PART FOUR OF OUR SERIES FOR HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR 4WD IN A DAY<\/p>\n
100 easy and essential DIY mods for under $100!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
25 \u2013 AUTO-OFF HEADLIGHTS<\/h3>\n
COST: $10
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
\nUse a multimeter to figure out which pin on your headlight relay powers up when you turn your headlights on, then use another relay triggered by accessories power to turn your headlight relay on. Run a switch to your dash to be able to cancel the auto-on headlights if you need to, and make sure to only add to any factory wiring, never replace so your lights can still operate like normal.<\/p>\n24 \u2013 PORTABLE CAMPING TOILET<\/h3>\n
COST: $70
\nTIME: None!
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nDon\u2019t wanna answer natures call out bush the traditional way? Get yourself an Adventure Kings Portable Camping Toilet<\/a> and it will change the way you do your business out bush!<\/p>\n23 \u2013 TOWBAR VICE<\/h3>\n
COST: $50-100
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
\nIf you\u2019ve got an old vice laying around, get some 50×50 thick wall square tubing and bolt the vice to it, and drill a hole for your hitch pin for a vice out on the tracks.<\/p>\n22 \u2013 BUDGET TINTING<\/h3>\n
COST: $80-100
\nTIME: 3 hours
\nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
\nIt\u2019s not gonna look as nice as the professional window tint, but for an easy tint job, get some cheap rolls of tint online and install it yourself at home for a bit more shade on the long drives.<\/p>\n21 \u2013 TRAILING ARM GUSSETS<\/h3>\n
COST: $50
\nTIME: 3 hours
\nDIFFICULTY 3\/5
\nGet a bit of flat bar or steel rod, and weld it to your trailing arm as a DIY gusset. It may just save your arms the next time you hit them on a rock.<\/p>\n20 \u2013 NEVER SPILL A DROP<\/h3>\n
COST 10 bucks
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5 spanners
\nTIME 10 minutes
\nTOOLS drill, holesaw
\nMATERIAL Oil filler cap for your model 4WD, funnel<\/p>\nMETHOD<\/p>\n
\n
- Get yourself a second oil cap that fits your motor and drill a hole in the top the size of your chosen funnel.<\/li>\n
- Fit the funnel into the oil cap. You can secure the funnel to the cap, or it may fit snug enough that you don\u2019t have to.<\/li>\n
- Screw the cap onto your motor and top up your oil with no mess.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
WHAT NOT TO DO<\/h3>\n
\n
- Don\u2019t rush when you drill into the plastic oil cap as you can damage it.<\/li>\n
- Make sure you clean off any plastic burs so you don\u2019t get them in your motor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
19 RELOCATE YOUR SOLENOID<\/h3>\n
Keep your important winch control box nice and dry with this super easy mod.
\nCOST $20
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5 spanners
\nTIME 1 hour
\nTOOLS spanners, sockets, crimping tool, multigrips, soldering iron and solder
\nMATERIAL exhaust clamps, 4 gauge wiring, terminal lugs, heat shrink<\/p>\nMETHOD<\/p>\n
\n
- Figure out a good mounting point for your Domin8r Winch<\/a> control box in the engine bay.<\/li>\n
- Disconnect your control box from your winch<\/a> and move it up to where you want to mount it.<\/li>\n
- Mount your control box in its new location and then connect your new wiring to the existing. points in the control box. Be sure to use heat shrink and solder where necessary.<\/li>\n
- Run the wiring down to your winch<\/a>, wrap them in conduit and connect it up.<\/li>\n
- Cable tie the wires so they don\u2019t rub on anything and test out your control box.<\/li>\n
- This is the perfect mod if you already have an in-cab winch switch.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
WHAT NOT TO DO
\nDon\u2019t do this mod unless you have run a cable for your winch switch or you have in cab winch controls, otherwise you will have to pop your bonnet to winch.<\/p>\n18 \u2013 UHF SPEAKER<\/h3>\n
COST: $30
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nYou can get your hands on an external UHF speaker that fits your UHF for next to nothing. Think outside the box on where you want to run it. You could sit it in the back with your kitchen setup so you can listen out for mates if they\u2019re out on a night run.<\/p>\n17 \u2013 REVERSE CAMERA<\/h3>\n
COST: $40
\nTIME: 20 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nIf you can\u2019t see out of the back of your 4WD when it\u2019s loaded up, you can get those cheap reverse cameras that clip onto your rear vision mirror. They\u2019re awesome for a budget way to see behind you.<\/p>\n16 \u2013 CORK BUNGEE CHORDS<\/h3>\n
COST: $5
