ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Build Diaries, How-To, DIY => Topic started by: olija on February 15, 2017, 08:35:10 PM
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Put plates on the rig for the summer and took it out for the first time this year with my wife and little guy on a short easy trail close to home. He sure loved all the bumping around.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/32980338_10156155441390751_817679086448017408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=fc104a33aadf87fc66946e4fcb1229d8&oe=5B96EBDF)
The OME springs make all the difference in the front.Worth every penny. Now I am casually searching for some rear springs that will work, or else just bite the bullet and get OME rears with a spacer to get the extra height I need. I also still need to clearance the rear fenders and set up some limiting straps to prevent excessive topping out of the front end.
AND when I went to retorque my wheel spacer nuts, a couple of studs had some really buggered threads so I need to replace some studs and maybe try some long, thin tuner nuts instead of the stupid short, fat ones that came with these Ultra wheels that the previous owner put on.I think the problem is caused by the tight fit between the socket and the rim as you are starting the threads and trying to center the rim on the studs at the same time. I'm just glad I'm dealing with this now and not on the side of the road somewhere.
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Looking good! Xl7 is definitely the family man's Suzuki.
Anxious to see more.
Eric
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I like the welds on that CV conversion.
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looks good glad you got it figured out
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Some progress updates: Got the front diff installed without too much unexpected issue. Geoff from Zukination told me the exhaust crossover pipe interferes with the front driveshaft, and sure enough, it did, so I needed to take a drift and hammer and beat a little more of a recess into it than is already there. The other issue is when the front diff is installed, there's only about 1/8" clearance between the bottom-most reinforcing rib and the top of the crossmember. I was told to heat it up with an oxyacetelene torch and massage it for a little extra clearance, but I don't have a torch at the shop I'm working at so I will tackle that once I get it back out on the road.
One thing I found unique about the AE lift compared to others, is that they use a "coil shim" between the spring perch and the factory spring isolator on top of the front coil. The instructions don't include a diagram of how they are supposed to go in, so I took my best guess at it on one side, and found I had no down-travel in the front end when it was all together, so I emailed Geoff and he said I had put the shim in upside down so it was sitting ON the spring perch, not IN the spring perch. Took it apart and flipped the shim, assembled the front end completely, and everything is looking good.
The rear is basically done with the exception of the lower control arm-to-frame bolts. They were seized into the sleeves so I had to cut them out. The hardest part was getting the brake line apart after 14 years but I managed with a little persistence.
Sorry only 1 pic for now.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17103731_10154858710765751_6062437856737675272_n.jpg?oh=8cc27ac6b452932b47904e42305121cc&oe=5925C1DC)
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is the rear trailing arms move your rear axle back? does it require driveshaft spacer?
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I quote AE's website concerning their extended rear link kit:
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For all you out there that have the Spacer Lift or Spacer Lift/Body Combo and have the major tire contact issue in the rear, we have the solution to your problems! When using spacers to lift the 99 + Vitara/Tracker, the spacers lift the vehicle but unfortunetely without the associated pan hard drop bracket your rear axle is pushed out of center. Combine this with the Vitara's naturally small wheel wells and short rear links and you end up with major contact between the tires and the wheel wells in the rear during up travel. The end result being torn up tires and damaged body panels.... To combat this we have developed extended links, both upper and lower, that push the rear axle back eliminating the contact. Included in this kit is a pan hard drop bracket to recenter your axle and a driveshaft spacer to correct the driveline for its new length.
Complete kit includes upper and lower extended links, pan hard drop bracket, all bushings, sleeves, and hardware needed, plus associated length driveshaft spacer to extend the driveshaft to match the new wheel base.
Minor trimming may be needed on stock rear bumper depending on tire size and amount of spacer lift.
I'm actually a little confused how the wheelbase is supposed to change when only the upper links are longer, so I sent AE another email to see what they say. There is also supposed to be a rear driveshaft spacer and track bar bracket but they said since the XL7 uses a 2-piece rear driveshaft with a steady bearing as opposed to the GV which has a 1-piece with a slip yoke built into the back of the t-case, there is more travel available in the XL7 setup so the spacer is not required. Regarding the track bar, he said they just finished an install on an XL7 at the time I ordered this kit, and when they put it back on the ground and checked the alignment, the rear axle was in perfect alignment without any modifications.
I also forgot to mention at the beginning of this thread...the reason I went with the Aerostar coils in the back was because AE's lift is made for a Tracker/Vit/GV, and there are not enough XL7 out there to justify building separate rear coils for them. Around 2003, some XL7's started using larger diameter coil springs (4.75 OD as opposed to roughly 4"), so the springs from the kit would not fit on the spring perches on my axle.
I still need to install the 2" body lift before my 235/80/17's fit in the wheelwells so it will be a little while before this thing sees some miles yet.
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So the verdict on the rear links is that they are longer, just not by a huge amount- just enough to compensate for the lift.
I finished up with the body lift. Was pretty straightforward, just takes a long time to tidy up all the details. I had tried to make my own strut brace mount spacers, but it was easier in the end to just cut the fender holes bigger.
Installed the Balmer Fab front bumper. He shipped it to me raw and with the brackets not welded on just in case there were any differences between my frame and the other Suzuki's he has fit this bumper to. It was a good thing too because the frame is slightly different at the very front. But it all worked out and looks great. Hidden behind the license plate is a 2" reciever.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18157193_10155032444595751_1844064510918454952_n.jpg?oh=281ffeae6cc6804eb8ce9bc5f7aba4f2&oe=59769C99)
Also modified the spare tire mount to accomodate a 32" tire.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18118866_10155032444425751_4662764701496144360_n.jpg?oh=3f80ae8e63fee0e6b24206dc577330f2&oe=59C27D55)
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Sneak preview of what my tire/wheel package is going to be once I get my front end sorted out:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18620044_10155109462190751_8931730473278734912_n.jpg?oh=58b160fb98568d74dc0a45cb307adc07&oe=59BF6AFD)
Went for a test drive to Telkwa Pass.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18664699_10155109450600751_4072058168657260873_n.jpg?oh=639585bfb27116c2d1a535349f3ea2f4&oe=59AE9845)
My son pointing out that I shouldn't be trying things like this until I get the big tires on and finish up the sliders!
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18582239_10155109451205751_2354009132610825583_n.jpg?oh=01dce6430682175ddf128c9a11036529&oe=59A7E92E)
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So if anyone's wondering why I haven't put the larger tires on yet, here's why. I've been trying to sort out some front end issues with my Alter Ego lift kit along with Geoff from Alter Ego. My problem is my front end is only lifted around 1", with the 3" lift springs installed. He says my frame height should be sitting at around 11" with stock tires with the 3" lift and I'm only at 9". My front struts are bottoming out any time I go offroad because with the strut spacers they only have about 3" uptravel. So far we haven't come to a conclusion WHY my XL7 is different than the other ones successfully running the AE 3" lift, but we're going to run a trial on the new A-arms that are part of AE's new 4.5" lift. The A-arms are designed to use the same 3" lift coils that I already have installed, in addition to a modified lower spring seat that gives another 1.5" lift for a total of 4.5". Since mine is sitting almost 2" low, it's probably not going to hurt to add 1.5", plus I gain the benefits of having my front wheels moved forward 1.25", bolt-on replaceable balljoints, and the spring is straight instead of bowed. So here's hoping it all works out, then I can finally run my big tires, get an alignment, and start working on the important stuff like skid plates and rock sliders!
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Built a tranny and t-case skid plate today out of aluminum. I used 2" tall, 1/8" thick corrugated trailer flooring and some 3/16" flat aluminum and lots of bolts and washers and nylock nuts to hold it all together. It's nice and light, was super easy to drill, should be strong enough, and won't ever rust. I bolted the flat pieces to the pre-threaded factory holes in the front suspension and t-case crossmembers, then bolted the corrugated pieces onto the flat pieces so the corrugated sits higher than the bottom of the framerails.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s480x480/18920183_10155161494000751_2221244394874314201_n.jpg?oh=170b185f52fa4e6ba16674b739a37fbe&oe=59A235B4)
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Here's a little better photo of the skid plates:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18922001_10155165249975751_843210778301844957_n.jpg?oh=d08b5668d9edcd99866c0fdb56eceabe&oe=59A33720)
And I put these guys on today:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19105877_10155165250110751_5456429238637108874_n.jpg?oh=e02edf58e0f59de991af9365747d78f5&oe=59D92FA9)
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Got my front end sorted out I think. I initially installed the a-arms with the ball joint mounted to the bottom of the arm for mega clearance, but this gives way too much lift and my struts were topped out permanently. I pulled it apart for the 6th or 7th time and mounted the ball joint on top of the arm (I think this is normal, looking at Calmini's product photo) and also removed the three 1/8" shims from on top of the spring, but this made it sit sort of low in the front so I took it apart again and put 2 shims back in on both sides. With the factory tires I was sitting at 10.25" clearance at the front of the framerail, and 11.5" at the rear, and the suspension looks to have a decent amount of travel in both directions this way. So the next step was to install the new tires. The front ones fit pretty good since the AE arms move the wheel forward, but I removed the mudflaps and will probably need to sledgehammer the back of the front fender still. The rear was a tighter fit; I needed to cut the bumper back about 2" but it was pretty straightforward. I didn't have time to see if the tire contacts the front of the rear wheelwell, I'm hoping not since the tire moves back as it goes up but it will be extremely close.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19420339_10155199914915751_8953869030517716506_n.jpg?oh=d5968e863b5e09708a529e4d46040d2a&oe=59D31F41)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19275324_10155199914690751_6418788773402138209_n.jpg?oh=79eebedbe1eb46346452c8e130b71e61&oe=59E76E4C)
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Interesting read. Manual Xl7's are hard too find.
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Yes they are...I was looking for one for a few months before I found this one. I had to drive all the way to Vancouver to get it but it was worth it!
Now for some flex test pics:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19437553_10155214068565751_4223511055872501846_n.jpg?oh=9a6c246dea3df00483797f2a71944da5&oe=59D00827)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19424237_10155214069155751_3207529950462555293_n.jpg?oh=0aefc892b8b8dc8015b20ecf0ebcac87&oe=59E632EF)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19420632_10155214068745751_7237538914771310553_n.jpg?oh=98ac7d0f15224d9e543e00d8fbaf4142&oe=59E4B319)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19260455_10155214068665751_2514400564000935126_n.jpg?oh=f3c4f15fd00a7f76314606af3fbb41a3&oe=59E5790F)
Front and rear tires are so close to rubbing at full flex it's crazy. I probably have 1/4" between the front of the rear fender and the tire, and there's not much that can be done about that. In the front I think I could give it the sledgehammer treatment at the inboard edge of the plastic liner and it will be good. Those A-arms sure do alot to get the tires away from the firewall...I'm sure if I didn't have them I'd be pulling my hair out trying to stop the rub.
