22:
www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/headlight-elevation-adjustment-12820/


Had an LED front marker light replaced under warranty 6/29:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f39/condensation-front-marker-light-14558/


Went on the Old Red River Pass Trail in NM 8/22:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/old-red-river-pass-nm-16284/
IMG_3729.jpg

Some notes:

  • I am still really liking the bed rails I installed. They have worked great at keeping things tied down.
  • Returning from the Panhandle, I saw 18.4 mpg, @ 70 mph w/ no headwind - this is the best I have seen.
  • On this trip I have seen the best overall fuel economy to date. My on highway average was about 16.5 mpg.


I finally got my ham radio installed. 9/16
www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/kenwood-ham-radio-install-pic-heavy-16777/

Bought a CO2 tank and built a bracket. 9/29
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f67/co2-tank-17465/
IMG00282.jpg

RallyArmor Mudflaps installed 3/9:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/rally-armor-mud-flaps-10764/#post385556

Phone037.jpg

Texas Raptor Run 2013 4/18:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/2013-texas-raptor-run-picture-video-thread-12842/

I added a set of KC LZR LED Dual Cube lights 5/18:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/kc-lzr-led-dual-cube-install-24260/#post445183

Phone291.jpg

I finally had time to do a few little things this past month:

I also relocated my trailer plug receptacle, ala PropDr.
Relocated my trailer plug receptacle
My post:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/relocated-my-trailer-plug-receptacle-21439/index2.html#post518145
Phone443.jpg

10/2013
I upgraded my power steering with the PSS reservoir and cooler:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/power-steering-solutions-reservoir-cooler-installation-28106/
001.jpg

1/4/14 Installed Baja Designs Squadron XLs on Alternative Offroad hod mounts:
www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/install-baja-designs-squadron-xls-alternative-hood-mounts-30542/
16Overall.jpg

I replaced my battery with a DieHard Platinum AGM battery:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/930-cca-die-hard-platinum-more-power-6803/
 
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KaiserM715

KaiserM715

Kaiser Söze
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KaiserM715

KaiserM715

Kaiser Söze
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Posts
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Reaction score
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Location
Houston, TX
So, what's next?

Out in the future:

As you can see, I am taking a lot of notes from J...
 
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BigJ

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Great writeup Kaiser! Its been a lot of fun watching your rig evolve, and I'm looking forward to see what comes next. :peace:
 
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