Cowboy Denny

This will work

On the 5thgen 4Runner with the c4 Front Bumper.. the Rago Fabrication mount to clevis does not work. You could get the mount to connect (even though super tight fit) but the whip would be pointing almost straight out instead of straight vertical. Just not good. Haven't tried the bullbar attachment yet. A third option is getting some flatbar from Home Depot, some tractor implement paint and some gas pipe insulation (1/2") and mounting this flatbar somehow. I ordered the materials today and should get by Thursday. Cutting it close since my first event I need this flag is on Saturday.

Offroad parks typically require offroad vehicles with safety belts to have an offroad flag/whip attached to the front of the vehicle but the question is how? Rago Fabrication has a clevis mount you could use if that is available Pretty simple install and run yea around $60 Another option is if you have a bullbar on your front bumper you could utilize something like this from Nilight This is also a very easy install and runs only about $14

Purchased a couple of items in preparation of some upcoming winter wheeling MORRflate Compressor with 4 tire inflate/deflate Element Fire Extinguisher Hitch Holder for my Factory 55 receiver recovery

GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is a U.S. licensed radio service for short-to-medium distance two-way communication, using UHF frequencies (around 462/467 MHz) for handhelds, mobiles, and repeaters, offering more power and range than FRS radios, popular for family, off-roading, and group activities, with a family license covering the user and relatives for a fee, requiring no test. Licensed & Family-Friendly: A single license (currently $35 for 10 years) covers the applicant and immediate family, with no test required. Enhanced Range: Higher power limits (up to 50 watts) and access to repeater systems significantly extend range beyond license-free FRS (Family Radio Service) walkie-talkies. Versatile Equipment: Available as handhelds (walkie-talkies), mobile units for vehicles, and repeater-capable systems. Common Applications: Popular for hiking, camping, off-roading (Jeep owners), family coordination, and small business communication. Shared Frequencies: Uses channels similar to FRS but allows for more power and repeater use, offering better performance. How it Works: UHF Frequencies: Operates in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, around 462 MHz and 467 MHz. Repeaters: Accessing repeater channels (often channels 15-22) allows signals to bounce off a base station, dramatically increasing communication range. FRS Compatibility: GMRS radios can communicate with lower-power FRS radios, making them great for mixed-use groups. In essence, GMRS offers a powerful, easy-to-get, and family-oriented radio system for reliable short-to-medium distance communication, bridging the gap between basic FRS radios and more complex amateur (ham) radio. FRS (Family Radio Service) is a license-free, low-power radio service for short-range family/group use with fixed antennas, while GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) requires an FCC license (which covers the family) for higher power (up to 50W), external antennas, and repeater access, offering significantly longer ranges (miles vs. a mile or two) for activities like hunting, off-roading, and family businesses. Both use similar UHF frequencies, allowing FRS and GMRS radios to communicate, but GMRS offers more power and features for extended range and versatility. FRS (Family Radio Service) License: Not required. Power: Low (max 2 watts). Antenna: Must be fixed/non-removable. Range: Very short (1-2 miles typical). Features: Basic voice, no repeaters, fixed antennas. Best For: Keeping track of kids in a park, short-range family camping. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) License: Required ($35 fee for 10 years, covers immediate family, no test). Power: Higher (up to 50 watts on some channels). Antenna: Can be removable/external (base/mobile units). Range: Longer (5+ miles, much further with repeaters). Features: Voice, data, repeater capability, can use shared FRS channels. Best For: Off-roading, hunting, larger family/business use, emergency comms. Key Similarities & Differences Frequencies: Share many UHF channels (462-467 MHz). Compatibility: GMRS radios can talk to FRS radios (but FRS cannot use GMRS repeaters). Licensing: FRS is free; GMRS costs money but grants more power/range. Equipment: FRS is simple handhelds; GMRS allows base/mobile units with external antennas. The "best" GMRS radio brand depends on your needs (ruggedness, features, budget), but top contenders include BTECH (versatile, programmable), Midland (reliable, user-friendly for families/off-road), TID Radio (great value, easy Bluetooth programming), and Rocky Talkie (durable for outdoors). For high power (50W) mobile/vehicle use, BTECH and Midland are popular; for handhelds, BTECH GMRS-PRO, TID Radio TD-H8, and Rocky Talkie 5W are highly rated in 2025. Top Brands & Why They're Recommended: BTECH: Known for highly customizable radios like the GMRS-PRO and powerful 50W mobile units (GMRS-50V2) for off-roading, offering great features and app integration. Midland: A long-standing name, great for general users and families, offering durable, easy-to-use models like the MXT series (vehicle) and GXT series (handheld). TID Radio: Praised for value and modern features (Bluetooth programming, color screens, good batteries), like the TD-H8, great for hobbyists wanting more. Rocky Talkie: Excellent for outdoor adventures, known for ruggedness and simplicity, especially the 5-watt handheld model. Retevis / BaoFeng (with GMRS models): Offer budget-friendly entry points (like Retevis RT22 or BaoFeng UV-9G/UV-5G), but be sure they are GMRS-certified models for legal use. Key Factors When Choosing: Handheld vs. Mobile: Handhelds (e.g., BTECH GMRS-PRO, Rocky Talkie) for portability; Mobile (e.g., Midland MXT575, BTECH GMRS-50V2) for vehicle power (up to 50W). Power: 5W for handhelds, up to 50W for mobile units, affecting range. Features: NOAA alerts, USB charging, app/Bluetooth programming, ruggedness, color screens. Recommendation: For beginners or families, Midland offers simplicity; for enthusiasts wanting features, TID Radio and BTECH are great; for serious off-roading/rugged use, BTECH (50W) or Rocky Talkie are top picks.