The truck rides really nice, even with the E-rated tires. I've been working on a 2-piece aluminum front skidplate that will go from the front suspension crossmember to a bracket that shares my lower bumper mounting bolt. Got the front half done, just gotta figure out the rear when I get a moment.
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I haven't got any work done on the Zuk since the last update, but I have put a ton of km on it in the last 3 weeks.
Some hard miles:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19665568_10155252646590751_3019351503693407923_n.jpg?oh=d6bdb18d56fee14c76fa506987874912&oe=5A37BE2E)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19665685_10155252649745751_8931302986470618736_n.jpg?oh=2c190af7860226c6f08385c948efda1d&oe=5A018C8E)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19601147_10155252649895751_7101852617563430310_n.jpg?oh=f47299595d296a18e66f627e2f3c17c0&oe=59FDCEFD)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19657220_10155252649250751_1477431833534472280_n.jpg?oh=a6c86f75c279637d29c2d7dc20770a2c&oe=59F3E284)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19702369_10155252650270751_1896669736397445497_n.jpg?oh=63ccb0721c55d1a71633505969b96ff1&oe=59F887D9)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19599006_10155252647440751_9067143993516076861_n.jpg?oh=9940f3a4822577ffc292d2ea49849d10&oe=5A09A3CD)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19665397_10155252647675751_3422476610222286055_n.jpg?oh=5a956406e69fb77a533dd61cd4a86b44&oe=5A341BDE)
I had a lot of trouble getting up the creek bank in the last few photos. The 1.8:1 low-range just doesn't cut it for technical stuff like that. But at least I got to test the durability of the drivetrain, including the welded CV axle...nothing broke despite several hard attempts at the creek exit. In the end I got hung up on a rock between my fuel tank and rear diff and had to get pulled off it, and instead of beating on the Zuk more, I let my buddy with the HJ60 have a go at it and he nailed one of the rocks so hard that we were able to roll it out of my path and then it was no problem after that. The mosquitoes had a hey-day while we were trying to stack rock for the XL though.,,shoulda put a locker in the front while I had it all apart!
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More hard miles:
Telkwa Pass
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20431725_1592716670760060_4262912407488231311_n.jpg?oh=70aed0ac1ef57d661c146eed1b9ad2ac&oe=59FC6FB7)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20245632_1439052709493325_3106705355975650473_n.jpg?oh=aef8561de47bbf51c43ced26c258b6e1&oe=5A0185C3)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20280387_1439053162826613_7874030602484675254_o.jpg?oh=88f86cacfc0d1990c6d9b616961ecc19&oe=59F6677E)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20121530_1439053419493254_8677534402616089170_o.jpg?oh=b73abca731888539b2f2f0000a2f8621&oe=5A00BE87)
Took my Dutch cousin to see the Salmon Glacier up by Hyder, Alaska, 4 hours from my town.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20157590_1439053069493289_3774349134362897180_o.jpg?oh=e56aa831431238d0c71e1b93498f2dfb&oe=59FB2D4F)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20280249_1439053079493288_2239290021215895260_o.jpg?oh=52114e7290bd11e1170d12086d3a8d88&oe=59F5F86D)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20229652_1439052222826707_5692650069195388534_o.jpg?oh=7a0bb042e49bafd3f0889970193873ae&oe=59F315F0)
And the lesser known Bergeron Glacier just down the road:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20229561_1439052696159993_5606596477517483026_o.jpg?oh=14c02680ff14c285cf02166ed0099394&oe=5A09CF51)
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Love that last post... great pictures; great adventure!
-Eric
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Finished my skid plate last week, feels like I lost a whole bunch of clearance...I'm also not too happy with the Alter Ego springs, they just keep sagging and sagging. Had to adjust the camber it sagged so much. Now I'm thinking about swapping to OME springs for a little better performance. In the meantime, did some more wheelin!
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20799331_10155391956705751_1785934489927636312_n.jpg?oh=7508edc14e77252ecb91da03a9e93c5f&oe=5A212689)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20841048_10155391960195751_8644380775203723090_n.jpg?oh=a0e0370b4e4538ced98f332873b11ba5&oe=5A290A69)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20770174_10155391956530751_5387574406242736540_n.jpg?oh=17d3a6a2c7e27773b6b4c3531454c212&oe=5A3315D3)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20842070_10155391959920751_6767888176841604040_n.jpg?oh=fbb73e352a7da40a86d05d3e79682ac8&oe=5A242350)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20798999_10155391956600751_7039680129716375296_n.jpg?oh=d0b6815d21532c1bf175cdb0633e6675&oe=59F11FB3)
The Yotas made things look easy with their lower gears, bigger engines, and rear e-lockers...but the XL7 held its own alright!
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Last week I was in Alberta for a family event so I capitalized on being nearer to the Rockies and checked out a trail I've been meaning to get to for the last 2 years: Ruby Creek, about 2 hours south of Hinton, AB. You basically follow a creekbed for about 20km until you get to a massive rock wall and a beautiful waterfall. We camped there. There is also a nice lake on a side loop which we hit on the return.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21032679_10155423587130751_7107681657728488948_n.jpg?oh=dd9e6656e9e46626131261364279285c&oe=5A257385)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20994149_10155423587050751_2706156554708331522_n.jpg?oh=c0e12c72df14f8ee7175b35265f20a8a&oe=5A58EFE1)
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Another Suzuki! A classic LJ80 along for the trip...along with 2 Jeep Tj's and 5 Jeep XJ's...we were very much outnumbered
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21077638_10155423589125751_7651346984225028912_n.jpg?oh=9425d9398ed14c4db692605f0e22edce&oe=5A17B574)
Sank my rig in this hole. My story is that all the puddles before this one were all shallow and hard-bottomed, so I charged into this one expecting the same results. For a second the hood disappeared under the bow wave and I panicked and tried to back out, but was hung up in the ruts on the bottom. As I was shifting from 1st to reverse, the engine died (due to water coming up the exhaust and creating excessive backpressure), but I wasn't sure if it had ingested water or not so as soon as we got the truck pulled out, I checked the airbox and it had water in it. Pulled all 6 spark plugs and they were all dry thankfully. Cranked the motor over with the plugs out just to see if anything would come shooting out, was all good. Reassembled and ran the rest of the trail and the way home with no problems other than the catalytic converter got full of mud and wouldn't let the engine breathe, so I could barely do 50km/h up mild hills. I cut the cat out on the side of the road and got my power back and a very sweet sounding jake brake noise on decel that had a few people looking at me funny. I just replaced the cat with a 2.25" pipe so I will not have to deal with that again!
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21034686_10155423589155751_5004950644728221108_n.jpg?oh=7b6b9469541755dc8f1bb55dc6cc1868&oe=5A17CF0F)
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Ruby Falls in the morning, great way to wake up:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21032470_10155423591330751_7790513027929360872_n.jpg?oh=a339c3c2cb0ca5c0e908c6c79cf5cc91&oe=5A2C9904)
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Big unnecessary mud hole; I took the go-around since the only guy who made it was running 40" military tires and about 4' of clearance under his doors
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20994272_10155423593030751_326371486963524095_n.jpg?oh=11688f122ad7cfeb32886e790bf17c9d&oe=5A563053)
Ruby Lake, another really nice place to camp
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20953215_10155423593820751_6698626205536098859_n.jpg?oh=37ee95a3ac13a8c115c18daa1daef52a&oe=5A129674)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21150432_10155423594035751_8202484252254801974_n.jpg?oh=d268d0389dee9755d3ec8eb236a72cbf&oe=5A24EC79)
A few minutes later there was another really nice lake right along the trail:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21106532_10155423594095751_4184101327752593594_n.jpg?oh=d6c2c545e275087492c311316a387725&oe=5A58D017)
Heading home, nearing the old town of Cadomin. Would be a fantastic place to spend a week exploring around.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21034479_10155423594185751_5691875538243834_n.jpg?oh=71ec0e61e0259d4f0f7da2ac3183f4ff&oe=5A1DCC94)
After this trip I decided I needed to get my front end up higher since I was scraping the front skidplate over things I should have no problems with. I ordered a pair of OME 956 springs (the XL7 light-duty ones) from Low Range Off Road. I wasn't sure if I should have got the 962's (the GV HD ones) but they recommended running those only if I had at least 150 lbs extra weight on the front. Here's hoping this cures my suspension woes.
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That looks like an absolute blast. When I get the diesel samurai done I need to try out some trails like that. Down here in Florida ever thing is just flat dirt.
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cool pics thx for sharing
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That looks like a good place to spend more adventure time in.
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Made a front skid plate a while ago, and as you can see it's been trail-tested. If you look further back you can see the cat-delete pipe too:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21752218_10155472763260751_8274687936310410359_n.jpg?oh=5f795963a8975412147ab9fba4003adf&oe=5A459CE6)
Found back a nice picture from late July on the Telkwa Microwave tower trail of me and my son
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21761646_10155472803450751_7076551372118198238_n.jpg?oh=59551bb39a52f936583e1bc0dbffd834&oe=5A4E0151)
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I got a few more pics sent my way from the Alberta trip. Some of them I thought were really nice so I thought I'd share:
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22048154_10155522090070751_6401587037462734025_o.jpg?oh=4979f5b0f5cb13526859c56d25633a6d&oe=5A7F28CD)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22104801_10155522090285751_654346977919726241_o.jpg?oh=ecbda7e065ead7c5860b3fefcb652e50&oe=5A3D099A)
This bridge was challenging to get perfectly lined up to and with a 3' drop on both sides there was little room for error. It still seemed a better option than going through the mud on the go-around. The LJ had a easy time with it though, his axles were so narrow it just fit right between the guardrails, but I had to carefully drive on top of them!
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22104654_10155522090400751_4269118880473893112_o.jpg?oh=b2bcd05d3bebc20a2f4d327a1880fa50&oe=5A7A77C1)
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That sure looks like a great time! I look forward to being able to spend time with my family soaking up some great nature!
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Great trail pics and an interesting rig. Thanks for posting.
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It's been a long time since I updated this! Since the last post, I've put the Zuk away for winter, and knocked a few items off the to-do list:
Removed the crappy AE springs and put in a pair of OME XL7 light-duty front springs. Gained 1.5" of lift and the ride is way more controlled instead of soft and sloppy. The CV's now point slightly down instead of slightly up. Here is the AE spring, stock spring, and OME spring side by side.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26220232_10155799541890751_2231269114908874850_n.jpg?oh=42cc6b50a5c1fe3a850cac00264b0364&oe=5AF7197D)
OME installed:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26814649_10155799541810751_8825391937677079427_n.jpg?oh=feac520ea1142319d9820944f124e5c0&oe=5AB1EB2A)
Here is a pic of the AE springs at full compression. Notice how the coil is completely bottomed out on itself. Very bad.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26238946_10155799546590751_633490210394951496_n.jpg?oh=bc321fc4cf84b0954f398ab967df87f0&oe=5AEF3B17)
Compared to the OME spring under the same compression, just on the opposite side:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26814581_10155799541570751_4219062126772586736_n.jpg?oh=814c223cfa1d682a3a708f0851acf67d&oe=5AE8B93D)
I've even got over an inch of unused travel that I could tap into with some strut mount spacer modification, if need be.
