Trekking Tacoma Part 2 / Easter Jeep Safari

(ANNOUNCER)>> WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR TRUCK TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE YOU'D BETTER BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING. TODAY ON XTREME 4X4, OUR TREKKING TACOMA GETS OUTFITTED WITH A HEAVY DUTY WINCH AND BUMPER, SNORKEL, AND ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS. PLUS THE RIGS DESCEND ON THE MOAB BY THE HUNDREDS FOR THIS

YEAR'S EASTER JEEP SAFARI.

(IAN)>> TODAY WE'VE GOT OUR TOYOTA MINI TRUCK PROJECT BACK IN THE SHOP. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS RIG STARTED DOWN WITH THE GUYS FROM TRUCKS. WHERE THEY PUT TOGETHER A GOOD, HEAVY DUTY, DAILY DRIVER PICK UP.

WELL THEY LEFT IT SITTING IN THE WAREHOUSE, SO WE STOLE IT AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE XTREME SHOP TO BUILD A 100 PERCENT DEDICATED EXPEDITION RIG. NOW IT STARTED BY CUTTING OFF ALL HE FACTORY IFS SUSPENSION AND REPLACING IT WITH A SOLID AXLE SWAP THAT WE GOT FROM TRAIL GEAR.

AND WE FINISHED THAT OFF WITH A SET OF 35 INCH TALL MICKEY THOMPSON BAJA CLAW TTC TIRES. NOW TODAY WE'RE GONNA TURN WHAT IS BASICALLY A LIFTED ROCK CRAWLING TRUCK INTO A TRUE EXPEDITION RIG. WE'LL START WITH A BUMPER, WINCH UP FRONT, ADD A SNORKEL, AND ALL THE GOODIES THAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR TRUCK ON THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.

WHEN YOU START RESEARCHING EXPEDITION OFF ROADING, ONE NAME ALWAYS COMES UP, AND THAT IS ARB. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH EXPEDITION TRAVEL SINCE BEFORE IT WAS COOL. THEY'VE DEVELOPED A LOT OF PRODUCTS TO MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO DO, LIKE THE CLASSIC ARB ROOF TOP TENT. DESIGNED TO MOUNT ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, GETS YOU UP OFF THE COLD GROUND, GIVE YOU A NICE, DRY, SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP.

NOW THE SAFARI SNORKEL KIT COMPLETELY RELOCATES THE AIR INLET ON THE ENGINE, GETTING IT ABOVE THE HOOD LINE IN CASE

YOU NEED TO FORGE SOME WATER.

BUT ONE ITEM THAT YOU'LL DEFINITELY FIND ON MOST DEDICATED EXPEDITION TRUCKS IS THE CLASSIC ARB BUMPER, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONSTRUCTION. IT'S MAINLY BUILT USING EIGHTH INCH PLATE. IT'S DOUBLED UP IN KEY AREAS. NOW IT NOT ONLY MAKES THIS BUMPER STRONG, BUT ALSO INCREDIBLY LIGHT, AND ON AN EXPEDITION TRUCK THAT'S A BIG DEAL. HAULING A LOT OF GEAR AROUND, SAVING A FEW POUNDS ON THE BUMPER CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAKING IT UP THAT HILL OR NOT. NOW WE DEFINITELY NEED AN AIR COMPRESSOR IN OUR RIG TO RUN OUR FRONT AIR LOCKER. BUT BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING AN EXPEDITION RIG, WE'VE UPGRADED TO THE NEW ARB TWIN AIR COMPRESSOR. THIS IS 100 PERCENT DUTY CYCLE UNIT THAT WILL NOT ONLY RUN AN AIR LOCKER, BUT WITH THE OPTIONAL AIR HOSE KIT WE WILL

BE ABLE TO RUN AIR TOOLS WHEN WE'RE BACK AT THE CAMP AND AIR UP A 35 INCH TALL TIRE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. NOW INSIDE THIS BUMPER WE'RE GONNA BE INSTALLING THE WARN M-8,000 SERIES WINCH WITH SYNTHETIC ROPE LINE. BUT BEFORE WE PUT THIS WINCH IN, WE HAVE TO MODIFY IT SLIGHTLY. THE GEAR END HOUSING ON THE WINCH NEEDS TO BE ROTATED FOUR

