It's been a while since I checked in but I'm still loving this truck. So far I've had the truck in to the dealer for initial alignment in the early days, the first engine and diff oil change, the software update, a parking proximity sensor replacement, and leaking safari windows. A couple days ago I found my high temp coolant reservoir is weeping at the seam, so I'll have to get that fixed along with the service interval bug fix.
I'm making a major reinvestment into the truck that I'm thinking of as phase 2 of the build. In the next month or so I will have the LRA aux fuel tank installed. In a few months I will be having the Alu-Cab Silenus roof conversion done along with installation of a Redarc BCDC Apha 50 DC-to-DC charger and Apha 150 battery with 240w solar on the roof. With that done I will also change the interior build-out to GP Factor's system that maintains the rear seats. The current setup works nicely but I would like to have the truck closer to ready to go at all times with bedding and other gear onboard. I also want the interior space for when the weather is bad. I will be most sad to lose the amazing roof rack as Benchmark really nailed it with that thing but am otherwise pretty pumped for the next phase.
I still need to determine what to do about a winch and snorkel. Dissent Offroad has "parked" their front bumper project and either don't know or won't tell me what the future holds for that, so I'm not going to keep waiting around. For the snorkel I will likely go for GrenX's 4.5" Stainless Steel Tube Rear Facing Teardrop design that plumbs into the fender next to the air box.
Meanwhile, since I last checked in I have made a few small additions.
Votex M12 X 1.5MM Quick Easy Valve Oil Drain:
I had the dealer perform the first oil change and I did the second. When I did the oil change I also installed the Votex valved drain plug which should help prevent oil from getting on the skid plate. The oil change is easy with the skid on and it mostly drains into the collector, but there was a small amount of oil in the skid afterward. The Votex valved plug works, but barely. There is a lip around the drain plug on the oil pan which the Votex only just clears. The result is you only get about half or less engagement with a socket on the valve. It worked at the required torque setting, but some day down the road it may be tough to get it out without stripping the faces off the bit of the nut the socket engages. I didn't take any pictures with the Votex installed, but here you can see the plug access with the skid installed and the lip I'm talking about.
Fox ATS 2.0 Steering Stabilizer:
I replaced the steering damper. I wouldn't say it's a night-and-day difference, but it is a very noticeable improvement in steering feel. Even after several thousand miles, the steering with the OEM damper didn't feel predictable when making small corrections at highway speeds. The feedback felt non-linear or something that caused small corrections to lead to multiple inputs; in aviation we would call it pilot induced oscillation. This wasn't apparent and it didn't really bother me much until after installing the new damper. The steering immediately became more predictable at high speed. I started at a setting somewhere around 8 and am now at 4 or 5. I like the lighter feel, even on trails where rocks tend move the steering wheel much more.
Steering stop adjustment:
I turned the mechanical steering stops to the bottom with the nut also bottomed out. Power assist steering still gets to 32 deg each side. I didn't check the non-assisted limits before but I now get 37 deg left and off scale right, which is in excess of 40 degrees.
Agile Offroad Rear Control Arm Skid Plates:
The control arm mounts were getting beat to hell so I ordered skids for them. I only installed the left side skid since the Owl fuel tank skid is in the way on the right. Since install, Agile sent out, at no cost, some additional bracketry that will more securely capture the bolts on the vehicle side that I have not installed yet.
Buzz Overland Door Steps:
They help getting to the roof from the side a bit easier. Not much to say about them other than one of them has the screen print on the stainless steel from metal stock. I tried isopropyl alcohol to remove it without success so I'll need to figure that bit out.
Grenadier Works Transfer Case Cable Clamp and Map Light Glare Shields:
Not much to say about these either, just some reassurance and quality of life upgrades. Super quick install on both. Couldn't be easier.
Cut battery box cover to access aux panel fuses.
I just did the cut with a box knife. It probably should have come from the factory like this.
