Build Thread The Lobster, DaneJa's overlanding build

[DaneJa]

New wheels and tires:

Quite a large cosmetic difference with these. Method 703 in Gloss Titanium (17x7.5 | 6x130 | 50/6.20") wearing Mickey Thompson Baja Boss 255/85R17. I only drove home, but these actually seem quieter, but that might be the pressure difference -- I was at 36/36, these are at 41/47 from the shop and I'll probably leave them there. I also mounted Agile Offroad's Spare Tire Offset Mount. You can see the PPF here but they have a bit more work to do so I'll let them finish before showing more.

They did nice work. These tires have asymmetric tread with an inside and outside, the wheels have bead grabbing features that make them difficult to mount a tire, and the TPMS sensors all had to go back to same locations, and I checked the torque values and it's all good. That said, this practice of using four rolling floor jacks in a sloped parking lot seems sketchy as hell to me.

Air Down Gear Up Drawers and Sleeping Platform:

I'm very pleased with the work on these. This is the first final install on a Grenadier of this system and they're going to do some refinement, but overall the system is excellent. They're going to make a magnetic cover for the gap to the left of the fridge along with a few other tweaks. The system has a few configurations you'll see in the pictures. They also have different systems available depending on your needs. Obviously I went with the drawer fridge and sleeping platform option.

 

[vtgrenadier]

Finally got to see a Devil Red in the flesh today... lots of uniqueness to the color and is quickly becoming a favorite. It's not pure red, but rather, has some brightness that I dare say may be 'pink.' Reminiscent of a half-year-only Jeep Wrangler color called (of all things to raise in this thread) "Rock Lobster," which is my all-time favorite on a newer Jeep - and almost Monza Red, which was a one-year-only NAS Defender 90 color... although that had a bit of orange to it (still a top choice (next to Arles)).

Yours is coming along beautifully!

 

[Tenac]

I'm so jelly I wanted Devil's red bad.... Great work love the build.

 

[DaneJa]

The guys who did the audio install, Blue Chip, created a sizzle reel and posted it to their Instagram.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

If you don't have IG, it's also in this album of images they shared with me. If you want to see the process of the install check it out, but I'll post a few below. Here are a couple features I haven't talked about already.

This knob controls the DSP. It took a while to figure out where to put it, but this is a great spot. It's easy to control, tucked out of the way, and blends right in with the light and screen saver screen both turned off. They set up the DSP with a selectable tune optimized for the driver and one optimized for all seats. The knob also allows finer control of the master volume and sub volume, among many other features we're not really using. The amp/DSP takes high-level output from the OEM system, so speed compensated volume still works.

Here's where the amp/DSP is tucked into the left-rear quarter panel. It fits like a glove.

Here are a couple more shots of the sub box.

The eagle-eyed may have spotted in earlier pictures that I installed the Grenadier USA black anodized aluminum roof grab handles.

And finally, a couple shot outside the truck. There is also satin PPF on the piano black interrior elements, but I didn't take any pictures of that. Much of the PPF job is complete, but they still need to add a black strip on the bottom of the doors and side panels, black out the chrome on the grill, work out some details, and apply ceramic coating. I'll get the truck back on Tuesday, job complete, hopefully.

 

[rovie]

The guys who did the audio install, Blue Chip, created a sizzle reel and posted it to their Instagram.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

If you don't have IG, it's also in this album of images they shared with me. If you want to see the process of the install check it out, but I'll post a few below. Here are a couple features I haven't talked about already.

This knob controls the DSP. It took a while to figure out where to put it, but this is a great spot. It's easy to control, tucked out of the way, and blends right in with the light and screen saver screen both turned off. They set up the DSP with a selectable tune optimized for the driver and one optimized for all seats. The knob also allows finer control of the master volume and sub volume, among many other features we're not really using. The amp/DSP takes high-level output from the OEM system, so speed compensated volume still works.

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Here's where the amp/DSP is tucked into the left-rear quarter panel. It fits like a glove.

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Here are a couple more shots of the sub box.

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The eagle-eyed may have spotted in earlier pictures that I installed the Grenadier USA black anodized aluminum roof grab handles.

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And finally, a couple shot outside the truck. There is also satin PPF on the piano black interrior elements, but I didn't take any pictures of that. Much of the PPF job is complete, but they still need to add a black strip on the bottom of the doors and side panels, black out the chrome on the grill, work out some details, and apply ceramic coating. I'll get the truck back on Tuesday, job complete, hopefully.

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I've never thought about buying a red car in all these years. For me, it always had the association of a fire engine. But I have to say, your Grenadier looks really good in combination with this wheels. Hats off!

 

[DaneJa]

PPF is finally fully complete. Final additions are the black strip just above the rock sliders, chrome delete on the grill, some detail cleanup, and ceramic coating. Also here's a picture of the PPF applied to the interior piano black areas.

Lastly, I swapped the dash gear rail for a black one. The red one seemed to cheapen the interior. The Grenadier USA Cup Holder is also installed.

 

[Brock63]

New wheels and tires:

Quite a large cosmetic difference with these. Method 703 in Gloss Titanium (17x7.5 | 6x130 | 50/6.20") wearing Mickey Thompson Baja Boss 255/85R17. I only drove home, but these actually seem quieter, but that might be the pressure difference -- I was at 36/36, these are at 41/47 from the shop and I'll probably leave them there. I also mounted Agile Offroad's Spare Tire Offset Mount. You can see the PPF here but they have a bit more work to do so I'll let them finish before showing more.

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They did nice work. These tires have asymmetric tread with an inside and outside, the wheels have bead grabbing features that make them difficult to mount a tire, and the TPMS sensors all had to go back to same locations, and I checked the torque values and it's all good. That said, this practice of using four rolling floor jacks in a sloped parking lot seems sketchy as hell to me.

