OmahaBravo's Build Thread

[CaseyJ]

Love the pass through TPU grommet!

 

[gsea]

Uline delivered... we'll see how this pans out.
For those scratching their heads... the idea is to find some cheap way to protect the paint without going PPF/temp PPF. Something you apply just before a trip and remove shortly after.

This is carpet protection tape I cant take credit. @Godzilla/Tremornator is the one who thought it up.
Aint stupid if it works.

It adheres exceptionaly well when the edges are applied cleanly. 4mil is pretty darn stout. Only question is will it affect the paint after a few days.
Time to test in PROD.

@Godzilla/Tremornator

View attachment 242015

What's the verdict on the the carpet tape? I had high hopes for NarrowTrax. @Godzilla/Tremornator turned me onto it at Big Bend, and I was about to order some for a trip this Summer.... now thinking the carpet tape could be more betterer?

 

[Toxophilite]

I tried to apply carpet tape and it was an absolute nightmare. At the Ozark meetup someone else tried to apply it and had the same issues. I haven't tried the narrow trax, but at least it was designed for this.

The carpet tape does not go on the way you hope it would.

Here is my suggestion for applying if you choose to go this route:

Buy twice as much as you need, start at the bottom of the truck and wrap around the entire vehicle in non stop circles until you have wrapped the whole truck as high as you want. Then, go back and cut out the parts you don't need wrapped; Wheels, front grill, tailgate, door openings, door handles, windows, etc. This would probably work. Trying to apply it in sheets is an absolute no-go.

In addition, the carpet wrap is costly compared to this product, which is essentially made for cars.

https://www.amazon.com/TapeManBlue-Collision-Damaged-Removes-Cleanly/dp/B09GWCJYTV/ref=sr_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R-ANL3LjeMiaIPjOyF8pdxREjh8J57Ohj8E2H2ka8LTA9U4QVohDeiUE8HhuJXhPncJSZbDZU1LYM-x38dy43w8dZTCprtuFdrJAVkswhz0XLvDNhWECXq_d1xVjEg39fomt4aWR-TFTuNx_ptHY9tndKK_bKTIOvuyQmUo1_f7_24dcHfTLPYTWg-o8eTtn.DbVh0k_5XpdtpYyZyEH0pORIGYiRA9EUaOMKS7K61L8&dib_tag=se&keywords=XPEL+TW18T100+Tracwrap+Temporary+Protection&qid=1778268162&sr=8-6

 

[OmahaBravo]

What's the verdict on the the carpet tape? I had high hopes for NarrowTrax. @Godzilla/Tremornator turned me onto it at Big Bend, and I was about to order some for a trip this Summer.... now thinking the carpet tape could be more betterer?

Mind you, i tried installing when it was cooler (40-50). I got it to go on my camper but i ended up taking it off b/c it was a decent amount of work to get that on.

You'd think, oh, just roll this on. Well, the dang tape is rolled up opposite on the roll. The adhesive is on the outside so setting the roll down PERIOD is outta the question. On top of that, the adhesive is REALLY good. So REALLY good adhesive sucks unroll when its 3' wide.

I havent done any more bush whacking near enough to warrant spending the time to use this stuff.
Do i think it will work: yes. Itll just be some decent work to apply.

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

heads up on narrowtrax

it clouded my clear coat in a few places

rain on the freeway/interstate it peeled off flapping in the wind going down the road

don't use it on my recommendation

plastic dip worked well
lasted well

taping everything up & rolling on 6 to 8 coats (2 gallons/8 liters)
pain in the a$$

 

[OmahaBravo]

During my trip to CO/AZ for Expo West my truck started shift hard into drive and when shifting up into 5 and down into 3. I did have it in tow/haul most of the time as I liked it holding gears longer before shifting. Not sure if that play a part but putting it out there JIC someone else has experienced that too.

Sunday I reset the adaptive tables via Forscan and drove it per my Helm manual (see below)

The tricky part is getting it to not skip 2nd when speeding up or slowing down. I got out on an open, flat road with not much traffic. That helped b/c making sure it hits all gears when speeding up takes a very light throttle. I needed about 1-1.5 miles of straight road to get through the steps.
When slowing down, i found that once i hit third i just let it coast to a stop. This is about the only way i could ensure it hit second and not skip it.

