GraniteCrystal build thread

BeniaminV

New member
Awesome build bro! I am so in for more pics and videos. I'll be posting a build/vacation thread soon. Still waiting on a few parts and some money haha. But my vacation will happen at the end of August.
 

Brute

Hooked
Ok, I haven't seen this exact version of 3rd break light relocation anywhere but I'm sure it's been done before. Nonetheless, I'm proud of how it turned out since I was making it up as I went along. It was inspired by a pic from BdugJK.

What you need:
Dremel with cutoff wheel
Blue painters tape (other tape would work too)
2-3 hours

Here is the finished version so you can see what we're going for:
View attachment 211148

First, while the tire is still on, put some blue tape up at the highest level you want the light so it still shows between the slots in the wheels.
View attachment 211135

Next, unmount the brake light by removing th<script id="gpt-impl-0.13006072307117922" src="http://partner.googleadservices.com/gpt/pubads_impl_90.js"></script>e 4 torx screws on the back. Mark it off a few inches from the bottom so that it will sit at the right height:
View attachment 211136

After the cut:
View attachment 211137

Next, use tape to mark out the shape of the cuts. I have a right angle in mine, but you could do a nicer sloped cut to match the contour of the top piece.
View attachment 211138

View attachment 211139

View attachment 211140

Next, remove the actual light from it's housing so it's just the metal portion. Now cut some slots in the metal portion so it can slide over the lower mount:
View attachment 211141

Post cuts you can see how it fits over the bottom portion:
View attachment 211142

View attachment 211143

Next up, trim off the rest of the base piece so it just comes up to the top of the light holding piece:
View attachment 211144

Next, place a large piece of cardboard over the bottom portion and spray paint the cuts:
View attachment 211145

View attachment 211146

Here is the final product:
View attachment 211147

View attachment 211149

View attachment 211148

Nice job, McGuyver...
 

Brute

Hooked
Yes, and it would be nice to have but I'd rather zip tie the license plate and save my money toward a lift.

You can get a hawse fairlead license plate mount for about $40...but with your McGuyver skills you could fab one from some alum angle to fit behind each bolt of your fairlead...
 

GraniteCrystal

New member
You can get a hawse fairlead license plate mount for about $40...but with your McGuyver skills you could fab one from some alum angle to fit behind each bolt of your fairlead...

Thanks! Really happy with how the brake light turned out.

Alum angle is an interesting idea. I've been wanting to put in some new bolts on the fairlead anyway, so might be a good opportunity to get ones a little longer and mount the license plate holder. But then what happens when I have to winch? Don't want the plate in the way. Don't want to have to remove fairlead bolts. I'll have to give this some more thought. You'll be sure to get inspiration cred if I do anything 👍
 

Brute

Hooked
Thanks! Really happy with how the brake light turned out.

Alum angle is an interesting idea. I've been wanting to put in some new bolts on the fairlead anyway, so might be a good opportunity to get ones a little longer and mount the license plate holder. But then what happens when I have to winch? Don't want the plate in the way. Don't want to have to remove fairlead bolts. I'll have to give this some more thought. You'll be sure to get inspiration cred if I do anything 

Mount the plate with threaded rod and a couple wing nuts...pull the plate when you get off pavement...
 

Brute

Hooked
license plate.jpg

You can bend up some alum bar and mount it behind and above the fairlead so your winch line is not covered.
 

GraniteCrystal

New member
Estes Park Day 1

Just got back from Estes Park for the weekend. Awesome trip. Beautiful place.

First evening we went to the Rooftop Rodeo. It's a big deal and most of the hotels were sold out because of it. It was a great time, highly recommended.

First full day there, the main event was hiking an 8 mile loop inside Rocky Mountain National Park. We purchased the nationwide pass: for $80 we can get into any National Park from now till July 31, 2017.

Here is Scout at the Fern Lake trailhead. We parked there, then took a shuttle over to the Bear Lake trailhead and hiked back to the Jeep:
IMG_20160709_095522.jpg

Once hiking, this is the first lake: Lake Helene
IMG_20160709_122541.jpg
PANO_20160709_122204.jpg

Between Lake Helene and Odessa Lake you'll pass Grace Falls (look closely):
PANO_20160709_123925.jpg

Second lake on the hike was Odessa Lake. This little creek follows the path leading you right up to it:
IMG_20160709_130902.jpg

And here it is. Larger and had more people around it. There's some camp spots and folks were trout fishing.
IMG_20160709_133619.jpg

After Odessa Lake is Fern Lake. About the same size, very beautiful:
IMG_20160709_140401.jpg

Can you spot the trout?
IMG_20160709_140837.jpg

Coming down from Fern Lake, you pass Marguerite Falls (pictured) as well as a few others:
IMG_20160709_144151.jpg

That evening, we ate dinner at Mama Rosa's, right on the river walk with some live music. Fantastic. Following that, we hit up Old Fall River Road (http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=122) right at dusk. Best choice ever. It's switchback after switchback as you climb the mountain. Here is a shot looking back down the valley toward the entrance to RMNP:
IMG_20160709_202855.jpg

All in all that evening, we saw 5 bull elk (all with their velvet), about 20 cow elk and calves, 1 female moose (which had to be persuaded off the road with our horn), and a handful of mule deer. Everything was coming out of the woods as it got dark.
IMG_20160709_204802.jpg

Old Fall River Road ends at the Alpine Visitor Center, where I took this shot right as the sun set:
IMG_20160709_205716.jpg

All in all, great day in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Pics from day 2 to follow.
 