MOUNTING HOLES IN A COUNTER CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. THEN THE WINCH CAN BE INSTALLED INTO THE BUMPER, THE SYNTHETIC ROPE HOOKED UP, WOUND ONTO THE DRUM. THE FRONT BUMPER BRACKETS FROM ARB NEED TO BE MODIFIED SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF THE NEW CROSS MEMBER WE INSTALLED WITH OUR SOLID AXLE KIT. THEN THE BUMPER IS INSTALLED FOR GOOD.

TO INSTALL THE SNORKEL A TEMPLATE IS PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND ALL THREE MOUNTING HOLES AND THE AIR INLET HOLE ARE CUT.

OUR ROOFTOP SET COULD GO ON THE ROOF, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE GONNA BUILD A CUSTOM BED TUBE STRUCTURE TO HOLD IT UP. START WITH AN INCH AND A HALF, WELD THE SEAM TUBING, THAT WE'LL BEND INTO TWO MATCHING HOOPS. THEN WE'LL INSTALL SOME SPREADER BARS AND FINALLY DROP THE TENT ON TO SEE HOW IT LOOKS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, SUN, SAND, AND SPEED AT THE EASTER JEEP SAFARI.

(IAN)>> WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT OFF ROAD VEHICLES, A NAME THAT ALWAYS COMES UP IS THE JEEP. AND AN EVENT THAT CELEBRATES EVERYTHING JEEP HAPPENS EACH YEAR IN MOAB, UTAH. EVERY YEAR THE SLEEPY TOWN OF MOAB, UTAH, BECOMES CENTER STAGE FOR ANYONE WHO OWNS A JEEP.

EASTER JEEP SAFARI IS THE EVENT FOR TRAIL RIGS, PURPOSE BUILT ROCK CRAWLERS, CLASSICS, OFF ROAD RACE CARS, AND DAILY DRIVERS. ( )>> THIS IS SO COOL. THIS IS COOLER THAN THE OTHER SIDE OF MY PILLOW. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE MOAB. IT'S THE BEST PLACE ON THE PLANET.

IT IS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MECCA OF THE WORLD. WHAT CAN I SAY? WE'RE GOING TO GOLDEN SPIKE TOMORROW.

WE'RE GONNA THROW AXLES, DRIVELINES, AND HUBS. IT'S GONNA BE HORRIBLE, THERE'S GONNA BE CARNAGE ALL OVER. SO COME AND GO WITH US.

(IAN)>> WITH MILES OF TRAILS TO CHOOSE FROM, YOU CAN RUN A DIFFERENT TRAIL EVERYDAY OF THIS WEEK LONG EVENT. ( )>> WELL IT'S SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. IT ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THE WILEY COYOTE CARTOONS BACK WHEN YOU WERE A KID. ( )>> YOU GET THE SEE THE LATEST IN CONCEPTS, PROTOTYPES, JUST THE LATEST AND GREATEST GADGETS,

ENGINES FOR THE JEEPS.

(IAN)>> THE TRAILS AROUND MOAB CONSIST OF SOFT SAND AND SMOOTH STICKY ROCK, REQUIRING A BALANCE BETWEEN CRAWLING IT AND GASSING IT.

(DEL)>> I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO BE IF YOU'RE IN THE OFF ROAD WORLD, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING KEEPING OUR TRAILS OPEN, AND THAT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO IN MOAB SO WE CAN ALWAYS GO OUT AND ENJOY THESE TRAILS, THEY KEEP THEM OPEN. COME TO MOAB AND KEEP IT ON YOUR CALENDAR.

