elbekko

That looks a whole lot better than what we were seeing at 7S!

I think beadlocks would definitely help there. And more sidewall = more better, but I think beadlocks would be a good first step. And not wasted in case you step up to bigger tyres!

I think all very valid plans. On the turbo front, maybe a sequential setup would work better? A 4.6 V8 is definitely the right fix. Something I noticed driving behind you: some of your wheels looked to have quite a lot of runout.

If you start counting from the moment you pick up the slack, it shouldn't be too bad? And when you get one that's close, you can always open it up to be sure.

Or just count rotations?

This is relevant to my interests. I have a Waeco CF25 now (the old model with the manual sliders). It works really well, but has gotten a bit small with the dog getting fresh food that needs to be frozen. So now we get to choose between having food for the dog or food for us There's also this thread: From that it looks like the Alpicool is a pretty good deal? Are people still happy with those a few years later? Decathlon over here has the Alpicool CF40 for €319 at the moment, might be worth a punt (after some measuring).

The trailer @Escape was using for his is a two-tonner (since I ~stole~ borrowed his triple-axle Ifor for mine), and it did well. I think a Santa Fe should be around the two tonne towing capacity mark? Most midsize SUVs are.

Which part of that is worth 22k?

It works really well, quite happy with everything. The winch had a good workout pulling a dead Sid out of the swamp, with the only drama being popping my tyre off the bead... Didn't need to recover myself at any point, started to once, then realised I only got stuck because viscous couplings only work with viscous fluid, and drove out with the handbrake pulled (front had traction, rears were in the air).

In action: https://youtu.be/C0O4vHfvU8o

From what I saw, @Daan. He and his truck have a habit of suddenly appearing where you really don't expect them. Like driving up the winch challenge course where Sid was having to winch up. Sid was impressive to see in many ways this weekend. Few teething issues. The main thing it needs is more flexible tyres and the power to spin them properly. And maybe a temp gauge and oil pressure light

It was very nice seeing everyone again and meeting the new people. Lots of fun was had. I got to test out the bumper and winch, even though I didn't actually get stuck. Somehow the car came back less broken than when we left As Filip said, the drive back was fairly painful. Not a lot of time to spare, so the dog had to hold it in until France. But we managed. Arrived home around 5:30. Really should just stay until monday next year... Pictures and videos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mw7AdJz1ASqZbfU28

Ouch, glad you found that at home and not by the side of the road!

So, that paint is useless. It scratches off by looking at it. Whatever, it's not the colour I wanted anyway. Finished it up today. Drilled out the mounting holes to 16mm to have some alignment leeway. The S355 at a brand new drill bit But much cursing and an hour and a half later, I managed to drill 4 holes. Wired up thanks to @Escape. It worked well to spool up, at least. Modified the freespool lever to clock it 90°. If you redrill the stop bolt, it'll go side to side instead of up and down. Managed to get the hole just barely straight enough to work. Fitted the skidplate, as well. Took a bit of modifying to fit it around the tow hook on the chassis. And it doesn't fit very well because everything is crooked It's on with a few bolts and a few self-tappers, it'll do. Looks nice, though, even if it was a right pain to fit. And clamped the front plate with the fairlead, works ok. Would be better if the top screws were countersunk as well. Or move it to the side. Maybe some day. We'll see. Only took pictures once I got her loaded up on the trailer:

Loaded up and ready to go.

Cut some more metal out. Replaced the liner in the welder (badly). Ground down more welds (badly). Painted it (badly). Tried to drill the mounting holes oversize for some more adjustment, failed, drill dulled, and I suddenly couldn't manage to sharpen it anymore, even though I managed fine last weekend. I wonder how terrible this paint will be. It dried quickly, at least.

Today was mostly bodywork... winching to a column, pulling up with the transmission jack, hammering, and a shim under the body mount... Fits much better now. Cut out the top plate, and test fit the winch. And threw it on the car again to have a final look. Pretty happy with the result. Should do some more grinding of the welds on the bottom plate. And cut out the wings so the big tyres don't eat into them. Then probably throw some paint on... and wire in the winch. The end is nigh!

I don't really get why they went that route instead of putting the electric motors on an LT230 PTO. Especially since they had to run a V drive to offset the prop anyway.

As said, wouldn't mind helping out a bit at Summer Sisters with electrics. Although I doubt you need it, from the wiring you've already done.

After a weekend of metalworking, I'm looking forward to some wiring

Ooh, wires.

Yeah, it isn't going anywhere I think.

I just replaced the feed motor, and it does fine in some torch positions, so I don't think it's that. And it's had wire feed issues since I got it (which is why my friend wanted to get rid of it). I'd love to. But right now I'm just making things worse with how the welder is acting. There's a good 5cm of heavy weld on each side of the bars to the side plates, plus heavy welds all around where they stick through the front plate. Looks are deceptive indeed, they're sticking ~16cm into the bumper, so a large portion of them isn't welded. Also not sure how well I can reach in there to weld them further...

Yeah, that's alright. There seems to be a few different types though? I'll pop the one that's in there out, and see if they have anything at Metaleuven. That's alright, no offense taken. Equally deranged, but in different ways

These liner things. Are they universal, you think? I'd love to replace it, if it's not half the price of a new torch. Maybe. Or some disassembly and see what's actually bent, and try to straighten it.