Sundog7121
Member
I'll never see enough of that trailer!!
ANTMAN'S Thread
- Thread starter Antman
- Start date
Antman
Elite Member
Does your friend have the Salsa Red 'Runner down the street?
That dude never, ever waves back- lol.
BTW- you are starting to freak me out a 'lil bit.
Attachments
ANTMAN MOD#2
Here are my Gobi Stealth fork-down bike mounts- ANTMAN style...
I love my Gobi Stealth! I wanted to install some bike mounts on the crossrails, but I will also use the rack to haul stuff like plywood, drywall, etc. The standard Thule fork-down mounts sit on top of the rails, so I would need to remove them to haul big stuff, not an option. Plus they cost quite a bit more than what I came up with.
These are mounts from Performance Bike. They cost $15 a piece, and are pretty well made out of aluminum. Only real issue I have with them is that they can't be locked...
I fabbed up some backing plates out of 1/4" aluminum, and tapped some holes to accept mounting bolts. This distributes the load over a wider area of the steel mesh. All the hardware- 1/4-20x3/4" Allen bolts, washers, and split-ring lock washers- is stainless steel.
The mesh is pretty stout- I can stand up there with only a little flex- but I tried different areas and this corner seems to be the strongest spot. The bikes are very stable, and only flex the metal a tiny bit if you shake them...
Currently, I am using some high quality flat bungi cords to lock down the rear wheels, but I am looking into some Yakima wheel straps that I will mount up in the future. Will update the post when that happens.
I've had the bikes on the interstate at 75mph, and also on some curvy roads, and all has been great.
its like that tv commercial. always check if you have bikes on your roof before you go in the garage. and yes im speaking from experience too.:drummer:
TBrock
New member
No, but I think I know who you're talking about.
And yes .. my stalking game is on point.
Antman
Elite Member
Well, my CB blew up.
Totally my fault though! From putting the antenna up and down so much, the cable frayed and grounded itself out. Water had been getting into the cable too because when I cut it everything inside was corroded to hell.
I decided to fix it, and then I remembered that I had a No-Ground Plane antenna (NGP). You cannot alter the cable length, not even 1/2". Then I noticed the rust on the rack.:scared:
Time for a new setup.
I started researching options for a more permanent antenna setup that kept the wires inside the vehicle. I went back and forth on a roof mount but decided against it mostly because our roof has ridiculously thin sheet metal.
Then I remembered [MENTION=90395]Sundog7121[/MENTION] setup... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/158918-lets-see-them-cb-antenna-mounts-2.html#post1656716
I thought, man that guy has some balls! But it looked so good!!
So, I PM'd Sundog about 60 times with some questions (great guy, THANK YOU!) and I thought I was ready to go.
WRONG! (But read on because all turned out well!)
HAHA! I was right about the balls part! Drilling a 1"+ hole and three 1/4" holes in that spot is kinda scary, even for me. When he told me he modified the mounting bracket for the ball-mount I kinda took that part for granted- big mistake.
But let's back up a bit here...
This is the heavy duty ball mount from Accessories Unlimited model#AUBALL
I had plans to work on this all day- even took the boat out of the garage overnight (the horror!) for more room. Well, both daughters had major meltdowns over important stuff like who had who's lipgloss, and who deleted the Mindcraft roller coaster :help: , so I didn't even start until 8:45pm. NBD
I swear I spent 45 minutes making 100% sure I had the right spot to drill, checking and double checking.
Taped, marked, good to go. 1 1/4" hole saw, no problem. Drilled through both inner and outer sheet metal like a dream.
Now the three 1/4" holes. Upper hole, check. Lower left, check. Upper right- huh? No inner sheet metal there?
Ahh, the sheet metal curves inward and ...there...is ...no access from inside the truck. So that's what he meant about modifying the bracket. Too late now! Sweat starts, coffee is made.
All plans to take blurry pictures are gone...
