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89 Suburban - The Canyonero: Rear Suspension Time!
- Thread starter nutt7
- Start date
Budget friendly build for General off-roading with an emphasis on camping and self reliability featuring a host of self-built, DIY mods.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
I'm still gathering resources for my bumper build, but here are some pictures of a little snow wheeling. I had to use chains (first time for this AZ boy). I ended up breaking one of the cross chain links and the tensioner trying to pull out a stuck 1st gen cummins. Nobody could get him out, everybody ended up making a path around him. At one point 30 rigs were lined up on the trail...it turned into a trail party, lol. He got stuck in the apex of a turn, in the bank with one wheel in a hole, and it was uphill on both sides. I had to get yanked out once too. I pulled too far into the bank without chains on...going uphill.
After the trail cleared, this FJ wanted to try to rescue the cummins. His rig was set up pretty well.
The Canyonero got some compliments from the yota and yeep owners.
Dutchess enjoying the powder. It's all of out dogs' first time in real snow.
Nobody loved it more than Emma! She was plowing all day.
Cold pizza for lunch! I need to put one of those baskets under the hood to heat my food.
Snickers hated every moment in the snow, naturally. He was happy staying in the suburban.
The lower part of the trail:
After the trail cleared, this FJ wanted to try to rescue the cummins. His rig was set up pretty well.
The Canyonero got some compliments from the yota and yeep owners.
Dutchess enjoying the powder. It's all of out dogs' first time in real snow.
Nobody loved it more than Emma! She was plowing all day.
Cold pizza for lunch! I need to put one of those baskets under the hood to heat my food.
Snickers hated every moment in the snow, naturally. He was happy staying in the suburban.
The lower part of the trail:
Nice pics, where'd you go?
Saweet! Snow driving can be a lotta fun. 
Looks fun. I love the mtns in the snow. So beautiful and peaceful.
Yeah, it was so quiet when we stopped to get out.
We went to fr59, or Copper Creek rd, just past Ashford.
I got some goodies in the mail today! Oh, and I bought a fridge! I didn't NEED the fridge, but I recently sold my old 14bff for $300 and picked up this norcold mrft40 (same as engel mt45) for $275, which is a decent deal. It's currently an end table that holds my beer and soda.
The other goodies are for the rear bumper build. I bought the wheel mounting plate and two 5/8 greasable bolts from diy4x, a set of bushed doms for where the fold down part will mount to the bumper from Barnes 4wd, and two used quick release pins from eBay. I plan to mock up a bumper with some 2x6 soon. Now I need to buy the steel.
The other goodies are for the rear bumper build. I bought the wheel mounting plate and two 5/8 greasable bolts from diy4x, a set of bushed doms for where the fold down part will mount to the bumper from Barnes 4wd, and two used quick release pins from eBay. I plan to mock up a bumper with some 2x6 soon. Now I need to buy the steel.
Subbed! Your rig looks mighty fine...
So while at HD, I browsed the bargain wood bin and found suitable stuff to mock up my bumper. I used 2x6, 2x2, and some 2x4. I'm glad I did it because it led to some mild changes in my design.
Here is the basic idea. The bumper ends terminate a little early. I plan to run two tubes from the end and around the corner to act as rock bumpers/slides/body protectors.
View from the front seat. It will actually sit up to an inch higher. I don't think it will be too obtrusive for daily driving.
How the folding mechanism works. I changed this up to be like my original drawings previously posted. I didn't like how much I had to notch the folder-support-brackets to clear the tailgate when it's open and just how they look in general. With my original design, I'll be able to tuck the fold down tubes up higher closer to the tire for better looks and clearance.
Tailgate notching:
This is fairly close to how the tire will lay down when folded. I wish I could make it sit more vertically, but for simplicity I settled on this. It'll be a crap ton easier than heaving that tire up though.
It's still easy to reach over it with the tailgate open. It's also designed to allow one barn door to open without folding the spare should I ever convert it.
Here is the basic idea. The bumper ends terminate a little early. I plan to run two tubes from the end and around the corner to act as rock bumpers/slides/body protectors.
View from the front seat. It will actually sit up to an inch higher. I don't think it will be too obtrusive for daily driving.
How the folding mechanism works. I changed this up to be like my original drawings previously posted. I didn't like how much I had to notch the folder-support-brackets to clear the tailgate when it's open and just how they look in general. With my original design, I'll be able to tuck the fold down tubes up higher closer to the tire for better looks and clearance.
Tailgate notching:
This is fairly close to how the tire will lay down when folded. I wish I could make it sit more vertically, but for simplicity I settled on this. It'll be a crap ton easier than heaving that tire up though.
It's still easy to reach over it with the tailgate open. It's also designed to allow one barn door to open without folding the spare should I ever convert it.
mckustomfab
1/2 ton status
Awesome work and I like the AAM axle. I want to put one in my crew cab before long so thanks for the good info! Subscribed.
Tony Vickers
1/2 ton status
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2016
- Posts
- 128
- Reaction score
- 44
How are you liking those tires over all?