WJCO

Meme King
Just got back from Estes Park for the weekend. Awesome trip. Beautiful place.

First evening we went to the Rooftop Rodeo. It's a big deal and most of the hotels were sold out because of it. It was a great time, highly recommended.

First full day there, the main event was hiking an 8 mile loop inside Rocky Mountain National Park. We purchased the nationwide pass: for $80 we can get into any National Park from now till July 31, 2017.

Here is Scout at the Fern Lake trailhead. We parked there, then took a shuttle over to the Bear Lake trailhead and hiked back to the Jeep:
View attachment 212037

Once hiking, this is the first lake: Lake Helene
View attachment 212038
View attachment 212051

Between Lake Helene and Odessa Lake you'll pass Grace Falls (look closely):
View attachment 212052

Second lake on the hike was Odessa Lake. This little creek follows the path leading you right up to it:
View attachment 212039

And here it is. Larger and had more people around it. There's some camp spots and folks were trout fishing.
View attachment 212040

After Odessa Lake is Fern Lake. About the same size, very beautiful:
View attachment 212041

Can you spot the trout?
View attachment 212042

Coming down from Fern Lake, you pass Marguerite Falls (pictured) as well as a few others:
View attachment 212043

That evening, we ate dinner at Mama Rosa's, right on the river walk with some live music. Fantastic. Following that, we hit up Old Fall River Road (http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=122) right at dusk. Best choice ever. It's switchback after switchback as you climb the mountain. Here is a shot looking back down the valley toward the entrance to RMNP:
View attachment 212044

All in all that evening, we saw 5 bull elk (all with their velvet), about 20 cow elk and calves, 1 female moose (which had to be persuaded off the road with our horn), and a handful of mule deer. Everything was coming out of the woods as it got dark.
View attachment 212045

Old Fall River Road ends at the Alpine Visitor Center, where I took this shot right as the sun set:
View attachment 212046

All in all, great day in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Pics from day 2 to follow.

Sweet man. Great pics.
 

GraniteCrystal

New member
Estes Park Day 2

Second day in Estes was a bit more relaxed. Began by checking out the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Rumored to be highly haunted and has been the set for many a movie scene. They charge you $10 to park and go in if you go to the right and through the guard booth. But, if you go to the left, you can just pull right in, park in the back, and walk in. Here is a shot from the outside:
IMG_20160710_095948.jpg


After that, we rented a double kayak and paddled around Lake Estes. It was pretty windy, so it wasn't everything we hoped for but still a lot of fun.

For lunch, we at at Lake Mary's Lodge, just 15 min from town. Very pretty scenery and had a table right on the deck:
PANO_20160710_120243.jpg

Some glamour shots of the Jeep to keep you engaged:
IMG_20160710_124449.jpg

IMG_20160710_124501.jpg

Drive home wasn't boring either. There's a 250 acre wildfire burning so we hit a road block about a mile after I took this photo. There was a pullout here, so we stopped and watched the choppers bring in water to douse the fire (look closely in pic). Crazy to see a wildfire in person:
IMG_20160710_133557.jpg
 

WJCO

Meme King
Second day in Estes was a bit more relaxed. Began by checking out the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Rumored to be highly haunted and has been the set for many a movie scene. They charge you $10 to park and go in if you go to the right and through the guard booth. But, if you go to the left, you can just pull right in, park in the back, and walk in. Here is a shot from the outside:
View attachment 212085


After that, we rented a double kayak and paddled around Lake Estes. It was pretty windy, so it wasn't everything we hoped for but still a lot of fun.

For lunch, we at at Lake Mary's Lodge, just 15 min from town. Very pretty scenery and had a table right on the deck:
View attachment 212089

Some glamour shots of the Jeep to keep you engaged:
View attachment 212086

View attachment 212087

Drive home wasn't boring either. There's a 250 acre wildfire burning so we hit a road block about a mile after I took this photo. There was a pullout here, so we stopped and watched the choppers bring in water to douse the fire (look closely in pic). Crazy to see a wildfire in person:
View attachment 212088

We were backpacking about 2 miles north of there. We came back about an hour before the fire started. Crazy stuff.
 
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