Roger The Raptor

[WW_RANGER_X]

A couple weeks back we took the truck camping with a few friends to one of our favorite local spots. No dirt miles, but we are definitely breaking in this setup and sorting out our wants and needs. It’s not there yet, but it’s one hell of a fun time. There’s no doubt the bed area is the fulcrum point of the truck. Gave a walk around to a ton of stinky hippies and had to explain what Clean Dezert was to at least 15 people lol. I will say the Clean Dezert logo on the doors has created some great conversations. I almost have my definition down word for word every time lol. The Sak-it trash bag worked out so good. Now prep for thanksgiving!

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

A week out in the desert for thanksgiving never disappoints. 7 days is about as long as we can stay out there in our trailer due to fresh water and black tank capacities. Roger did very well aside from breaking a driver side CV shaft. It was my fault, trying to pull out a way too heavy stuck motorhome. I think if I had a kinetic rope, the outcome may have been different? Put about 100 dirt miles on the truck. This was my first go fast offroad trip since I installed the RTT. Honestly I couldn’t tell a difference from before. I wish I didn’t take my rock guard/mud flaps off. There’s a guy I’ve been talking to developing a “mid flap kit” that I do like and I think it’ll help, especially protecting the rear end and shocks. The KM3s did good, but it is kind of annoying how many rocks get stuck in the tread and launch at the undercarriage lol. Good thing for the running boards. Future plans are to do side exit exhaust and a fabricated rear bumper.

 

[JACKSONRALLYINC]

I am looking to sale this bumper that came on the truck. I want a stock bumper.

 

[the bodj]

I think I just saw that @WW_RANGER_X wants a fabricated bumper, so maybe he's getting rid of his stock one? Not sure he wants yours, but maybe you can work something out.

 

[JACKSONRALLYINC]

I think I just saw that @WW_RANGER_X wants a fabricated bumper, so maybe he's getting rid of his stock one? Not sure he wants yours, but maybe you can work something out.

I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want mine, I can't stand it, not exactly my flavor. However, yes I would like a nice clean stock one.

 

[4XForOffroad]

Cutting off the lower portion and those little bent tubes welded to the main tube would make it look better in my opinion. If it’s a bolt on, keeping the main structure that mounts as a base for a is sometimes a good way to save time and frustration but other times it just takes more time and makes more frustration.

 

[2012SVTSC]

Bummer on that axle! Life time warranty on that right?

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

Cal City New Years trip photo dump. Aside from the 6 hour pressure wash sesh after, it was a blast! 120 dirt miles logged. Truck is working really well.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

next trip is Glamis for President’s day weekend (that Thursday-Sunday). I haven’t been to Glamis since I was like 8 years old. Going with a huge group from the Central Valley. I was told there is a “dune pass” you have to purchase? I’m also a little worried about fuel. I have a 36 gallon tank and a 5 gallon VP can in the bed of the truck. What’s the closest or last spot to fill up before hitting the dunes?

I have a small prep list to get done. Knock on wood but the truck is pretty dialed. Just an oil change, small accessory projects and a simple once over. I picked up a new whip mount from UTV-TEK that attaches to the RTT rack and a new whip/flag from Cycle Gear. This one will clear the tent when it’s open. The original one I had wouldn’t.







I still need to install the mid flap kit I got from TSP also. Notice the damaged flap. They are sending me out replacements.



Other than that I think the truck is pretty solid for this year’s off road festivities. If you guys have any tips or tricks for Glamis please feel free to post. It’s an 8 hour trek just to get there so it’ll be a shit ton of miles.

 

[2012SVTSC]

Glamis... keep your head on a swivel. There is a gas station nearby and they sell the passes there as well.

 

[RadoNoah]

next trip is Glamis for President’s day weekend (that Thursday-Sunday). I haven’t been to Glamis since I was like 8 years old. Going with a huge group from the Central Valley. I was told there is a “dune pass” you have to purchase? I’m also a little worried about fuel. I have a 36 gallon tank and a 5 gallon VP can in the bed of the truck. What’s the closest or last spot to fill up before hitting the dunes?

I have a small prep list to get done. Knock on wood but the truck is pretty dialed. Just an oil change, small accessory projects and a simple once over. I picked up a new whip mount from UTV-TEK that attaches to the RTT rack and a new whip/flag from Cycle Gear. This one will clear the tent when it’s open. The original one I had wouldn’t.

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I still need to install the mid flap kit I got from TSP also. Notice the damaged flap. They are sending me out replacements.