The next problem to tackle was that with these corny aftermarket wheels that are 1" wider than stock (17x8), when combined with the AE A-arms, the inside edge of the rim hits the back edge of the A-arm when making tight turns. I tried grinding some of the excess material away from the lip on the back of the arm, which helped, but didn't solve the problem. I looked around for a set of 17x7 wheels but they don't seem to exist. I didn't want to buy a new set of tires in a different size, so I ended up just getting a set of 1" wheel spacers from Titan Wheel Accessories on eBay. It was a good price and easy to justify compared to what 4 or 5 rims would set me back, even used. Here's a pic, sorry it's not the best, but you get the idea.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26904026_10155799547530751_6208778635917065769_n.jpg?oh=44c0ce68a97d8313baa34de12cdae2a4&oe=5AE1CCE5)
No more contact between the rim and the A-arm, hooray! I haven't had a chance to try it out on the articulation ramp, but I'm sure I'll have to heat up and bend, or cut, some plastic to get them to fit without rubbing at all. But at least the main problem is fixed now.
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Today I bit the bullet and ordered a pair of OME 2936 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ Heavy Load Front Coil Springs for the REAR of my XL7. I'm crossing my fingers that my guesstimations are correct and that they deliver the perfect ride height and spring rate for this application! While we wait...I found some more summer wheelin' pics!!!
First outing with the new A-arms, back in June or July:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26904264_10155821053755751_4607936415567171984_n.jpg?oh=c10f7bbf3c0baf77c45fb328f7133771&oe=5AEE17D2)
Way, way high:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19961088_10155821053075751_1088037987017395672_n.jpg?oh=d3289017d16669a9cf2f993004084bad&oe=5AE36837)
My son seems to love wheelin' as much as I do!
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26805451_10155821052905751_3625634755142877274_n.jpg?oh=8ded7672c83d721541f6d837d3245c39&oe=5ADCA52E)
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Been a while since I posted an update, but the rig hasn't been worked on or driven that much between January and May.
I had some trouble with the wheel spacer studs being just long enough to hit the inside end of the lug nuts and damage the threads on the tip of the studs. Had to fix this problem by replacing a few damaged studs and I also replaced all the nuts with the splined anti-theft nuts (that every common thief has a key for). These are a bit smaller in OD than the nuts that the Ultra wheels came with when the original owner installed them, so now there is a little bit of wiggle room between the socket used to install the nuts and the bore of the wheel. Should make things alot simpler.
I see my last post had to do with trying some OME WJ HD front springs on the rear- they didn't work as I hoped. The top of the coil was too large in diameter to fit nicely in the factory spring pocket so I returned them and am still running the mystery junkyard springs that have the same problem. For now I'm just keeping friction at bay with some rubber pads between the spring and the frame. Not ideal but I haven't found a better solution yet.
The latest and greatest news: Today I converted my XL7 from a 5 seater to a 7 seater by installing all the factory 3rd row seat parts. I bought them used off a guy from BC Suzuki Club for $100. Was super easy, not sure why all the google results said it was nearly impossible and not very cost effective. Will be seeing how the rig hauls 4 adults and 2 children next weekend
BEFORE:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35659937_10156235265650751_5931819490449817600_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeEHJfTEYtctieyJts-9l8BdpuOMKlCFdKNzgGYOGj7_XsQLAS-f1S-TqqDsECoPNGlAJQzrFAl3XLtHGhteW_8WbDVVj2c8ndCAj3QtetYUmw&oh=81877a29b2e1604b27140158073149ac&oe=5B9FF895)
DURING:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35886339_10156235267055751_7947512672562446336_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeFsIryamVifthMgtUnenDjIEzBHvX86ThrPY9eUPgeU3iocviHnqLMdOcb_e1cNSN2qzPEJDpeQqfHEi7zvGSPxv7HLZ5YMuTGiaR1Jp2zWmQ&oh=df0b6a79aae3e148262d54cdfad2543c&oe=5BBEEDE3)
AFTER:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35853388_10156235266925751_1857161193278406656_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeFyHfPYZYc5UvVRPXcZcJAooqL_lFWsYRCl1yxQnAhPcd6eFve1FLb-yTYcu-kO8M5EiGrm_a5dwXWh0NyzIP0tSM2JAtChB_lfzbLVTYVDow&oh=c6b6af180d69f3bc81687dfc366b6dcc&oe=5BB93DA3)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/r90/35736033_10156235266875751_4294209096833302528_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeFudreEt_Ce5aqNCYww2blkcfZD_FAgl4rqcZa_cp3k4ZLfMVocc4M_eM8FAE3D21kMwtAOt6uKFZervZsTMns8Mlh7KgtLkOaDNUapkVef0A&oh=100faf72494b9ca079ac3d2d103ce357&oe=5BE9EA8A)
And oot n aboot
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/32929392_10156155441410751_3029137011056312320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeEU9YN8D9gjmOiO0QOZbdwCYp5Wlx6Pn18Xtq2pakUOAlqdVhrloEv7ykKcnx45bVE5pCDTEZiB_QcLJkmofpWez8cfkbJ6ujKo0TcBPdprMA&oh=9f4ff43849020fe9e72297f8caa5c29a&oe=5BB6D181)
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The XL7 worked excellent with 2 kids in car seats in the far back, 2 grandparents in the middle row, and my wife and I in the front. We did a few hours of driving together and I never heard a complaint from anyone. The only issue is there's not a lot of trunk space but at least I have a big roof rack for that. I am really impressed that this rig still manages to pull 22 mpg with that much of a load!
A while back we spent some time in Prince Rupert, on BC's north coast. There isn't much wheeling there but there is a forest service road that goes to the top of Mount Hayes which affords a decent view of the ocean and some islands on a clear day.
(https://scontent.fcxh3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35514104_10156222171910751_5286851716262658048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=748d1fedf1dbc2ad5efe0d64645a6f33&oe=5BEBC62C)
(https://scontent.fcxh3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35328497_10156222171565751_8293480379973632000_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=ef0682898baf91b059e051c0e1dab2b3&oe=5BAA6BA0)
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Got out to the Telkwa microwave last week with some family:
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37388371_10156305633785751_6769648360132444160_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=dca170d041cffd1ebb3caf21bc59d63a&oe=5BDB04BC)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37267965_10156305633740751_5260432625100652544_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=621c2c752158ae244a506c008fd1a401&oe=5BD4164F)
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Looks like you had fun.
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Did an overnight overland trip from Telkwa to Terrace through Telkwa Pass. This is about a 90km "shortcut" compared to driving on the highway which goes around the mountains rather than through them. But it's slow going so it actually takes longer, but it's always enjoyable for the scenery.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/38740192_10156362817905751_8238674909354524672_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=eb459c91ec96cb4240bd54c09fd8f540&oe=5C03692C)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/38822035_10156362818310751_8233956986564116480_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=23dd28da32a6bf2484af31d8c2a1b8bf&oe=5BF9EC7E)
I might have some better rig shots coming later from other people's cameras.
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Great pics. Thanks for sharing.
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Did a checkover on the vehicle the other day and was shocked to find both of my body mount studs at the tailgate were broken off! The spacer and isolator were still sandwiched in between the body and frame, so I just went up to the wreckers and got a pair of new lower isolators and washers, and used some 6" long 1/2" bolts to reattach it. It wasn't too difficult to drill right through the original bolts and then getting a nut and lock washer inside the body channel was easy because there are access holes right beside the body mounts, you just need to remove a rubber plug.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39392490_10156385009365751_4433728403614466048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=4bc58f4fb559f16de0bcb7538fe1676f&oe=5BFAC041)
Just a reminder to check your rig over periodically and ensure it's safe for you and others to have on the road!
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Went for a drive after work today. The weather has just been so nice lately, I couldn't resist getting out and getting some 4Lo time in with the whole family. Most of BC is thick with forest fire smoke right now, but for some reason our little valley has been clear skies almost entirely through the summer. <fingers crossed>
This pic is at the top of a loose, steep, shale climb that goes on and on forever. I glanced at my temp gauge at the top and was surprised to see it was 3/4 to the hot mark! I've never seen it move beyond operating temp. I guess the H27 doesn't like to chug along at 2000 RPM or less up a 30% grade with little air movement for cooling.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39750194_10156387789725751_6226928673337901056_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=3f9f6735bb3a70f94e3299afbb1396ee&oe=5C0EA3FD)
Coming back down, made me wonder why Suzuki didn't put like 2.5:1 low range in the t-case. 1.8:1 just doesn't cut it for mountain wheeling.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39467699_10156387789500751_517572996873846784_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=8874acb93885a5817395b9106cccc8fa&oe=5C00BA5B)
Smithers' most prominent feature, Hudson Bay Mountain:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39514809_10156387789545751_4376415269094948864_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=dbd2de56087c7c7d75ec37e4a9ec9bd2&oe=5BF70A48)
And some other mountain ranges looking due west towards the coast.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39409129_10156387789580751_5848396970565042176_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=a515a4d299df52efba2a6e99c692b951&oe=5BF0DC73)
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Photos of your area are great.
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I know it's a long shot, but it'd sure be something to have the next Zukfari around here!
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Did a day trip with a friend up to the Telkwa Range as approached from Houston, BC. Was neat because neither myself, my wife, nor my friend's wife had ever been up there and it was quite nice. I didn't get any pics of the challenging stuff on the way up to the alpine, but I know he did so maybe I'll post them later.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40752675_10156428077100751_2391365536177979392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=952e8c3cf8f088c162f07dad5be67f43&oe=5BF73BBF)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40655674_10156428078035751_4396635047411580928_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=4d29938db8c5a301b1cd73b60c1c257a&oe=5C3130ED)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40640172_10156428075130751_7107876407627218944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=82eb296f5ca80456e29b59c57bb5a608&oe=5C3AEB1B)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40678772_10156428075195751_104813909445181440_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=abb99dc46e29d769a542bef8b3b61127&oe=5BF35DDA)
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Got out this evening and did the Dome Mountain Loop. It's got some minor challenges, more when it's wet and soggy, but a great view from the top, and it's not too long so the kids don't get bored.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/43006811_10156495390425751_7440032651265703936_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&oh=fc1785f05a8ab8e156c743c1bb3b19d9&oe=5C1D1CFC)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42965161_10156495390100751_5242448372966621184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&oh=1f01bc32027d975c291bda59eea17c7b&oe=5C2368A6)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42842987_10156495390385751_6335075065087918080_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&oh=c95542a6713d6845dd28a9bf79a883e7&oe=5C532420)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42858335_10156495390145751_2405802750915903488_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&oh=79ac6df3e41284537768ba1b162f0a37&oe=5C5C0C34)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42835828_10156495390455751_4134348863592988672_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&oh=bbbedb810c8e6cf2fab5005afdc574cf&oe=5C1F46D7)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42886939_10156495391625751_7971607430503071744_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&oh=3a4a13842ad0f96eaf9040fc317b4064&oe=5C194B08)
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Olin’s, that is awesome! My jealousy of your beautiful surroundings is making it hard to think nice thoughts though!!!