FRS (Family Radio Service) is a popular, license-free two-way radio system in the U.S. for short-distance communication, using small, handheld devices similar to walkie-talkies for family and group activities like camping or hiking. Operating on UHF frequencies (462-467 MHz) with 22 channels, FRS radios are easy to use, inexpensive, and don't require an individual license, making them great for personal use, though their range is limited (around 1-2 miles) due to low power (max 2 watts) and no repeater use allowed. License-Free: Anyone can use them without getting an FCC license. Short Range: Best for close-range communication, typically 1-2 miles, affected by terrain. Channels: 22 channels, some shared with GMRS, often with privacy codes (CTCSS/DCS) to filter noise. Power: Limited to 2 watts, restricting range. No Repeaters: Cannot use signal boosters (repeaters) to extend range, unlike GMRS. Use Cases: Family outings, camping, hiking, events, and even some business uses. Several manufacturers produce FRS (Family Radio Service) radios. Prominent vendors include Midland, Motorola, Cobra, and others who offer a variety of FRS-compliant devices. Here are some known FRS radio vendors: Baofeng (BTECH/Pofung): Offers budget-friendly and simple-to-use FRS radio models. Cobra: A well-known brand in communication radios and automotive electronics that manufactures FRS/GMRS compatible units. DeWalt: Produces durable FRS radios often marketed towards business or industrial use cases. Icom: A manufacturer of quality radio communication products, including models capable of FRS frequencies. Kenwood: Recognized for high-quality, durable commercial-grade radios that can be used for FRS. Maxon CIC Corp: Another manufacturer involved in the radio communication market. Midland Radio: Offers a wide range of FRS and GMRS consumer radios, including their X-Talker and BR series. Motorola: Produces FRS and GMRS radios, particularly under their "Talkabout" consumer line. Ritron: Manufactures industrial and business-focused radio equipment, some of which are FRS/GMRS compatible. Rugged Radios: Specializes in UTV and off-road communication equipment, including GMRS/FRS handheld radios. Uniden: Another vendor in the consumer radio market. Wouxun: Known for higher-end FRS radios that often include advanced features. Vertex Standard (now part of Motorola Solutions): Previously produced radios used for FRS/GMRS communication. When selecting an FRS radio, ensure the specific model is FCC type-accepted for FRS operation and adheres to FRS power limitations (max 2 watts on most channels, fixed antennas), which means a license is not required for operation.

