Tundras live: Dumb Dad Jokes, Incorrect Opinions, and Relationship Advice.

Rented this pos for a day, Mitsubishi XPander Cross

 

Again, proportions are off.

I like my BIL's Mitsubishi outlander for the build quality, but it's also several years old and a super base model. I only drove it for a day, but it was really well done on the interior. He's a super penny pincher so it was as cheap as they make them, so I imagine higher trims would have even better materials.

Not sure if current gen Mitsubishis are on par for quality, and I know nothing of their longevity.

 

Stop, or you're gonna give him Subaru Baja flashbacks... IE>>> rear facing jump seats at the drive-in w/his sister...

#PTSD

 

Yeah, this thing was cheap and gutless. It had good A/C and plenty of headroom though so I was happy

 

Savage

 

I have no idea where else to put this so I'm putting it in here.

Thank you @2020Platinum for providing the info on the hose size for the oil filter! I'm planning to do my break in oil change soon, and I think @VelcrowKnight is as well, and that bit of hose was something I knew I wanted to have.

Video should start at the time stamp that shows what I'm talking about for those who don't have a 3rd Gen.

https://youtu.be/zvJ-EKWoVII?t=665

 

Wagyu was delicious.

it was the ribeye cut.

I really enjoyed the way the marbling infuses all that fatty goodness.

I obeyed the group & salted it 4 hours in advance.

I'm not sure I would buy it - going forward. that stuff is expensive.




RAS - I was too lethargic to install the RAS suspension things. maybe this week.

I have a prejudice about working around the leaf springs.
When I installed the tractions bars, I thought the leaf springs were going to kill me.

all the youtubes say it's an easy install - takes about an hour.

 

My personal phone?

 

I rented time at a local mechanic shop and was glad I did. Much easier to work on that stuff when all the tools are available and you're not on the ground.

 

Back seat? Yes.
So four doors? No!

Truck bed? Yes
Fit a washer and dryer? NO! Probably not even one; but make it look like you could load one.

Okay, this isn't a truck...it's a car trying to look all "K5" with the back cut off.
Fine...Design steps into the bumper and put a couple thin AL bars across the back window to give it the headache rack look.

 

https://youtu.be/hVAaTljjykI?si=YdKi1qDf68_MYipX

 

If you have questions, let me know...

Regarding the leaf springs... You are not going to be removing the bolts, etc. that hold them in place. You'll simply take the 2 nuts off so you can remove the 'bracket', which will allow you to get the 'hook' of the RAS over the eyelet... and then you'll immediately slide the bracket back on and tighten the leaf spring bolt back up. Only do one side at a time... and just be cautious to not tap the leaf spring bolts out while you're working

Here I found a couple of pics... Sorry about the dirt

In the pictures below, you'll remove the nut ONLY that you see at the eyelet... Also if you look above that one, you'll remove the second nut which is above the visible one, and it's accessed through the hole you see in the frame. Once those 2 nuts are off, slide the bracket off. I had one side under tension and one came right off. I'm guess that's because my driveway is sloped, so my jack stands probably had varying degrees of 'support' for each side resulting in the set up being a little cadewampus... If you find there's tension or binding in getting the bracket to pop off, just be careful to pry in a way that pushes the bolt out...




Make sure you support the vehicle's rear by jackstands under the front eyelets of the leaf springs. You'll have to jack the rear end significantly high to give you enough droop after you lower the jack to give the rear end full extension; you'll need to remove the rear tires to make the 'unloading' part a bit easier (just be cautious not to drop the axle on the ground)... I was surprised at how much travel I had at full extension. It's critical for the RAS to be installed when the rear end is at full extension. I underestimated the extension on my first try and had to start over w/the part of the process w/a higher pin point on my jackstands....

For safety, in addition to the jackstands under the front eyelets, I had my floor jack under the rear differential (just a hair below it), and I also had jackstands under my sliders and under the rear axle... Probably overkill, but I was worried about twisting the handle on the jack to far and lowering the rear end too fast...

Go slow, stop if something doesn't feel right or looks weird to you and seek help if you need to. Their customer service line is pretty responsive, and if you're doing it during the night you can always hit me up

Took me a couple of hours, and I went pretty slow to make sure I wasn't setting a leaf spring free, etc...

To be safe, give yourself 3 or 4 hours so you have plenty of time to stop, assess, investigate and even get help if you need it.

 

Any of them... If you don't answer, is someone gonna die??? If not, it can wait

 

I will follow this process.

Rain storm coming Tuesday/Wed.....that would be fine time for some garage work..

 

Probably how it went down.. while drinking and smoking god knows what

 

Bit of gooogle shows that is a Ram 700. Apparently a re-added fiat truck only sold in Mexico and South America.

 

The term "fiat truck" is laughable at best.

The RAM is a re-badged Fiat Strada.

 

@nobodyintexas

Here's a little inspirational photo for you

Post RAS install w/setting on the thinner disc... truck now has just a slight amount of rake to it



Prior to the RAS it was 'level' as per the Pro suspension, but to me it always looked a little squatted

 

I like it.

I don't want too much lift in the rear. (stop it...just stop it)



question...since I will only haul the damn boat ~once a year....can I come back & torque it up whenever I need to?

 

"north Mexico"

now, that's funny.

 

Better stop doing those heavy leg days.




Couldn't resist.

 

You can... but you have to unload the rear suspension to do it:

Jack up at the rear differential
Jack stands under the front leaf spring eyelets
Remove rear wheels
Lower rear end and unload the suspension
Make adjustments to the RAS
...and reverse the process.

However, I'd shoot for a setting that works in both conditions if you can find a happy medium. So, when you need to snatch the boat up, you can just go get it and not spend an hour messing the truck. But, that's just me...

My suggestion to you is to set it at the thinner disc or between the thin and thicker disc to start. You may find that you don't need to be at maximum tension of the RAS when towing.

Also, another point that I don't remember seeing in the instructions or within the videos is this: Open the RAS as much as possible before you start bolting it in place. The photo below shows the forward part of the set up, and if possible you want this bolt and bushing a far from the last hole as possible (it's currently in the last hole).... The rep advised that if you can get the bolt through the 2nd or 3rd hole from the end, it will help maximize the efficiency of the set up. I was able to get the bushing and bolt in the 2nd hole from the end, but my understanding is that everyone's truck is a bit different and everyone will have different results.

 

Understood.

And, thank you.

that last paragraph is gold.

 

I love the Do Not Disturb feature on Android phones (I'm sure iPhones have one too). DND is whatever times I choose, including all the time, and unless you're in my address book my phone doesn't ring. Granted, my boss is in my address book; but then I'll at least know it's him calling...

 

Yuhp...

My phone is on 'silent' 90% of the time, and I have important people set to 'emergency bypass' in my contacts list.... This way they'll ring through even when I'm on silent

 

Same. Even when not in silent mode I have it set to a subtle vibrate mode that can is custom set up in sounds and haptics.

 

What is this RAS of which you all speak?
It must have something to do with this antiquated horse and buggy suspension.

 

https://activesuspension.com/produc...MIzZOsz9iMjQMVGw6tBh2W3h28EAAYASAAEgIcRfD_BwE