parkbrakebracket.JPG
365 hits | 19.9 KB | Posted: 2017-10-01
Bracket to support the Explorer 8.8" parking brake cable assembly. The Ex cables are shorter than the OE BII cables, so a new bracket was needed a bit further back on the frame....
(Posted in: Miscellaneous stuff)

parkbrakecable.JPG
558 hits | 14.39 KB | Posted: 2017-10-01
Adapting the OE parking brake cable to the Explorer 8.8" cables. A couple pieces of the old cable hardware, some 1/4 - 20 nuts & threaded rod, and some pieces of steel welded together. The threaded rod allows adjustment of the cable tension....
(Posted in: Miscellaneous stuff)

monanchemeadow.jpg
309 hits | 63 KB | Posted: 2016-03-06
Monanche Meadow (Tulare Co., Ca)...
(Posted in: Misc)

bb6.jpg
477 hits | 79.78 KB | Posted: 2016-02-18
(Posted in: Big Bear area (Ca.))

bb4.jpg
441 hits | 51.53 KB | Posted: 2016-02-18
(Posted in: Big Bear area (Ca.))

bb3.jpg
451 hits | 80.11 KB | Posted: 2016-02-18
(Posted in: Big Bear area (Ca.))

bb2.jpg
468 hits | 74.39 KB | Posted: 2016-02-18
(Posted in: Big Bear area (Ca.))

bb1.jpg
396 hits | 79.31 KB | Posted: 2016-02-18
(Posted in: Big Bear area (Ca.))

bb5.jpg
413 hits | 59.08 KB | Posted: 2016-02-18
(Posted in: Big Bear area (Ca.))

LED Dome Lights.jpg
401 hits | 39.16 KB | Posted: 2016-01-12
Converted the fairly wimpy incandescent dome lights to LED using Cree lighting LEDs. They put out a much brighter but natural white color light (a little whiter than the old incandescent, but not the bluish-white that's typical of manufactured LED products)....
(Posted in: Miscellaneous stuff)

flex1.jpg
355 hits | 65.14 KB | Posted: 2015-11-02
Found a spot to flex it out on the trail heading to Red Lake / Coyote Lake, Ca....
(Posted in: Misc)

flex2.jpg
302 hits | 62.34 KB | Posted: 2015-11-02
Another angle...
...
(Posted in: Misc)

campsetup2.jpg
449 hits | 97.09 KB | Posted: 2014-07-24
I see so many people that mount solar panels onto the roof of their vehicles... Just seems so impractical (forces you to park your rig with fridge inside trying to keep your food safe in the hot sun and you can't even easily aim it at the sun to maximize your power harvest as it moves). No thanks.
Portable panels are the way to go! ...
(Posted in: Camping & Storage Unit)

fronthanger.jpg
647 hits | 59.49 KB | Posted: 2014-06-28
The longer Chevy leafs required moving both the spring & shackle hangers from where they were...
I made these pieces from 3/16'' plate so I could keep the axle approximately where I had it (about 3'' to the rear of stock). The hanger eye is about 4'' forward and 1'' higher from it's original stock position (just barely clears the middle body mount bracket)....
(Posted in: Suspension & Axles)

chevyleafs.jpg
744 hits | 71.01 KB | Posted: 2014-06-27
New 64'' Pro-Comp Chevy springs installed (#13211, 3.5'').
For some reason I kept bending stock-fitment springs near the forward eye (did it to an Explorer leaf, and then a Skyjacker leaf), so hoping the thicker Chevy leaf can put an end to that. The 7'' extra length should give it more flex at the same time. Hoping they settle down about a half inch to an inch, though if need be I can pull out the thinnest bottom leaf (the huge thick Pro-Comp overload leaf was also ditched for a much flatter OE Ranger OL leaf).
...
(Posted in: Suspension & Axles)

shacklebracket.jpg
716 hits | 67.32 KB | Posted: 2014-06-27
New shackle bracket to fit the 64'' Chevy leafs... puts the (extended) shackle about 3'' rearward of stock....
(Posted in: Suspension & Axles)