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Added a Night Rider S20 LED bar last week. This is a street-legal 20" single-row "driving light" LED. I got a chance to try it out last week as well when I took my family and some visitors out on a 700km round trip to some hot springs and back. The whole way back was pitch black and the road was wet, and this is where a light like this is worth it's weight in gold. The stock headlights were pretty much useless in these conditions which is exactly why I had been looking for a light like this. The bonus is that with some careful fabrication, I was able to mount it fairly discretely between my bumper and my skid plate where I had a bit of a gaping hole for sticks and stones to bust up my rad. Win-win!
I also swapped out the rear shocks for the proper-length ones for my lift.The old ones were from when I started out with a 3" lift and the new ones are for a 4.5" lift. For some reason Alter Ego neglected to tell me that, nor did I think of it, when they gave me a set of their A-arms to try to bump up my front lift. Should be a little more flexible out there now, but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
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Went for a little outing yesterday. There is an old road that existed before the current bridge was built across the Skeena River at Kitwanga, called the Hazelton-Kitwanga Backroad. Off the road a short ways is a beautiful little lake called Keynton Lake. It's not possible to get to the lake from Hazelton anymore because many years ago the road washed out 15km from Hazelton, but people have been squeezing around the gate with their quads and bikes for years. I thought it would be neat to see if the same could be done in a Suzuki. The short answer was no, but we found a very interesting quad trail that would have taken us to the lake if we hadn't turned around for fear of having to back up forever if there was a tree down. No pics of the trail but I will definitely be back to finish it off next year probably. Instead, here's a shot at the bottom of the trail by the Skeena River.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46817174_10156640115075751_2480904944190750720_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a34aed609465040f218b9315e44d84c2&oe=5CA93165)
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Olija - Another great pic. I spent several months working Canada, a few years ago. The countryside pics are awesome. I have several pics of old farmsteads that are still some of my favorite photos.
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Cool Ridjobradi, whereabouts in this vast country were you working?
We were visiting down in the lower mainland of BC last month and got out to Vedder Mountain with an old friend with his Land Cruiser and my brother in law with his Xterra. This is a neat mountain to play on as there is a main logging road going around the perimeter and many trails criss-crossing over it and around the botttom as well. Unfortunately, since I moved away from this area almost a decade ago, it's been logged a few times and some of the old trails are now just gravel roads and some of the old forests have been completely clear cut. Progress I guess. But the good news is there is plenty of wilderness to go around in the rest of BC outside the lower mainland, and this was a good reminder of why I don't miss living down there anymore!
The cruiser didn't quite fit where the Suzuki easily did:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49627760_10156722858340751_7009911429125898240_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=889da6dc7277e653f77c1e7c357c8ddb&oe=5C929803)
Hang Glider's Point, the top of the mountain. Visibility was good enough to see the Pacific Ocean from here.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49840118_10156722858035751_5258540219560361984_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=5ef17cedbe4927fa25bf471a89460ec7&oe=5CD22043)
A challenging climb where I found out one of my front hubs has been improperly installed for the last 12 months and finally didn't lock in all the way, causing me to spin out in 2wd before figuring out the problem and correcting it. The Xterra had no issues since he had a front locker...makes me think maybe I should invest in one someday....
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49117480_10156722858095751_3827574506579296256_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=9016f27ef0760a44e98e888aadcab080&oe=5CD66927)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49811041_10156722858010751_6918902927549530112_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a6a5e0ed9a4aed52c783b13ddf476b0b&oe=5C8C443B)
And here is a video my nephew put together from the day. Nothing too exciting but you get a better idea of some of the terrain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flElLrrswAM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flElLrrswAM)
Happy 2019 to all my fellow Zookers!
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Started another fairly big project on the XL7. Been putting off rock sliders for about 2 summers now...it's time to get some on before I do something I regret! I didn't want to put frame-mounted sliders on because you lose a fair bit of clearance with those compared to chopping out the rockers and welding tubing to the body, plus I needed to do some work at the fenders to get the tires to fit properly, and there was a bit of rust starting at the rear of the rockers. So, I started by making a surgical incision:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53528484_10156871529685751_888955026502844416_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=80139f43c1defeec1c54c2234782b024&oe=5D1A81F9)
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Olija - I spent most of it Saskatchewan, but I was iaround Edmonton and Calgary often also. I had a Jeep Wrangler as a rental, most of the tie I was there. I would hang out with Flatland 4x4,moatly camping and wheeling on Crown land.
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Oh yeah, flat landing for sure! That's a far cry from my neck of the woods. Calgary is borderline acceptable as far as terrain goes...at least it's only an hour's drive to the Rockies from there. But an hour seems pretty far when I've got an 8500 foot peak looming right over my town!
I spent about a day working on the passenger side rock slider doorsill. It's basically done except for the final finish which I will do at the same time as the other side, which is completely undone at this point. It's a fair bit of work but it is turning out nicely.
Clearance check at full compression. Had to do some more hammering and trimming at the front.Still not sure if it's going to be completely rub free, but I think I've fixed the metal rib inside the fender which was slicing the outboard tread off my tires!
(https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54522161_10156896017130751_8038311060043726848_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=0b41c83a4ff3aba4d0fcd918c9721d12&oe=5D0B61ED)
Sizing things up:
(https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53496271_10156896016725751_515230916847599616_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=434ed7704b0140d1b8497174ebd1a89e&oe=5D28B8B5)
Before putting a cap on the back:
(https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53711592_10156896016805751_789599105662844928_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=e162bb2cbaad57723efec6881046c4bf&oe=5D0C0D20)
After. I smeared seam sealer all over this later too.
(https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53283441_10156896016775751_5590863236778950656_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=07c05702f7ef9b63fd72e11b5fd2e556&oe=5CDACB11)
Before capping the front, which was more work because the top of the tube is also open:
(https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53414974_10156896016960751_7379934930534400000_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=b7b4c14ef123c97cc2e7eada8cb6618b&oe=5CDC5DF6)
So I had to cap the end and the top, using a rectangle and a triangle and a whole shwack of seam sealer.
(https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53718335_10156896017045751_5401693588364984320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=538101e7de12e32d61d3a4b6077a8910&oe=5D0907A5)
I'm happy with how it turned out, but might add some details by the bottom of the fender flares because it looks like something's missing there. Or maybe I'll add another tube that sits out a few inches to provide protection from sliding sideways into stuff, and allows the slider to be used as access for the roof rack. Each one only weighs 38 pounds after I got 40% of the tube removed by plasma cutter to fit around the side impact protection in the body...prior to that they came in at 58 so it is considerable savings, so I could afford to add a bit again, but I am trying to avoid adding unnecessary weight so we'll see.
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What tubing did you use for your sliders? So far I have just built a driver side for my ‘Kick, but I incorporated a full length step into mine. It sure helps the little ones be able to get inside.
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These are 3x4x3/16" tubing. Any slimmer than that in either direction and they won't fit right...it's basically exactly 3" from the pinch seam at the bottom to the part of the door sill that is vertical (in theory the strongest part) and if they are less than 4" wide then they would be recessed inside your doorsills. Even at 4" wide, the front and rear ends are pretty much flush, because the body tapers out towards the fenders. This mod is really popular on BC Suzuki Club with all the older Sidekicks that are now 20+ years old and rotting away, so I basically just modified the idea to work on mine. I've also done this on my old 97 Kick as well as an 89 FJ62. Some guys on BC Zuks say they wish they did 6" wide tubing to add more sideways protection. I have a pair of old 2x2 rock sliders from my old Tacoma that I was thinking about adding as s side step...just weighing the pros and cons of doing that:
Pros: added side protection, ease of access to roof rack, maybe a step for the kids, deals with the "missing pieces" look by the bottoms of the flares effectively
Cons: added weight (guessing 20 lbs per side), possibly annoying ankle-biter when getting in and out, more leverage on welds on sheetmetal
In the meantime, I've since tackled the driver's side, mostly. Just need another evening or two to finish it up. Hoping to take it out next weekend and do a little early spring camping in the snow, but we'll see if I manage to finish it up enough to take outside...
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I put in a late, late night last Thursday so I could take the Zuk up the mountain on Friday. I'm still planning on finishing it with some rocker guard and maybe some matching paint, but other than that it's done and it works. I decided not to add more tubing for side protection because it didn't look good and adds a significant amount of weight. I may still make some pieces at the bottom of the flares but I don't think it's worth the effort involved, might just have to get used to the slightly unfinished look...tell me what you think, guys!
On to the winter camping pics. First things went pretty well, nice hard frozen snow with lots of traction and flotation.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/55692837_10156941874800751_645199500557680640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=32163f8ec2bdd4c7730915197bc32f10&oe=5D4DE320)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/55736624_10156941874795751_7838414700743229440_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=1984a77b7fa90fc5557e6b97ccd3e8cf&oe=5D4AFB61)
Then I found the soft spot at the bottom of the hill.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56355285_10156941875250751_3337987108584292352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=6230a440643c2229eb98ae7668f352dd&oe=5D41BAEC)
With the help of several guys pushing at the back plus these awesome ATV loading ramps that matched my wheelbase exactly, it took about 2 hours to get up this 100 foot long hill. Just makes me think how nice it would have been to have a winch and not be eating dinner at 10:00 After getting the Zuk up.we spent a bit of time trying to coax my friends 1994 Land Cruiser up the same hill, but it sank almost instantly and we said forget it. All items needed at camp were loaded into the Suzuki and it went the rest of the distance into camp. Not without some more difficulty, but with 2 big boys to push on the front bumper to help me back up onto the crust every time I broke through, I managed to make it all the way to the lake, which was the idea because I had all the firewood in the trunk.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56573522_10156941874980751_9017609276213952512_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=50e88f4ea916c463d6e0481c9f1edcfd&oe=5D0CEDDA)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56270075_10156941875030751_4420928258611085312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=28b8bfff088bcb9901e2a15d2ca4d47f&oe=5D35D0EE)
The backside of Hudson Bay Mountain as viewed from the frozen Dennis Lake
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/55704735_10156941875160751_7491622561474674688_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=dbf8edc4c12383683a854bc75017fb6e&oe=5D3CE3C5)
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And here's a 2 1/2 minute long video of part of the drive out in the morning, which was a piece of cake compared to the drive in because we weren't breaking trail, plus the temperature was below 0 again compared to around +15C the afternoon before.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVD_c2XEpbA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVD_c2XEpbA)
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I finished up the rock sliders with some rock guard and black paint. Also installed Trail Tough's new 3:1 low range gears! It was pretty straightforward except for the VERY IMPORTANT NOTE NOT INCLUDED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS: take care NOT to drop the THIRD STEEL DETENT BALL inside the transfer case after removing the two shift shafts and two detent balls!!!! I couldn't believe there was no warning provided about this in the instructions and I made sure to let them know right away!
