Thought I'd play around a bit after work... just for fun. Found it's hard to get the rear end to break loose, even in mud. :)

RIGHT ON! Been a while since some good muddin pictures were posted! Always nice to see a E in its true "element". Thanks for the pics!!

Amen! Its refreshing to see someone take it through a little of the goo.

damn yo just drop it and put some dubs on it! :roll:

i love seeing the E used for what it was built to do.


-tom :)

Yeah, it's nice to see someone with 18's out in the mud. You typically don't see H2s or Tahoes with 18's out playing in the mud.
L.

Im curious as to what kind of crazy foglights those are :-o

they be sticking way out, but look pretty good

Im curious as to what kind of crazy foglights those are :-o

they be sticking way out, but look pretty good

They are actually utility lights used mainly on semi-trucks, but with aircraft landing light bulbs inside. (they are a rubber mounted "head", and the bulbs pop in). Very bright, and i like the way they look sticking out, rather than tucked back behind the hole. Gives it a more rugged look IMO. Not gay.

I like em...and they are definately not gay.......if you have time, would you post some specifications and maybe some brand info....thanks!

G

The housings are made by Trucklite, part # 80373. They have a single mounting bolt, and you just drill the correct size hole dead center in the fog light "covers". Then the nut goes on the backside (have to remove the bumper). And you replace the bulbs with GE part # Q4509 (aircraft landing lamps). They are 100W, very bright but very illegal. So you gotta aim them down a bit. Hehe...

i love seeing the E used for what it was built to do.Yeah, right...I'm calling BS on this one :roll:

Nothing personal, but the Element is not even close to being off-road capable.

Those are tight, most different ive seen on here yet!

Aircraft landing lights!?!?!? Now thats badass! Is the kit designed for an automotive applications? And is the E's electrical system capable of handling these lights?

Aircraft landing lights!?!?!? Now thats badass! Is the kit designed for an automotive applications? And is the E's electrical system capable of handling these lights?

hey booggerg, Id say from his pics at least to this point it seems to handle them :)

They are actually 14 volt, but I've come across no problems with them so far. Just bright as hell, so I get the ol' high beam flash now and then.

Yeah, right...I'm calling BS on this one :roll:

Nothing personal, but the Element is not even close to being off-road capable.

Yeah, I did bottom out on the silly gas tank protective bar. But it was fun slopping around in the mud and climbing a few small mole hills. Hey, its more off-road capable than anything else I've ever owned. But then again, its the only AWD/4WD vehicle Ive ever owned. HA!

Where did you get them at and were you able, or did you try hooking them up to the oem switch? What was the cost? I really like the idea of only having to drill a small hole in the center to mount them. If I missed it, what bulb size are they? Like H3 or?
L.

Yes, I assume this was some sort of jerry-rigging? Please give some more info of how this was done. thanks!

hey booggerg, Id say from his pics at least to this point it seems to handle them :)
Yeah but id say it's a bit simple-minded on your part to assume he couldn't have possibly performed any work-arounds to get the 12V system to power 2x100W lights. In this case, it's 14V... :-)

Yeah, right...I'm calling BS on this one :roll:

Nothing personal, but the Element is not even close to being off-road capable.


um my E has no problem with it. course i am not the offroad redneck baha jumper like some assume offroading is. :roll:

if your not on asfault your offroad. :-D

Where did you get them at and were you able, or did you try hooking them up to the oem switch? What was the cost? I really like the idea of only having to drill a small hole in the center to mount them. If I missed it, what bulb size are they? Like H3 or?
L.

I got them where I work, but you can find them at most auto parts stores that carry "heavy duty truck parts" (semi-truck parts). The bulbs are GE part #Q4509, and they are a 4" sealed beam unit. You replace the whole bulb when they burn out. They just pop in/out of the rubber housing. As for hooking them up, I just used a lighted rocker switch that fit in the factory hole by your left knee. Total cost was about $60.

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=24144&langId=-1

Nothing personal, but the Element is not even close to being off-road capable.

You are the first one to use 'off-road' in this thread. Are you questioning the truthfullness of the original poster when claimed to have driven around in some mud, as opposed to staying on pavement? This thread is about getting the Element dirty, not about whether it meets some purist's notion of what 'off-roading' means.

paulj

Could you post a pic of your wheels, more close-up? They look very similar to mine, except for 1 inch taller. What brand are they?

Thanks, Justin

How does the gay thing come into play - :roll: I'm taking you mean it be a bad thing?

Like the lights the look cool - different - much like the Element owners in general. :grin:

Could you post a pic of your wheels, more close-up? They look very similar to mine, except for 1 inch taller. What brand are they?

They are 18" Enkei RS-V's

You are the first one to use 'off-road' in this thread. Are you questioning the truthfullness of the original poster when claimed to have driven around in some mud, as opposed to staying on pavement? This thread is about getting the Element dirty, not about whether it meets some purist's notion of what 'off-roading' means.

pauljGood point. If the intent was to talk about "muddin" as opposed to "off-roading", where locking differentials and ground clearance are important factors, then you are right.

Remember that I originally replied to the post..
i love seeing the E used for what it was meant to doDo what? Drive around on a dirt pile? Hoping to get some mud on the panels and then take pictures of it?

I just get a little amused at the look of mud-splashed Elements, and how this is supposed to be such an appealing sight. To me this is implying that it has "off-road" capacity. Pretty easy jump, considering "off -road" vehicles also get mud-covered. And we all know how they like to drive around for days, posing with their caked-on mud.

It's the same thing happening here. Pictures of mud-covered Elements are about as appealing to me as pictures of mud-covered AWD minivans.

