The Mule - MountainMan's Build

MountainMan · 01-24-2009, 09:16 PM

Every MountainMan needs a mule to pack his gear and loot through the high country, this... IS MINE!

As a disclaimer this might be the slowest build out thread in history, I haven't done much yet... BUT I GOT DREAMS BABY!

I first blacked out the bezel (removed it), the mirrors (just masked it), the handles (just masked it), and the rear emblems (removed them, and re-arranged them); I also changed the front TOYOTA to yellow ($30 to a guy at a paint shop), as you can see I left the bumper with the silver, I like them matching the wheels. But that is under review and I will most likely black out the bumpers and rims some day...

HERE ARE THE PICS:

The black paint used was Dupli-Color Truck Van SUV
To re-attach the emblems use 3M Auto Emblem Glue
I had Abra auto body do the yellow TOYOTA for $30

NOTES:
* mask off everything diligently, don't get lazy or take it all of the rig, one or the other
* paint with many light coats, avoid runs, dont rush
* dental floss is a nice trick to remove the emblems
* remove the top 2 screws and top 2 black plastic fasteners on the bezel then pull straight out - all those other white guys on the bottom will pop out w/o breaking

thanks to those who helped with all the pointers as seen in this thread Painting the Emblems

Next it was sliders: Demello round sliders

Next I needed to get radio communications, tunes, and GPS ::: So I put in a Garmin Oregon 400t, a ZUNE MP3 player, and Yaesu VX-75 HT HAM radio. The radio is kept in place by some heavy duty velcro on the back, as is the Zune. The radio is connected to a Diamond 770 external antenna. The wiring runs into the center console, under the seats, down the side under the trim and to the Bandi Mount on the back, works like a charm! In time this radio will get replaced by a Kenwood D710 unit...

Next I needed to organize the gear: M-PAC SOLUTION

MountainMan · 01-24-2009, 09:17 PM

Next I needed a lift! I longed about it for the first two years and finally I had the $ to do it, got the Ultimate Kit from ToyTech

THE LIFT
We got started at 10:45AM, got done about 5PM. Everything went pretty smoothly. Special thanks to Mark and Reese who without I would not have gotten this lift done.

I took some before and after measurements:
The NITTO's weigh in at 47lbs each, the stockers weigh in at 30lbs each. So I have added 85lbs to the overall weight of the MULE.

BEFORE 3" ToyTech Coilover Lift and 285/75/17 Nitto TerraGrappler tires (33.8" high):
34 5/8" from ground to bottom of front fender
35 7/8" from ground to bottom of rear fender

AFTER LIFT AND TIRES:
39 3/4" from ground to bottom of front fender
40" from ground to bottom of rear fender

New Clearance at Rear Diff: 10 5/8"
New Clearance at Front Skid: 14"

MountainMan · 01-24-2009, 09:18 PM

I wanted to record and show off the trails I had done with the MULE I hate it when folks see off road rigs and think 'how silly that things has probably never been off road, so I wanted to rectify that so I got stickers and custom lettering from Lettering from GreatLettering.com A note on the lettering that was obvious to me after I ordered the first time; it is cheaper to get 1 sticker with 4 lines of text than 4 stickers with 1 line of text. What you see here is the 3rd order I have put on because I just wanted to change things, font or whatever... it's not that spendy.