Over the weekend I made a cheap/easy wall mount in the garage. All the other sets of wheels/tires I have for all the other cars reside in the rafter storage in the garage. I figured I will be bringing/using this 5th (rotating tires or having it on a trip) a lot more often than the others, so I wanted it in easy access.

Simple use of two 2x4's that are screwed into the studs of the garage (1 screw each on the outer edges). Then I cut a smaller 2x4 that was small enough to fit inside the barrel of the wheel and mounted the wheel holder/hardware/thing. The mount and smaller 2x4 are held on with 4 lag bolts that are 6" long. It was all a bit overkill but its for sure not going anywhere.





Then a nice simple dirty moist picture

 

Since it was raining all day yesterday... I figured I needed to make a quick side trip on my way home from work. Got a little dirty!

 

 

I know exactly where this is. We go out there all the time. Definitely muddier since the rains came. Might have to take the Outback out there to get dirty.

 

I have no idea if its "allowed" or not.. just kinda did it lol

 

Super foggy on my way into work this morning. Figured I needed to snap a few pics lol.

 

 

Had an appointment at the dealer yesterday.

First two oil changes are "free", so this was the first one.

5,483 miles.
Also had them install the headunit update so im hoping that will help with all the bugs everyone complains about (and I experienced).

Today Ill be rotating the tires getting the 5th into the rotation.

 

Newest video from Blake's Garage is up.

Features another local business here in Sacramento, Detail Maniac. They did an AMAZING job doing a seamless clear bra install on the whole front clip of my car. You cant even tell its there!

 

Put together a simple/cheap mod.

Used the OEM tow-hook and added a shackle to it.





More pics along the way can be found here:
Applies to All Model Years How to: DIY OEM tow-hook with shackle

 

I decided to wrap my fairing.

Figured Ive got a white and black theme for the car, ill try some snow camo. I got a sheet of vivid vinyl and went to town.

Of course I had to clean and dry the fairing, it was pretty dirty.


Came out pretty decent.


A couple pics of it on the car. Car needs a wash lol.

 

Is there such a thing as too much branding? lol

 

Another super foggy morning on my way into work... so I made a detour.




Decided to drive down a side road ive never been down. After a half mile or so, it "ended"....

 

...so I went a bit further lol. It turned out to be pretty muddy. So after the sun came out, I went out into the parking lot to see the car.

 

Few updates!

My primitive engine and trans skid plates came in yesterday!! I swung by the dealer to pick them up. They look/feel amazing and solid. Cant wait to throw them on, but unfortunately, it'll have to wait till next weekend. This weekend the lady and I are heading to Oregon for a long weekend for fun. Also, Blake and I might do an install video for the skids.




Also, while I was at the dealer... I asked about the window deflectors. I had always wanted them, but when I ordered the car, they wernt available to add on (must not have been available at the time???). They had em in stock, so eff it... Im getting a nice tax return lol.


Figured Id post this up too. About a week in a half ago, my buddy gave me a free Curt hitch - C13135. Brand new. The only downside is that it does not have the installation hardware. I called Curt, and I can buy just the hardware for $54, which to me seems pretty steep for some nuts/bolts and metal washers... Especially when I can buy the whole kit for $110 with everything new!

Im contemplating A) just buying the hardware and only being $55-60 invested 2) Making my own hardware kit from Lowes/Home Depot for a fraction of that cost #) Sell it cheap to someone and buy the hitch I really want.

The only issue to me, is that the 13135 hangs below the rear bumper. Not a huge issue, but a small turn off to me. The one Ive been wanting, the receiver can be unbolted from its frame while not in use. Thus not seeing it and giving more departure angle when off-road. That one is the Torklift Ecohitch Stealth as seen here: https://torkliftcentral.com/2018-sub...ohitch-stealth

Main thing holding me back from that is the price. It WAS $380 or so, and since just looking at the link again its dropped down to $350... but still its over double the cost of the curt. My mind isnt made up in any direction yet. If someone fairly local wanted the Curt for super cheap, it might sway me into doing that and using the money towards the Torklift.