(IAN)>> IT'S ON MY CALENDAR EVERY YEAR. GREAT NEWS, GREAT PEOPLE, AND GREAT WHEELING, A PERFECT VACATION! I'M STUCK MAN, THIS IS A BIG HILL. IT DIDN'T LOOK BIG DOWN THERE. NOW THAT I'M HERE, I CAN'T EVEN HOLD MY HEAD UP. SOMETHING NEW TO EJS IS THE ADDITION OF THE

ANNUAL DIRT RIOT RACE. A SHORT COURSE OPEN WHEEL RACING AT AREA BFE JUST OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN MOAB. JUST DAYS AGO THESE SAME TRAILS WERE CHALKED FULL OF FAMILIES CRAWLING IN THEIR JEEP TRAIL RIGS, BUT WHEN THE ULTRA FOUR RACE CARS HIT THE DIRT, THERE ISN'T A LOT

OF CRAWLING GOING ON. JUST HIGH HORSEPOWER FOUR WHEEL ACTION FOR EVERYONE TO WATCH. SO IF YOU OWN A JEEP, LIKE SEEING NEW AND COOL RIGS IN ACTION, LOVE TO GO WHEELING, OR ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH OFF ROAD, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT MOAB, UTAH, AND THE ANNUAL EASTER JEEP SAFARI ON YOUR BUCKET LIST.

THE EASTER JEEP SAFARI HAPPENS EVERY YEAR RIGHT BEFORE THE EASTER WEEKEND. SO PACK UP YOUR GEAR, PLAN A TRIP, MAYBE I'LL SEE YOU THERE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, RENEWABLE RELIABLE POWER FOR OUR EXPEDITION RIG.

AND EASY TO REACH STORAGE FOR ALL OUR TRAIL TOOLS.

(IAN)>> NOW WHEN IT COMES TO EXPEDITION TRAVEL, THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU LIKE TO HAVE WITH YOU AND THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE WITH YOU. NOW IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE POWER AROUND THE CAMPSITE TO DO THINGS LIKE CHARGE BATTERIES IN CELL PHONES, CAMERAS, OR EVEN YOUR LAPTOP. BUT THAT POWER REQUIREMENT CAN QUICKLY BECOME A NEED WHEN EITHER YOU'RE OUT IN THE WILDERNESS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, OR YOU HAVE TO DO A CRUCIAL TRAIL REPAIR AND NEED ACCESS TO AN ELECTRIC TOOL LIKE THIS HAND GRINDER. NOW SURE YOU COULD THROW A VOLTAGE REVERTER IN THE TRUCK AND SIMPLY FIRE UP THE TRUCK'S ENGINE TO GET THAT POWER, BUT

IF YOU'RE ON A LONG TRIP, WASTING THAT MUCH FUEL TO JUST

GET SOME ELECTRICITY CAN BE SOMEWHAT OF A PROBLEM. NOW ONE BETTER OPTION IS TO GO AHEAD AND INSTALL A SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM ONTO YOUR TRUCK, AND THE GUYS FROM GOAL ZERO

HAVE MADE THAT VERY EASY TO DO. THE BOULDER SERIES SOLAR PANELS SIMPLY DAISY CHAIN TOGETHER TO PRODUCE POWER THAT WILL THEN TRAVEL DOWN INTO THIS SMALL BATTERY PACK. NOW THE PANELS JUST PLUG IN AND CHARGE THE BATTERY WHEN THE SUN'S OUT. YOU HAVE A VOLTAGE INVERTER THAT CLIPS INTO THE BACK OF THE PACK AND WILL DELIVER A/C POWER OUT TO ANY POPULAR TYPE OF PLUG, EVEN EUROPEAN STYLE. BUT THE NICE THING IS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE INVERTER IS A SMALL 12 VOLT OUTLET SIMILAR TO A CIGARETTE OUTLET, A USB CHARGING POINT TO CHARGE THINGS LIKE YOUR CELL PHONE, AND THEN ANOTHER 12 VOLT OUTLET THAT USES ANOTHER GOAL ZERO PROPRIETARY PLUG TO POWER ALL THE ACCESSORIES THAT THEY HAVE FOR THIS PACKAGE. THINGS LIKE THESE SMALL LITTLE LED LIGHTS THAT YOU STRING UP AROUND THE CAMPSITE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT CAN ALSO HAVE A UTILITARIAN USE, LIKE CHARGING THE BATTERY IN THE TRUCK IF IT HAPPENS TO GO DEAD BY USING THIS SMALL GUARDIAN CHARGE CONTROLLER. NOW WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOUNT OUR SOLAR PANELS RIGHT UP ON THE ROOF OF OUR PICK UP SO THEY'LL ALWAYS BE GETTING SUNLIGHT AND ALWAYS BE CHARGING THIS BATTERY WHENEVER THE TRUCK'S OUTSIDE. AFTER MEASURING OUR ROOF TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH SPACE WE HAVE, WE'LL LAY OUT BOTH SOLAR PANELS, AND THEN CUT SOME INCH AND A HALF WELDED SEAM TUBING. WE'LL BEND IT INTO A SIMPLE HOOP STRUCTURE.

