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Having tried the Amazon Cheapo racks, I think the Front Runner rack (and associated $pend) would be worth it - does anyone know if the front of the rack is perpendicular to the road?
I think that would be a good mating surface for a rack of LED lights.
I have an EORP optioned 2007 with 18" stock wheels and Goodyear Wranglers - this should tackle 95% of the backcountry roads I intend to take this car on here in the PNW.
I'd like to see it outfitted with a storage solution for extra gas, mounting surface for lights and a full size spare, plus some tools - such as a remote winch.
Having tried the Amazon Cheapo racks, I think the Front Runner rack (and associated $pend) would be worth it - does anyone know if the front of the rack is perpendicular to the road?
I think that would be a good mating surface for a rack of LED lights.
I have an EORP optioned 2007 with 18" stock wheels and Goodyear Wranglers - this should tackle 95% of the backcountry roads I intend to take this car on here in the PNW.
I'd like to see it outfitted with a storage solution for extra gas, mounting surface for lights and a full size spare, plus some tools - such as a remote winch.
It's a tough call on the racks. I think if you seal the joints and drill weep holes in the corners, you should be okay ... but it's still going to be questionable leaving it out in the weather. I cobbled together a giant rack with two extensions, and it fits the top like it's made for it.
Front of the rack angles back, though. If I ever felt I needed more light, I'd probably put on a magnetic surface mount, just for temporary.
If you put good LED bulbs in the fog lights, you have loads of short distance side lighting, and good bulbs in the stock H7 housings makes plenty of long distance light for higher speeds. Besides looks and street cred I dunno what I'd want more for.
Also, the fog lights in my '07 are recessed in stupid black plastic housings. I lined them with foil HVAC tape to reduce the wasted light.
I found Dick Cepek trail tires that fit the 18's. They're cheap and more than adequate. The key is to shop by size and not vehicle, otherwise the speed rating becomes an issue. If you make a habit of going 130 mph on trail tires, well, I don't know what to tell you.
It's a tough call on the racks. I think if you seal the joints and drill weep holes in the corners, you should be okay ... but it's still going to be questionable leaving it out in the weather. I cobbled together a giant rack with two extensions, and it fits the top like it's made for it.
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If you put good LED bulbs in the fog lights, you have loads of short distance side lighting, and good bulbs in the stock H7 housings makes plenty of long distance light for higher speeds. Besides looks and street cred I dunno what I'd want more for.
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Regarding the Amazon rack, I was unsuccessful in combining two racks to making anything I would put a load on - very flimsy even when torqued down so I'm not trying that again.
Good tip on the LED fog lights - my roadgoing GL came with a set of LED fogs, but weren't wired properly with the required ballast resistor and did not work.
As a result, the active curve illumination was also defeated (IIRC this works by lighting the fog light to the inside of the turn when a certain steering angle is reached below a certain speed).
Great upgrade, huh?
I have now swapped them into the EORP GL for that future upgrade. I think this vid covers how to wire in the resistor that's required for proper operation and avoiding the malfunction messages.
Regarding the Amazon rack, I was unsuccessful in combining two racks to making anything I would put a load on - very flimsy even when torqued down so I'm not trying that again.
Good tip on the LED fog lights - my roadgoing GL came with a set of LED fogs, but weren't wired properly with the required ballast resistor and did not work.
As a result, the active curve illumination was also defeated (IIRC this works by lighting the fog light to the inside of the turn when a certain steering angle is reached below a certain speed).
Great upgrade, huh?
I have now swapped them into the EORP GL for that future upgrade. I think this vid covers how to wire in the resistor that's required for proper operation and avoiding the malfunction messages.
Interesting about the rack. Mine seems perfectly strong enough, but in fairness I haven't even really tried it out. It's my "uh oh here come the nukes" bugout rack. I also was not planning on putting anything heavy up there, given that it's up overhead. Even the spare tire I'm not sure how I'd get it up there.
