{"id":226,"date":"2017-11-08T13:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T03:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4wdsupacentre.com.au\/news\/?p=226"},"modified":"2017-11-10T10:42:59","modified_gmt":"2017-11-10T00:42:59","slug":"100-budget-diy-mods-part-1-of-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/100-budget-diy-mods-part-1-of-4\/","title":{"rendered":"100 BUDGET DIY MODS PART 1 OF 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

OUR FOUR PART SERIES FOR HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR 4WD IN A DAY<\/p>\n

100 easy and essential DIY mods for under $100!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s in every red-blooded 4WDer’s DNA to give something a go yourself. Heck, half of us out there drive trucks around that we\u2019re proud of because we built them in the shed with a few mates, a little bit of knowledge and a passion for 4WDs. Whether you\u2019re a qualified mechanic with 20 years\u2019 workshop experience, or a young fella who\u2019s just got his hands on his very first 4WD, DIY projects are a sensational way to make your 4WD more capable and practical off-road.<\/p>\n

We absolutely went to town to discover the best 100 DIY mods you can do that won\u2019t break the bank. But not any old mod would do. We searched far and wide for those DIYs that are so epic, you get excited when you get to tell your mates about it for the first time \u2013 and even better, they get so excited that they want to do the same thing to their truck!<\/p>\n

We have come up with a list of some absolutely awesome DIY projects that we\u2019re pretty bloody chuffed about \u2013 and heck, you should be too, these are your mods! So sit back with a cold one and take note of what you need to do to your truck before you head bush again, we\u2019ll be doing the same!<\/p>\n

100 \u2013 SHOCK BASHPLATES<\/h3>\n

Protect your shocks against ruthless outback roads with this simple and cheap mod.<\/p>\n

COST: FREE
\nDIFFICULTY: 2\/5
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nTOOLS: pop rivet gun, drill, tin snips
\nMATERIAL: left over scrap metal, rivets<\/p>\n

METHOD:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Measure out the size of bashplate you need and where you want to mount it<\/li>\n
  2. Cut-out a section of scrap metal to suit your desired shape<\/li>\n
  3. Drill a pilot hole in your mounting point such as the U-bolt bracket for the rivet to sit in<\/li>\n
  4. Pop rivet your bracket into place, you may need to bend the plate slightly to suit your desired shape<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    99 \u2013 UNDER BONNET LEDs<\/h3>\n

    COST $20
    \nTIME: 30 minutes
    \nDIFFICULTY: 1\/5
    \nGet some Illuminator LED strip lighting<\/a> and run it up along the inside of your bonnet and wire it up to a switch so you can turn it on when you open the bonnet. If you want to be really tricky, wire in a momentary switch that releases when the bonnet opens so the lights come on automatically. Alternatively if you don\u2019t want to run permanent lighting, a 4-Bar camp light kit<\/a> works just as well as they have a magnetic back to stick to your bonnet.<\/p>\n

    98 \u2013 RE-USABLE AIR STORAGE<\/h3>\n

    COST $20
    \nTIME: 2 hours
    \nDIFFICULTY: 2\/5
    \nIf you\u2019ve got an old fire extinguisher lying around, you can set it up as a reserve pressurised air tank, making it really handy for things like reseating beads. You\u2019ll need to drill and tap into it to run your air lines, so make sure it isn\u2019t holding any pressure before you do.<\/p>\n

    97 \u2013 AC THERMO FAN<\/h3>\n

    COST $50
    \nTIME: 1 hour
    \nDIFFICULTY: 2\/5
    \nMount an aftermarket thermo fan on the front of your air con condenser and then run power through a fused relay to a switch so you can turn it on when you\u2019re doing some low range crawling.<\/p>\n

    DIY PROJECTS ARE A SENSATIONAL WAY TO MAKE YOUR 4WD MORE CAPABLE OFF-ROAD<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    96 \u2013 SMART CARGO BARRIER STORAGE<\/h3>\n

    COST $50
    \nTIME: 10 minutes
    \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
    \nIf you\u2019ve got a cargo barrier in your 4WD, adding storage there can help keep the little things tucked away. Velcro strips and small bags can be attached there to make the perfect storage solution for your gear \u2013 especially if you need to get to it quickly like a fire extinguisher or a     Rescue Swag First Aid kit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    95 \u2013 BOTTLE OPENER AND BOTTLE TOP BIN<\/h3>\n

