Build Thread The Lobster, DaneJa's overlanding build

[OverlandGearGuy]

This first post will serve as an overview for the build that I’ll update as I go along. Most of this will just be me installing what my betters have built, or in some instances paying someone to do that, too. Here’s what I’m planning and what is done so far.

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Completed:
Exterior Armor:

1. NATO plug water ingress protection

Exterior Utility:

1. Le Tech Ladder w/Jerry Can Storage

Interior:

1. Grenadier USA Overhead Cockpit Shelf
2. Owl Vans Rosen Visors
3. Owl Vans Dashboard Accessory Mounting Rail
4. Bison Gear Ceiling Shelf w/Under Shelf Compartment
5. GP Factor Tailgate Table (w/National Luna light later)
6. Grenadier USA Rear Door Handle

In the Queue:
Exterior Armor:

1. PPF wrap
2. Abenteuer 4x4 Rock Sliders
3. Agile Offroad skid plates
4. Agile Offroad Shift Cable Support Bracket Kit
5. Black Sheep Rear Skid Plate
6. Front bumper w/winch and bull bar – considering Dissent Offroad
7. GP Factor Fender Plate Kit

Exterior Utility:

1. Benchmark Safari Roof Rack
2. ClimAir Window Wind Deflectors
3. Suma Performance Convex Side Mirrors
4. Agile Offroad Spare Tire Carrier Relocation Bracket
5. Mickey Thompson Baja Boss 255/85R17
6. Wheels: probably Method 703

Lighting:

1. Agile Offroad in-grill offroad light Baja Designs upgrade kit
2. Baja Designs OnX6 Light Bar
3. Scene and rear lighting upgrade
4. Grenadier Works License Plate Light Shrouds

Interior:

1. Sound deadening, custom audio upgrade, and additional USB-C ports
2. Wolfbox G900 Pro on 67 Designs mount
3. Octodyne Steering Wheel Button Guards
4. Grenadier USA Oversized Cup Holder Center Console Replacement
5. Bison Gear Left Cargo Basket (modify to fit)
6. Air Down Gear Up rear cargo drawers

Unfixed Grenadier Accessories:

1. Overland Gear Guy Safari Window Mesh Screens
2. Owl Vans Safari Window Covers
3. Overland Gear Guy Open Top Door Storage
4. Modify Viair 450P air compressor to optionally use either the NATO plug or terminal clamps

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That Red is so Amazing

 

[DaneJa]

The folks at Red Noland have been great to work with. They did some paint touch-up on 2 spots that were flawed on delivery and they centered up the steering wheel that was slightly off center. I'm quite satisfied with the steering now, no change needed.

Abenteuer 4x4 Rock Sliders:
Installing the sliders was not quite as easy as I'd hoped. They posted a video showing how to do the installation. I installed the first slider according to their instructions and had a bit of a hard time. Some of the bolts are quite hard to access and it's hard to hold some of it all together with just two hands. I installed the second slider a bit differently -- I attached the mounts loosely to the slider rails before attaching the mounts to the frame and found it much easier. The only other deviations I made from their instructional video were to use a multi-tool to trim the plastic bits in the wheel wells, I used some anti-seize on the bolts, and I followed the lessons learned by @TheDocAUS and used 50mm bolts to ease installation of the front mount and added some square washers to the frame mount bolts. If you're going to install these, make sure you have a 17mm offset box wrench, ideally a ratcheting one. I did not and it made the job much more difficult. I'm very happy to have this install completed.

One of my main concerns with these sliders before ordering was that the inner rocker is not overly protected. It's still a bit of a concern, but the rocker is above both the slider and the frame rail, so the only way it will be hit is if one tracks the tires over a particularly pointy rock that exceeds the break-over angle. It's very much a possibility, but also wouldn't be the end of the world. Looks like it would be pretty easy to bolt some steel over the thing using those holes all along it, but I likely won't bother.

The step is narrow, but just wide enough.

