Corey_Straker

Alright,

So seeing as how I work at an Acura dealership I've been on the lookout for something to tow my 2014 Rockwood HW296 pop up camper with. I really don't like using demo's to tow because they aren't mine.

So here she is when I first got her. The previous owner turned it in from a lease at our Honda store for something smaller, who knows what.




When I got the MDX the right side rims has some serious curb love done to them. FOr $50 a rim I had our wheel repair guy fix them for me. These guys are worth every penny.


Next up was to get the hitch and harness installed. I bought the parts, stole a mechanics lift after hours and asked for some assistance and we got it installed to factory spec in about 45 minutes.


Gave it a couple days for the wallet to replenish and now have the advanced running boards installed, these really help making the car stand out very well. The picture is shot in our dealerships wash bay.


LED strips are on the way, To bite some style of SlimTL's MDX. See his inspiring build thread HERE

Remote start installed !



Next up on the drawing board:

- Metal roof rails and metal crossbars ( the black looks bad on graphite )
- Cargo Cover
- Front Metal Garnish
- Body Side Moldings
- Rear seat covers are a must, need a good brand that covers the whole thing. Still searching
- Brake Controller

Corey_Straker

Okay, So here we go. Got the brake controller. A Tekonsha Prodigy P3. This thing does everything and then some. Makes braking with a going on 4,000 pop-up camper feel like it's not even there. I have it installed on the easily removable panel above the drivers pedals.



Here are some shots of the MDX towing. The camper's dry weight is 3607 lbs, full tank of water is 378 lbs, the gear I've added on the inside around 250 lbs. So around 4250 pounds. The only time you notice it is accelerating, it does good but it's not going to be racing at the lights. You'll rarely get into 5th or 6th gear with it becasue of the drag of a big honkin camper.

SlimTL

Looking Good CS!

And Thanks For The Props On My Thread. Keep Us Posted And I'll Help Any Way That I Can.

(Sorry For The All Caps, I'm Typing From My Android)

Acura_Dude

Lookin good.

Corey_Straker

No problem. Post up some pictures of that M5, I'm very jealous. I want that car for the 10 cylinders of awesomeness under the hood

Thanks guys! I'll keep you posted! I have much, much more planned

The following is what I still have planned

- First Aid Kit
- Body Side Molding
- Roof Rails ( silver )
- Cross bars ( silver )
- Door Edge Guards
- Fender trim ( going for a toned down Avenger's MDX look )
- Front Lower trim
- Moonroof Visor
- Backup Sensors
- Long roof box for trips

After all is said and done this should look like it's ready for an african safari! ( kinda )

Corey_Straker

Sorry to double post. The LED's will be here this evening. I have college from 7pm to 10pm but after that, the modifying will begin. I'll post pictures.

Acura_Dude

omnuts

Looking good so far, nice mod list. Keep those pics coming

Corey_Straker

Got home from my advanced politics class at 11pm last night and immediately got to work!

I ran the wire down and under the forward support for the running boards and through the splash guard, into the foam insulation and then tapped into the foot well lighting. Process is the same for both sides.



Finally getting there. My stupid phone makes them look overly bright but they look JUST right. These really, really help the car stand out at night

Don't mind the box of double duty cat litter used as a stand for my light.



All in all, this is a really, really easy modification to do that helps the car stand out so much better. The LED's fade out like the interior lighting does which is really nice, gives a very elegant touch to the car.

Corey_Straker

If you look really closely, you can see the tail of the RL and the top of the camper!

SlimTL

Looks good CS. I also like the elegant look of the fading out with the interior lights. Adds a nice touch. Where did you get your LEDs?

jvillefinest

have you looked into a tranny cooler? I know there is options for the 2014 to have one put on from Acura, but IDK about earlier models. Might want to look into it to extend the life of that tranny while pulling. Other wise, nice MDX!

omnuts

Looks good, the footwell lights add a nice touch, what kind of led are you using?

Corey_Straker

Same place you got yours! VLEDS.com They shipped fast and the quality was outstanding!

The 07-13 MDX's had them as standard! Now Acura is going cheap and wants you to buy them.

VLEDs stip lights. You can find them HERE

Edward'TLS

Corey_Straker, almost all your mods are to do with appearance cosmetics and driving aids.

Is there any plan to do engine-related mods to kick up the engine output, and/or suspension-related mods to spice up the handling performance ?

Corey_Straker

I was going to save this as a big surprise to everyone but heck, why not comment on it. Yes, there are major plans to spice everything up. I will be working heavily with the mechanics here, all of which I have an outstanding relationship with here. We are going to focus on.

