The raptor chronicles!

[xBX]

I really like the exhaust painted. I saw someone Line-X there exhaust and it looked great but it eventually melted. Had any problems?

 

[Ruger]

No problems with the black exhaust at all, xBX, but I used a lot of care when doing it. I bought high temp primer and paint (something over $10 a rattle can) and cured the paint in the oven according to the instructions (three 30 minute heat cycles at higher heat each time). I didn't appreciate the bare metal look of the factory exhaust. The black treatment looks much better to my eye.

 

[xBX]

No problems with the black exhaust at all, xBX, but I used a lot of care when doing it. I bought high temp primer and paint (something over $10 a rattle can) and cured the paint in the oven according to the instructions (three 30 minute heat cycles at higher heat each time). I didn't appreciate the bare metal look of the factory exhaust. The black treatment looks much better to my eye.

Might have to do that. It looks sick !

Nice truck man

 

[Ruger]

Thanks! I'm done with the welding and am into the painting for a light bar that I've made for the Raptor. It bolts between the frame and the front tow hooks and at the license plate bolts. PIAA series 40 driving lights are awaiting installation. I'll post photos when the job is complete.

UPDATE: The paint is curing. I just need to leave the thing alone for a day before I bolt it up!

 

[pirate air]

Yup, sure did. It's got 4,000 miles on it now, and I'm prepping it for a run from Alabama to the Colorado high country. I'm going to finally put to use on the jeep trails that lead to the trailheads for Colorado's famous 14,000 foot mountains.

What area in CO you hittin up?

 

[Ruger]

We usually climb out of Leadville or Buena Vista in the Sawatch, but this year we'll be in Lake City to climb in the San Juans.

Where are you?

 

[pirate air]

We usually climb out of Leadville or Buena Vista in the Sawatch, but this year we'll be in Lake City to climb in the San Juans.

Where are you?

I'm in Durango. Are you going to keep it between Lake City and Silverton/Ouray, or you going to cross over as far west as Telluride?

 

[Ruger]

I'm in Durango. Are you going to keep it between Lake City and Silverton/Ouray, or you going to cross over as far west as Telluride?

We were orginally going to stay in Durango, but then we learned how far it is from the trailheads. That would have made it real difficult to get an early start on the trail, so we settled on Lake City. I'll be coming from the east through Alamosa and my daughter will be coming from the west. I think she'll be coming through Durango, but not sure.

 

[Ruger]

OK, I finally got the whole project mounted on the truck. Made myself wait 48 hours to let the paint on the light bar cure.

That was hard.

The light bar is mounted between the frame and the tow loops and to the bumper at the license plate bolt holes. I designed it to be a straight bolt-on, no holes or modifications needed to mount it.

The lights are PIAA series 40 driving lights.

It's not as nice as something from Addictive Desert Designes or n-Fab, but it was way cheaper and completely unique. I used a design-weld-design-weld methodology. No drawings.

 

[xBX]

Looks good. Are you going to add an LED bar in the middle? You could prolly get a 40" on that bar.. Either the top or the bottom brackets