I wasn’t going to do anything before Takeover but...
I decided to swap out my winch ropes since they were getting frayed again, ESPECIALLY the rear one, which after I was reminded how much trouble it is to swap the front I will be using the rear a LOT more.
I also wanted to put the factory exhaust back on because it’s so loud for my daughter when the full cab is on. I like the HMF sound but I like the quiet more, it doesn’t add any power and I’d only installed the HMF for the rear winch. In my search I ended up ordering a rear winch bumper/mount from
@knuckledeep and decided that since I was going to rewire my backup lights to use some Rough Country Flush mount pods...Yes I have 95% of the tools and I could’ve made one but it wouldn’t have looked as nice and I am all for supporting a member who does good work.
(Not mine but work in progress of another one from him)
I decided I might as well move the existing rock lights I was using for backup lights to the bed area to light my HomeDepot Ridgid box stacks better at night.
It’s light outside now but it’s MUCH better coverage especially for the stacks since they open to each side and the lights hit the bed from each side.
Then I decided that the rock light I’m using for a front dome would be better in a different place, that required me to move my HAM radio, which required me to move my wetsounds, which required me to move my tablet and my phone, which made me rewire everything above the dash, so decided if I was going to rewire and remount I might as well make it to where I can remove the roof and swap out for an alien shade...
While I was at it I removed the Chinese USB power converters because they were electrical trash and put all kinds of noise into the wetsounds, added 2-way SAE connectors and bought (3) Battery Tender SAE to USB plugs. I will power the VIRBs and my phone/tablet with them.
A spare weldable clamp (still have to sandblast and powdercoat), scrap flatbar, some argon, Half a roll of solder, a roll of heat shrink, 2 rolls of tape, a pack of zip ties and MANY hours later I remembered why I had put it off so far....and why I’m going with Switch Pro setup on my next SxS.
A lot of work with little to really show for it except calmer OCD, and better lighting in the back area and cab.
All wired and except for powdercoat on the radio mount, the extra flatbar to the back is for something I may do later.
I’m going to ride this weekend then clean it up, and swap the exhaust, adjust the valves, change the oil/filters, adjust the steering rack and replace the plastic bushings in it, since there’s starting to be some slack. I had contemplated just buying a new rack assembly since they are “only” $224 but
@joeymt33 did a spectacular write up in this
thread here. So I’m going to try adjusting first and if that and $10 in bushings doesn’t work I’ll replace it AFTER take over.
