UltraGauge! Plus, XM, Radar detector, & more installed with pics

So I broke down and ordered the UltraGauge last Thursday. (It arrived Monday; quick shipping.) Install and wire hide were only about 5 min. Set up, calibration, and setting all three screens to display what I want took about an hour of playing. (But I took my time with it and "explored" the gauge.) Initial impressions of the UltraGauge are great. It tells me more than I could ever need to know, in 3 well laid out screes. The screen is easy to read, and with only 3 buttons it is easy to adjust. (Also making setup a little tedious though....) Accuracy seems to be good once I used the GPS to mark 1 mile and adjust for my larger tires. The down side is that you can not change the color of the screen like the Scan Gauge. I don't find that a big detractor because my GPS matches the UltraGauge. I will keep you posted if my opinion changes on anything. The pic shows my "main" screen, but I have more complex screens on 2 and 3. I also recently installed and hardwired my radar detector while I was doing everything. (Radar detector is mostly for information in my case, I don't speed much in the truck....sucks too much gas.....thats what the Harley is for)



I also hard wired my Garmin the other day in the upper left hand portion of the windshield. You have to look real hard to see the radar, gps, or ultragauge at the top of the windshield; hopefully preventing a would be thief.



I missed my XM radio, so broke down and got the XM Onyx system. Its made to go from car to car, but I ran all the wires appropriately and hard wired it as well. I can still adjust the mount and remove the unit to take inside and hook up to my home docking station. I didnt use the cubby for much any way, and this looks good here. The Amber color matches the gauges well also.



All this was done with Add a fuse. Wires were stripped and soldered, then finished with heat shrink. Radar is grounded to a sanded down portion of the body under the oh shit handle. All my "stock" power outlets are available to use.


I also mounted a Thule Bike mount to my tool box so I could secure the Cannondale when on the road. The rear tire gets strapped to the cargo hook; securing it and badaboom bada bing....most of the truck bed is still open for other gear. I used a thick layer of silicone around the Mount to keep water out of the tool box also. I've used this set up quite a bit and it seem to be doing fine so far.




....and on a smart ass note... I had to add this after a few inebriated people more or less fell out of the truck when I was a "DD" one night...





Sorry for the long post, but I felt like sharing my newest additions with you fine fellas. (After all, it IS TacomaWorld that feeds my addiction and takes my $$ every month.....) Keep Rockin' TacomaWolrd.

 

Awesome setup!!! I like the idea of hard wiring the radar detector. How much of a pain in the ass was that?

 

Thanks! It wasn't bad. Looking at your truck; you could tackle it with no problem if you did the 110 outlet in the console and hardwired your sirius already. I wish I had pics, but my battery was dead on the camera when I did the install. I just got some 12 ga wire (overkill for this) and spliced the factory line on the detector power cord. (Solder and heat shrink to make a good connection and keep anything from shorting out down the road.) I then ran the white (ground) wire to the area by the oh shit handle, sanded till I hit metal, and attached via screw. The Red (power) wire was clamped onto the add a circuit that I have the GPS wired to with a quick splice. I tucked all the wires under the headliner, ran them behind the pillar with the handle, then behind the weather strip to and finally, the fuse box. *Just remember what color wire is what..... the 12 ga wire I got was red and I was too cheap to get a different color....after running all my wires, I couldn't remember what was power and what was ground. That was fun...*

 

I'd like to hardwire my radar detector again, I had it hardwired in my previous vehicle and still have the wire for it I just haven't gotten around to doing it.

 

Cool! I was thinking you got into where the overhead console is to add your power. I never thought about running under the headliner and down the pillar. I may have a weekend project!

 

Nice!

 

what is in your cigarette lighter?

 

Looks like USB. Perhaps something that charges USB devices?

 

I wish I could have, but I don't have any power run to the mirror, or a temp/compass, etc. Hince why I ran to the fuse box. Still not bad though, and highly worth it. I hate when things look thrown in and wires are everywhere.

Correct, it is a USB Charger for my phone or any other device that uses a USB. Its flush with the dash and can be left in all the time.

 

neat.