Sorry if I offended any Element "Mudders" out there :roll:

Good point. If the intent was to talk about "muddin" as opposed to "off-roading", where locking differentials and ground clearance are important factors, then you are right.

Remember that I originally replied to the post..
Do what? Drive around on a dirt pile? Hoping to get some mud on the panels and then take pictures of it?

I just get a little amused at the look of mud-splashed Elements, and how this is supposed to be such an appealing sight. To me this is implying that it has "off-road" capacity. Pretty easy jump, considering "off -road" vehicles also get mud-covered. And we all know how they like to drive around for days, posing with their caked-on mud.

It's the same thing happening here. Pictures of mud-covered Elements are about as appealing to me as pictures of mud-covered AWD minivans.

Sorry if I offended any Element "Mudders" out there :roll:


so are you saying the E was built to sit 2 inches off the ground with 20 inch rims tucked into the fender well? or was it built to have all the panels painted to match?

i would say no, because thats how it would have come off the assembly line if thats what honda had intended. it was originally built for the 20 somthing single male, who wanted to have a vehicle that could carry hobby equipment such as bikes, snowboards, and so on. thats why honda made those attachments.

as far as muddin, yeah the e is not the vehicle for it. but it is built for the ocassional off the path (since offroad is to stereotypical for you) venture to camp, beach, or trail.

that is all :roll:

Haha! Wow, I didnt think I'd start such a heated debate by playing around in the mud. There need not be any explanation... I did it because I wanted to, it was fun, my kids were inside and laughed their butts off, I learned some of the Element's characteristics in deep mud/climbing hills, etc. And I decided to take some pics. Sue me. If we wanted a vehicle that was "off-road capable" we wouldnt of purchased a gutless AWD Elements, we'd be driving Jeeps. Lighten up a bit, eh? :grin:

Dirt as a way of boasting about what my vehicle can do, does not appeal to me. But dirt that is evidence of the owner having fun with their car, does.

May I quote the Element owner's manual?

Your Element has been designed primarily for use on pavement. But its higher ground clearance allows you to occasionally travel on unpaved roads, to campgrounds, picnic sites, and similar locations. It isnot designed for trail-blazing, mountain climbing, or other challenging off-road activities.

Most of us participate on these forums because we enjoy driving and tinkering with our Elements. I, for one, am more likely to post pictures from a 10 mile drive on a 'primitive road', than a 600 mile marathon day on the freeway. The first is fun and potentially instructive to others of similar interest; the second is plain work. Plus it is instructive to read how someone delt with snow or mud, got stuck and got out, or even turned back. I want to make informed decisions when venturing on to backroads. Oh, and backroads don't have to be muddy or rocky to be fun. The paved wagon trails across the Sierras that pose as California state highways are just as fun to drive as potholed logging roads - actually, more so.

I've been posting 'dirty Element' pictures since I got the car, though often the car only serves to frame the pretty background (maybe I just like boring people with my vacation pictures :) ).

Eastern Washington adventures last March (http://www.hondaelement.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6574)

Central BC dirt road travels (http://www.hondaelement.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5256)

Moab, Utah, canyon drives (http://www.hondaelement.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5849)

First dirty car pictures - dusty silver (http://www.hondaelement.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4231)

Sometimes I even post pictures without the Element as eye-candy.

paulj

That's an awe inspiring picture Paul. These are my kind of off-road adventure routes. .......ahhhhhhh.

I just noticed how your fogs are set somewhat similar to the new ones I just mounted. I also used a rubber casing sealed beam lamp with a trapezoid shaped beam. Mine however are actually tractor lights. I'm using an additional set as driving lights also. You're right, the larger protruding fogs look nice when compared to most of the smaller lights.
Good job, looks great!

http://img244.echo.cx/img244/8609/123oq.jpg

http://img244.echo.cx/img244/2143/165ec.jpg

http://img244.echo.cx/img244/3451/175hh.jpg

http://img244.echo.cx/img244/8271/151pw.jpg

Hey Empire.... now replace those bulbs with GE Q4509's (aircraft landing lights) and you'll be twice as bright. They just pop in... :-D

I enjoy all the E pics posted, especially the mud-snow-mountains-camping pics. Thanks to those who post them. I will contribute some after next weekend's camping trip (the first for my E). By the end of summer, and especially my Adirondacks/White Mts/Adacia NP trip in October, I should have quite a portfolio of E pics. Can hardly wait.

P.J. O'Rourke observed that the ultimate off-road vehicle is the rental car.

Any rental car.

Great Pic's of your vehicle. I love those wheels & lights you put on it. It adds a nice touch to it. As far as the mudd'n, do as you wish with your E. That's what they are made for. Just have fun.

Hey,
Can anyone help us? We are trying to post a new thread and can't find how to do it. We are wanting to know if there are any complaints regarding the dark seats and no shade over the sunroof. We are going to buy this week. When we test drove a couple weeks ago, it was on a hot day and seemed to take forever for the air to start cooling. Thanks for any help!

Jim and Jeanna

Hey Jim and Jeanna,

Let me start by saying welcome to the best Honda Element Forum in the world! You found the right place for good info and good people.
I think a quick solution to your problem would be to tint the sunroof. I had some limo tint installed on mine and I think it helped with cooling down the interior plus it might also help protect the rear seats from fading in direct sunlight.
You might also want to post your question by starting a new thread in the Interior Forum. Just click on the link below. Then check out that awesome black and white Element Owners Club logo on the upper left hand corner of the page. Then click on the blue "New Thread" button about an inch and a half under that awesome logo and start a new thread. Hope that helped.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=11