(https://scontent.fcxh3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/60311554_10157063239850751_8676452250001866752_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh3-1.fna&oh=a7ba863d677ba39d79ca1ac2952d3330&oe=5D6AABDB)
(https://scontent.fcxh3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/60265941_10157063239775751_448835386785923072_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh3-1.fna&oh=d1e56147ddbc8b457ffae15ede2e8107&oe=5D9DB6A3)
I tried it out on a steep but not too technical mountain trail on Saturday and it seems to work well. The engine isn't lugging the whole way up the mountain, and on the way down it's no longer necessary to use the brake pedal at all. I would confidently say that these are the gears Suzuki should have built these trucks with. Can't wait to get many more miles out of them down the road.
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Thanks for that "mini-review", and the warning - I'm thinking about the Trail Savage gear set myself (have the instructions right in front of me), but all of the details I found on line are a repeat of the Trail Tough introductory blurb, rather than personal experience.
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I just went out for a good long trail ride today and I gotta say again...these are the gears Suzuki should have built these trucks with! It completely changes the driving dynamic from a fast, gutless trot to a smooth, controlled climb with torque available if required. I was amazed by how much more traction it feels like there is with the tires at 15 psi and the new 3:1 low range gears, simply because it's not bouncing and scrambling, but just moving forward slow and steady. I guess a good way to describe it, now it feels like the suspension can keep up with the vehicle! And then on the way down I found myself loving that I don't need to ride the brake pedal down all the steep parts. Quite often 1st gear is almost too low if you don't give it any throttle. 2nd gear works all right until the steeper or rougher parts, then it's back to 1st. There's also 1st/Hi which might be somewhere between 1st/Lo and 2nd/Lo, but I didn't think about that until later.
Dropping into the creek:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62112076_10157116775425751_962876670706974720_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=e61fab27ea586a00a0655be6a339471c&oe=5D53D9FD)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/61827332_10157116776035751_5837325790416470016_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=0852ad9e4a7e5b7dbee87c68ff62576b&oe=5D560803)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62134943_10157116776415751_4942302700973850624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=c97e1c7f0ffbe7a1ccc822a25fa8e1a5&oe=5D9B2B97)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62039489_10157116776565751_2752850938954776576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=79bcd6bf0ba6f490308ac3d30494f667&oe=5D8E15AA)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62113846_10157116775540751_703421922603433984_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=9d872ba753c1dc14e91da47cf3e8cda1&oe=5D89A7EE)
My son really enjoyed the drive up. There were lots of waterfalls, creeks, and snowpiles to keep him entertained.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62019235_10157116776195751_1042809078692184064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a80f21feae5b53133ea57e6f60c2abfc&oe=5D8A0422)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62009145_10157116775005751_7409045188074536960_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=33ca8c41ad9b06e3d60a8f2f1c297b71&oe=5D518E77)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/62174825_10157116775895751_9109519785346990080_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=9a10f640888a887c8d4ca270bcc387cb&oe=5D8912B3)
This photo was taken on a narrow, off-camber section that leans you toward the edge of the trail with a long fall below you. There is a 1990's Toyota 4Runner somewhere down there as proof that someone didn't make it safely. The picture came out fuzzy but you can see the difference in the angle of the flatter road ahead and the inclinometer- that's 30 degrees!
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/61951402_10157116775075751_2712601846941220864_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=559d34a3a360870f0818e7fdfa0d2faf&oe=5D841B71)
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If I'm recalling correctly, when I did the math, H1 fell between L2 & L3 - reading your post makes me want to run out and buy a set - my dilemma is that I have to "spread the love" around, I've already spent quite a bit on my GV this year, and I've got another vehicle that needs some attention also...
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Love doesn't divide, it multiplies! Get your gears and do some wheeling!
Went out on a family trip- camped at the campground on Ferry Island in Terrace, then next day went to Exstew Falls about 45 km west of Terrace. Wasn't much of a 4wd route but the falls were fairly excellent and I'd been wanting to do this since last fall so now was the time!
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65317068_10157180670130751_4694374567055982592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQmlTREUDRYKyGQO0gQ-SOljWqicwD1ovNo4ZVhvU4ZVciRcy9qcwbTokMkqOWAY4ww&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=c2e0f9bf409ef1361078529d5bcd3a9f&oe=5D791A16)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66048247_10157180670580751_5219080963442606080_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_oc=AQknl6chZjRwXFz2QaBs_VY1ImZVQNmLnbCSvmUFXwkZcwaEPjWBYaWvjhCqHDR1g3o&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=d4acd6d5b13f9c125ea39d13b83284b3&oe=5DBC0884)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65533874_10157180669930751_31449262369800192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQl78DN2i5ANhAyCQRWQBFQO5GsAKysF4_-XcDe9b_NE3-rcrrS_H27ETo4tLmxv2pY&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=6e2c7d2c7b38e879371217ad97248e22&oe=5DBDBE5B)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65306538_10157180671210751_637716941678575616_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQmiFXegq5updL1Pe70i3aqG2fMEWVFjZviyhFph94lBgsen0vICGxdaBue4_A04AVM&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=877bf75a907ae2e76ce2cfc5d0f4d41b&oe=5D7CBA1C)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65516148_10157180670000751_1795574471810088960_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQkm2kfAsbK_vo_MC4RIyuFH7ud1plzRC-21odIgGmmE9lae8JwOYsDtF61QK5bRRIw&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=265043fdbec1ea143c0073ceeb717515&oe=5D85A220)
The cross is a memorial of an ATVer killed in an accident up here in 2013. RIP.
Here is the Exstew River, where there is a forestry campsite and opportunities for fishing and paddling down the river from the bridge up the road
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65507735_10157180671135751_471111208896823296_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_oc=AQlrlGe3tJPF2Op1K24vN9tJr8x6paap4j07v_8wEuLgR3P-_E7QAbH0mKrJphU-M1g&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=0d94d76b6cfb966e68424a421308e11f&oe=5DC2C963)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65109588_10157180670685751_3571070976533725184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=AQn9LJpn1_Tn9e2aZqS9HqIb6uGlQq15zeOSyiWclhClyVEzAnuBmWi00VdQV-_KHyc&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=694276ce605918ee17c8590130e8479f&oe=5D8AC566)
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My friend was itching to take his Land Cruiser out, so I led him up the Dome with the Zuk:
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65748662_10157195350645751_3258816241250336768_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=AQlE1ZE_bmwUUpHwV4bKpK2Ne1y59zG29ZOeKVMspZ1ANe-pFfC2rwP0KwNnvuef3yY&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=2fa2c92d66a2c0cf95b6d1649fa17a0d&oe=5D8253C5)
The view wasn't as great as I'd hoped, thanks to a whole pile of smoke blown in from forest fires
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65826675_10157195350035751_5108316063276204032_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_oc=AQn9gdwp-kxgxVZmpJrbeDMzMC7Fsekf9aGhpKg-xT59ImiPIDEN6xzuPhgLXRZ_u-w&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=efa8a17af5fa38f74c8ef09a8057f22d&oe=5DC15359)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65677601_10157195350530751_1345691087234138112_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQl9mhKrRS_PX6wCqsNJrNP-KQ2nIKRWG1jEuXgiGH0lWF0Yja7GT_TDBgC4dJ2_YoI&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=a6b58750dbfb8de0f6e6eaae9b61c91a&oe=5DBA6C2B)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66094877_10157195350880751_4760093240336580608_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQklmjl__7kCWJqlY3lH82fxXAM0kSUcHmOaaGtFvcEgjA0_8gc-aPC6TevOZzyP16s&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=62cd264e87717ac2fc7dc3ef3b89ae33&oe=5D83C187)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66095232_10157195350930751_6424476188038660096_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQm2VgSLwVqSRHbGLNHRa4kHOU82RZ3_XBCak_CCxS4q9wLv7ThR1ATE0U4RLPzgcjY&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=a7eefc77359860337b723b68f92f9101&oe=5D7BCDE7)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66045097_10157195350705751_7182417368935563264_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_oc=AQlwjME2YJQLL8iffHkmLO-mBplocMJDen3ClgEEZf1Gi65MGp53OQ3SlHlMmXXoUcU&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=1f72ed1820518c52da04b310c4236726&oe=5DBF935C)
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Went up the Orange Road, an old mining road that is among the steepest in the area:
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66493684_10157226959450751_2587280782917632000_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQmJdIL0kZQsl1veIzIXedQ8B1JTdz7_9obgbSWHZ_a--Ys5pyIhjzmLEddwHyiTWuE&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=cd571728940d6f7b7d7b9201cb1e87ed&oe=5DAAA6A4)
This is the most puckersome part: a steep, slightly off-camber, high-stakes climb on a loose, deep gravelly surface. I try not to think about what would happen if the brakes failed in an emergency situation:
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66672706_10157226958735751_4995210861200015360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQkdsAnJhH8H1G-MpqLw_zMd9S8J4fFgjqMcrWaf4o3IeHSIVUszcQLeDVL1URuTj8U&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=00ff0171c672c0bbbfd0c29aebe74eb5&oe=5DB0BE28)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66743764_10157226958940751_6221049554599411712_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_oc=AQmoEbogknLNxiTA4QMQDf5vEyMT3HaPxgOhHxDI0cMc_J1a_UGuiUBEPzXSIq7GE1A&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=47a9fe1277fd6a13c27bf7db097e0a9a&oe=5DAAA86A)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/64972907_10157226959270751_8274510450025037824_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_oc=AQnR_zY03if0eazJv9KbkPHp4c1VjIT44A5z8j2DDF9rc4xoSn7QLLpU7QcQxkqR874&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=fa80d44ef04c3bbe704c6172d907a347&oe=5DB8E814)
(https://scontent.fyvr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66627819_10157226959230751_8328803277642661888_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQnT5juHDvGHfkES-qulE4Nd5ebrpiEYoHbFmpkDdrGbPcMcC2U2xSHBalIwDZ8pVyY&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr1-1.fna&oh=05fc27b95174cdf81bbee55e0333f083&oe=5DB6CC89)
I'm working on getting a video of the descent onto Youtube as well.
