CrewMax Overlander

Not difficult to get your Technician license. Basics of operating, a little electrical theory, some other tidbits. The General license gets a little bit more involved. I'm currently studying for that one. You can pick up study guides from ARRL or use one of the practice test websites.

http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/index.html
https://hamstudy.org/

There's also some flash card like apps for your phone.

I read through the book, because I like pictures, to get a general idea of stuff then just kept taking the practice exams until I was consistently 95-100%. I took the test over the hood of a truck in the middle of the Anza Borrego desert. Thankfully, I passed on the first try.

 

I'm taking her out for a real shake down run this Saturday. There will be plenty of pictures coming.

 

beautiful rig!

 

thank you sir

 

Have you seen the setup that SDHQ had on their original title era? They had a ham and cb inside the center console. Super clean install. I asked them to see if they would produce it, ut I never got a yes or no.

Edit....
Found their build and the bracket.

 

Forgive me for asking what may be a dumb question, but is that a combo CB/HAM then? It looks to be one radio.

 

I have. Not how I want it though. CB I use is a Midland which puts everything in the mic. Keeps it small. For the HAM, the unit has a detachable face plate. I'd like to mount it where the sunglass holder is. SDHQ had a SwitchPros mount for that spot that I think could be made to work. Maybe with a RAM mount or something. In my FJ, that's where I had it and really liked it being up and out of the way. I'll see if I can find a photo.

No, not combo. 2 separate units.

 

It's technically a race radio and a comm system for headsets. Usually the comm systems are used for hardcore Offroad rigs and Baja trucks. Not sure why there is one in the sdhq build, but apparently they thought they needed one. My thinking was race radio and cb, instead of the comm system.

 

I've read a little about them on BillaVista.com. The thing with race radios is that the the frequencies are generally pre-programmed into the buttons correct? What sort of benefit would that be if you're just a weekend off-roader? I mean unless you go run trails with a specific group of people I'd think you'd want the ability to switch frequencies whenever you want.

 

Negative sir. Depends on the model. I can type in whatever frequency I want into mine.

Something like this:
https://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=810&products_id=1873

 

Are those Spyder head and tail lights? I'm about to install the same ones on my truck tomorrow. Were they difficult?

 

Nope, they're Recons but probably very similar. Tails were totally plug and play. I had to hardwire the LED/DRL strip on the headlights. Not a big deal, just put an add-a-fuse on the ignition fuse in the fuse box under the hood.

 

Spent some time noodling around for CB and HAM antenna mounting ideas. I have a Midland 75-822 and Firestick on the way from Right Channel Radios. Same setup I had in the FJ. Good radio and I liked the compact size. I wasn't sure where to mount the antenna. With the FJ, I had what they called a bandi mount which allowed for an antenna to be mounted on the outside hinge of the rear door. It worked really well but, the Tundra doesn't have a spot like that.

One idea was to put a NGP mount on the side of the topper shell but I'd rather limit the number of holes I have to drill through the truck. I could've used an NMO mount in the roof but, more on that in a second. Then there's hood mounts which is a bracket that uses a fender bolt under the hood. Also thought about sticking it on the front bumper but then I'd need a huge antenna to clear the roof line. I want subtle and low key.

I grabbed a ********, who I know from Rising Sun, hood mount yesterday but someone pointed me to this little piece of electronic

$50 Varies AM/FM & CB Radio 3-Way Antenna Splitter

wizadry.



It's a splitter that allows me to use the stereo antenna as a CB antenna. Can't get much more subtle than that. It'd cut down on the range but I figure the CB is really trail use only. If I need range, that is what the HAM is for. Anyway, we'll see how it works as I like the idea but if it totally sucks, I'll throw the hood mount on with the Firestick.

For the HAM, I'll be using a Diamond antenna which, again, I had used in the past. With the FJ, I had it on the roof rack with a foldable mount which was nice. This time around, I'm leaning towards an NMO mount in the roof. Only problem is that I don't know where to put it yet as I haven't figured out what I'll be doing for a roof rack. With my luck, I'd drill the hole, get everything set up, find a rack I like and realize that the cross bars go directly over the NMO mount.

I really like the racks over at Prinsu Design but he's more of a Taco guy and completely buried right now. So, I'll probably talk to ******** about making one for me.