AND CHECK FOR THE POSITION OF THE CROSS BAR. THEN WE'LL NOTCH THE ENDS...

AND BUILD THE ENTIRE HOOP STRUCTURE ON A BENCH AWAY FROM THE TRUCK JUST TO MAKE WELDING IT TOGETHER A LOT EASIER.

ONCE THE CROSS BARS ARE IN PLACE, WE CAN DROP THE SOLAR PANELS IN AND MOUNT THEM USING SOME TABS THAT WE GOT FROM A&A MANUFACTURING.

NOW BY ADDING THESE TWO ADDITIONAL TUBES TO THIS HOOP STRUCTURE IT BASICALLY CHANGES THE ENTIRE FUNCTION OF THE UNIT.

IT'S NO LONGER JUST A MOUNT FOR OUR SOLAR PANELS, IT'S AN ACTUAL ROOF RACK. WE CAN THROW SOME GEAR BAGS UP ON HERE AND STRAP THEM DOWN SECURELY WHEN WE NEED TO GO ON LONG TRIPS.

NOW YOU NOTICE THAT WE COVERED UP THE SOLAR PANELS WITH THIS SPARK PAPER, AND THAT IS TO PREVENT ANY SPARK FROM HITTING THE SURFACE OF THE SOLAR PANEL. ANY DAMAGE TO THAT SOLAR PANEL AND IT WILL EFFECT ITS CHARGING OF THE BATTERIES THAT WERE STORED BELOW.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS PULL THESE PANELS BACK OUT, FINISH WELD THIS ENTIRE PACKAGE, AND GET IT UP ON THE ROOF OF OUR TRUCK.

BEFORE MOUNTING THE NEW ROOF RACK WE'LL INSTALL TWO NUTSERTS INTO THE FRONT OF THE TUBE TO HOLD OUR LED OFF ROAD LIGHT.

NOW THE RACK ALSO GAVE US PROVISIONS TO MOUNT THIS FRONT LED BOX.

NOW THIS ONE'S FROM RIGID INDUSTRIES. IT'S A 20 INCH BAR AND IT'S WHAT'S CALLED A DOUBLE STACK MIXED FLOOD. IT HAS TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF LED'S IN IT. IT'S GOT FLOOD LIGHTS AND SPOT LIGHTS. NOW THAT GIVES US A GOOD DOSE OF LIGHT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE TRAIL AS WELL AS A NICE, WIDE FLOOD LIGHT TO LIGHT UP BOTH SIDES OF THE TRAIL WHEN WE'RE OUT WHEELING.

THE BEST PART IS THE LED WILL DRAW VERY LITTLE AMPS. SO IF WE NEED TO HAVE IT ON WHILE WE'RE SETTING UP CAMP, IT WON'T KILL THE BATTERY.

TO PROTECT THE OUTSIDE OF THE BED ON OUR TRUCK, WE'LL ADD A RUG RAIL THAT WILL TIE IN TO OUR BED CAGE. THAT WAY ANY TREES THAT GET HUNG UP ON OUR ROCK RAIL WILL GET PICKED UP BY THIS VENT TUBE BEFORE CAUSING ANYMORE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK.

(ANNOUNCER)>> JUST AHEAD, WE'LL FIND A PLACE FOR ESSENTIAL ITEMS YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE ON THE TRAIL.

