FreshSeaBass Build Thread

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Tonight was a blast, finally getting one side to fit with no rubbing anywhere! Bumpstops removed, steering at full lock, and no rubbing! With no bump stops, I am pulling a bit over 11" of useable wheel travel. That boggles my mind when I think about it! Time to start playing with sheet metal!
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YUGE hole
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Joined
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Dahlonega, Georgia
I finally got both sides of the frame plated in and welded with 1/4". Beveled the heck out of it and burned it in HOT
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Fitment was definitely some of the better I've done... Excuse the first weld of he day on the left.
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Doesn't even look like it's cut out
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A bit of cereal to the rescue.... This made life so much easier! The thin cardboard was really easy to manipulate along the contour of the 1/8" steel rod. The rod definitely made this a bit better to shape. It will have a lot more structure. Still going to seam seal with Black polyurethane sealer, I think its for roof flashing or any sort of waterproofing application on a house. After that I'll hit it with some bedliner to make it look decent.
 
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In other news, I think we are replacing our roof top tent finally! I was able to get working with a manufacturer to buy RTT's direct at 20% of the price that the same tent is sold here in the US. Crazy.
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Ignore the truck in the photo. These are pictures of the tent purely for show!
 

theesotericone

Build It Beat It Break It. Repeat
Fredo Baggins
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In other news, I think we are replacing our roof top tent finally! I was able to get working with a manufacturer to buy RTT's direct at 20% of the price that the same tent is sold here in the US. Crazy.
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Ignore the truck in the photo. These are pictures of the tent purely for show!


How about I just ignore the fact you mentioned RTT and keep thinking your building a sweet rig? Yep, that works for me.
 
Joined
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How about I just ignore the fact you mentioned RTT and keep thinking your building a sweet rig? Yep, that works for me.

Don't report me to the admins on here... please, I beg you!

I can't help it, we miss having one too much to pass this up! Don't worry, more debauchery to ensue! Just need to finish welding up the wheel wells and get out on a ride. I desperately need sliders, so I'm thinking that's the next major move to prevent anything crazy from destroying the rocker panels. It looks like we may have a trip to Windrock, TN coming up here in just a few weeks, so I need to get on that.

Also, arts and crafts are fun. Now there's so much room for activities!!

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Friggin' Amazon plasma cutters.... WOW. 50 Amps, and this thing will cut 1/2" VERY well.
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Drove her home last night and let me tell you, holes in the floorboard = AMAZING A/C
 
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Not everyone can sleep in the back of their rigs and not everyone likes ground tents. :doh:

I'm definitely not averse to ground tents! For my wife and I both it is incredibly comfortable! We like to camp in the fall/winter as well, and we get a decent amount of snow up here in N GA. It would be nice to be off the ground again! Big plans for the interior of the 4Runner. Lots of storage to finish making and a cool rear seating option! This thing is going to achieve peak mini-van status :beerscheers:
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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I'm definitely not averse to ground tents! For my wife and I both it is incredibly comfortable! We like to camp in the fall/winter as well, and we get a decent amount of snow up here in N GA. It would be nice to be off the ground again! Big plans for the interior of the 4Runner. Lots of storage to finish making and a cool rear seating option! This thing is going to achieve peak mini-van status :beerscheers:

I'll never run one because it makes you top heavy and when I actually do any crawling that can be disastrous. My son and I sleep on cots in the ground tent, and I sleep in the back when he's not with me. If I had a significant other, I might debate one, but that's when I start outfitting the Tacoma for base camp and the 4runner gets refitted strictly for wheeling.
 
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Time for poser pictures... doing some (sa)lawn crawling

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New problem.... Too much travel and the UCA contacts the reservoir 90* fitting. Going to have to find a slightly lower profile 90* fitting and rotate it downward to keep the hose out of the way. I would try to angle the coilover inward a bit more, but the problem is that it will contact the inside of the tower where it meets the frame..... joy
 

theesotericone

Build It Beat It Break It. Repeat
Fredo Baggins
Joined
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Bishop, CA
Time for poser pictures... doing some (sa)lawn crawling

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New problem.... Too much travel and the UCA contacts the reservoir 90* fitting. Going to have to find a slightly lower profile 90* fitting and rotate it downward to keep the hose out of the way. I would try to angle the coilover inward a bit more, but the problem is that it will contact the inside of the tower where it meets the frame..... joy

Pics of the coilover fitting hitting the UCA? You might be able to get a new hydraulic hose made. Come off the top with a straight fitting then loop up and over the UCA?
 
Joined
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Pics of the coilover fitting hitting the UCA? You might be able to get a new hydraulic hose made. Come off the top with a straight fitting then loop up and over the UCA?

I'll get a photo of where it hits, but its hitting the 90* right where it goes into the top of the coilover. The hose clears perfect. I am going to rotate the fitting to point straight down which will re-direct the hose down and under the UCA. Essentially right at the corer of the fitting where it makes the 90* turn is where it contacts the UCA... I'm also thinking about possibly trimming and notching where the UCA hits, then cap / grind it back. I'm trying to avoid the latter of the two by finding a -8AN to -8AN male banjo style fitting.
 
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