Wannabe Baja Racer RR

[rocsteady]

Added the driver side pivot box today. After seeing how much I could get into the passenger side (small tire inflator, tie down straps, bungee cords, gloves, some gorilla tape and small tool bag), I decided to do the other one as well. Able to move my recovery gear (tow rope, tree saver, D-rings, hitch shackle, soft shackles), as well as a sponge, spray wax, and drying towel into the box. Recovery gear had been in a canvas bag, taking up the rear passenger footwell, so I'm happy to get that space back.

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[rocsteady]

You saved yourself, and family, a lot of money selling the Shelby. Ask me how I know!

Enjoy that new Raptor!

Hint, to save money on your new Raptor, stop reading the posts in this forum right now!

picture, me racing one of my Shelby race cars vintage racing at Texas World Raceway, College Station TX.

Man I can't get your Shelby out of my head!! Those fastback Mustangs of that time are great, but the Shelby look and sound took it to a whole new level. Would love to have one in the garage for sunny day cruising, car shows trips... just threw a bunch of money at a raffle for a '66 K-code one but I don't find out that I'm the lucky winner until next June!?

 

[rocsteady]

After initially being totally bummed that the Diode Dynamic light bar I had from my previous truck didn't fit, saw a couple guys successfully install similar lights. Thanks to @Richie I knew it could be done and had some more evidence to prove it. Didn't take any pics after I hacked a hole in the center support and took even less of the not exactly show quality job I did on the back of the grille trimming it around the light. However, the finished product looks just fine and I am embarrassingly thrilled to be able to actually have one of those switches in the overhead console actually do something.

So terrific that they already had wiring present that ran to the aforementioned switches. This is after I attached the light bar's wiring to them and finished off with some electrical tape. My light's wiring is covered by the red and black sheath running to the right of where I'm pointing.

And the money shots!! I do like the amber, especially after doing the mod around the headlights.

 

[rocsteady]

Had a blast in the unplowed areas near us for most of the day.

including a little surprise "off roading" when a 5 mph, uphill bend surprised me with how icy it was. Luckily, curb was tiny and I got the front wheels pointed at it before I went over. Kinda eye-opening as I had been out over an hour and hadn't hit anything this slick. Oops. No harm no foul though it appears.

 

[rocsteady]

Following weekend we got a good amount again. I'm guessing 12-15" plus? Here's the bed about half emptied and the truck before cleaned and after taking it out for a bit.

 

[superj]

holy cow! that makes me worried about spinning out just looking your pictures.

i have never lived in a snowy place is why. we got snow one time at fort benning in 96 and i slid all over in my karmann ghia (intentionally slid, ha ha ha) but other then that, never lived anywhere that snows so i see all the videos on youtube and get worried about people sliding into others

 

[rocsteady]

holy cow! that makes me worried about spinning out just looking your pictures.

i have never lived in a snowy place is why. we got snow one time at fort benning in 96 and i slid all over in my karmann ghia (intentionally slid, ha ha ha) but other then that, never lived anywhere that snows so i see all the videos on youtube and get worried about people sliding into others

Well, if you don't leave it in 2WD AND turn off as much of the traction control as possible AND try to get the car drifting at every opportunity, I think you'd be fine.

 

[superj]

ha ha ha. so if your car isn't old school, its fine.

when do you guys need to use chains in the snow? how does everyone know when to do that?

an if you live in a major town, do they clear the neighborhood roads or just the main roads.

you know what, we had to go to denver a few years ago and it was really snowy. we were in our mazda6 and it had zero problems, other then when we got off the main roads into the neighborhood. the snow was deep enough that car was scraping the whole way in the middle since the tire tracks were to the asphalt but the center and sides were like 16 inches deep. but it never got stuck. i always thought since its a front wheel drive it would do better in the snow.

my youngest son was stationed at fort carson in colorado springs and he said his wrangler had a heck of a time in the snow because he was set up for the beach driving with wide tires. those tires didn't do well on ice or slippery roads because, i assume, they were all terrains.

 

[rocsteady]

ha ha ha. so if your car isn't old school, its fine.

when do you guys need to use chains in the snow? how does everyone know when to do that?

an if you live in a major town, do they clear the neighborhood roads or just the main roads.

you know what, we had to go to denver a few years ago and it was really snowy. we were in our mazda6 and it had zero problems, other then when we got off the main roads into the neighborhood. the snow was deep enough that car was scraping the whole way in the middle since the tire tracks were to the asphalt but the center and sides were like 16 inches deep. but it never got stuck. i always thought since its a front wheel drive it would do better in the snow.

my youngest son was stationed at fort carson in colorado springs and he said his wrangler had a heck of a time in the snow because he was set up for the beach driving with wide tires. those tires didn't do well on ice or slippery roads because, i assume, they were all terrains.