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Here is the video of the descent. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqgatqhREBE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqgatqhREBE)
I used to have to ride the brakes all the way down this hill with the old gears, now it holds itself back pretty well. If the trail was rougher it would still be too fast, but this is fine for 95% of situations. This is also an exceptionally steep hill.
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Did another trip up to Silvern Lakes with my wife's cousin and his 100 series LX. Both vehicles did pretty good considering the rocks were wet and the trail washed out a fair bit in the 6 weeks since I was last there.
No matter how much time I'm out there, it never seems long enough
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67086497_10157238359850751_2863047593473081344_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_oc=AQlZgyln0Gz_uPRt-pjszJX3AJCOtKdOA4aKOsIuqn4UuROLpB73gbdUn5y7enq-gOk&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=73232244d6cddbd35ed68968dba4ca9c&oe=5DEECC95)
This is looking out of an abandoned mineshaft
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67193810_10157238358975751_4383231261934616576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQlaHqysM3pMr49U5k18h_GDOCvL5DtDos7wXcF5meeEfOxooNKP7cOMmqxod5dvOVg&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=ef38af954b652aff35d14e47fce587cd&oe=5DE1105B)
My son exclaiming about the tunnel! He's fascinated with tunnels and trains right now.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67196137_10157238360260751_317277557802139648_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQlRvduvDx_qvpDT0HVpMzMZf0J_Ix23HbmuZzwO32XgG3JUF3PoQ-Qi3qqf01erK6g&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a9f633460db13a366c5b06f6b1d71bde&oe=5DD6B4A0)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67258556_10157238358895751_5863941818713899008_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_oc=AQnIuSh8f9CZ0dWmMnJz5eFk8PCpualpGxclV91MxGFGVTswYm2A_rbxdXDue78TJsc&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=5da950ab71e17473091f7550e1735149&oe=5DDFE121)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67601173_10157238359035751_7258777734225068032_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQlQaTDtvfgJ-Q6Fih_bSak5wR7JL-yVHEoZcwjlFaGoZyxtw22vPpC1C0_5ewFrWJU&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=594cd3198d2f2d55e528c7e151e1255c&oe=5DA4FABF)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66833448_10157238360210751_6266643209426829312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQnFi2okPaleTzNj-2s3EjU0l9ALAq_eBmfRYLstnyTRO6YCvgzcILV9gq8Vt6tDWx4&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=59ad6251fa9f7d572241f052a7081d0c&oe=5DE3BB6B)
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Had another great trip up to Silvern Lakes on the long weekend. Weather was perfect, sunny, 10 degrees, and a light breeze. Here's a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h58Qnm-BDQ&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h58Qnm-BDQ&feature=youtu.be)
And the pics...
lunch time |removethispart|@ tree line:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69575455_10157381823665751_6657362040815878144_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_eui2=AeEbTPUc2HhTXQMkbi6yzWl9pKeKOJpObZ3-G_LbA3t9knDUV8JAIyoc2hWBCRfjSTmF78GJAYMqyB1Vhct8iHqr4yZeFRZiXlSePk5mkjupTA&_nc_oc=AQmBONLME-8zCbWGQfN1g5GX2DqUtdA7RffxIysfHKCxkvNespQxoBLs1Mq7_EoN9e4&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=896ce47a074c052b1cccc939e4831995&oe=5DF3458F)
The path ahead
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69832037_10157381824355751_7883182235791130624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeHoCXTXgkk0S0kHnm5AD8lh2054tUC7Gssz1n5FJGpDyG95KiqqR80JP6_k2l4eUcGVeNeDf-FSsRM7h2AP_b6iIDEfxhesmtQbK2au08PUcg&_nc_oc=AQkhaqr1QKfMmzykF6eAq_D0X62U7XMSGW3pOxm4NJiNN0o4jDePDDATfq2DBRiBwcU&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=66833d85deab426a4014413f2ae1a1fa&oe=5E3B1F30)
As far as we got. Some side by sides were parked across the trail and the owners had continued on foot, but I'm not sure we would have made it much further anyways because it was getting pretty steep, loose, and narrow. It'd still be fun to try another time, but not too likely on such a fine day again this season.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69844377_10157381823415751_2284660131725574144_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeG_hMcSX9AazNCFfiF4DKpwR66wgFA-gzsFfKi2YaFYzrEZmJ7F-guUPp9rNPxHpW0GsJv4sQPgPUw_JIZOBpLQP8B5VL2fHERUr4PhrzagvQ&_nc_oc=AQnYXpd8y2fuQYL_xYNHMdnvELPuzUOb7bcJln57WYqfuYwam_RwphlUoBEkHEdS53o&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=bdc91300173afaff39cbc5791bf076cb&oe=5E0BAB34)
We are about level with the peak of Mount Evelyn. Schufer Lake is down below.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/70173364_10157381823605751_8006094664975253504_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeEoDGTwieARsc6guBHsPRgMVj-z_YuYNDmCW0qtTKCvSH-5_09c4LihGoQyL4s3YXLwtHG7PmVAjMxCt37esIwqmywvza0raRWdnLQuIE7w_Q&_nc_oc=AQm3gszqF4jWxXF4S7y3Vx2BmxL_VG6VZW7APRpPBNsmeoS8NV6YN7KfiBMHyseykow&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=950b9e407209101bb916724ce97dc686&oe=5E3BB34B)
A nice little fox
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69784223_10157381823795751_7647589269422211072_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_eui2=AeFibrw8KhuqcgXmSuS3MwdqvW-jpdOIKp6zl7ck534EOWQZaZvcF6HC3is7YcLhb8E8QaitD89ocnbIb2ANPrM62LOqChX3um_9s1qntH6NHg&_nc_oc=AQmQk2lW2zbGU2pE8PCsCIMOJnWO29g6NUx7ZafgkSBCXa01N1sb_W93wmn-MRrUkWs&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=da720df7fabeaa43d39b82c9aaade2fe&oe=5E3B5255)
Did a small amount of spelunking, since this time we remembered boots and lights:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/70610611_10157381823475751_4778859606015213568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeFh_8AptUoS-XoAEjXPEqpKqS9asX6KLkvPhzaiJWo4DI6aIrMP-eepeVsNF-dhIgwpDuUKcJ2lC0zaMcZSzTp2myTp4nZaMf2P03dj7u1MjQ&_nc_oc=AQlpegBlBQvJepRQgTdkc9iAzobA3RFtb7TwqSudUXOAvzlip8oKEIwUP1opRrgfQjw&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=e5261f5162ee21cad3caa605849d7141&oe=5DF46273)
Heading back down
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/69836021_10157381825435751_7388651566661632000_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_eui2=AeFbjhW_-CRS9SPpNicPxrQlRPppcEUzG-1jmRoXE8RECSgP3rRtWNPVcKlKEelPYP10kcpxRqUHJGMsTKKorG6DNAHQCG8_WCPFbkNfxLpPtA&_nc_oc=AQkudczXxnpoKFb7lgM_GWQGsLrgsnNyHX4RRuf_0aIQ5a52oZDwx4_J-8bjcmX2FSY&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=39464dbdae82d68a54563c87b098a8c5&oe=5E1151A1)
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Looks like you need to bring a mine cart up so you can do some real life Minecraft.
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Olija do you have a locker in either diff on your rig?
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Nope, just running open/open.
I'd consider running a welded diff in the back but I'm not sure I'd want to ruin the driveability of the vehicle like that, specially since it does all right without lockers. I've never driven a vehicle with a welded diff but my last 2 Zuks had a Detroit in the back which I would guess was almost worse than welded for parking lots and tight turns. At least with a welded diff you know it will always behave the same, but with that Detroit it was a guessing game as to whether it would buck, lurch, lock, skip, or jump as you tried to park without attracting all kinds of odd glances.
I have also considered running welded in the front and open in the back, since I have manual hubs and normally just drive in rear-wheel-drive, it wouldn't affect the daily driving of the vehicle unless on snow (which we do have for about half the year here, but I park the Zuk then). I thought just driving with the driver's side hub locked and the passenger side unlocked would make it bind less on turns, and if I needed the extra traction I could get out and lock the passenger hub too. I thought maybe this would make it ok for gravel or snowy roads too. But I asked around and alot of people said it wouldn't handle very nicely with one hub locked and the diff welded, (my bro-in-law has a front locker and manual hubs in his Xterra so he could confirm this), and I'm also not sure if it's a great idea with the big tires, 3:1 low range, and 185hp V6 all working against that puny front diff. It's not the aluminum one but it's still pretty small. And same goes for the CV's. I also drive pretty conservatively so maybe all my worrying is for nothing. Tough to say without trying. If my vehicle was strictly a bush buggy I'd weld the back up right away and get some cheap Chinese mudders and give'r!
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After reading about the issues others have had and you described with some of the lockers out there I have wondered the same as you, just weld it and know how it is going to behave every time. I have an 03 XL7 parts rig and have been considering swapping in the rear diff since it is a beefier unit than the Kick, but was thinking the Lincoln Locker was the only option for it.
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A mini-spool in the back is way nicer then driving with a Detroit. One issue is on ice, it's only happened to me once but I had the rear end decide to walk my rig about 10 feet to the left when I hit an icy patch.
If your not going through a lot of mud an open diff is more then enough for most exploration. If your worried about it I would spend the extra and put an ARB in rear so you have the best of both worlds.
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Drone637, there are NO lockers available for the XL7 rear diff. It's not the same as a Grand Vitara, Vitara, or Sidekick. It's bigger and stronger, uses a 3-bolt CV-style rear driveshaft to connect to the transfer case, and has bigger brakes than the other Suzukis as well.