Started gathering quotes yesterday for a 4.88 + locker install...

 

@the_midwesterner, this is where I had my HAM mounted in the FJ.



I had pulled the headliner down, took a 6" chunk of 2x4 and epoxied it to the roof. After it had set up, I drilled a RAM mount into the wood. Super stable and I really liked having it up and out of the way. I'd like to figure out something similar in the Tundra. I happen to be using the sunglass holder these day but if I have to pull it out, I could live with it.

 

I didn't realize this was a thing. I am copying this.

This spot looks awesome. I am in the same boat though, but instead of using the sunglass holder, I put the sPOD delete panel in there with switches.

Lastly, I forgot to mention it earlier, look up gearinstalls.com on the ol' web.

This is a guy who is retired and did diff work as a profession, now he just does it from his house. He is super detailed and takes pics/measurements for every. single. step. He is super popular with the Land Cruiser crowd and will be getting my business. He does both the 3rd members and clamshell types for a very reasonable price. You just handle the shipment there of the parts and diffs, he does the rest and ships them back. Don't let his website fool you, its super old, but all the links are of the vehicles that he has built diffs for. He's done tundras with 4.88s and lockers.

 

I didn't either. I was pretty stoked when I saw it. Should be here Friday so we'll see what happens.

I'll check out the website.

 

Spent some time over at HRO the other afternoon. It's both a blessing and a curse to have that place 5 min down the road from the house. Poked around some of the new radios. Decided against putting an HF unit into the truck. I'll go with what I know, Yaesu's FTM-400, as it has the APRS function I really like. Bec also appreciates it so she knows where I am when I'm out in the boonies. None of the current HF units have APRS which is fine as it'll save me a bit of money. Now I just need to figure out the mounting.

Got a ship notice from Demello on my sliders. It'll be nice to have those on the truck.

Expedition One is still trying to track down my winch. Rear bumper should be shipping out at the end of the month.

Still no title from Toyota. Need to call them again tomorrow. It's completely asinine.

Heading out Saturday morning for a little trail maintenance/clean up with the Forest Service. Stretch the truck. Stretch the lungs. Give back a little. Should be a pleasant morning.

 

Which sliders did you go with?

 

The normal ones, the hybrids. Had them on my FJ and I like to stay with what works.

 

I have the dominators on my truck and I love them. Super stout.

 

Here ya go. Few pics of her out on the trail last weekend.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with your truck!
I love everything about it but hate that it isn't mine HAHA.

 

What HID's did you go with in the headlights?

 

55w HID conversion kit from Toytec

 

Your truck is beautiful.

 

very nice ! thanks for the pics

 

So, I was cleaning the truck up last night and Piper came outside to help dry.

P: We need to name the truck.
Me: We do?
P: Yes. And it needs to be a girls' name.
Me: Ok.
P: It looks like Darth Vader but he's a boy.
Me: So what would you like?
P: Dara Vader. Now, paint some buttons on the side.

 

Put SDHQ's ABS guards on all four corners for a little extra insurance.



Cut off the offending piece and tweaked the alignment on the Demello sliders. Probably still need to trim the ends and give the flares a little more breathing room.



As long as @ColoradoTJ is showing me how to weld, after trimming the ends, I'll probably just weld these to the frame rather than putting the extra bolts into the frame.

 

Finished off a couple of little things over the weekend.

Wrapped the rear handles with a 2 color cobra weave.



Bec has now asked me to knit her a sweater. Driver side grab handle is on order. Once that arrives, I'll wrap the fronts.

Wired up the Blue Sea block up front. There was just enough space on the fuse box lid to put it on there. Since the run is so short, I used 8 gauge wire with a 100 amp fuse.



Then, I wired in the CB to the first slot. Still need to figure out the antenna. The splitter box I bought only works with antenna cords that have an RCA plug on it. Stock head unit does not connect that way so I can't use the splitter. Spent a little bit of time exploring behind the dash but can't find any place to run the coax out into the engine bay. I guess I could cut the end off, feed it through the firewall plug then recrimp a new connector. Might need to borrow some coax tools from someone. For now, I'll just use it with the attached stubby while I try to figure out what to do with 18' of coax. I need to put a mic clip on the dash.

 

Great looking rig! I hope you post pictures frequently.