Around here it's pretty flat so very few places chains would be necessary or recommended. Plus main roads in most places are cleared relatively quickly. Some side streets and small neighborhoods near us don't get cleared very quickly at all however.

Driving around in 12-15" of snow this weekend, many places unplowed and the Raptor had no issue at all. 4WD and AWD make quick work of most driving conditions. When it starts to get icy or if it's a layer of ice and not much else, all bets are off and you drive at your own peril; betting on your luck and the skills of others on the road.

 

[rocsteady]

Did get a pretty good amount of snow. Piled up where it was plowed in the shopping centers.

 

[spazzyfry123]

Added the driver side pivot box today. After seeing how much I could get into the passenger side (small tire inflator, tie down straps, bungee cords, gloves, some gorilla tape and small tool bag), I decided to do the other one as well. Able to move my recovery gear (tow rope, tree saver, D-rings, hitch shackle, soft shackles), as well as a sponge, spray wax, and drying towel into the box. Recovery gear had been in a canvas bag, taking up the rear passenger footwell, so I'm happy to get that space back.

Many months in, how are you liking the boxes?

I currently just have a cargo organizer thing off Amazon I had in the trunk of a car from years ago. With the Softopper and a rubber bed mat, it sits in place and is fine to toss some small things in if I stop at a store or something. Lately I’ve been considering one of these boxes as a more permanent option rather than a loose box of sorts. Do you have dedicated items in there or do you ever toss random things in there while you’re out and about?

 

[rocsteady]

Many months in, how are you liking the boxes?

I currently just have a cargo organizer thing off Amazon I had in the trunk of a car from years ago. With the Softopper and a rubber bed mat, it sits in place and is fine to toss some small things in if I stop at a store or something. Lately I’ve been considering one of these boxes as a more permanent option rather than a loose box of sorts. Do you have dedicated items in there or do you ever toss random things in there while you’re out and about?

I really like them as they hold way more than it looks like they should. I have one full of recovery gear: tow strap, tree saver, soft shackles, tow point, couple "Matt's Straps" ratchet straps, some bungee cords, small air compressor for tires while in the other I have a gaggle of stuff to wash the truck when I'm at work out of the elements, sponges, drying towels, "wet suit" gloves for washing when it's colder out, couple small water jugs.
Nice the way they rotate out so you don't have to crawl up in the bed, I'm too short to reach over the side and all the way to the bottom of the boxes. They don't seem to let any water in and are reasonably secure when locked.

 

[spazzyfry123]

I really like them as they hold way more than it looks like they should. I have one full of recovery gear: tow strap, tree saver, soft shackles, tow point, couple "Matt's Straps" ratchet straps, some bungee cords, small air compressor for tires while in the other I have a gaggle of stuff to wash the truck when I'm at work out of the elements, sponges, drying towels, "wet suit" gloves for washing when it's colder out, couple small water jugs.
Nice the way they rotate out so you don't have to crawl up in the bed, I'm too short to reach over the side and all the way to the bottom of the boxes. They don't seem to let any water in and are reasonably secure when locked.

They seem pretty rad. Do they do a full 180 to come out over the tailgate and clear the bed? I need to be able to open them up without having to fiddle with my topper. If they don’t pivot all the way out allowing the lid to be opened without interference (topper, tonneau cover, etc), it may be a nonstarter for me.

And last question… I’m assuming the driver side blocks the power blocks and would need to be swung out to gain access? I’d prefer a driver side mount, but if it blocks, I’ll get the passenger side.

Thanks! Truck is slick!

 

[rocsteady]

They seem pretty rad. Do they do a full 180 to come out over the tailgate and clear the bed? I need to be able to open them up without having to fiddle with my topper. If they don’t pivot all the way out allowing the lid to be opened without interference (topper, tonneau cover, etc), it may be a nonstarter for me.

And last question… I’m assuming the driver side blocks the power blocks and would need to be swung out to gain access? I’d prefer a driver side mount, but if it blocks, I’ll get the passenger side.

Thanks! Truck is slick!

I think there might be an interference problem for you. This is as far as it goes:

 

[spazzyfry123]

I think there might be an interference problem for you. This is as far as it goes:

Bah! That’s too bad. I thought this would be a silver bullet to my situation. I assume by opening the lid, it raises higher than the top plane of the bed (or bottom plane of a cover).

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