 

[DaneJa]

Black Sheep Innovations Rear Skid Plate:
I couldn't find any instructions to install the skid plate, but it was mostly intuitive. The only thing that threw me through a loop was the inclusion of two small washers, implying a difference in two of the bolt locations. I couldn't find any advantage in smaller washers on any two of the fasteners over others, so I put the smaller washers in an arbitrary location where I wouldn't have to look at them. The hardware included was all high-grade stainless, very nice to see. As ever, every thing under the vehicle that isn't Loctite'd, like suspension components, gets anti-seize applied. The Black Sheep skid pate was much thicker and had much more engineering effort behind it than the OEM. Because it's aluminum, it's not much heavier at 15 vs 16.5 lbs (6.8 vs 7.5 kg), but it feels much more substantial. As advertised, the Black Sheep skid plate is 4mm generally, but has many reinforcements doubling it to 8mm, but I even found a couple spots that were 10mm. The mounting brackets are also quite nice and appear to be stainless steel. These guys are not playing around.

Black Sheep Innovations Anti-Glare Cover:
Not sure how I feel about this one, I think time will tell. It's very nicely cut and formed, no complaints with the quality. It's also easy to mount. I'll have to see how effective and necessary it is, but it does detract a bit from the minimal intrusion into one's sight-line. To mount, just clean the back of the screen cowling with some alcohol, peel, and stick.

Grenadier USA Cargo Wall Track:
Super easy install and a nice piece. It took me maybe 2 minutes to install. Good stuff.

Bison Gear Rear Cargo Basket, Left:
I had to modify the basket to fit the different shape of the left cargo area trim panel with the inverter option. Thanks to @NOLA Grenadier for the demo on that. Unlike his, my proved to be pretty inadequate, so I only took a picture of the final product loaded with some gear to hide my eternal shame. I initially tried a cutoff wheel, but my weak-ass electric tool proved inadequate. I then used the jig saw but did a pretty terrible job measuring the dimensions of the necessary cut out. I clearly don't have the patience for fabrication. I drilled out two rivets as evidenced by the silver rings on the face. In any case, this thing is really useful to have back there and was really nicely built before I mangled it.

 

[CRH]

Black Sheep Innovations Rear Skid Plate:
I couldn't find any instructions to install the skid plate, but it was mostly intuitive. The only thing that threw me through a loop was the inclusion of two small washers, implying a difference in two of the bolt locations. I couldn't find any advantage in smaller washers on any two of the fasteners over others, so I put the smaller washers in an arbitrary location where I wouldn't have to look at them. The hardware included was all high-grade stainless, very nice to see. As ever, every thing under the vehicle that isn't Loctite'd, like suspension components, gets anti-seize applied. The Black Sheep skid pate was much thicker and had much more engineering effort behind it than the OEM. Because it's aluminum, it's not much heavier at 15 vs 16.5 lbs (6.8 vs 7.5 kg), but it feels much more substantial. As advertised, the Black Sheep skid plate is 4mm generally, but has many reinforcements doubling it to 8mm, but I even found a couple spots that were 10mm. The mounting brackets are also quite nice and appear to be stainless steel. These guys are not playing around.

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Black Sheep Innovations Anti-Glare Cover:
Not sure how I feel about this one, I think time will tell. It's very nicely cut and formed, no complaints with the quality. It's also easy to mount. I'll have to see how effective and necessary it is, but it does detract a bit from the minimal intrusion into one's sight-line. To mount, just clean the back of the screen cowling with some alcohol, peel, and stick.

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Grenadier USA Cargo Wall Track:
Super easy install and a nice piece. It took me maybe 2 minutes to install. Good stuff.

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Bison Gear Rear Cargo Basket, Left:
I had to modify the basket to fit the different shape of the left cargo area trim panel with the inverter option. Thanks to @NOLA Grenadier for the demo on that. Unlike his, my proved to be pretty inadequate, so I only took a picture of the final product loaded with some gear to hide my eternal shame. I initially tried a cutoff wheel, but my weak-ass electric tool proved inadequate. I then used the jig saw but did a pretty terrible job measuring the dimensions of the necessary cut out. I clearly don't have the patience for fabrication. I drilled out two rivets as evidenced by the silver rings on the face. In any case, this thing is really useful to have back there and was really nicely built before I mangled it.

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I do like their skid plate, interested on how you get on with the anti-glare cover, sun can be an issue at times

 

[DaneJa]

I added an anderson connector to my Viair 450P air compressor so that I can change from terminal clamps to a NATO plug (when it eventually arrives). The pins were a bit over-gauged for this, but I just filled the receptacles with solder and plunged the wire in. I wound the solder around a toothpick and melted it in the receptacle with a torch. Seems to have worked well and I didn't even destroy anything on this one -- it was a nice quick and easy project.

