1 Bored Clerk's Garage Built Camper

Bonus points for the NRS cam strap, don't leave home without them!

 

I recently lost my ENTIRE collection of straps...one of the saddest days of my life. I still haven't recovered. The only reason these two straps weren't lost is because they were wrapped around this mattress.

 

I have a rubbermaid container in the bed of the truck with all mine in it, and there's a note on the inside of the lid not to leave the straps on the bumper. Best straps EVER.

 

Ha! Love it!

 

And so it begins...

 

Got a lot done today! A TON of it was "figuring" and "contemplating" and "planning" but I think it's working out.


Had to figure out how to get the Redarc battery sensor and a circuit breaker installed near the aux battery. Typical 10lbs of shit in a 5lb bag scenario. Ended up making a custom aluminum bracket that sandwiches under the battery tie down. The components themselves are a tight fit around the tie down so it's really solid.


Here's what it looks like in a more advanced stage of wiring. Probably going to run a ground all the way around the engine bay to the ground point right by the starter battery instead of the one I have now. Its grounded very close to the battery to a small ground point used by another wire. Not sure which would be better but I'm leaning toward the factory ground location on the driver's side



A power distribution post and three circuit breakers are mounted on the panel I had on the driver's side. I've changed the layout and components so many times this thing is just Swiss cheese now. Still going strong though!

The left most breaker is for powering the Redarc Manager 30 from the starter battery. The middle circuit breaker is for the Redarc to charge the aux battery (is the line current from the charger? And the load post should go to the battery? Usually the line current is from the battery...not sure about this) and the farthest right breaker is for the aux fuse blocks.

I think I'm doing this right but I'm not POSITIVE.

Oh, I bought a regular ass Toyota battery today. The factory alternator isn't capable of keeping up properly with a big AGM battery so I'm going back to a factory set up. Ordered an OEM battery tray to replace the Pelfrey built group 31 tray and it's not the right one!! I was bummed because I was hoping to swap that out today as well. Now I have to order one and wait for it to show up sometime next week.

 

Just caught up from page 76. Glad to see all the small detail work coming together.

 

This is all sooo much work! Got a bunch done but it's stunning how many hours it can eat up.


Here's a random shot of how I typically end up working.


This looks about right. Time for lunch!


Engine bay almost all wired up. May have to pull the aux battery to run the cat 5 cable for the battery sensor. Bummer but not much work. Four fasteners and it's out. Still need to swap in the OEM sized battery and install a single cable.


The bundle of cables running down the firewall are heat insulated since they run right past the cat.


Circuit breaker central. Trying to protect all the wire I can!


Built this little bracket to hold the aux fuse block that I decided to move into the cab. It'll be in a protected spot behind the fridge but still easily accessible enough...especially since I can slide the fridge right out.


Here's a pic of the back. Basic aluminum pieces I had laying around. Didn't even have to buy fasteners! There was at least 15 minutes of rummaging to find matching hardware though!


I also had to relocate the 12v plug for the fridge. No biggie. Probably safer here anyway.

There are a few dry days left in the forecast. I have a TON of paying work to do so I'm not sure if I'll be able to dump some of my overage hours to work on the truck but we'll see.

Also, I NEED to clean that engine bay. It's disgusting!

 

Hell yeah bro!!!!

 

nice job looking good. Can we get a few picture of the entire rig at different angles.

 

There are some back a few pages but, yeah, I can't wait to have nothing to do but drive it around and take photos. Haha.

 

Never going to happen. Every trip you’ll be tinkering with it after, adding the latest new idea in the name of “convenience”.

 

Get outta here with that truth!

 

1BC, have you seen this thread about boosting the alternator output for AGM batteries?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-northstar-agm-battery-voltage-booster-upgrade.604478/

 

You know those threads that won't die?

Case and point:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cant-get-this-sticker-off.258047/

This will be that thread 5 years from now, only with a very select following......

Sorry bud

 

I have seen that. It's not a mod I care to make though. I've thought about it for sure!

 

I'd be so proud if I started a thread with that kind of following and sticking value!

 

Before:

Group 31 AGM. This was 5-6 years old and was going strong (starting the truck anyway). But it was big. The positive cable was stretched tight and it was a but fussy to get the oil filter out.

After:


Everything fits like it was designed to...because it was! I'm going to make a new shorter cable from the positive terminal to the circuit breaker. This one is a bit longer than I'd like. Or I may leave it cuz I'm feeling lazy.

Another thing off the list!

 

Oh, if anyone has need for a Pelfrey built group 31 battery tray, let me know. I have one available.

 

Doing what I can with the time I have.


Per usual, a custom bracket was needed. Found the perfect piece of angle aluminum laying around. Put a few tools to work and ended up with this.


It goes down in here somewhere. Thank goodness my dome light wasn't too bright.


Fussed mightily to get the fastener tight.


Then some additional struggle went down. I had to cut the cable to length, strip it back, crimp on an end and heat shrink the junction.

Nailed it!

A couple of side notes:

1. I try to only use adhesive lined heat shrink tube. Makes me feel good about life and seems to hold really well. Easy to get at boat supply places (west marine for me)
2. I usually avoid ALL tools from harbor freight unless I plan to beat the crap out of them and use them all up in one big job. With that in mind, I bought some hydraulic crimpers from HF and they have been AWESOME! Totally recommend.


Comes with many dies for various gauge wire. They are a little awkward to use but they work really well.


Go forth and crimp all the things!