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Other than that I think the truck is pretty solid for this year’s off road festivities. If you guys have any tips or tricks for Glamis please feel free to post. It’s an 8 hour trek just to get there so it’ll be a shit ton of miles.

Yup dune pass and get a fire permit. When i used to drive the Chevy out there last stop id fill up from AZ was Ehrenberg. With a 24 gal tank + 5 gallon gas can i never had a issue. I also tent camped wasn’t towing. Not sure how much you plan on running the truck, i did a few a day so i bet your fine. If needed brawley is like 30 minutes away for gas and any other things youd need out there.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

Supposedly the Pilot in Brawley sells the passes, so we'll buy the passes there and fill up. Might take the 111 east of Salton Sea to check out Salvation Mountain along the way.

 

[DP_Tundra]

All the gas stations in brawley sell passes.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

Mid flap kit is installed. I’ve had a lot of interest in something like this for a while now. Everything from the middle to the rear of these trucks just gets completely hammered with debris (just like any other go fast(ish) vehicle). I was asked if I would do R&D for a kit TSP was making. They are a Raptor based accessory shop, and one of their guys hit me up who was building a kit. I plan to do a full report on the Mid flap thread I started on here pretty soon. Lots of pros but some cons. I think it looks cool as shit. I’ll find out here shortly if they work as good as I think they look.



















Put in new front LED marker/blinker bulbs from F150LEDS.com. Expensive as fuck, but they work much better than what I had. The old set wouldn’t blink bright enough to tell if I had my blinkers on or not and people would get pissed thinking my blinker wasn’t on, then I’d turn haha.





Did a quick overnight camping trip with Wes last weekend. This RTT life is so much fun.












Good times! That’s all for now.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

Glamis was a mission! But one hell of a good time. Left Thursday morning around 5am from Visalia. First stop was Chick-fil-A. Never been. I don’t know what the hype is all about that place kinda sucked lol.



From there we didn’t stop until the Salton Sea, where we stopped at the Red Earth casino/gas station for a fuel top off and snacks.



Then we headed into Brawley to top off fuel again and get our passes. After that we hit the road and got to Gecko around 1pm. We aired down then made it to our camp.





After we said our hellos at camp, we jumped in the trucks and RJ (red raptor) guided me around a few sites and we maybe put about 20-30 miles down before we headed back to camp to hang out and call it a night.





















to be continued shortly…

 

[Cleandezert]

looks like such a great trip.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

So the next morning (Friday) we got up and hung around camp for a while. We had probably 40 people in our camp so we mingled for a few hours and made a game plan on what we were gonna do for the rest of the day. About eight of us decided to take gecko Rd out to Duners diner for lunch. We were smashing pretty good. About 16 miles in I realized I was about to lose the RTT off the rack! Thank God we stopped for a piss break or I definitely would’ve lost it. All bolts but one sheared that hold the tent to the aluminum crossbars that attach to the rack. So I ratchet strapped it down with cheap straps I had in the truck and we made it to Duners. After we ate we crossed the highway to check out the boarder wall. We pulled up to the wall and jumped out to take pictures, then border patrol came flying up and told us we couldn’t be there. We were able to get about 200 feet from it in order to take pictures. We didn’t argue.













At this time it was already close to 3pm so we jammed back to Gecko to go park and watch the drags. These were the only pics I took, everything else is video and won’t let me post Keep in mind this was my first time to Glamis so I was in sand heaven lol,





The drags were a lot of fun! People get rowdy out there for sure. So, drags were over and we headed back to camp for dinner. After dinner RJ took me to Oldsmobile hill. Rolling up at night without seeing it in the daytime was probably one of the gnarliest things I’ve seen lol. That hill is so intimidating when you first see it in person. It was just a huge party. We hung out for a few hours then headed back to camp for bed.





Next day (Saturday) we slept in, made breakfast then headed to olds to see all the festivities during the day. It was a fucking blast. RJ and I both made it up to the top and I was so pumped! I thought no way I could make it. After, we headed to vender row to go buy some holiday t shirts and I wanted to get a better set of ratchet straps to hold down the tent. Found a nice set of Rhino USA straps so I swapped them out before we left.














It was getting hot, so we decided to get back in the trucks and head to some bar out in the middle of nowhere called Boardmanville Trading Post.

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

After the bar we headed back to the drags for Saturday evening.













Then we headed back out to Olds for the third and final time of the trip. Not many pictures as I was just soaking it all in for our last night.





Next morning (Sunday) was travel day back home. Aired up and hit the road around 10am. Rolled into my driveway at 5:45pm. It was a long yet amazing trip. Over a thousand miles and 97 gallons burned. Good times!