Photos 3rd gen pic's

[DanielJ]

Got this picture this weekend, was pretty happy with how good it looked. Felt it was worthy of sharing.

Im about 2 hours from there.

 

[wheelin'explorer]

Im about 2 hours from there.

Right on! I see you're from Arkansas, called at highway 125 campground just across the ferry after mark Twain

 

[DanielJ]

Right on! I see you're from Arkansas, called at highway 125 campground just across the ferry after mark Twain

Indeed, im stationed at little rock afb in jacksonville. Ozarks is just short of fort smith which is about 2 hours from me! I havent went exploring out there yet.

 

[wheelin'explorer]

Indeed, im stationed at little rock afb in jacksonville. Ozarks is just short of fort smith which is about 2 hours from me! I havent went exploring out there yet.

Mark Twain has got a lot of awesome trials, it's really more of a ATV type place to go, but I don't see any reason why our Ex's wouldn't make it. Though I wont take mine down any of the trails till I'm lifted and have a wider stance/tires. There are some pretty good ledges on the trails that would love to eat an oil pan I'm sure!

 

[DanielJ]

Mark Twain has got a lot of awesome trials, it's really more of a ATV type place to go, but I don't see any reason why our Ex's wouldn't make it. Though I wont take mine down any of the trails till I'm lifted and have a wider stance/tires. There are some pretty good ledges on the trails that would love to eat an oil pan I'm sure!

Yikes, im trying to beat on my ex less now. I was running it hard for a while, breaking things left and right. Gets expensive because sadly the parts are still a pretty penny and you dont find any 3rd gens in a junkyard for cheapo parts. Ill hopefully be getting a 1st gen here come janurary or when i get back from afghan. Ill take the 1st gen out there to see how rough it is on it. If not then ill bring my 3rd out there and crawl arround.

 

[wheelin'explorer]

Yikes, im trying to beat on my ex less now. I was running it hard for a while, breaking things left and right. Gets expensive because sadly the parts are still a pretty penny and you dont find any 3rd gens in a junkyard for cheapo parts. Ill hopefully be getting a 1st gen here come janurary or when i get back from afghan. Ill take the 1st gen out there to see how rough it is on it. If not then ill bring my 3rd out there and crawl arround.

You could probably go out there and take a lot of the rougher trails, and get away without breaking anything. It would just take going slow, and picking your route carefully. But I just don't feel like I would get far without a lift.

 

[DanielJ]

You could probably go out there and take a lot of the rougher trails, and get away without breaking anything. It would just take going slow, and picking your route carefully. But I just don't feel like I would get far without a lift.

Hmm try a small lift and see what you can do. Before i put the lift on i would get high centered alot! Now i just cruise over it. But sadly thats all bout to change. My wife doesnt like it lifted so ill most likely be returning it to stock height. but my new toy will be nice and lifted

 

[wheelin'explorer]

Hmm try a small lift and see what you can do. Before i put the lift on i would get high centered alot! Now i just cruise over it. But sadly thats all bout to change. My wife doesnt like it lifted so ill most likely be returning it to stock height. but my new toy will be nice and lifted

Yeah, a small lift is on the way. I am holding off on lift/tires because I don't really want my gas mileage to drop any right now. I have a fuel efficient project in the works right now, and once that is done and I have something that gets 35 to the gallon, my Ex will get a higher and wider stance. But until then she is riding stock height just for the sake of saving a few bucks now.

 

[DanielJ]

Yeah, a small lift is on the way. I am holding off on lift/tires because I don't really want my gas mileage to drop any right now. I have a fuel efficient project in the works right now, and once that is done and I have something that gets 35 to the gallon, my Ex will get a higher and wider stance. But until then she is riding stock height just for the sake of saving a few bucks now.

Even though i have a 3 inch and 32 inch mudders i still get good mileage. My last tank was 389 miles to it! not to bad at all!

 

[Kazer]

Even though i have a 3 inch and 32 inch mudders i still get good mileage. My last tank was 389 miles to it! not to bad at all!

4.5" of lift and 29s and I'll be lucky to see 270 running the tank down to fumes....

 

[DanielJ]

4.5" of lift and 29s and I'll be lucky to see 270 running the tank down to fumes....

How do you drive? like a drag racer? The only things ive done performance wise is added a CAI, and have a tuner that has it in the octane setting to get better mileage and whoever had it before me regeared it. I drive fairly modest unless im in the dirt. But i usually run about 380 to the tank. The higest i got was 403, drove like a snail and didnt have the mudders on it. and ran premium. Im driving to cali from Arkansas on sunday. ill log what mpg im getting on the highway at 75mph.

 

[therover1991]

Havent posted in a while so heres the latest pic of my truck. Painted the old grayish grille gloss black. I liked the chrome one but wanted to change it up a bit. I think it looks nice.

 

[BigRondo]

Havent posted in a while so heres the latest pic of my truck. Painted the old grayish grille gloss black. I liked the chrome one but wanted to change it up a bit. I think it looks nice.

The grille looks great. I would like to do the same with mine. Got any tips on prep work, paint used, etc.?

 

[therover1991]

The grille looks great. I would like to do the same with mine. Got any tips on prep work, paint used, etc.?

Thanks rondo! I used krylon fusion from wally world. Sprayed about 4 or 5 coats, let it dry about 15 minutes in between coats and let it dry for a full week before reinstalling because this paint claimed to be fully chip resistant after a week. Dont exactly buy it but figure Id might as well let it sit. To prep I just washed the grille and cleaned every individual section to make sure there was no dirt, then just sprayed away because this paint said it does not need any prep work. For 4 bucks and a little bit of time Id say it was worth it.

 

[BigRondo]

Thanks rondo! I used krylon fusion from wally world. Sprayed about 4 or 5 coats, let it dry about 15 minutes in between coats and let it dry for a full week before reinstalling because this paint claimed to be fully chip resistant after a week. Dont exactly buy it but figure Id might as well let it sit. To prep I just washed the grille and cleaned every individual section to make sure there was no dirt, then just sprayed away because this paint said it does not need any prep work. For 4 bucks and a little bit of time Id say it was worth it.

Thanks for the speedy reply. I have used Fusion with good results. Might get a chance to squeak this in before the weather turns for the worse!!

 

[therover1991]

Thanks for the speedy reply. I have used Fusion with good results. Might get a chance to squeak this in before the weather turns for the worse!!

Thinking of the weather being cold does not sit well with me, I enjoy washing my truck too much lol. But also forgot to add, tape off the chrome trim around the edge of the grille unless you want to paint that also.

 

[BigRondo]

Thinking of the weather being cold does not sit well with me, I enjoy washing my truck too much lol. But also forgot to add, tape off the chrome trim around the edge of the grille unless you want to paint that also.

The chrome trim is going black, along with the part under the grille too. In fact, the whole front will eventually be black. I'm slowly getting there.

Here's how the front end has changed:

 

[Riverrunner]

 

[wheelin'explorer]

Havent posted in a while so heres the latest pic of my truck. Painted the old grayish grille gloss black. I liked the chrome one but wanted to change it up a bit. I think it looks nice.

You should paint the plastics, that would clean it up very nice. You will be very happy with the end result. That is one of the best things I have done with my Ex.

 

[therover1991]

You should paint the plastics, that would clean it up very nice. You will be very happy with the end result. That is one of the best things I have done with my Ex.

You mean the plastic trim pieces? Ive thought about it just dont know if Id like it enough. I usually put some trim gel on it after I detail it but Ive been too lazy the last few times.