My primary handheld radio is a Wouxun KG-935g Plus Very easy to use PROGRAMMINGCHIRPMost of you out there you more than likely use the famous free CHIRP software (available on windows or mac) to program the 999 channels (of course I don't even use but 100 of them). Pros: Free, open-source, supports numerous brands/models in one interface, good for basic memory management, runs on Linux. Cons: Can be buggy/unreliable, lacks support for advanced features on newer radios, user interface less polished. Best For: Users with many different radios, budget-conscious hobbyists, Linux users, simple frequency/channel lists. RT SystemsThere are alternative software programs that are compatible for windows and mac users which include the rt systems software. Pros: Polished, user-friendly, reliable, excellent customer support, supports advanced radio features, often includes cables. Cons: Paid (per model/kit), requires separate purchase for each radio, usually Windows/Mac only, often requires their specific cable. Best For: Users wanting stability, deeper feature access, dedicated support, and consistent experience for their specific rigs. SUMMARYCHIRP is free, open-source, and supports many radios in one app, great for basic programming but sometimes buggy; RT Systems is paid, model-specific software offering polished interfaces, better support, and deeper features for specific radios (often bundled with proprietary cables), ideal for users wanting reliability and advanced control for a few models. Choose CHIRP for broad, free access or RT Systems for dedicated, reliable support and model-specific finesse. Cost & Model Support: CHIRP is free for many; RT Systems costs money per radio but offers specialized software for each. Stability & Features: RT Systems is generally more stable and feature-rich for supported models; CHIRP can struggle with newer devices. Support: RT Systems offers direct, personal customer service, while CHIRP relies on community forums. Cables: CHIRP works with various third-party/homebrew cables; RT Systems often sells kits with their specific (proprietary) cables.

Interested in a swing out tire carrier with shelf. This one slides into the hitch (NOTE: No recovery points using something that slides into hitch) Ultra Swing by RIGd This is a full install which includes cutting the bumper and splicing in the wire harness to relocate the rear camera. NOTE: Viking4x4 does not do installs but super friendly crew. Viking Adventure Rear Bumper

Got a call today and they scheduled me in for Jan 5th and need it for a week. Getting before measurements to see if the extra weight decreases my space between tire and fender FRONT 7 1/2" from tire to fender REAR 8 1/2" from tire to fender

Text Ken’s Kar Kare today and they said only thing they are waiting on is the wiring harness for roof rack lights. Getting close

Yesterday I ordered some recovery gear from a Michigan company I met at a Discover 4x4 Adventures event in 2022 called Snow Way Dude. Crawler Offroad.. great bunch of people.

2025-11-03 Talked to Ken Jr (Expedition Vehicle Outfitters) and he's on his way out to the SEMA show in Vegas but asked if I could text him the request (as shown in previous post) and they worked up the following quote. QUOTE TOTAL: $7649 Front Bumper Quote :$4800 $1159 - C4 4Runner Lo-Pro Winch Bumper (Full Height Bull-Bar powder coated) $ 875 - 30" LED Light Bar: Baja Designs S8 30" Driving / Combo Amber [PN# 70-3013] $ 83 - Baja Wire Harness: Baja Designs S8/IR Wire Harness [PN# 64-0122] $ 950 - Winch: Warn VR EVO 12-S [PN# WAR103255] $ 88 - Fairlead: Factor 55 1" Thick Gunmetal Gray [PN# 00016] $ 146 - Winch Shackle: Factor 55 Flatlink Gray [PN# 00050-06] $1220 - Labor (assuming $150/hr * 8.1hrs) $ 55 - Freight $. 92 - Shop Supplies $ 199 - Tax Roof Rack Quote: $2900 $850 - Cali Raised Premium Roof Rack [PN# CR2836] The dimensions of the roof rack inner area is 82"x48" $370 - 43" Dual Focus [PN# CR4292] $306 - 360 Lighting [PN# CR3818] $250 - 360 Wiring [PN# AAA9290] $976 - Labor (assuming $150/hr * 6.5hrs) $107 - Tax AuxBeam Install PAID DEPOSIT 11/5/2025) which covers parts: $5353.87 (already purchased the auxbeam and power tray so just paying for labor on that)