Zraver Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 (edited) Ok, so I use a 4x4 a bit differently than most. I am coming out of a 1998 lifted suburban named Bear- The big brown bear, loaded for bear and driven by a bear (UCA Alum). My new ride is an 01 SE 4x4 hence the name Tiny. I don't rock crawl or mud, I do search and rescue, snow/ice rescue and chase storms. So far all I have done is add a cargo rack, replace the rear shocks and springs, replace the old headlight bulbs with Sylvania Silverstars, new shoes (Toyo Open Country ATII) and order the winch bumper (already have a badland 9k winch) with stinger bar from TAG. Once the winch bumper arrives, I am doing front struts and adding a 2" lift. Next tax season I plan on adding rear lockers, rhino lining it and perhaps shatter safing the windows. Edited April 18, 2015 by Zraver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 I carry- recovery bag w/ snatch block, tree saver strap, commercial recovery strap, 15' logging chain, 2x shackles and a hitch slide in D ring. Ax, E-tool, sledge hammer, rescue hammer/ax, gas shut off tool, and chain saw w/ PPE. 5 gallon metal jerry can and a 1 gallon can saw fuel) Trauma bag, folding tactical stretcher, SAR hasty pack, USAR uniform and PPE, tracking stick, 2x SAR helmets, K9 kennel, K9 supplies and water, fire extinguisher, air compressor, tent, sleeping bag w/ sleeping mat, automotive tools, jumper cables 750w inverter, dash camera, GPS, cell phone amplifier, mifi mobile hot spot, weather station, triple trunked digital scanner, 2 meter radio, 100w siren, amber rotators, red LED emergency light bar (magnet mount for rescue ops), white LED grill lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushnut Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I hope you installed the 2" lift springs from AC, all that weight should settle them to about normal stock ride height. all kidding aside, I feel you'll enjoy your new ride. way more nimble in the trails than the old 'burbon. I think I've finally found someone who carries even more crap than I do. If your not always prepared your never prepared. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teixeira Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Sure is a lot of stuff to carrie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN_S4 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 That's a lot of weight to carry around on stock springs. Definitely upgrade to Heavy Duty springs and a lift spacers to counter act all that. Sounds awesome though! Welcome on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 OEM replacement for now. Butt sags just a little but was almost riding on the wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Bushnut, 100% agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Bushnut, 100% agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gv280z Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 So you just moved like..a 4 bedroom house into a 1000 square foot apartment.....I have got to see the pics when you get this thing loaded up. TheExBrit is gonna be pissed...or more likely over joyed someone carries more gear than he does! So, do you have a checklist or what? How do you stay on top of all that gear? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) I had to play tetris to get it all loaded and left a bunch of stuff I used to carry out. No more riding around with a push up awning, no 72" rock bar, no giant tool box full of jacks, jack stands fluids etc, no kitty litter and chains, only 1 spare tire, no K9 hazmat decon kit etc. I'll try and take some pics. Some of the stuff like the farm jack, sledge, ax and jerry can got moved to the top. Winch went from a receiver plate to will be mounted on winch bumper when the bumper arrives in June. Wet to a much smaller dog crate which was OK since my original k9 partner was a dutch shepherd and she washed out and my new partner is a Mountain Feist who is 1/3 the size.Since I do search and rescue, disaster relief and storm chasing I carry a lot of gear.Stuff i forgot to mention- 750 lumen spot light, 3x highway reflectors, car seat, 8" tablet (for radar when chasing), hi-vis vests, frog togs, laminated atlas, emergency vynl window sheeting, and various odds and ends. Edited April 19, 2015 by Zraver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushnut Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 food and water? for you and your partner. I teach wilderness self reliance as a side project (www.borealisbushcraft.com) and have notice (sadly) especially in my part of the world where civilization can be far apart that most people don't keep any type survival gear with them at all. no extra clothing, no blankets or sleeping bag, no signaling devices, and yet travel hundreds of Kms through empty landscape with the idea that there vehicle will never brake down or end up in a ditch. In fact I just had a conversation with a neighbor this evening about traveling in winter on highways through the prairies, and he told me about time when he hit the ditch during a snow storm in Saskatchewan and only survived because of his dogs and the fact that he had almost a full tank of gas when he got stuck and so was able to run the car throughout the night to keep warm until he was rescued by the RCMP. He now travels with a fine survival kit that should work great if a similar thing should happen. One lucky guy. Have you notice the same thing? any good stories? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gv280z Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I just remembered something from my army days....there was this class of soldier / NCO that were responsible for how vehicles were loaded with equipment called Load Planners. They were the ones that would basically strategize on how to get everything to fit most efficiently with regard (I'm guessing) to weight distribution and necessity of access. You talk like a tactically trained soldier, you wouldn't happen to be an former military Load Planner would you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Bushnut, I can fully self sustain my dog and I for 72 hours. My SAR hasty pack has all the basics for wilderness survival and compass based land navigation including a 2 meter baofeng radio so even if the truck is disabled and I can't use my 2 meter mobile and my phone dies I have some form of coms. If 1 is required, 2 is better and 3 is prudent.gv280z, former 19K (M1 Abrams tanker) so yes tactically trained but but not a load planner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Stories- not life or death, but I am known for being the person to ask for something on a search, storm chase or other event if it is needed. From a fully stocked trauma bag, to a portable air compressor I am prepared. Might have something to do with my PTSD- I know how rough it can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN_S4 Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 gv280z, former 19K (M1 Abrams tanker) so yes tactically trained but but not a load planner. This explains it. I'm an armour guy myself. Tanks and Recce. I know the importance of making a lot of stuff fit in small spaces. We don't have loading dudes, for us it's a crew complete task. Drivers load all the POL and tools etc. Crew commanders ensure everything else from ammo to surveillance gear, food, water, and more ammo is packed and stored where it needs to be. Maybe this explains why my truck is organized the way it is lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 CDN, you have so much open space....Yes I know, lots of wires..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 http://i57.tinypic.com/28s08cn.jpghttp://i58.tinypic.com/2wmnsy9.jpg http://i58.tinypic.com/5d8myt.jpghttp://i62.tinypic.com/rjm912.jpg http://i59.tinypic.com/fc2vme.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 from the storm chase yesterday, rotating wall cloud 2 miles north of Malvern, AR. Tried to follow it up I30 and had to deal with the hail core. No my daughter is not a vampire... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN_S4 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Thank God that's not YOUR hand!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 So, I've had Tiny for about a month now. two things standout so far. 1. I really need those heavier springs. 2. The engine is a dream. I had the more powerful VQ35HR in my Z. but for what it is the VQ35DE in the pathy is a perfect fit. It has responsive, easy power all the way through the band, never feels like its struggling, throaty when I get on it, but not loud when just cruising. Of every 4x4 I've ever owned this is the best motor/vehicle combo I've ever had. Really torn on whether to do a pop charger or a snorkel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 If you're chasing storms and want to change your intake, do a snorkel, I've heard of people sucking water from parking lot puddles with pop chargers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushnut Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 not to mention that snorkels just look damn cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zraver Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 well my bumper finally showed up! TAG is slow... Winch bumper with stinger, shackles and 55w halogen driving lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN_S4 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Nice bumper. But I wouldn't call that a stinger. That's just a light bar. Stinger is this: ...as on the Xterra obviously Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleurys Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now