Build/overland/4x4 stuff: 1989 Raider, 2010 Sequoia, and other projects

[irish44j]

So part 2 of the new mini-hitch is that it's for a bike rack right now. I just got a killer hookup on a Thule X2 Pro hitch-mounted rack from a friend, which I plan to mostly use on the Sequoia, but decided to test it out on the swing-out hitch. Fits pretty well, though can't totally fold up due to the spare tire clearance. But the concept works, so I'm happy about that:

...but that's not the end plan. The X2 Pro mounting rails are individually-attached, and it's a pretty heavy rack that sticks out a good ways (especially on a short rig like this). So for the Raider, the plan is to build my own "stinger" from the hitch (without the heavy fold-up mechanism and other stuff) and just have one rail bolted to it, since I'm generally solo when in the Raider. That'll save a good amount of weight and give me better clearance. So that's the next project, but it's for another day.

Today's little project: exhaust stuff. The exhaust pipe on this has always been too short and dumps right under the bumper. Not a HUGE deal, but when sitting still, the exhaust tends to go up and get through the rear door seal on occasion, which is pretty annnoying. Plus the underside of the bumper and rear door get a lot of oil soot (this is a Mitsubishi after all....). So I picked up an elbow extension, cut the old pipe off right behind the hanger, welded the elbow on , and angle-cut the tip, and now it dumps off to the side NOT under the bumper. Hooray for small victories.

 

[irish44j]

With the hitch-mount rack there, it basically blocks my third brake light which is low-mounted on the bottom of the back door. And it somewhat blocks the regular taillights too. So I ordered some low-profile LED lights and mounted one of them up on the top of the door, which has better rear-view over the bike. So for 9 bucks, this'll do. Only fun part was running the wiring through the frame of the door, but got it done eventually.

Looks a bit funny right underneath my rear camp light, but whatever. This whole truck looks a little funny...

Hard to see in daylight, but it's bright AF at night - like 5x brighter than the stock brake lights.

On a side note, I was driving along with an Ineos Grenadier on the way home from work. Not the first one I've seen in this area (like a dozen), but the more I see them the more I like them. And they do look a good bit like a "modern" Raider/Pajero - almost moreso than a Land Rover, I think...

 

[irish44j]

Time for some cleaning and fixing stuff. I built the roof rack about 5 years ago now and it hasn't been off the truck in that time. I've added things, drilled holes, drilled more holes, welded on it up there, touched up rusty spots, and done some half-assed brackets to mount things. Plus the beige roof underneath is pretty grungy and has some welding spatter and overspray. Time to fix all that.

So off with the rack (after unbolting all the heavy crap on it).

Even after washing it, the roof looks terrible.

So first order of business is a quick sand and repaint. Threw up the awning so the annoying tree over my driveway doesn't drop sap or stuff on it, and got to painting. I used Rustoleum "Sand" color (brush-on) originally, with a bit of black mixed in to dull down the color a bit, so did that again and it matched about right and looks a lot better now.

I also put a strip of black vinyl on the front edge of the roof - so the rack fairing doesn't wear down the paint and also because the strip of "sand" between the windshield and the rack has always annoyed me for some reason lol.

Now on to the rack. Man, I probably had about a dozen holes in the bars where I drilled into mount various things that I later moved or un-mounted, and just taped over them with gorilla tape. So first order of business was to get the welder out and fill all those holes in. I also cut off the L-brackets I put on for the shower curtain enclosure. I mounted those on pretty janky and didn't like where it held the assembly, so wanted to make something a bit bettter and more "snug" to the rack. I also cut off the old front "horns" left over from the early rack version. I only kept them for all this time because my branch risers attach there, but gonna alter that as well.

So yeah, I cut off the "horns" and capped the tubes, then added the riser eyes onto the steel fairing instead. I don't use the risers much, but good to have if I'm somewhere they'd be useful. Raider windshields aren't exactly easy to find so don't want it smashed by a rando branch.

The roof boxes I've had attached with U-bolts around the bars, but decided it was time to make things easier to take on/off if needed, so welded in some weld nuts instead.

Did a few other things that aren't very interesting, including adding new brackets for the shower curtain and a few support and tiedown pieces, nothing too notable though. And got my neighbor to help lift the rack back on .

Oh, did I mention I weighed it all when it was off the truck. The rack itself weighs 60lbs (including the four flood lights and fairings). The two awnings + shower curtain weigh 46lbs. The Pelican cases weigh 18lbs each, and forgot to weigh the other box but it's a bit lighter, so say 15 lbs. So around 160lbs on the roof there, plus two traction boards in the front box (maybe 10lbs), and I usually carry lightweight stuff in the Pelican cases (chair, tarps, tent, etc.). So figure I'm usually around 200lbs on the roof when fully geared up, which I guess isn't too bad all things considered. Not that I have much choice - in a truck this small I need the roof storage rather than jamming it all inside....

I also raised the front box up. You may recall it was indented down below the fairing, but that made it VERY hard to get to the latches and the lid only opened about 30 degrees. So this solves both those problems.

Oh, I did cut all the handles off all three roof boxes, since I don't need to carry them around. So figure I saved a few pounds there haha....

So, that was a productive day from my POV, though from your POV it all probably looks about the same as before haha....