Oops, quoted the wrong one. As for the tires:
So far so good. They are quiet on the freeway, and track better than my all-terrains. They did good in the snow, although it was mostly easy stuff.
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So here is a not-so-update. I had a few sidetracks that prevented me from getting this bumper done. My champion radiator leaked, so I replaced it with a KKS (I think that's the name) I also fabbed some simple brackets to mount the windstar fans on the core support instead of the radiator, I redid some wiring to the fans too. I used windstar relays and resistor to wire up a low speed. I also bought all the metal for the bumper.
Sadly, I won't be able to touch my burb for the better part of a year as I got the call to go do work downrange in the desert...I have interwebs so I'll be checking the forums periodically, but otherwise expect no updates here.
Sadly, I won't be able to touch my burb for the better part of a year as I got the call to go do work downrange in the desert...I have interwebs so I'll be checking the forums periodically, but otherwise expect no updates here.
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Thank you for your service, and stay safe!
Stay safe
Well, I'm back in the states! Deployment wasn't too bad but I'm certainly glad to be home. Made Sergeant, got my best PT score, and finally shot expert...it was good for this POG.
Hopefully the next couple months will bring some good additions. We saved some decent coin, so some goes to the savings and some goes to The Canyonero! My next major goals are a sleeping platform and a rear bumper...I have all the parts for the bumper, but I just need the tools and expertise from some work buddies...unfortunately the one with all the fab tools is in Europe loading our aircraft on boats so I'll have to wait on the bumper.
The Canyonero protested me leaving...my wife drove it once a week to keep her fresh, but in the first month my new radiator started leaking and an AC line gave up the ghost and puked oil and r134a all over
. Otherwise it was fine. I am giving up on all aluminum radiators (I can't afford the nice ones) since my Champion leaked and now this "better" KKS one leaked. I bought a Big Block O'Reilly unit with lifetime warranty. I also bought the BB bracket and pads from the junkyard.
Today I installed some new seat belts from seat belts plus. They are nice, but I'm not 100% happy with them.
Here is how the retractor sits. I wish it was a) tan and b) facing the other direction. It's a little touchy to lock up, but it's much smoother!
Its much smaller than the original, which is good.
But when the back seat is up, it rests on the belt
The plastic doesn't quite match, but it's close enough, lol.
Have to add these L brackets. The exposed hardware is ugly...but all the kits are basically the same so I don't think another one would be better.
Original vs new
View attachment 250814
I probably won't notice or care about most of this stuff after a bit, but it's sad to have to dump some original gear...but this is for safety. My old belts wouldn't retract easily and were crusty. My seats are getting to that point too. Also, doing this made me realize how dirty my carpet is
View attachment 250809
View attachment 250815
Hopefully the next couple months will bring some good additions. We saved some decent coin, so some goes to the savings and some goes to The Canyonero! My next major goals are a sleeping platform and a rear bumper...I have all the parts for the bumper, but I just need the tools and expertise from some work buddies...unfortunately the one with all the fab tools is in Europe loading our aircraft on boats so I'll have to wait on the bumper.
The Canyonero protested me leaving...my wife drove it once a week to keep her fresh, but in the first month my new radiator started leaking and an AC line gave up the ghost and puked oil and r134a all over
. Otherwise it was fine. I am giving up on all aluminum radiators (I can't afford the nice ones) since my Champion leaked and now this "better" KKS one leaked. I bought a Big Block O'Reilly unit with lifetime warranty. I also bought the BB bracket and pads from the junkyard.Today I installed some new seat belts from seat belts plus. They are nice, but I'm not 100% happy with them.
Here is how the retractor sits. I wish it was a) tan and b) facing the other direction. It's a little touchy to lock up, but it's much smoother!
Its much smaller than the original, which is good.
But when the back seat is up, it rests on the belt
The plastic doesn't quite match, but it's close enough, lol.
Have to add these L brackets. The exposed hardware is ugly...but all the kits are basically the same so I don't think another one would be better.
Original vs new
View attachment 250814
I probably won't notice or care about most of this stuff after a bit, but it's sad to have to dump some original gear...but this is for safety. My old belts wouldn't retract easily and were crusty. My seats are getting to that point too. Also, doing this made me realize how dirty my carpet is
View attachment 250809
View attachment 250815
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- Joined
- Dec 21, 2016
- Posts
- 1,434
- Reaction score
- 1,448
Sweet burb. Sucks that all your pictures are gone.
As far as sleeping platform.....I have a truckvault in the back of my burb, and it works amazing. Great storage and sleeping platform.
As far as sleeping platform.....I have a truckvault in the back of my burb, and it works amazing. Great storage and sleeping platform.
First off, I hate photosuckit because they ruined the internet. If you want to see any of those pics, let me know.
Got some pics of the platform somewhere?
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2016
- Posts
- 1,434
- Reaction score
- 1,448
The only one that I have on my phone. I'll snap a few when I walk out to go home. I shortened it so I could add a second row of seats. Really high quality.
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