    COST $10
    \nTIME: 10 minutes
    \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
    \nAdding a bottle opener to your drawers or your camp setup is a fantastic little accessory. To take it one step further, put a little bin or container below to catch your bottle tops.<\/p>\n

    94 \u2013 UNDER TRAY SHOVEL HOLDER<\/h3>\n

    COST $25
    \nTIME: 30 minutes
    \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
    \nIf you\u2019ve got a trayback ute, using up the space underneath your tray for storage is a must. Get a piece of PVC pipe long enough for your shovel and secure it to the chassis. To secure the shovel, drill a hole through the handle and the PVC and run a bolt through it with a wingnut on the other end to secure it.<\/p>\n

    93 \u2013 BUDGET SOAP DISPENSER<\/h3>\n

    COST $5
    \nTIME: 5 minutes
    \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
    \nCable tie a bottle of soap next to your water tank outlet or on your chassis for a simple way to stay germ free out bush.<\/p>\n

    92 \u2013 GULLWING CANOPY STORAGE<\/h3>\n

    COST $50
    \nTIME: 1 hour
    \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
    \nIf you\u2019ve got a trayback ute canopy, utilising the inside of the canopy doors for storage of bulky items is ideal. Things such as tables can mount there pretty easily even with bungie cord and a few cheap tie-downs. Just make sure it\u2019s not too heavy or the gas struts may not hold the door.<\/p>\n

    91 \u2013 SPINIFEX-PROOF DRIVELINE<\/h3>\n

    Got some remote touring coming up? Keep crap from getting in your motor and driveline with this simple mod.
    \nCOST: $10
    \nDIFFICULTY: 1\/5
    \nTIME: 20 minutes
    \nTOOLS knife
    \nMATERIAL: shade cloth, cable ties, car sponge<\/p>\n

    METHOD:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Figure out where you want to put your protective netting, and cut it to size, it works best on the bullbar and in some areas on the underbody.<\/li>\n
    2. Cable tie the shade cloth to the bullbar and wrap it around under the bullbar slightly to cover the front of the driveline.<\/li>\n
    3. Attach some car sponges around the uprights of the bullbar to section off your front grille in case the spinifex seeds still try to make it through.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      WHAT NOT TO DO:
      \nDon\u2019t put the mesh near anything that moves, so it doesn\u2019t get tangled.<\/p>\n

      90 \u2013 WINCH BREATHER<\/h3>\n

      Tired of getting water in your winch<\/a>? Check out this simple breather upgrade.
      \nCOST: $20
      \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
      \nTIME 2 hours
      \nTOOLS tap and die set, spanners, sockets and Allen keys to get the winch apart
      \nMATERIAL breather hose, brass air fittings, small filter, hose clamps<\/p>\n

      METHOD<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Some winches have a small breather on the side already, so it\u2019s a case of using that existing hole for your brass fitting. If not, you\u2019ll need to tap into the motor housing. Just be sure that where you drill in, doesn\u2019t have anything on the other side, such as the brushes or windings.<\/li>\n
      2. Apply a small amount of sealant and install your brass fitting. It\u2019s also a good time to check and reseal the motor on your Domin8r X<\/a> while you\u2019re at it.<\/li>\n
      3. Install the winch and run the breather line up to a high point in the engine bay i.e. the firewall. Then install your filter or breather element and secure with hose clamps.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        WHAT NOT TO DO:
        \nIf you are drilling into the housing make sure there is enough clearance from any electrical internals.<\/p>\n

        89 \u2013 BUDGET AUX FUEL TANK<\/h3>\n

        COST $100
        \nTIME: 8 hours
        \nDIFFICULTY 4\/5
        \nIf you\u2019ve got spare space under your 4WD, getting an old fuel tank out of a lower model of your truck or from another model that fits is an awesome way to get extra fuel. It\u2019s a bit fiddly but you can plumb it in to fill the main tank, or keep it separate, like a hard mounted jerry can.<\/p>\n