So the next 2 hours were spent figuring out a solution without cutting another hole! How to tighten a nut that I could only get to from the outside...
With the tail light out, I could feed a grabber tool up there and see it behind the hole. I rigged it up to hold a nut/lock washer just right and by sheer friggin' miracle was actually able to start a loooong (4" I think!) bolt onto that nut.
With a combination of outward pressure, sideways force, "C'mon you M'Fer's" and red threadlocker I got that sucker tight as a drum.
Crisis averted.
Time, 1:30 am.
My wife was none too happy at this point when I started grinding the inner bracket to fit- our bedroom is above the garage, haha!
I finally finished the mount at 2:50 am, which happened to be the exact time I had gotten up that morning. Exhausted.
Here are some pics that show the mount installed and the inner/outer sheet metal...
Overall, the mount is very strong and works great! Can't say I would recommend this install for everyone though...
I also went with a Midland 1001lwx CB this time around. I wanted NOAA weather, a PA jack and a compact package and this is it- plus it's very inexpensive. My SWR readings are well below 1.5, radio checks have been great! I do have some flush mount plans for this CB in the near(?) future in a place I haven't seen anyone else do yet...:bump2:
Anyway, pics of that and the PA speaker. My girls have a blast with that thing in parking lots!
Happy modding!
Totally my fault though! From putting the antenna up and down so much, the cable frayed and grounded itself out. Water had been getting into the cable too because when I cut it everything inside was corroded to hell.
I decided to fix it, and then I remembered that I had a No-Ground Plane antenna (NGP). You cannot alter the cable length, not even 1/2". Then I noticed the rust on the rack.:scared:
Time for a new setup.
I started researching options for a more permanent antenna setup that kept the wires inside the vehicle. I went back and forth on a roof mount but decided against it mostly because our roof has ridiculously thin sheet metal.
Then I remembered [MENTION=90395]Sundog7121[/MENTION] setup... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/158918-lets-see-them-cb-antenna-mounts-2.html#post1656716
I thought, man that guy has some balls! But it looked so good!!
So, I PM'd Sundog about 60 times with some questions (great guy, THANK YOU!) and I thought I was ready to go.
WRONG! (But read on because all turned out well!)
HAHA! I was right about the balls part! Drilling a 1"+ hole and three 1/4" holes in that spot is kinda scary, even for me. When he told me he modified the mounting bracket for the ball-mount I kinda took that part for granted- big mistake.
But let's back up a bit here...
This is the heavy duty ball mount from Accessories Unlimited model#AUBALL
I had plans to work on this all day- even took the boat out of the garage overnight (the horror!) for more room. Well, both daughters had major meltdowns over important stuff like who had who's lipgloss, and who deleted the Mindcraft roller coaster :help: , so I didn't even start until 8:45pm. NBD
I swear I spent 45 minutes making 100% sure I had the right spot to drill, checking and double checking.
Taped, marked, good to go. 1 1/4" hole saw, no problem. Drilled through both inner and outer sheet metal like a dream.
Now the three 1/4" holes. Upper hole, check. Lower left, check. Upper right- huh? No inner sheet metal there?
Ahh, the sheet metal curves inward and ...there...is ...no access from inside the truck. So that's what he meant about modifying the bracket. Too late now! Sweat starts, coffee is made.
All plans to take blurry pictures are gone...
So the next 2 hours were spent figuring out a solution without cutting another hole! How to tighten a nut that I could only get to from the outside...
With the tail light out, I could feed a grabber tool up there and see it behind the hole. I rigged it up to hold a nut/lock washer just right and by sheer friggin' miracle was actually able to start a loooong (4" I think!) bolt onto that nut.
With a combination of outward pressure, sideways force, "C'mon you M'Fer's" and red threadlocker I got that sucker tight as a drum.
Crisis averted.
Time, 1:30 am.
My wife was none too happy at this point when I started grinding the inner bracket to fit- our bedroom is above the garage, haha!
