Sounds like a good excuse for true duals.

 

12K winch, tow points front and rear, tow strap, recovery rope, soft/hard shackles, ****** block, CO2 tank when you air down your tires, rear axle antiwrap bar or 4 link the rear, CB, phone, short wave, sat phone, farm jack, tools, same size spare tire, tire plug kit, skid plates, a complete 1st aid kit. A spare transmission for ****ts and grins.

 

So I'm back with a few updates.

I finished my dual 10" subwoofer setup about 99%. I need to figure out a bracket to bolt them to the seat base and then they're done. Don't look too closely since I'm low on woodworking tools and I used a jigsaw to make every cut.



I also bought a winch bumper from a local guy. Giving bennys4x4.com a shoutout here, he makes a bumper that mounts to the frame rails AND crossmember just like the Thuren modular but it's significantly cheaper. Weld-together kit is $500, already welded is $1000, and welded with powder coat is $1250. I went with the powder coated one.



I have a relative who says he might be able to get me a Warn winch for free, there's apparently a connex at his job full of ones they pulled off their work trucks. I need to get rock sliders, this same guy says he can make them for $1000 but I don't have the budget for that right now. Also, I've been thinking about removing my rear add-a-leaf and just doing a shackle flip, if I can find one for a decent price that only raises it 2-2.5" after removing the factory block.

This summer I think I'm going to the Gambler 500 in Oregon and I will volunteer myself for recovery duty and trash pickup. Also joined a 4x4 group to try getting out more often. Gonna try some trails in the Sierras once the snow melts.

 

I put a shallow Kicker box with the "12 speaker and 12" bass radiator, in my BMW. If yours are new it's going to take a short while for them to break in for full range bass. Put your Fuse by the battery, this is really important.

 

Yeah that is probably a good idea... I need to change up the power distribution up front to something more organized so I'll do it then.

 

Nothing wrong with that! I have a JL Audio Stealthbox under mine, They don't make them anymore. I also put two Kickers below the rear arm rest. Never got around to make the covers.

 

Oh wow that IS stealthy.

 

Okay gents, I got my free Warn M12000 winch and the bumper should be done soon.

For the winch I am wiring it to a 500A fuse, then a 500A solenoid for power cutoff. I don't want a fire in case I get in an accident or mash my bumper.

I bought all the parts for re-doing my electrical. New battery terminals that support extra cables. A 6-gang switch panel for my fog lights, flood lights, rear lights, and winch power cutoff with some room for expansion. Also relocating my amplifier fuse to the front.

I'll post pics once I start moving on the work.

 

This looked a lot better in my imagination. The major problem was not having a good spot to put the 500A fuse, so it had to go in diagonally and on a bracket. I think the ideal situation would be to get a second battery on the passenger side with my all my auxiliary stuff mounted there as well.

Anyway, I got bigger battery terminals. I cleaned up the original battery wiring with some vinegar and a wire brush, then I replaced the copper lugs. The starter turns over much faster and engine starts very quickly now. All my auxiliary stuff also has copper lugs with heat shrink and tape. Amplifier fuse moved to the front. Added the 500A solenoid for the winch cutoff, added a relay/power distribution panel for my lights and such on the passenger side. All the wires running along the cowl will be put in some plastic loom when that comes in.




Switch panel is mounted to a backing plate behind the headliner. Was a little bit tricky peeling it back, but the results were totally worth it.



I always like to add rear facing floodlights for reversing in the dark. These were just some tiny surface mount "rock lights" from Harbor Freight.

 

You can get a factory aux battery tray and such for these, as the diesels actually came with 'em. May have to move some stuff in the passenger front corner of the engine compartment.... but, aside from that, it's a direct bolt-in. If you go that route, a battery isolater would be a very good idea as well.