Your LED lights are probably bunk, unfortunately. Any respectable one should have a ballast resistor already inline, and look to the car like it is a full 55W. I doubt I would bother installing the resistor, though that would be cheaper - but jeez, 50W resistors aren't cheap either. If you just get decent LED bulbs in, you won't have that problem.
You want fan cooled LED's anyway, and I'm guessing yours are not. I did a thread on installing fan cooled LEDs in the fog light housing; you have to be careful because on the passenger side there is the tubing for the air compressor, and on the driver's side there is the windshield washer reservoir.
This morning I shuttled three 6' guys, their bikes, bike trailers, and trail maintenance tools up into the mountains to do trail work. Had to drop the 40 side of the rear seat, so they were chummy back there, but all the gear fit in the cargo hold perfectly! That's with only Bridgestone Dueler tires, and without the OR package. These trucks are probably burlier than we give them credit for, as I lived to tell the tale!!!
I mounted up some LEDs, so now am fully capable of taking this rig anywhere!!!
Finally got around to completing the wiring with mounting the switch. I had the rest of the wiring done previously, but ended up yanking it out and re-routing it. I pulled some power from the fusebox by the passenger door hinges, and ran the switch wiring under the dash all the way to the headlight panel. Pulled the cabin airfilter box, and drill a 1/2" hole through the firewall there. I still want to find a switched circuit to run it off of, as it worries me that it could get flicked on inadvertently and run the battery down. Anyway, I'm happy with the install, and hope it continues to work out great for me!
A/T tires are coming... I have some 18" rims, and am going to put on some Falken Wildpeaks, probably sometime this spring. Maybe sooner!
Last edited by StradaRedlands; 11-24-2019 at 02:46 AM.
Thanks, me too! Probably have the new wheelset by spring break... my current 20" Bridgestone Duelers have too much tread on them to just take off and put in storage!
Two speed transfer case
Locking diffs front and rear
Front lower armor plates
3-level offroad suspension position selection
Some or all had Advanced Damping System which gives a 2-position on road selection as well, not sure.
Two speed transfer case
Locking diffs front and rear
Front lower armor plates
3-level offroad suspension position selection
Some or all had Advanced Damping System which gives a 2-position on road selection as well, not sure.
I've always wondered this as well, thanks for confirming. Did the US market X166 or the W class ever have this option? My next truck is probably going to be a Lexus GX470 or maybe 460, but I like having a MB, and would love to have a fully competent off-road capable model. If I could find the right GL or ML that had transfer, lockers, etc, I would probably stay in the family.
Last edited by StradaRedlands; 11-28-2019 at 11:51 AM.
Our GL performed flawlessly in the Flagstaff snow yesterday. Maybe eight inches by the time we left. I didn't want to take a chance of needing them and having to install in the storm, so put tire cables on the night before while it was dry out. Easily pulled out of the driveway and onto the plowed/cindered street which had a couple inches on it. Down to highway, and out of town on the Freeway. Popped the cables off at the next exit. I probably didn't need then, but it was an easy three minute job to remove them, so didn't mind being overly conservative about having them on.
The only negative is that my son, in an attempt to help, used a snow shovel to clear the snow off the front of the GL. Yep... pretty scratched up. Don't know if it's just the clear coat or down to the paint.
Miscellaneous observations: Brake sensor lit up about 40 miles into our nearly 1,000 mile trip. Checked the pads, and the rears had about three millimeters left. Most of the miles were freeway miles, so I chanced it. They're fine, and I have some new Akebonos waiting to install. I also had the Check Oil Level at Next Fuel Stop warning come up. No idea why, as the oil level is fine, a touch over-filled if anything. The Coolant Level Low warning also popped on. Same story, reservoir is fine. Those three additions to the TPM light that's already showing made for fun warning bells the whole way... a Thanksgiving miracle!
Great trip though! Five large people, all our food and gear for a week, travelling in comfort through the American Southwest, in multiple weather conditions. Can't complain!
Last edited by StradaRedlands; 11-30-2019 at 11:56 AM.
09-22-2019, 02:44 PM