 

[Trialmaster]

Just deleted the post as I just read you had done an alignment. Love the build and your explanation on how to fit the hardware purchased.

 

[Dokatd]

Well, the Lobsters OEM ladder ended up on my truck. Just FYI, the grommets for the ladder are readily available and cost about $45.

 

[DaneJa]

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Well, the Lobsters OEM ladder ended up on my truck. Just FYI, the grommets for the ladder are readily available and cost about $45.

Hell yeah, I'm glad FedEx was able to find it. It looks great.

 

[4runnernomore]

I utilised this mob https://www.ecudecode.co.uk/. in the UK for my 97 Sportage that I was having immobilser issues with. Tried every where is Aus that I could think of and no one could assist as the car was to old.

Very happy with the whole procedure sending it there and back as I was nervous sending it to the UK. Utilised DHL FROM Darwin.

 

[DaneJa]

The boys at Blue Chip Car Audio have been working on the truck for a couple days and are making great progress. They are posting stories to their Instagram as they go.

The 2-way door speakers are mounted and doors are almost finished with sound deadening application. I couldn't be happier with the way the tweeters worked out cosmetically. They fit perfectly, look rather OEM with the matching hex mesh grill, and should look even better blended into the panel when the piano black is turned satin with PPF. Apparently the door cards rattled and buzzed a hell of a lot on initial testing, so inerting the panels is crucial. The Wolfbox camera cable is also routed to the rear door mounting location and the initial mock-up of the custom housing for 2 additional USB-C ports in the small gap forward of the parking brake handle is done and looks like it will be a good solution.

The front door speakers are Focal ES 165 KX2E, selected because the FRAK tweeters are said to provide frequency response that reaches a bit lower than most, sort of a middle ground on the way to 3-way speakers which we're not doing. The passenger door speakers are the 4" Focal 100AC just to provide fill really. The Helix P SIX DSP ULTIMATE will power the drivers.

After considering the options we also settled on an 8" subwoofer under the passenger seat. We were going to shorten one of the rear cargo drawers (currently being designed) to fit a 10" woofer and box. Which 8" sub will depend on how much volume they can get out of the under-seat space for a box, either an Audison or JL Audio.

They're going to have fun cutting a million odd shapes to deaden the rear 70% door.

Also the Method 703s in gloss titanium arrived today (inspired by @anand here). These will be going on with some 255/85 MT Baja Boss A/Ts when the truck is audio and PPF complete.

 

[DaneJa]

Work continues in the audio shop. The doors are done and reassembled, everything has been sound-dampened except for the cargo floor and the rear-left quarter panel (where the amp will go), the sub box is built, the Wolfbox rear view camera and display is installed, and power has been run to the cargo area and rear door for the interior lights.

Instead of a 10" sub behind the rear seats and forward of the drawers we're putting an 8" JL Audio 8W3v3-4 under the front passenger seat. I didn't want the amps there to mitigate potential for water damage if they got splashed but I'm not so worried about a subwoofer. We are also going for a smaller Musway M10 amplifier/DSP that will fit perfectly in the void in the left-rear quarter panel above the wheel well. Its 400W sub channel should be perfect for the smaller sub. Initially the plan was to install a larger Musway amp/DSP and a JL sub amp -- this way will be much more compact and I'm not likely to miss the lessened output, besides I'm happy to save some money on an expensive build.

Remaining tasks: custom amp mounting bracket, deaden rear-left quarter panel, build/install custom USB-C hub forward of hand brake, locate/install Musway control knob, then finally reassemble and perform an initial tune. The final tune will happen after the rear drawers are installed. As soon as audio is done early-to-mid next week the truck goes to get PPF.

 

[TheDocAUS]

You are going to have the quietest Grenadier, provided the sound system is turned off.

 

[DaneJa]

You are going to have the quietest Grenadier, provided the sound system is turned off.

Which still isn't saying much, especially when I get some knobbier tires and a roof rack with a light bar on there.

It certainly won't be scientific, but I did take a sound reading using a phone app before and I'll replicate it after, before any further modification. I suspect most of the difference will not be reflected by dB level. I mostly want to get rid of the boominess from all those large planar surfaces in the back going over bumps.