\nTIME: 10 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nIf you don\u2019t want to spare a precious cable tie to keep cords and wire neat, drill two holes in an old wine bottle cork and tie some old rope or bungee cord to it. Then just loop the cord around your coiled wiring and secure it over the cork and tighten.<\/p>\n15 \u2013 EASILY GREASABLE WHEEL BEARINGS<\/h3>\n
COST: $10
\nTIME: 20 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nFit a couple of grease nipples to your trailer bearing dust caps by tapping a small threaded hole into the centre of the caps. A bit of thread locker later and you’ve got your own DIY greaseable wheel bearings. Heaps better than a wheel falling off when a bearing blows and net cost is free if you’ve got some old parts you can pinch grease nipples off.<\/p>\n14 \u2013 BUDGET REVERSE LIGHTS<\/h3>\n
COST: $25
\nTIME: 30 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nFor a waterproof reverse light, mount the light to the inside top of your rear door and cut out a square in your tinting. Then use a bit of plastic from an A4 folder folded around the bottom to stop glare in the cab.<\/p>\n13 \u2013 MULTIPLE COMPRESSOR LINES<\/h3>\n
COST: $20
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
\nIf you\u2019ve got your Thumper Compressor hard mounted in your 4WD, run a T-piece fitting in the line, and two lines off that to either side of your truck for easier air access. Just make sure each hose is finished with regular clip on tyre valves.<\/p>\n12 \u2013 INTERIOR CANOPY CLOTHESLINE<\/h3>\n
COST: $10
\nTIME: 5 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nOn longer trips if you\u2019ve got a ute, some rope between the headboard and the rear ladder rack for hanging your clothes up on the road is perfect for drying them but keeping the dust out too.<\/p>\n11 \u2013 ROOF POWER THE RIGHT WAY<\/h3>\n
COST: $10
\nTIME: 30 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nFor a neat way to run your wiring, run it down behind the snorkel and into the bonnet through the bailey channel below the wipers. To be real neat, drill a small hole and install a rubber grommet to keep the wires safe.<\/p>\n10 \u2013 BETTER TRAILER WIRING<\/h3>\n
Make charging your camper trailer batteries easy as pie with some simple wiring mods.
\nCOST about $80 depending on cost P\/M of wiring
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5 spanners
\nTIME 30 minutes
\nTOOLS Soldering iron<\/p>\nMETHOD<\/p>\n
\n
- If you tow a camper trailer when you head bush, get about a 10m length of 6 B&S cabling and wire in a mini Anderson connector on each end.\n
- When you pull up to your trailer, you can reconnect the vehicle to the trailer quickly without having to back exactly back into position. It\u2019s useful particularly if you want to crank some 240v power into the batteries when the trailer is at home.\n
- If you have solar power, you can also connect the cables straight to your solar panel on your roofrack back to the solar controller that charges the trailer’s batteries, rather than have it go into the vehicle’s aux batteries and then all the way back to the trailer, which avoids the issue of voltage drop.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
9 \u2013 TENT FANS<\/h3>\n
COST: $20
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nOn a sticky night when there’s no breeze there’s nothing like having the fans cranking. If you have a trailer, cable tie the fans to the trailer’s centre tent pole, which means they stay perfectly in position when the tent is folded away which works just as well with an Adventure Kings Rooftop Tent, then all you need to do is wire it up. <\/p>\n8 \u2013 FREE BEER OPENERS<\/h3>\n
COST: Free!
\nTIME: 30 seconds
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nChances are your 4WD already has this mod and you don\u2019t even know about it. Did you know that you can open a non-twist top beer using the door latch inside your B-pillar? Well it works on most Toyotas \u2013 there you go, you just saved $5.<\/p>\n7 \u2013 ORGANISE YOUR GRUB<\/h3>\n
COST: $20-100 (depending on cases)
\nTIME: 20 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nCheap plastic tubs break up on the first 100m of dirt road and you will find yourself unpacking your entire vehicle to look for the onions that have rolled everywhere. Keep all of your spices together in a plastic lunchbox and your bigger food in a Spacecase for the ultimate storage. If you\u2019re planning on making a roast at camp, pack all the ingredients you need inside your Bedourie Camp Oven before you go \u2013 so its simply a case of pulling the Camp Oven out of the 4WD and you\u2019re ready to go!<\/p>\n6 \u2013 MILK CRATE TRACTION BOARDS<\/h3>\n
COST: Free!