1. Improving the ability of the adaptive suspension

2. Looking into the possibility of a Supercharger for the engine or possibly a turbocharger. Whichever the mechanics and I deem more reasonable and probable of working. I would like the idea of the turbo because it should be less intrusive and quiet.

3. Addition of a dual stage exhaust, an electronic opening to a quiet/loud side possibly? Still working on this one

4. Seeing if we can get the beefed up HPD brakes from a Ridgeline at mid-ohio race way to fit on the MDX. These have brakes that don't fade.


Were still in the planning stage and this will take a lot of time so bear with me, this is why I was going to wait.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Good stuffs.

karlmax

Everything looks great. I'm thinking of putting some LED strips as well.

NYC12MDX

Nice work. Looks great!

Aman

Wow, nice plans! Looks like a clean example as well.

Is it just me, or does the parking brake look like it could use some adjustment? Looks awfully close to the dead pedal.

04-6mt-atx

iTrader: (2)

Nice looking clone. You're right Corey, the Advance running boards really make it stand out. Sweet ride but I'm a bit biased.

Look forward to the pending mods.

Corey_Straker

I took the picture with the camper attached to the MDX, I always put the parking brake on all the way before I put the car into park, to keep the stress of the camper off the transmission parking gear.

Thank you! Still waiting on some more funds for the next slew of mods.

DaMikey

Nice mods thus far!! What running board lights exactly are the ones you ordered from VLEDS?

Corey_Straker

Sorry for the wait, Here are the ones I ordered!
http://www.vleds.com/6k-white-exteri...ip-lights.html

profarcity

Nice!

TheColombian

Looks great!

MAC-n-back-of-da-AC

Interesting. Keep us updated on the performance mods!

johnnytrann

did you purchase any adapters or wire extensions listed in the options on VLED?

Corey_Straker

Will do! Not gonna be much, maybe some exhaust and intake mods.

I did purchase the extensions! Make sure to get that or you won't be able to have much slack. I used t-taps to tap into existing wires

onefastdoc

Looking good!

Corey_Straker

Thank you!

DMYG1

Nice! One of my favorite Acura's.

Corey_Straker

Same here! I absolutely love this body style! The new one looks goofy compared to this. Acura hit a home run with this car and the TL-S. Some of the best cars to come out after 2000

SlimTL

Goofy . . . that's a nice way of putting it. LOL. The 3rd gen is nice, but I just find it weird looking for some reason, compared to the 2nd gen.

Corey_Straker

Couldn't think of anything else at the spur of the moment. 3rd Gen is nice but doesn't have much that makes it feel distinctly MDX, the interior is basically the same as the RLX's and I don't like that at all.

How's the M5 treating you?

SlimTL

So far I replaced my rear tires at the tune of $900 and oil change for $400. She really is a diva. It's all good though, because it's fun to drive. I'm trying my best to avoid speeding tickets.

The new MDX's are becoming more common around town now. I see quite a few, but it still doesn't do anything for me, outside of the headlights. Maybe the mid cycle refresh might help, but the 3rd gen is hard to top at the moment.

Corey_Straker

Ouch! $400 for oil! Holy smokes. Did you get the 6mt or DCT? If it were me I'd be all over that 6 speed.

I agree, the new MDX's don't do anything for me... Except the inside. If I were to buy one it would only be an advanced. The interior leather is awful unless you get an advanced.

They do look good all decked out with running boards, roof rack, moldings, and fog lights.

SlimTL

SMG (single clutch). I would have gotten the 6mt, but SMG just seemed a little more special to me. Plus the extra gear also helped. And yeah, oil in the beast is expensive and has to be special ordered. The V10 holds roughly 9 quarts of the liquid gold.

(I meant to say "top the 2nd gen" in previous post) I have yet to test drive the 3rd gen X? Have you taken one for a spin yet? I'm sure it's nice, but a corner cutting is pretty obvious.

Any updates on your ride? How's it treating you in this polar vortex of a winter?

Corey_Straker

The ride, I had our dealership purchase off a couple who's got a large inheritance and didn't need the car anymore, I bought it on behalf of the dealership I work for, tricked it all out, and hooked up my mom, I surprised her with a huge down payment, all the accessories you see, and some other goodies. I borrow it from time to time to tow my Rockwood HW296 camper. I consider my good deed repayment for 18 years of putting up with my a$$. But yes, I have taken it out in the snow a few times. It does great, never once had any problems out of it. This forum was kinda showing what all was done to it.

I'm working on on this now... Which Is 100% mine HERE

MRROLO150

Those OEM rims are clean ! Are those 18's or 19's? I def need to upgrade