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  1. RipReturns

    what is "normal" coolant temp on a gen 2

    I was curious about this because - for the first time in nearly 3 years of living in Texas - my Gen II dash display posted a number (230F → 226F) while driving (mild) uphill @ 80MPH in 97F (heat index 103F) with AC on (75F). FYI: Dash display normally is 1-2 "clicks" to left (cooler) of...
  2. RipReturns

    GEN 2 Customer Satisfaction Program 20N03 / F150 tailgate unintended opening

    Sadly, I know exactly what this about: My wife opened the garage door to a sickening noise. Turns out the tailgate self deployed and was leaning into the metal garage door when she opened it. This resulted in serious little nicks in the paint (about 4 of them) caused by the garage door going...
  3. RipReturns

    Looking for Tonneau Cover Recommendations

    Anyone else used the Peragon retractable? I'm on the cusp of getting something and suffering paralysis by analysis. Also considering BAK Revolver x4 (matte black version of x2) and trying to sort out durability/happiness over time comments for both BAK models and Peragon Retractable. Thanks...
  4. RipReturns

    Auxiliary/Light switch uses?

    Getting the sense that lots of use them primarily for lights? Me, too, but I'm saving Aux #2 for the air compressor to power the train horn, or pneumatically-actuated gatling gun under the front left bumper. Aux #1 - BD Squadron Pro Spots mounted in lower (center) grill Aux #2 - just in case...
  5. RipReturns

    Modifications

    I'll add my $.25 (probably one of many): Have 4 pairs of Baja Designs (3 BD Squadrons up front, 1 pair of S2 Sports in back) and 1 pair of Diode Dynamics SS3 Pros up front. Love my BD, but they clearly aren't road legal. That's why I got the DD SS3s. Been very happy with all of the lighting...
  6. RipReturns

    Gen 2 mileage, 15/18, 16/22 what gives?

    If you want 22 out of a pickup, get a diesel. If you want a kick *Bleep* ride that will make you smile every time you drive it, get a Raptor. Having said that, my 2018 is getting 16.1 mpg (indicated) over the past 26,500 miles. That said, your mileage will go down if driven the least bit...
  7. RipReturns

    Offroad Alliance Fog Light Kits

    I was going to say, why stop at 3x BD light kit? I took off lower grill valance and - *surprise!* - there's plenty of room there, too, for more lights! Great customer service by the way!
  8. RipReturns

    Mounting LED Cubes in Lower Grill Valence???

    ISO suggestions on how to securely mount LED cubes in the lower grill valence. I've seen kits to mount the BD Onx6, but (i) I already have a pair of DD SS3 lights in hand (to compliment the 3 pair of BD Squadrons in the fog light portals and (ii) I want to DISCREETLY mount them behind the...
  9. RipReturns

    Fits in the Garage ... Barely!

    Like everyone else, you adapt. I used a 4"x4" wood block (with a pair of 2"x4" behind it, and a single 2"x4" behind that - to prevent them from being pushed) combined with a tennis ball or something similar draped from ceiling to strike the wind screen at just the right space. My entry is so...
  10. RipReturns

    GEN 2 Just gave up trying to run wire to S1 backup lights from engine compartment

    I'm sure you have been inundated with different approaches - I'm impressed by those fishing the wire inside of the frame rail - but here are my $.02. You can get insulating sheaths (from place like harbor freight, etc.) and wrap those around the wires, and then run the insulated wire assembly...
  11. RipReturns

    Mounting XL80s in lower grill valence?

    Having filled the fog-light portals with three pairs of Baja Design Squadrons (driving combo; amber WC; and white WC), I was wondering if anyone had (successful) ideas on installing BD XL80s in the lower grill valence? I prefer the discreet look, which seems to leave me with 30" S8 behind the...
  12. RipReturns

    Who lives in Texas

    I live in DFW and drive north to Bridgeport, where there is dedicated off-road park covering all skills and terrain (mild puddles to serious 36" rock steps) for everything from motorcycles to Raptors to custom-built jeeps. Outside of Austin, there is another dedicated off-road park (more rocky...
  13. RipReturns

    GEN 2 Baja Designs amber driving combo squads vs amber wide cornering squads?