Options are: stock open diff / stock diff welded / swap axle for something that you can get a locker for
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Last month we visited my folks down-province and spent a day four-wheeling down to the Hale Creek beach on beautiful Harrison Lake. Had a nice weenie roast in the sun and the kids enjoyed the surrounding nature as well.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/75305217_10157557869320751_4685046190146846720_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_oc=AQm1LWDbkmqrtKPUa_Nf0YlFkuvOmmyUo2btwGVfy9Lkbzz7qpUREMHHsBmOD_MvSs0&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=08eed628d2e26b4aefbe9e00abd418ce&oe=5E41CF5A)
A little log that gave us some big trouble when combined with a bit of a steep hill and loose boulders. A few well-placed rocks and the Zuk was up and over.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/73321214_10157557869775751_7932798977894776832_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQkD8hdvk80eQd3yL-erRCKHopFFhTMLYvX3VQQENmW9ADUBgKjksZigqYXEud9JQpY&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=aeacc60d916d6b84d396d532a9ae5ca9&oe=5E5242C2)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/73286383_10157557870785751_5381369300609138688_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQmI_dt-aeA4ZqvSVux7zErJXCfA6shnPqzFJLYNpYsSNXVyeT-4QXdv0yH1Qzkl3Ys&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=2cb0b2d19ca26f58d8341e7e3b78b9f7&oe=5E4528A3)
And then on the 12-hour drive back to Smithers we explored a new spot for lunch near Spences Bridge as you exit the Fraser Canyon
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/74908143_10157557868795751_1162477952869335040_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=AQnwAqZisYY79H1q5K3D02M3PaKgiM0wQYmuRf4a1WWY0C4VfxQNTg7yirjiWGXMleI&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=1c2cfed9a966ccd4213118efb232af4c&oe=5E5A361F)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/74634376_10157557868875751_2655181754851131392_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQmQPIOQZnJBI9_lvlii1Ti9c5salQVQODQjoRDkGCcMoVRL7K-j-sFSIPcFo3qc200&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=9623e7fe8b62978513e4039ec5d79fb9&oe=5E5642C3)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/74881504_10157557869445751_6167671490591326208_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=AQkGT_Z7ugnaYvdS-HqdG9RG-Rh5CGH1g9khMWQHVlBk04ufWFuCWbDdoC2VaR69n4s&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=067d7985168e47ec3a476ebc41075af2&oe=5E3F63F2)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/76693395_10157557870260751_1597084821673213952_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQlUEb7qw7xt1hMPvrVJk2F9DcdIDQSVILUrR30rV_kIIklOopN8zPQNMrgL9bGnqp8&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=dca940adca2fe2e0992f5eba75de4ce6&oe=5E40F12B)
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I just joined the forum and am hoping to convert my 2006 XL7 from a road princess to a Trail King. I live in Gig Harbor, WA and hope to check out the local forest roads on the Olympic Peninsula.
I read your build thread and am hoping to get advice on parts when I start my build. All i have really seen are the Old Man EMU kits, but I assume there are other brands out there. Hopefully we can bounce ideas off each other.
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Hey, cool to see a fellow XL7er. There aren't many of us out there. If you want some first class Suzuki advice, I would highly recommend joining BC Suzuki Club on facebook. It's a great group and very helpful and they welcome members from a broad area of the Pacific Northwest, including BC, Yukon, NWT, Alaska, Washington, and maybe the odd Oregonian. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask here or there.
If I had to do my lift over again, I would probably go with the 4xFour Art 3" Extreme kit (the extreme one has the control arms that move the front wheels forward and the rear wheels rearward, for tire clearance). It's similar to what I have from Alter Ego, but I wasn't overly impressed with the customer service from AE, and all the reviews I have read about 4xFourArt are excellent- excellent service, excellent product, excellent shipping times from Turkey, of all places, and they have an excellent 10-year warranty. Compare that to 6 months from AE. Check out beatthezombie's GV build thread on here; he's got a fair impression of the Turkish kit.
Otherwise, if you are doing just a minor lift and don't want to get too carried away, there is a guy in Kelowna, BC, who is also on the BC Suzuki Club, who machines his own lift kits. He just opened up his own shop, I can't remember the name of the business, but if you join the club just ask around for a guy named Shane Rathjen and he can hook you up with a nicely made lift for a few hundred bucks.
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Hey, cool to see a fellow XL7er. There aren't many of us out there. If you want some first class Suzuki advice, I would highly recommend joining BC Suzuki Club on facebook. It's a great group and very helpful and they welcome members from a broad area of the Pacific Northwest, including BC, Yukon, NWT, Alaska, Washington, and maybe the odd Oregonian. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask here or there.
If I had to do my lift over again, I would probably go with the 4xFour Art 3" Extreme kit (the extreme one has the control arms that move the front wheels forward and the rear wheels rearward, for tire clearance). It's similar to what I have from Alter Ego, but I wasn't overly impressed with the customer service from AE, and all the reviews I have read about 4xFourArt are excellent- excellent service, excellent product, excellent shipping times from Turkey, of all places, and they have an excellent 10-year warranty. Compare that to 6 months from AE. Check out beatthezombie's GV build thread on here; he's got a fair impression of the Turkish kit.
Otherwise, if you are doing just a minor lift and don't want to get too carried away, there is a guy in Kelowna, BC, who is also on the BC Suzuki Club, who machines his own lift kits. He just opened up his own shop, I can't remember the name of the business, but if you join the club just ask around for a guy named Shane Rathjen and he can hook you up with a nicely made lift for a few hundred bucks.
Great. thanks for the advise. I will check out the FB Group too.
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Well, it's now March, so as any northerner knows, it's getting high time to finish up on the ol' winter "to do" list. My throwout bearing had been making noise off and on since last February and I finally decided to do something about it. I ordered a Luk RepSet clutch off RockAuto for $290 shipped, which was almost half of what the parts stores in town were after so it was well worth buying online this time around. It took somewhere around 12 hours to do the whole job. I found getting the 02 sensors unplugged and the bolts on top of the bellhousing was a bit tricky, can't imagine how much more difficult it would have been without the 2" body lift! I also replaced the oil in the tranny and transfer case since it has been about 3 years with lots of off roading and water crossings. The tranny is a little noisy in 5th so I mixed some Lucas oil stabilizer (basically like snot) about 50/50 with the gear oil to quiet it down. I contemplated upgrading the friction disc to the racing one from 4x4art but it would have been another $200 and I never had any problems with the original setup so I didn't see the point.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/88035227_10157944115185751_2501431172718919680_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=o_0hW34cI0YAX_Cf4GQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=ab73d37d497f5ff989d9c61eb4e5823e&oe=5E86088A)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/88051475_10157944115120751_4714621412256514048_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=sDDMjnWUWykAX_7cODn&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=d090fa8a979d450b7512a43c2080c3ba&oe=5E98A692)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/88054737_10157944115270751_2085852417785593856_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=cqCXUPgs4Y4AX_N9dGz&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=8c8565d1627daf40173629d52cf846fd&oe=5E82BBE9)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/89087165_10157944115155751_7421225942959259648_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=Z2uiAGh8OyIAX9dN2GV&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=bcf160d33bdbab19b43d0f80636a64fb&oe=5E839A33)
I guess if this clutch lasted 17 years and 265,000km that's pretty good!
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I've been thinking hard about the future of the little Suzuki and my family's needs. I was tempted to sell it and go for something bigger like a Land Cruiser or Sequoia but decided to make it work for another year or more. It's hard to resist the mechanical simplicity and thrifty economy of this little rig, plus that it fits where nothing else does. So, to make it a little more family friendly for my family of 2 adults and 3 kids, I removed the passenger seat on the middle row (the 40% side). This makes it alot easier to get the two older kids into the 3rd row, and frees up some cargo space where the seat used to be since the 3rd row basically eats up all the cargo space in the trunk. I also decided to make more room in the cab by building aspare tire rack to hold the cooler, just like I've seen on many Jeeps in the magazines over the years.
I started with this ATV rack ( from a 1980's Suzuki, of course)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95088896_10158183847185751_7577945678932869120_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=oWvyYcMiZIYAX83kr5y&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=f2d9cf407b89dea9dd9ce629b654a55e&oe=5ED3787B)
After some grinding and welding and more grinding:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95467142_10158183845555751_816011200323125248_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=lTsxwzqA-wwAX9PljNZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=2f61904b84f6ac3a758dc8d71b959b6f&oe=5ED3978F)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95321871_10158183843385751_3421531695734587392_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=3PLiIpDUn0oAX_jB8Yy&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=889c78f2dd04cf30922dae6281650f95&oe=5ED18E41)
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That is nice - but - you might want to consider reinforcing the sheet metal skin on the inside of the door - at least keep an eye on it for tearing.
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Looks good Olija! Did you just weld a stub to your spare tire rack? Love your vintage spare tire!
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Thanks for the word of warning, Fordem. I am going to keep an eye on it for sure because I know the 32" spare tire on steel rim is already adding a fair bit of extra weight, not to mention the extra leverage added by having the cooler mounted another 18" back. That being said, I did have a 31" spare on steel rim on my old 4 door Sidekick, with two 40 lb mountain bikes on it, and I remember if I hit speedbumps head on, the tailgate would dent and then pop back out. I think the 2nd gen Suzukis have slightly thicker sheetmetal than the 1st gens, plus I don't think my cooler will ever amount to 80 lbs. I gave this setup a quick test by hanging my 200 lb body off it and bouncing up and down a bit...there's a bit of flex there, but I think it will be ok. Plus, time will tell how often this setup actually get used.
Jollyzuk- when I put the lift and bigger tires on, I used some heavy 3" flat bar to relocate the spare tire higher. Then when I added this rack, I just used a 6" length of 2x2 ID welded directly onto the flat bar. The rack uses a piece of 2x2 OD that slips inside the piece welded to the flat bar and is kept in place with a 5/8 bolt or hitch pin. I used a bolt for now (sucked down with an impact) because I thought the sloppy fit between the two tubes would drive me nuts. Then the rack pivots on a 1/2" bolt and is held in the horizontal position with a 5/8 hitch pin.
In the meantime, I my friend finally sent me some videos from our trail day last October! It takes forever to upload videos online so I just took a couple stills for now:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95469567_10158188030915751_2950455044144627712_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=ofNSstnN7bQAX9ft3I4&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=6f4c62e346835d5ca69566da05f2d973&oe=5ED46535)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95824415_10158188031070751_6578364170469638144_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=8NNE0ub3IhMAX_yJZbz&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=c6ba1fd5d44de243e31aed84770800ab&oe=5ED49F63)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/95558125_10158188031080751_5558678319525789696_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=qvDqLfS2hO0AX8R7VwH&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=9b7e2b1cd727e64460feb1ee20f8c3e4&oe=5ED2134E)
The snow is melting...the trails will be clear soon!
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Mounted a Tundra Tested 8500 lb winch to a Champion Speed-Mount. Ran the cables through a 2-pole plug intended for commercial trailers with a power liftgate so the cables can be easily connected/disconnected when the winch is installed/removed. I might run another set of cables to the rear for the same purpose or else just make a set of long jumper cables that reach around to the back. Here it is on it's first big pull:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/104690973_10158378989725751_3976828698070843604_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=uYvCb_6BttwAX9_URtK&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=511b489afb94ce3a6338aab813bcb459&oe=5F1B85CE)
Now our campsite is a little cleaner.