Truck is shifting much better now

 

[Apples]

That's excellent news.

My first thought is always "it's the valvebody" - which may not be far off the mark. Next time you experience transmission shifting abnormalities, consider it. Do another adaptive reset, but if shifting weirdness happens a third time, then...

That said I still haven't upgraded my transmission valvebody, either, although I have one ready to go. I was going to do it around 10,000 miles (new truck) as a proactive measure, and for improved driveability.

I do not want to "tune" any transmission software in the aftermarket sense. What you just did, though, is entirely legit. Glad it worked!

 

[AZsurveyor]

During my trip to CO/AZ for Expo West my truck started shift hard into drive and when shifting up into 5 and down into 3. I did have it in tow/haul most of the time as I liked it holding gears longer before shifting. Not sure if that play a part but putting it out there JIC someone else has experienced that too.

Sunday I reset the adaptive tables via Forscan and drove it per my Helm manual (see below)

The tricky part is getting it to not skip 2nd when speeding up or slowing down. I got out on an open, flat road with not much traffic. That helped b/c making sure it hits all gears when speeding up takes a very light throttle. I needed about 1-1.5 miles of straight road to get through the steps.
When slowing down, i found that once i hit third i just let it coast to a stop. This is about the only way i could ensure it hit second and not skip it.

Truck is shifting much better now

View attachment 259736

I had to do this after surgery last year and the improvement was night versus day.

It is very trick like you said, I was only able to do it on a flat stretch of road and required almost two miles of no traffic but luckily for me, it was in a rural area and ended up working great.

If I recall correctly, I did it a total of 8 times just to ensure she was mastered correctly.

 

[OmahaBravo]

That's excellent news.

My first thought is always "it's the valvebody" - which may not be far off the mark. Next time you experience transmission shifting abnormalities, consider it. Do another adaptive reset, but if shifting weirdness happens a third time, then...

That said I still haven't upgraded my transmission valvebody, either, although I have one ready to go. I was going to do it around 10,000 miles (new truck) as a proactive measure, and for improved driveability.

I do not want to "tune" any transmission software in the aftermarket sense. What you just did, though, is entirely legit. Glad it worked!

If you've read any of my latest build thread posts... removing the VB, again, is not something I feel like i'll have the appetite for anytime soon.
Granted, if thats the fix... then thats the fix.

For now, hoping this will help and i can focus on my next mod(s)

 

[Apples]

10-4.

While I've done a few vb swaps over the years, this one is for a shop.

I too have no appetite for another ATF shower, let alone trying it without a proper lift. Getting to be too old for that stuff.

 

[OmahaBravo]

Been meaning to upload a photo showing my onboard air location and tank.
Snagged it while working on this hitch slider idea.
Had to move the stock-size spare forward but itll fit. This is just a prototype. Prod version willl cover entire hitch area and ill have to remove my hammerlinks. Bottom will be a solid piece of 1/2" UHMW.

Should have it in time for moab

Do i think this is critical? No
I just like designing and making my own gear, when/where i can. It also keeps me sharp with my design application.
Besides The printing took longer than design

 

[mrmag00]

You making enough for everybody? Looks like another great product you’ve created. Looking forward to seeing it in action in Moab.

 

[OmahaBravo]

You making enough for everybody? Looks like another great product you’ve created. Looking forward to seeing it in action in Moab.

I'll shoot ya straight.

It' be friekin awesome to have yall rocking another something i've designed

However, i'd need to adjust my design to be bolt up (not a biggie but adds an hour or two to this) but the big kickers are
1) the cost would be ~$125-175 depending on how many order
2) time - i'm not sure i could get these made in time.

Subpart to #2 - i will need to bevel and chamfer the uhmw after getting it. The place i'm looking to order from doesnt do that. I'm leaving the weekend before we meetup to head there so my timeframe to work is short (and i still have a daggum wolfbox i want to install too )

I'm open to the idea but we'd need to decide and execute in the next 24-48 hours.