Sgtsandman's 2011 XLT

[sgtsandman]

The latest additions has been hood struts and modifying a bracket to hold my tablet during off road driving during TRS meets.

The bracket, as it originally came was just too long and the head bounced around too much.

Shortening the main tube and installing support struts made it much better and still left room for a passenger.

You can also sort of see where the GMRS radio is, hidden behind the stick shift. It's a Midland MXT275 unit with all the controls and display in the handset. And the HT is a TYT MD-390 DMR radio.

 

[sgtsandman]

And this is pretty much where she sits for now. I'm hoping to get a locker in the rear axle this summer.

 

[racsan]

Nice! I didn’t realize you had done so much to it.

 

[sgtsandman]

Nice! I didn’t realize you had done so much to it.

Thanks. I like the stealth approach and generally don't like to advertise what I got or did.

 

[Curious Hound]

Looks good.

 

[Rick W]

Thanks. I like the stealth approach and generally don't like to advertise what I got or did.

WAY COOL, very well done. I thought it was mostly stock.

Nix on the stealth. I wouldn’t suggest the Lincoln enhancements, but maybe Seagrave? American Lafrance?

& you have to get some code 3 lights and strobes!!!

Looks great, good luck with it!

 

[RobbieD]

That is a stout truck. Neat, thoughtful mods, well executed.

I like it!

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Really nice build. I've admired it since the first time I saw it.

 

[sgtsandman]

Thank you gentlemen. A lot of work has gone into the truck and I have tried to do my best to make it look professonally done.

Bobby did give me a hard time about it still looking so nice at the last meet. LOL

 

[rumblecloud]

I wish I had that ability to, as you say : "....make it look professionally done."
But I don't. Nice work.

 

[Rick W]

View attachment 106359

I wish I had that ability to, as you say : "....make it look professionally done."
But I don't. Nice work.

Between my shaky hands and my shaky brain, it can be difficult for me to get that “professionally done“ appearance. However, I have compensated for the most part very well with the “irrationally done“ appearance. Don’t knock it till you try it!

 

[DRanger024]

I like your shovel mount in the back window. I used a gun rack inside my topper to do the same. Holds a single bit axe nicely too.

 

[sgtsandman]

I like your shovel mount in the back window. I used a gun rack inside my topper to do the same. Holds a single bit axe nicely too.

I thought about putting the axe there but I use my back window a lot. So, I wanted to keep thinner items in the rack to minimize blocking the view to the rear. So, the axe and the mattock got mounted to the back wall along with the fire extinguisher.

That may change when I remove the jump seats and build a storage box.

 

[sgtsandman]

I'm in the middle of rewiring the radios in the 2011. This involves removing the multiple power leads to the battery and running one larger one back to a fused power block that will be in the back of the cab. The wire routing is a bit more professional and neat than before and the in line fuses that came with the radios will still be there.

While the CB and the quadband radio were fine, as is, the GMRS radio was still using the cigarette lighter style power outlet and was picking up a lot of system noise from truck. Something that has been a known issue with Fords in general, though the 2019 SEEMS to be much better in that regard. So, Ford may have finally took steps to address the problems.

You should have seen the filter I had to make for the fuel pump to eliminate the RF it was generating!

In any case, this should eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, the RF noise issues, make the install cleaner, and leave room for expansion when I go to install a moble DMR radio and low band HF radio in the truck. The power block will also make the installation of those radios easier when the time comes.

 

[Lefty]

One very nice clean old truck made special by your hard work.