    Yes, the spots need to be mounted higher up (on pillars or roof), but I tried them for portals and found they didn't (couldn't) go far enough down the road. But the driving combo was a nice substitute that basically augments both low and high beam (OEM) lights. Happy, well-lit camper.
  14. RipReturns

    GEN 2 Baja Designs amber driving combo squads vs amber wide cornering squads?

    Here's my $.02 (from a guy who has 3 pair of Squadrons up front mounted in '18 Raptor Fog light portals): 1. While I started with spots in the inner-most position, I found they were too close to the ground to really get out there (on the road, as opposed to in oncoming traffic's eyes), so I...
  15. RipReturns

    New Baja Designs LP4 Lights

    Looks nice, but not sure I see the benefit of LP4 over, say, Squadron with side-facing s1 (probably for less money, too). Prove me wrong.
  16. RipReturns

    cam phaser

    Just got mine back after repairing VCT. Upside: no more weird clacking noises on start up. Downside? Nothing yet, truck seems to run good. I'm forever going to be mindful, but keep in mind that you routinely have to R&R timing belts on most cars anyway (so, it's not rocket science...though...
  17. RipReturns

    VCT Cam phaser / powertrain engine light

    Since I wasn't able to predict when it would occur, I never recorded. But I called and/or e-mailed my service technician each time it happened and then compiled a summary of occurrences and presented it to the service tech.
  18. RipReturns

    VCT Cam phaser / powertrain engine light

    Looks like I'm joining the cam-phaser crowd. Just got word that the sound that would intermittently appear during first (cold) start of the day was the cam phaser. The start up noise - approximately 9 times in 18 months - sounded (IMHO) like a loud, plastic 'clacking' noise (accompanied by...
  19. RipReturns

    Baja Designs Sportsmen review?

    The old Squadron Sport were only 1850 lumen, but the new ones are 3150. Makes a difference (and made the S2 Sports (1150) look woefully inadequate. The pros are 4900 lumen (admittedly, big difference), but I ran into the quandry of when and where can I use them (live in bigger city). Squadron...
  20. RipReturns

    Baja Designs Sportsmen review?

    I recently purchased amber wide-cornering lens and installed them in the Sqaudron Sport Spot lights (and adjusted the aim on my driving combo pair). Running an amber pair and white pair of wide cornering (aimed slightly wider/farther down the road) makes an immense difference in USABLE light...
  21. RipReturns

    Baja Designs | Squadron SAE | Shipping Now!!!

    Can anyone provide a picture of the beam cut off? The picture of the fence shows it lighting up the trees, so was trying to see if it has a clean (on/off) break in the lighting pattern. If yes, have to look more closely. If no, then the wide cornering is 25-35% brighter and does something...
  22. RipReturns

    Back up lights. BD s2 vs Rigid ignite

    I moved my S2 sports (Wide cornering) to the rear (they weren't bright enough - next to the 2 pair of Squadrons - up front). While the S2 Sports definitely light up what's behind me (1130 lumen each, I think), the mounting position and bracket doesn't allow them to be angled outward (something...
  23. RipReturns

    GEN 2 Help with wiring fog lights

    Wiring into the overhead upfitter switches is very simple. PM me if you want to discuss on line. The hardest part is figuring out which wire bundle is live wire and which is (merely) the pass through to the kick panel in passenger footwell. Wired 3 sets up over boy scout campout (it's that...
  24. RipReturns

    Does tire rotation require re-balance and front end alignment?

    Let me take a different take that still is going to have the same conclusion - they likely did you wrong - I get the tires rotated and balanced every oil change (5-6K), and I get an alignment check each time, too. The tire rotation is $40 at dealership, oil change around there, too, and...
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