Next, went out for a drive to Top Lakes in Telkwa Pass to enjoy Father's Day on the Summer Solstice:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/105952925_10158378990120751_8514528010253469850_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=CckRYQR1Pr8AX_dI1T3&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=3f060cc6fc35cc08f69a2a08d9b00681&oe=5F18A4BC)
Except the beach was underwater from all the snow melt. Normally we don't go here until later in the summer, so I guess we should have known.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/106179096_10158378991435751_2604445203083983118_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=4Q0F0aEp0_AAX_xMAla&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=610208f1b75f14997bd0fd7f3da91c57&oe=5F18D862)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/105411278_10158378991245751_2550101638705419176_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=ex3tqS1EUtAAX-32tw1&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=acf1be71af6231be46258ed5016be929&oe=5F194314)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/104419059_10158378991545751_1690314190852737804_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=Bgg-n_O_hsQAX9Mv7Ie&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=1730f6614a5b3be2fd5321633b16c572&oe=5F17D669)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/105905351_10158378991200751_3857377765905078613_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=aVIiGixYhfkAX8aapC-&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=0681353875c033f97f8c8ebc6e66b247&oe=5F17F114)
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Here is a pic of the winch getting trail rated. It seems to be mounted high up enough that even though it sticks forward about a foot it doesn't seem to interfere with the approach angle.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/107128634_10158442173785751_4851673556981778754_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=2NT1tRgHISMAX9V3m0a&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=e110361c2c4be32ca256d253b70c6432&oe=5F3218BA)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/108521638_10158442169010751_5317518315828798756_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=MnXMi8VbPEsAX-iT0qe&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=5cc83a68f1262b721db723a7e94a3960&oe=5F2FBD81)
Wildlife
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/107790550_10158442169330751_3852829698836910413_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=YK1j_dhkbS0AX8Ew3AT&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a0daf4698bd1d81b71675fb6c84f38f4&oe=5F32F540)
Do you see the bear?
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/107817205_10158442169420751_3063416619019212146_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=v5VVUwBdDn4AX8sBXdN&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=2474ad919955ae25ac1201ab22609d21&oe=5F306555)
Was visiting again in the Fraser Valley last week and took my mom and the kids up the nearby mountain.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/107485727_10158442169550751_6889812511677625808_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=ljOdZCKTEqIAX-RVvqW&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=e05404ae0785f3a5554bd7be91bfeb14&oe=5F308D21)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/107842417_10158442169620751_402047163622146104_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=jmS9Y7l3mnYAX83zmXW&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=e0586bc1e13b44c0cee59babd02e13a7&oe=5F2FE579)
And then I was just checking the vehicle over before the 12+ hour drive home and found a leaking RR wheel seal. Jacked up the wheel and checked the wheel bearing and it was super loose and clunking bigtime. Disappointing to say the least, since these are high-grade FAG bearings I just put in 45000km/3.5 years ago. But, it turned out, after tearing it apart, the bearing was probably still ok but it had spun on the axleshaft and machined about 1/16" off the press-fit section where the inner races go. So, a used axleshaft had to be sourced, which is getting difficult on a 17-year old oddball like this, and then a new wheel bearing and seal put on. The drive home was uneventful but I had alot of time to dream about a Ford 9 inch or 8.8 inch rear axle swap...
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/108166997_10158442193645751_3946811841166194730_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=QiQEtMzjrCoAX8UQiM4&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=6d6daa423d2d74c68fd403b25a7ca129&oe=5F325494)
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Got a chance to redeem the XL7 up Nine Mile Mountain in Hazelton BC today. I've never taken the rig there, and I knew it's a pretty rough, steep climb until you get into the alpine, but the trail has deteriorated significantly since they replaced the diesel-fueled radio station at the top with a couple fiberglass microwave repeater towers. I guess since there is no more need for vehicle access the road has not been maintained in recent years. But the Zuk still owned the trail like a boss.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115935448_10158491323875751_4177902789910314304_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=4cJLBfK1lVgAX_LlRG0&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=994d40e8b9e2e3af2d196a4d3b3a7ab9&oe=5F45A526)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/116030185_10158491324010751_3295449500235856668_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=GyoSqdG6fckAX-nciVP&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=e34d0aa526a29f54469493d00d2f2c5e&oe=5F463F8B)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115905317_10158491324265751_5277674627314601540_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=N38YVdEkgLcAX-wLWRm&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=1f398d22b54a850b156eb8b4cfff171a&oe=5F45F2D2)
Old miner's shacks
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/116161283_10158491324450751_7758238962701791877_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=vwqK-_q9wlsAX8Z6SN3&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=f7a4848d054f95dc38b20cb265f16968&oe=5F484727)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115995718_10158491324540751_5336042810613550790_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=eshTjNZP_G8AX_jcr8W&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=365c8d57aee146872b30dde89037b677&oe=5F4625CD)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115902432_10158491324595751_6113037822205916908_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=43z7RE58VN0AX89IcMg&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=5305e627210ab435a0053ad7d6244ee3&oe=5F4842FF)
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I did the Whipsaw Trail in Princeton, BC (about 12 hours drive from Smithers where I live) with my brother and a few friends. It's a 2 day trail that follows an old Hudson's Bay Company route that was the original route from the Fraser Valley into the interior and northern parts of BC before the mule trail that became today's highway 97 existed. It was a pretty wet summer this year so the trail was in pretty rough shape, although it was not actually wet for us in the end of August. I did it 4 years ago in my old 62-series Land Cruiser and found it considerably more difficult in the XL7, probably due to the fact that the Zuki is IFS and the FJ62 was solid/solid and the weight distribution on the Cruiser is more rearward which is better for hillclimbs. I was really wishing for a locker this time around, and was having trouble even keeping up with my friend's stock 80-series Land Cruiser. All the other vehicles had traction control which made it pretty straightforward for them...whenever a wheel lifts, they just wait for the brake to grab the wheel and off they go. It worked so well on my brother's JK it was almost like he had twin lockers. So when is someone gonna start making a locker for the rear of these XL7's????
Airing down:
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118615679_10158583792755751_3153159007893567503_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=sUqj26kpQmQAX8OnSw2&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=063813b609c1301b7e276cb9cfad9674&oe=5FB94885)
4Runner going up Dutchman's Climb. A steep little gully which is pretty heavily rutted. The traction control guys made it looks easy. I tried it and spun out halfway up, then as I put my foot on the brake, the ABS kicked in full tilt and released the pressure to the front brakes because they were sliding backwards on the loose soil. Instinct took over and I yarded up on the E-brake handle as fast as I could and a major catastrophe at the outset of the trip was narrowly averted! Sorry, no video of that one...
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118671010_10158583791775751_679200750258222581_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=MBqgj5zY-mEAX8YYt-G&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=75651259e3823cfb24a3c2068732752d&oe=5FBB5A04)
The 2nd generation Sequoia really impressed everybody with its tight traction control. He had no lift or skid plates which meant he had to be extremely careful over the rocks.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118652033_10158583792885751_8996546550076826324_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=8R3BvXtldgIAX8sbsJT&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=f662161dde958f764d2a3f9547d454e6&oe=5FBC1513)
Plastic bumpers for the win!
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118267183_10158583792100751_2991071242747604007_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=bopRMTla9-cAX96prLA&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=b5feeb9fb90667c6e2a4e845231a8d64&oe=5FBBA791)
Memorial Rock, a super steep and bouncy obstacle. The JK walked up it, the 4Runner made it look really sketchy. I declined attempting it, just didn't seem worth it.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118652751_10158583792840751_7384924829833816375_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=8kUUk1t30zkAX8gy0UT&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=b93cdd6d5ae5295ddfc496fb2111a952&oe=5FB9D9CE)
Wells Lake, the halfway point.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118662764_10158583787735751_6159702172573842358_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=AbQlj2DdYXwAX80JK22&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=580932059220bb67f3b7256bf4b439d7&oe=5FB8BD26)
Heading up Falcon Hill, I was stopped dead in my tracks by a rock that my tires kicked up and wedged against my chassis. It was literally touching my rear driveshaft which I just rebuilt right before this trip. If I had just backed up and tried ramming over it instead of getting out and assessing what the issue was, it would have been a bad week!
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118647285_10158583793180751_8770440914245450636_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=zPutYnpuxUMAX8IklWF&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=aa4bacea61488e43a81f9a3961e7cda0&oe=5FB93F84)
IFS Ledge bypass
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118650625_10158583793590751_2521094766203558672_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=7cgEEWCWursAX_kXC97&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=76fec7631c42ddc49e052938d46eb797&oe=5FBA3416)
IFS Ledge
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118673720_10158583794040751_3467889814318757728_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=f3OA_YAH_OkAX__Tcbn&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=252b938e5c8f87557f61a4393a012ef7&oe=5FBC3C3C)
My 1 year-old son taking a shot at driving
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118692773_10158583793030751_3972339237351112647_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=9jolL1yJwBcAX_wJlku&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=70a5a513b9e01a8c9a9e58810f774113&oe=5FBA700A)
Then around the same time as the batteries for the VHF died, the power steering belt walked off the pully and destroyed itself. So nobody knew why we weren't coming or responding. By the time I had the remnant of the belt cut off with a knife and we were just heading back on our way, my brother had come back to find us.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118648465_10158583794835751_7026399537774716712_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=IlFXVSFvgmcAX9LgfMx&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=ea100c62d2ee0fd5a7f52cda0901f37d&oe=5FBC519A)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118659826_10158583786905751_6697533324507760586_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=KnzV8hs3GokAX9fIX3P&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=c9cef7b25cd50bace202a20ab58764ac&oe=5FBC7561)
The classic group shot in front of the Coalmont Hotel. This is at the little town at the end of the trail.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118680080_10158583787180751_6419320976596569420_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=O4hjx0uUpVoAX8LVluC&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=0c4fecf68245e44f12c7dda0d324dcd2&oe=5FBA2466)
Altogether it was a great experience to get down to Princeton with my family and drive the trail. But it was pretty stressful thinking about the likelyhood of a blown CV or axlehousing with my wife and 3 little kids along. Thankfully the XL7 held together once again, but it definitely felt like it was at the maximum limits of what it could do. A locker would have made all the difference. And maybe some stiffer suspension to control all the extra weight of the camping gear rocking back and forth on some of the rolling left-right bumps. Would I do it again? We'll have to see...
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Oh and we got out a couple times after that too. Nothing hardcore, just enjoying the last days of summer.
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/120144536_10158658850110751_6643515086490906679_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=aM55z_NX52wAX99UmdS&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=bc7eea4dbfdbfa57eb2f2fd28fc37b89&oe=5FBAB1EC)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/120141162_10158658849800751_5544178946796666850_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=SgH_i68k9QAAX96SOcp&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=64d24bbf8de3eadbddff4ecf931f1486&oe=5FBC6CB1)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/120032633_10158658848710751_8466963961406930342_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=unJohhiBqD8AX8cSZ2F&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a4c7c1d333ef098e458c8cb3c43e0710&oe=5FB8F411)
(https://scontent.fyka1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/120043317_10158658849365751_472773629490043967_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=GPCOKvVXo2oAX9Xul_h&_nc_ht=scontent.fyka1-1.fna&oh=a5f938dde36fc797e74513ff6b794ce0&oe=5FBAB812)