the 2500 mile trip begins, working on upgrades 2017 X3

[John@Outfront]

you have all heard of our crazy 1300 mile trips in baja, etc well this summer in a few months i will be doing the great wester divide, 2500 miles from AZ peace trail to Canada

we are going one way and having the SXS's shipped back

my last trip in baja had some major frame issues, cracks in like 10 places. i am changing out the frame with a brand new one. then I ordered 3 gusset kits from S3 (front, floor and back)

will be 3 days of welding to get these kits installed then off to the powder coater. changing from orange to black, this is a huge job! I will still be getting the new kawi 2 seater when it comes out but until then this will have to do the job

 

[Grease Monkey]

Big job John, Any other upgrades, aftermarket parts going in and on this X3?

 

[ESCO]

sounds like a blast be safe and update us when you can.

 

[megadesertdiesel]

That trip sounds like a blast! The X3 frame is super thin hardened garbage and needs all those gussets to stay together. I went through a x3 4 seat frame a few years back and added every gusset and brace known. It stiffened up the chassis a lot, i instantly felt the frame difference when i drove it.

 

[John@Outfront]

That trip sounds like a blast! The X3 frame is super thin hardened garbage and needs all those gussets to stay together. I went through a x3 4 seat frame a few years back and added every gusset and brace known. It stiffened up the chassis a lot, i instantly felt the frame difference when i drove it.

come to find out the 17-21 frames all had issues, really missing lots of bracing. that frame is discontinued and can only buy the 2022 and newer frame. it comes cage-less for low $3000's but my cage is already removable

this new frame is waaaay better, thicker tubes, more tubes and then im adding the 3 kits and even more that i think would be reasonable

 

[John@Outfront]

Big job John, Any other upgrades, aftermarket parts going in and on this X3?

it has a chip and a "blow hole" love that thing. it has a $8k kicker sound system that i am going to remove. tensor 35's upgraded fron lower arms, i did the $2500 rear arms last year, shock tower upgrade it has been a very powerful and fun car to drive!!

 

[Sand Shark]

That is going to be one fun trip.

 

[Crusty]

I'm very curious the route that is taken, details, this sounds epic.

 

[Toy Collector]

it has a chip and a "blow hole" love that thing. it has a $8k kicker sound system that i am going to remove. tensor 35's upgraded fron lower arms, i did the $2500 rear arms last year, shock tower upgrade it has been a very powerful and fun car to drive!!

Who the hell spends $8,000 on Kicker equipment?!

 

[megadesertdiesel]

Who the hell spends $8,000 on Kicker equipment?!

a fool is born every minute

 

[John@Outfront]

Who the hell spends $8,000 on Kicker equipment?!

it was already in there when I bought it, this guy bought the SXS new and had to keep up with the Jone's I think he spent another $35k on the car, was sponsored by kicker, I just don't need that in my car!

 

[Sutton]

I had no idea these cars had so many cracking issues. Super cool project to see. Keep us updated on the car assembly!

 

[funco4lizzle]

you need to capture the upper rear shock mount and tie into the cage. I did this right away when new. also that car will feel much better on a 33" tire. brakes suck and get worse the bigger you go in the tire. over 6k miles on mine with no cracks (2018). but has long travel and 3.0 kings so Id guess that smooths it out a bit. such a great car besides the brakes and the bump steer. been on a stage 3 evo tune since day one. Zero issues

 

[Sand Shark]

come to find out the 17-21 frames all had issues, really missing lots of bracing. that frame is discontinued and can only buy the 2022 and newer frame. it comes cage-less for low $3000's but my cage is already removable

this new frame is waaaay better, thicker tubes, more tubes and then im adding the 3 kits and even more that i think would be reasonable

The newer frames are way better and those added gussets will make it a very solid frame.

If you have not already done so, I would freshen up your clutches and make sure the primary sheaves don't have any unusual wear. Don't want clutch issues on a long trip.