\nTIME: 15 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nCut up an old milk crate into sections and cable tie them together so it folds out flat. It won\u2019t be as effective as proper boards but it costs next to nothing and is better than digging for hours.<\/p>\n5 \u2013 GRAVITY FED WATER TANK<\/h3>\n
COST: $75
\nTIME: 1 hour
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nMount your jerry cans on your roof standing up, and run a line down off your roof to a tap. If you have more than one Jerry, join the lines with a T-piece.<\/p>\n4 \u2013 MOMENTARY CANOPY LIGHTING<\/h3>\n
COST: $15
\nTIME: 30 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nMount a momentary switch at your canopy door so that the interior lighting comes on when you open the door.<\/p>\n3 \u2013 EXTERNAL COMPRESSOR FITTINGS<\/h3>\n
COST: $20
\nTIME: 30 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nIf you have a hard mounted compressor, run your airlines to points outside the 4WD for quick access. It costs bugger all and means you won\u2019t burn your hand again disconnecting the hose.<\/p>\n2 \u2013 DRY PAPER<\/h3>\n
COST: Free!
\nTIME: 20 minutes
\nDIFFICULTY 1\/5
\nGet an old coffee container or CD spindle the size of your toilet rolls and cut a slit in the side. It keeps your valuable paper dry, and gives you a slot for it to come out when nature calls.<\/p>\n1 \u2013 THIEF-PROOFING ON A BUDGET<\/h3>\n
Keep the grubs away from your pride and joy with a few simple mods
\nCOST $50 bucks (depending on how much you want to do)
\nDIFFICULTY 2\/5
\nTIME 4 hours
\nTOOLS Mig welder, sockets, drill, screwdriver
\nMATERIAL Knead it, lock nuts<\/p>\nMETHOD<\/p>\n
\n
- Grab a few drill bits and round out any Philips heads \/ flat heads. Just make sure you don\u2019t need to get them off in a hurry.<\/li>\n
- Use a MIG welder to spot weld the end of screws, or weld nuts and bolts on. If you want to go extreme you can just weld the bracket to your mounting point \u2013 make sure you\u2019re happy with its position though.<\/li>\n
- Get creative and use some Knead it or similar on the end of screws or you can make a dome over nuts. Chuck a bit of paint once it is dry and it\u2019s enough for anyone to think twice.
\nThe problem with grubs stealing stuff is if they really want it \u2013 they are gonna get it eventually. All you can do really is slow them down\u2026Hopefully long enough to catch them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nTOP 10 MUST HAVE DIY TOOLS!<\/h3>\n
This is our list of 10 must have DIY tools to make your job easier<\/p>\n
\n
- Adventure Kings Socket Set<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Adventure Kings Ring Spanner Set<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Soldering iron and solder.<\/li>\n
- Adventure Kings Heavy Duty Screwdriver and Plier Set<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Power drill.<\/li>\n
- Various clamps.<\/li>\n
- Vice grips.<\/li>\n
- Circular saw.<\/li>\n
- Grinder.<\/li>\n
- Vice.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
GET MODDING!<\/h3>\n
You know what you need to do \u2013 now go and do it!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Tell ya what, there are some absolutely cracking DIY projects in there and wanna know the best part? Some of the best ones came from you! Just goes to show that us 4WDers are pretty bloody good at thinking outside the box. It doesn\u2019t matter if you drive a big dollar Cruiser or a budget built Zook, DIY is in our DNA. So this weekend, call your mates round, order a couple of pizzas and a few cold ones and get cracking on some DIY projects of your very own. The best part is if you do it together, you\u2019re guaranteed to learn something new and exciting about your truck \u2013 after all, isn\u2019t that why we work on our trucks anyway? (And to fix the stuff we broke out bush\u2026)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PART FOUR OF OUR SERIES FOR HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR 4WD IN A DAY 100 easy and essential DIY mods for under $100! 25 \u2013 AUTO-OFF HEADLIGHTS COST: $10 TIME: 1 hour DIFFICULTY 2\/5 Use a multimeter to figure out which pin on your headlight relay powers up when you turn your headlights on, then…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123456,"featured_media":270,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123456"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5428,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268\/revisions\/5428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}