Big Col - Our 2013 RG Colorado

[The Exterminator]

This is our new RG Colorado.
We traded in our beautiful Calais V V8 Sportwagon. It was a great car with a bucket load of power, but it couldn't tow the camper or go offroad.
Our other Rodeo will stay as a dedicated work truck now.

We got a great deal on this ute. As it is our family car and touring rig we went for the auto box. My wife will be driving it most of the time. We are quite impressed with how well it goes, especially after trading our V8 on it. It has a stack of usable torque and gets along well.
We got a Tip Top Ultra Heavy Duty tray with a 1800 long trundle tray underneath.
We hassled the car yard a bit, and got window tint, weather shields, headlight and bonnet protectors, rubber floor mats and the towbar thrown in as extras.

The day we picked it up.



The day we got it home the mods started.
First up was to get rid of the 245/70/16 tiny tyres and put on a set of 265/75/16 BFG AT's on Alloys. Instantly changed the stance and looks.

 

[The Exterminator]

As it turns out, the set belt extension that we have for the middle child seat doesn't fit into the rear seat belt clips. It fits the front ones fine, and clips into the buckle fine. The rear seat belts clip is a slightly different shape.
Holden has no answers, the company that sells the extensions don't have them available yet for the RG and my wife nearly broke her wrist trying to clip his seat belt up between the 3 child seats. Time for a mod. Got out the good old grinder and cut off the excess.

 

[The Exterminator]

I had to make up some new mounts for the canopy to fit this ute as I made the canopy to fit our old Rodeo. I had some threaded rod in the shed and some flat bar which was perfect to fab up 4 new mounts. I didn't want to drill into the new tray, so this is what I came up with.



While I was tinkering, I decided I didn't like where the number plate was. I decided that it would look better and be more protected on the face of the trundle tray. I replaced the lights with LED's. I reckon it looks heaps better now.

 

[The Exterminator]

The day we got the new ute our son jambed his fingers in the trundle tray. It could have been a lot worse. If there was any substantial weight in the drawer and it was on a slope I believe it would either peel the skin clean off the kids fingers or shear them off completely as the way it is designed with the gal sheet to protect the locking mechanism and how close it is to the tray.

I had a think about how I could stop it from closing all the way and came up with this solution. I already had the gas strut in the shed, but it is a bit too strong as it takes a lot of effort to close it completely. I will sway it over when I can get a new one.

Ouch!



Gas strut installed



Had to grind a bit off this swage lock fastener as it was just fouling on the strut



This is as far as it can close now to avoid any damage to fingers



While I had the trundle tray out I installed some alloy angle on the inside. This is going to have some plywood to use as a bench for cooking etc when touring or on day trips. I still have to get the plywood, I don't have a big enough piece in the shed.

 

[The Exterminator]

This was our first road trip to Brisbane.



This is our canopy which is on the ute all the time. We may end up selling this canopy as my wife can't stand doing and un-doing the bungy cords all the time (and to be honest I can't either).
It's unreal when we use it only for camping and holidays etc, but for everyday use it becomes a pain to open it all the time.
We may end up getting a Alloy Canopy so it's easier to access every day with simple things like getting the pram in and out.

 

[The Exterminator]

I found a sheet of old plywood in the shed after all, big enough that I could cut down to fit. Just gotta give it a light sand and a coat with some marine grade monocel varnish that I have in the shed.

 

[The Exterminator]

Just a quick update on the newest mod. I have installed the Redarc RHBC into the dash. I was trying to workout the best location, and the blank switch panels on the dash near the steering wheel are not big enough. I popped the surround off around the gear stick and modded the 2 blank buttons there.
This is the end result. I'm very happy with how it turned out, Jodie even commented "that looks like it was meant to be there".

 

[The Exterminator]

I have installed 1 meter LED strip lights on the doors of the canopy. WOW! What a difference they have made.


I have also fab'd up some new airbag mounts for some 8" slam bags to help carry the load. These have a 250 PSI burst rating and internal bump stops. They have really lifted the back with the load on, andwith the CT on they make a huge difference.

 

[crackacoldie]

Looking good, some great mods there.

 

[The Exterminator]

Another small mod I done while I was under the tray and prepping for our holiday last April was to lift the tray and make it look level. I was never happy with how it sat from when we brought the ute. Tip Top had fitted it but it looked as though the bum was dragging on the ground.
I jacked the tray up to where I thought it looked level and then got the measurements. The very rear mount had to come up 20mm, and the middle mount 10mm.



New spacers



I installed longer bolts with nyloc nuts (I did get a pic, but can't find it....)

I also lifted the rear diff breather while I was going.

 

[Xpandafan]

Welcome @The Exterminator. That's a nice swag of mods to the Colorado. Can't wait to see what you do with your Expanda. :eagerness:

 

[Brad]

Like the mods @The Exterminator. Very neat. :thumb:

 

[Moto Moto]

Awesome setup @The Exterminator

I love the look of the new colorado's when kitted out, a bit like the one on 4wdTV.

I like the tray lift mod too, my borther in law has a tray on his Navara that fouls on the wheels at full flex. Its funny that these ute tray mob's don't get it quite right, even though installing trays day in day out is their job.

Keep the Mods coming!

 

[Jason18576]

Nice truck mate that canopy you have did you make it your self if you did where did you get the legs from i was going to by one but
$6000 is a lot but if i can make it for $3000 i'll be happy

 

[The Exterminator]

@Jason18576 I got the legs locally from a trailer parts place. $150 each I think. Not cheap but they make it super easy to lift the canopy on and off. I welded wheels to the base of mine. The canopy probly cost me $1500 or so not including the legs.

 

[Jason18576]

@Jason18576 I got the legs locally from a trailer parts place. $150 each I think. Not cheap but they make it super easy to lift the canopy on and off. I welded wheels to the base of mine. The canopy probly cost me $1500 or so not including the legs.

thanks mate i think i'm going to by the tray and build a canopy out of coldroom panel

 

[The Exterminator]

Got my Ironman Deluxe Bullbar fitted last week. I am happy with the fit and the quality of the bar. I have to find a good spot for the fog light switch yet, which I will work out when I have the switches for driving lights and LED bar light when I get them.


I also wired up my 12 pin plug and moved the rear camera to a more central location. Nothing like a small offcut of treated pine painted black, some cable ties and a bit of sikaflex! It's a bit temporary, but who knows, it may be just fine.

With the 12 pin I just spliced into the Anderson plug to grab power to the 2 pins that need it and installed a weather proof inline fuse between the Anderson and the 12 pin plug. The other end of the Anderson has a resettable circuit breaker installed.
I have also connected the wire to the plug end for the brake away alarm, I just have to run it through the firewall and work out where to put the unit. Even though it's tiny, it's hard to find a good spot for it.

 

[The Exterminator]

Went up to the WRC on the weekend at Coffs Harbour. Thursday last week we said goodbye to our Camper Trailer before our van comes (DOH!, it went 1 week too soon), so we had nothing to camp in because the Expanda won't be here until the end of the month. A good mate of mine lent us his Cub for the weekend. It's a great bit of kit, quick and easy to setup and heaps of room. Still can't wait till we get our Expanda though.

 

[BUSH PALACE]

Bigger and better things lay ahead there ol mate !!!

 

[The Exterminator]

Just a quick update on the newest mods.
I have fitted a 12000 lb winch with in cab controls and a DIY switch panel for 6 rocker switches. Just waiting for a Fog Light and Winch Isolator switch to turn up and then wire all the switches up.
It's the perfect spot in the RG. I wanted to epoxy it in and paint it up, but the way the gear stick surround has to clip back in the switch panel had to be removable.