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I am contemplating that size tire as well...as the tall skinnys I think give better footprint when aired down and have less friction/rolling resistance on highway due to narrower tread. Looking good. I like the wheel color you chose too. If I wasnt such a fan of steely's...would consider those as well. Just have bad memory of cracking a wheel offroading and having to use spare when I could have used a mini sledge and hammered steely back out if needed....at least to get home. LOL Nice mods...

 

[DaneJa]

I am contemplating that size tire as well...as the tall skinnys I think give better footprint when aired down and have less friction/rolling resistance on highway due to narrower tread. Looking good. I like the wheel color you chose too. If I wasnt such a fan of steely's...would consider those as well. Just have bad memory of cracking a wheel offroading and having to use spare when I could have used a mini sledge and hammered steely back out if needed....at least to get home. LOL Nice mods... If get a couple pics from front or rear so can see tire profiles would appreciate.

 

[DaneJa]

Grenadier Works Rear Gate Interior Pull Handle
Quick install, no complaints. It's nice to have a handle instead of grabbing the door edge and weather strip. I wonder how long that bottle opener will stay put if used, though.

Grenadier Works License Plate Light Shrouds
Another quick install. I haven't tested it, but there's not much to go wrong here.

Agile Offroad Fire Extinguisher Bracket Kit w/Range Industries Quick Release Mount
The Agile bracket replaces the metal bracket under the seat and the quick release mount bolts to that. The quick release is really nice and feels solid as hell. As with their other products, the installation instructions from Agile are pretty good. Now I just need to put an extinguisher on it.

Kingpin Equipped 12" F-Series Lights w/Rotary Dimmer Switch and Search Mount Kits
The illumination provided by the single ceiling light in the cargo area isn't really sufficient, and is non-existent if you have a shelf mounted and loaded. I picked up a couple lights, swivel mounts, and a dimmer switch from Kingpin Equipped to solve the issue. When the audio installer was running power for the National Luna light on the rear door fold-down table I asked him to put a deutsch connector in the compartment on the right-hand side of the cargo area. I used that connector for power. That circuit is powered from the INT 1 switch.

I ran the cables up and over under the vertical side trim panels and stuffed under the interior lip of the inner door seal.

The rear outlet and its 400w output was more than enough and was very convenient for my soldering iron.

I stuck the lights and the dimmer switch up using the supplied 3M VHB double-sided tape. The kit includes screws that I will use if it doesn't hold through the summer.

The phone camera does a lot of automatic adjustment so the difference between bright and dim isn't very apparent, but it's a nice range of control both for the Kingpin and National Luna lights.

 

[vtgrenadier]

Every post is like watching the Home Run Derby... you keep knockin' it out of the park!

 

[carlg007]

New wheels and tires:

Quite a large cosmetic difference with these. Method 703 in Gloss Titanium (17x7.5 | 6x130 | 50/6.20") wearing Mickey Thompson Baja Boss 255/85R17. I only drove home, but these actually seem quieter, but that might be the pressure difference -- I was at 36/36, these are at 41/47 from the shop and I'll probably leave them there. I also mounted Agile Offroad's Spare Tire Offset Mount. You can see the PPF here but they have a bit more work to do so I'll let them finish before showing more.

View attachment 7897701

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View attachment 7897703

They did nice work. These tires have asymmetric tread with an inside and outside, the wheels have bead grabbing features that make them difficult to mount a tire, and the TPMS sensors all had to go back to same locations, and I checked the torque values and it's all good. That said, this practice of using four rolling floor jacks in a sloped parking lot seems sketchy as hell to me.

View attachment 7897705


Air Down Gear Up Drawers and Sleeping Platform:

I'm very pleased with the work on these. This is the first final install on a Grenadier of this system and they're going to do some refinement, but overall the system is excellent. They're going to make a magnetic cover for the gap to the left of the fridge along with a few other tweaks. The system has a few configurations you'll see in the pictures. They also have different systems available depending on your needs. Obviously I went with the drawer fridge and sleeping platform option.

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Nice build. What is the length of the sleeping platform? I went to the web page of the company that made it and the do not have much information on the specs. and pricing only they will accept a $500 deposit on future builds. Any additional information that you have would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DaneJa]

Nice build. What is the length of the sleeping platform? I went to the web page of the company that made it and the do not have much information on the specs. and pricing only they will accept a $500 deposit on future builds. Any additional information that you have would be appreciated. Thanks!

If you email Andy at info@airdowngearup.com he is very responsive, but I'll certainly answer questions about my setup. The platform fully deployed is 6'1" (185 cm). I'm 6'5" and can lay diagonally flat on my back with plenty of room to spare and can sleep normally (on my side) on half. If you put your head or feet where the center console is, between the front seats, you could have tons of length if you're taller me.

 

[DaneJa]

I finished up a couple quick projects this morning mounting the forward fire extinguishers under the front seat and making a NATO to Anderson adapter cable for my air compressor.

I used the NATO plug available from Agile Offroad and a few feet of red and black 6 gauge wire. I used the same method as the battery terminal clamp to Anderson adapter I posted earlier but with a small additional frustration. The NATO terminals have a very small hole in the side which allowed the solder to drip out on one of them. After a couple attempts I was able to get it done, though. The connections survived the pull test and the compressor runs just fine using it.

I decided to mount both an Element and a more traditional fire extinguisher in the front and an Element in the rear. I figure the Element is handy for smaller jobs or when I don't want to make a mess, and the traditional bottle for the more serious stuff. I would have liked to get an ABC bottle as it seems the Element extinguishers struggle with things like wood fires, but for now it's just BC.