        88 \u2013 ADJUSTABLE BBQ PLATE<\/h3>\n

        COST $50
        \nTIME: 1 hour
        \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
        \nIf you\u2019ve got an old BBQ plate and some left over steel, you can make a telescopic cooker. It\u2019s a case of welding the BBQ plate to a slide that moves up and down a stake. You can secure it with a bolt on the back side screwed through a welded on nut on the slide.<\/p>\n

        87 \u2013 TAILGATE FOLDOUT TABLE<\/h3>\n

        COST $40
        \nTIME: 1 hour
        \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
        \nTailgates are perfect for a camping table but to take it to the next level, screw a bit of wood or alloy to the tailgate at 90\u00b0 so it can fold out. Then you have an L-shaped kitchen for camp dinners.<\/p>\n

        86 \u2013 REMOVABLE MUDFLAPS<\/h3>\n

        COST $10
        \nTIME: 10 minutes
        \nDIFFICULTY 3\/5
        \nSecure a bracket to your chassis that you can mount the mudflaps too, that can easily disconnect with an R-clip. Using two different sizes of square steel tube, one for the mudflap and one for the bracket, secure them together so they fit in to one another and are easily removable.<\/p>\n

        85 \u2013 BONNET GAS STRUTS<\/h3>\n

        COST $50
        \nTIME: 1 hour
        \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
        \nConverting your factory bonnet stay to a set of gas struts is simple, but it\u2019s one of those mods that once you\u2019ve done it, you don\u2019t know how you lived without it.<\/p>\n

        84 \u2013 MARK YOUR TOOLS<\/h3>\n

        COST $10
        \nTIME: 10 minutes
        \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
        \nIt may seem straightforward, but spraying your tools with a bright coloured paint will help you in more ways than one. You\u2019ll be able to see them when they\u2019re in the dirt on the side of a track, and you\u2019ll be able to find them in your mates toolkit when he \u2018borrows\u2019 them.<\/p>\n

        83 \u2013 TRIM YOUR U-BOLTS<\/h3>\n

        COST: FREE!
        \nTIME: 15 minutes
        \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
        \nFor those of you who have leaf springs, trim the excess off your U-bolts to stop them catching and bending out bush.<\/p>\n

        82 \u2013 DOOR HANDLE 12V<\/h3>\n

        COST: $20 bucks
        \nTIME: 30 minutes
        \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
        \nIf you\u2019ve got a spare space in your rear door light\/ handle cover, mount a simple cigarette plug there for easy access to power.<\/p>\n

        81 \u2013 ONE HANDED DRAWERS<\/h3>\n

        Tired of needing two hands to open your drawer? Check out this ultra-simple mod to make getting to your gear easier.
        \nCOST $5
        \nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
        \nTIME 5 minutes
        \nTOOLS Drill and drill bits
        \nMATERIAL left over flat bar or pipe, tek screws<\/p>\n

        METHOD<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Place a bit of pipe or flat bar between your two drawer latches.<\/li>\n
        2. Screw the pipe to the drawer latches so you can use one hand to open them up.<\/li>\n
        3. If you want to get really tricky, screw another small bit of bar to the middle of the bar to act as a tab.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          80 \u2013 DIZZY BREATHER<\/h3>\n

          Take your petrol 4WD anywhere with this simple waterproofing mod!
          \nCOST $50 bucks
          \nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
          \nTIME 2 hours
          \nTOOLS Drill, drill bits, tap and die kit
          \nMATERIAL RTV sealant, brass threaded push fittings<\/p>\n

          METHOD<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Remove your dizzy cap and put a bit of sealant over the drain hole (as this is usually the culprit for letting in water).<\/li>\n
          2. Find a point in the cap where your breather won\u2019t contact the rotor button and drill and tap in the thread. Give the cap a clean to remove and gunk and place a small amount of sealant over the brass thread.<\/li>\n
          3. Run a bead of RTV sealant around the sealing lip of the cap and refit it.<\/li>\n
          4. Drill and tap a hole in the top of your airbox and install the second brass fitting, placing a small amount of sealant on the thread.<\/li>\n
          5. Run your breather line between the two brass fittings and secure it with cable ties.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            WHAT NOT TO DO:<\/p>\n