(IAN)>> ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT CHOOSING A PICK UP TRUCK FOR YOUR DEDICATED EXPEDITION RIG IS ALL THE STORAGE SPACE THAT YOU HAVE IN THE BED. THE DOWNFALL IS THAT NONE OF THE SPACE IS VERY SECURE.

SO YOU NEED TO FIND WAYS TO NOT ONLY STORE YOUR ITEMS BUT BE ABLE TO LOCK THEM UP WHEN YOU'RE AWAY FROM THE RIG. NOW WE HAVE TWO SWAG OFF ROAD BAJA BINS.

THESE ARE SECURE, LOCKABLE STORAGE. IN THE LARGER ONE WE'LL USE ALL OF OUR EXPEDITION GEAR.

THINGS LIKE MAYBE SOME DRY FOOD, CHANGE OF

CLOTHES, ITEMS LIKE THAT. IN THE SMALLER BIN WE'LL HAVE OUR TRUCK SPECIFIC ITEMS IN HERE. THINGS LIKE SPARE PARTS FOR THE RIG, MAYBE SOME TOOLS. NOW THE NICE THING ABOUT THE BAJA BINS IS THEY BASICALLY WRAP AROUND THIS ACTION PACKER WITH A 100 PERCENT ALUMINUM BRACKET. THE BRACKET WILL NOT ONLY KEEP IT SECURE IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK, BUT THE LATCH ON THE END HAS A LOCATION FOR A LOCK SO IT'S COMPLETELY SECURE WHEN YOU'RE AWAY FROM THE RIG. NOW WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP ANY FLUIDS IN HERE IN CASE THEY SPILL. SO TO STORE THEM WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR OILS AND OUR COOLANTS, AND LOCK THEM INTO AN RTECH INDUSTRIES CORE CASE. ONCE AGAIN WE'LL BOLT THIS INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND IT'LL JUST KEEP EVERYTHING LOCKED IN PLACE. FOR FLUIDS LIKE OILS, AND GAS, AND WATER, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND USE THE DAYSTAR CAM CANS. NOW THESE ARE NORMALLY ATTACHED TO THE SPARE TIRE ON THE BACK OF THE JEEP, BUT WE'LL JUST MOUNT THEM ON OUR BED CAGE ON OUR PICK UP. AND THE NICE THING IS WE'LL BE ABLE TO STACK THEM TWO DEEP WHEN WE NEED TO GO ON LONGER EXPEDITIONS. FOR ITEMS THAT WE MIGHT NEED ON THE TRAIL RIGHT AWAY, QUICKLY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NEW TRAIL BOX. IT'LL MOUNT ONTO THE CAM CAN THE SAME AS ANY OTHER FLUID

ITEMS, BUT YOU CAN QUICKLY OPEN IT TO GAIN

ACCESS TO ITEMS INSIDE. IN HERE WE'LL JUST THROW MAYBE A COUPLE OF DRINGS AND OUR TRAY SAVER SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BREAK INTO THE BAJA BIN EVERY SINGLE TIME WE NEED TO GET ONE ITEM OUT WHEN WE'RE ON THE TRAIL. WE'LL ADD A TUBE TO OUR BED CAGE TO MOUNT OUR CAM CANS.

AND BOLT OUR BAJA BIN BRACKETS TO THE FLOOR OF OUR BED. TO KEEP OUR COLD FOOD COLD, WE'RE GONNA ADD AN ARB FRIDGE/FREEZER COMBINATION. SO NOW WE HAVE A DRY PLACE TO SLEEP, PROTECTION ALL THE WAY AROUND, A RENEWABLE POWER SOURCE, AND TONS OF STORAGE. BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET. IF YOU WANT A TRUE DEDICATED EXPEDITION VEHICLE, YOU NEED A FEW MORE THINGS. WE NEED TO CARRY A LOT MORE WATER AND POSSIBLY THE ABILITY TO HAVE A HOT SHOWER OUT ON THE TRAIL. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THIS RIG BE EXPEDITION READY. FOR DETAILS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN TODAY'S EPISODE HEAD ON OVER TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.