I finally finished the mount at 2:50 am, which happened to be the exact time I had gotten up that morning. Exhausted.
Here are some pics that show the mount installed and the inner/outer sheet metal...
Overall, the mount is very strong and works great! Can't say I would recommend this install for everyone though...
I also went with a Midland 1001lwx CB this time around. I wanted NOAA weather, a PA jack and a compact package and this is it- plus it's very inexpensive. My SWR readings are well below 1.5, radio checks have been great! I do have some flush mount plans for this CB in the near(?) future in a place I haven't seen anyone else do yet...:bump2:
Anyway, pics of that and the PA speaker. My girls have a blast with that thing in parking lots!
Happy modding!
Sundog7121
Member
This is an AWESOME write-up. Hats off to Antman -- he is sure a mod champion.
Antman
Elite Member
....Nah
This is better...
Not quite as "flush-mount" as I was hoping for, but still a nice result IMO.
Just a few passes with a dremel, some wire/plug relocation and a right angle coax plug and viola! The case for this CB is exactly the same dimensions as opening for the small storage area. Even the rounded edges are the same on the front side- crazy!
More pics...
I have an external speaker, but honestly it's quite loud mounted this way. It's almost like the console is acting as a big speaker box.
What do you guys think?
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Jhalko
New member
I think that Diamond K400 sitting in my garage is going to be much easier...
2014 Warthog
New member
That's pretty sweet looking all buttoned up there.
I DO use that slot a lot on road trips, but... that's a nice snug, clean fit
Antman
Elite Member
OK- Since I'm friendly with a Dremel, I massaged the CB a little bit and got it to fit in there better.
Basically I cut the chassis and reconnected the front about 5/8" closer. I was able to use holes that were already there to fasten it together, bonus! Then it was just a matter of trimming the plastic covers to fit. Piece of cake. I probably could have gone another 1/4" but I think this is pretty close to what I was hoping to accomplish. :rockon:
I think I'm done with this one...:biggrin2:
Basically I cut the chassis and reconnected the front about 5/8" closer. I was able to use holes that were already there to fasten it together, bonus! Then it was just a matter of trimming the plastic covers to fit. Piece of cake. I probably could have gone another 1/4" but I think this is pretty close to what I was hoping to accomplish. :rockon:
I think I'm done with this one...:biggrin2:
Antman
Elite Member
Thanks!
Personal preference.
If you look back in my thread a few years (lol), you will see that my original setup was the Cobra 75. It's a nice radio, but I wanted the ability to have a PA system and a better mic. Plus, I've pretty much always had a CB and I really prefer the more traditional/compact units versus the all-in-one versions.
KiruxaT4R
New member
Yes I remember seeing the cobra install somewhere in 90+ pages of browsing:bounce:
kittyhawksurf
New member
OMG, my wife and I were cracking up. Cup holders on the bumper. Freakin genius. Now I know what someone meant when they commented about that on thread I put up yesterday.
Engineer
New member
Wait....... 177 posts and you are just now figuring out Antman cup holders........folks we have a winner! :hiding:
Antman
Elite Member
lol- that someone was ME!
op2:
Ron4RNevada
New member
Great idea. I think everyone would like to see the ANTMAN truck in person. I think there is a need for a 15 minute u-tube video - Just walking around and thru the truck pointing out the gadgets......
Then we'd need an index of the video something like:
1:22 = bumper cup holders
3.56 = cb in console
6.44 = hidden compressor
7.10 = xxxx
Oh - and the u-tube would have to be on a seperate thread so easy to find - rather than surfing thru 91 pages of this thread..
I must admit though that wandering thru here has been fun.
Then we'd need an index of the video something like:
1:22 = bumper cup holders
3.56 = cb in console
6.44 = hidden compressor
7.10 = xxxx
Oh - and the u-tube would have to be on a seperate thread so easy to find - rather than surfing thru 91 pages of this thread..
I must admit though that wandering thru here has been fun.
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