Flatbed,35’s and Mainly Parked For Repairs

yeah, thats why I was thinking in a Plano case or a custom aluminum box. Who knows, maybe I'll keep the secondary battery and controller, etc in the engine bay so its all close, and just run the solar panel up top. I would like it to charge both batteries, but have all my accessories and an inverter running off the secondary. Inverter, or just 12v/usb outlets from the inverter, in the bed. IDK, lots to go over still.

 

The option are endless. If you have a charge controller ($15) you can easily connect it to your secondary battery for charging and it's as easy as that.

 

from that charge controller, I would just go to both batteries right? I read a good thread somewhere but cant remember the specifics.

 

Yup. Not sure if you could go to both, don't see why not. From my understanding, mine is a self fused unit that essentially controls everything from the solar panel to the battery. Allows the battery to be charged without blowing up lol. However it is only handling a small amount of amps compared to a battery isolator so they are not very heavy duty (peice of plastic with a computer board). Only thing with both batteries your charging time is doubled, as you have doubled your amp hours. Based on your system either battery that is being helped out is going to befit the entire system as its more power going to one or the other, from my very limited knowledge on the topic. If one gets charged then more power can go to the other.

I just googled 12v solar panel schematics. Helped a bit. Also went on expedition portal. I used a lot of cheap stuff though, compared to what's out there.

 

gotcha. Yeah there will be a lot more research done before I start pullin the trigger on parts. need to nail down a plan first. thanks for all the info and pointers

 

no worries. Good luck.

 

subd for your good work.

 

Thanks for the compliment!

 

you're absolutely welcome

 

EAST COAST TRIP
This trip was a 12 day, 4600km trip were my girlfriend and I set out with a few things we wanted to do and really no other plans/arrangements. we camped the entire time, and we found our campsites using a magazine that has 160,000 different campsites across Canada. Thing was so handy considering we could figure out where we were going and just reserve the campground or just show up that night when we got there. Worked out well. We spent time in Montreal with my girlfriends family and then we were off on our own, crossing through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. Pretty standard trip for most Canadiens but I have only been to one other province (Montreal Quebec- 6 hours away) so this was a big trip for me.

Our First campsite after a 8.5 hour drive from Montreal to Oromocto New Brunswick

The beach was a few steps away from our site

After we headed to Halifax Nova Scotia where we stayed at a provincial park


In Halifax we went to the boardwalk where we visited pier 21 and kinda got a bit of an idea of what my parents had to go through to get here back in the 50's. Was pretty neat.

The biggest part of Halifax for us was Cape Breton with the Cabot trail. It was a fantastic drive with unreal views.
Grabbing a bite to eat prior to the cabot trail

Then some of the views we encountered

The next day we hopped on to the ferry and were off to Charlottetown PEI
It was about a 1.5 hour ferry ride and you were rite in charlottetown.
We ended up staying by New Glasglow where are campsite was right allow the beach

during low tide you could walk right out. Gotta love the red dirt

We did have a lobster dinner in New Glasglow. For under a hundred dollars we had all you could eat soups, salads, mussels, and had 2lbs of lobster, scallop dinner, and choice of dessert. We rolled out of the restaurant.

One of the things my Girlfriend wanted to do was go fishing. Being that I can't swim, I wasn't overly excited but it went pretty well.
We were out for three hours, saw some whales, and got about 5lbs of fresh filleted cod for that night.

We also stayed at the cavendish national park that night which was really nice.
On our way back home we took the confederation bridge back and made our way into New brunswick. When in rome, we tried out magnetic hill.
Although we knew it was an illusion it was pretty cool. Gotta love how commercialized it was. They made it a huge park and it was $6 to do the hill. Was pretty funny.

Over the next couple days we made our way home, spent some time with family in Montreal and finally made our way back to Ontario.

When I got back home this was waiting for me
Also my awning that I ordered for this trip came in a couple days after we left. Gotta love the mailing system here. It must of got stuck in some of the stuff that was going on with strike. Have to pick that up next week.

still have to unpack, clean the truck and do an oil change after the trip. All in all it was a great time, and my girlfriend and I are starting to plan the next one.

 

So today I got to test out the solar setup a bit more. I had to cut a price of 4"pvc to length with a jigsaw. Quick job, but with the extension cord and power right at my truck it made it that much quicker.

Made a waterer for the girlfriends chicken. The traditional metal cans continuously leaked and this was a pretty simple alternative

 

Well i really got to test out the rack the other day. Not the heaviest load but definitely a high ability of ripping the thing off.

I brought my girlfriends new mattress home. Over an hour drive on the highway (got a heal of a deal through a family member) in a head wind. Felt like i was towing a kite, but nothing moved. Heres a pic of me bringing the old ones to the dump.


Was thinking I could make a sleeping platform up there lol

 

Snorkel mounted.

 

Helped a neighbor remove a fence. Inlaws are going to be using the wood for a chicken coop.

In other news got another awning and a fridge for the truck. Awnings are on the way. Went with a arb awning with room and a China 270 degree awning with walls. Should be ready for some lounging at camp.

 

Went to king of the sheild today. Lots of amazing rigs. Especially this Fj cruiser on 40s, rock jock 60's, cage etc. Unreal. Some of th tune buggies

While I was there they were selling fire extinguishers with some slick mounts. After my trip out east, I thought it was kinda weird not to have one considering we're cooking on an open flame where there might not be water, plus I carry gas and stuff. So I am a bit safer now I guess


Also tried out my fridge today too. All day, just off the solar panel and battery. Kept it at 34'f all day.

Have to figure out mounts and a spot for it.

Also put some more rock lights on.
Before

And the rear end after

If you look at the back of the truck in the first picture, it's completely dark. Not anymore. Works great for camping and what not.

 

Could of hooked you up with one of my fire extinguisher mounts... lol

looks good! might want to check what that Extinguisher is rated for though. A, B, AB, etc. I picked up a automotive one from Home Depot for maybe 20 bucks. meant for electrical fires, gasoline, etc.

 

Didn't know you made them. It's an abc one. Has the abc dry chemical and some other stuff. For the price I payed all in it was a bit cheaper than going to Home Depot or Canadian tire here. I think a equivalent one at crappy tire is close to $70 all in without a mount. Gotta love Canadian pricing.

 

nice. that'll do it!

 

Posting these for future reference. Rims that are reasonably priced are hard to come by. Debating on just running spacers when the time comes. Hope is to get a properly spaces rim to run 315's. First are cheap but heavy steelers that will rust in the canadien winters. Others are alloy but expensive.

$77 Pro Comp Series 87 Rock Crawler - Gloss Black Steel Wheel 87-6883T

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Wheels/S...x?t_c=11&t_s=209&t_pt=100021&t_pn=PCW87-6883T

Part number r: PCW87-6883T
35lbs as per pro comp

$139 Pro Comp 69 Series Vintage Wheel, 16x8 with 6 on 5.5 Bolt Pattern - Flat Black - 7069-6883

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Wheels/S...?t_c=11&t_s=535&t_pt=101508&t_pn=PXA7069-6883

Part number : PXA7069-6883

20lbs as per pro comp

 

After doing a bit of reading, found out the 2nd gen bed are vulnerable to pull apart when lots of weight is on top of the rails. With the addition of the cap and solar panel shit I noticed these gaps in my bed.


So I ordered some bed stiffeners from total chaos.

Also to try and "tighten" up the bed I added my corner bed tie downs from relentless back on. Had to drill a hole and flip them over to attach the cap but should still offer some support.

This was the old tie down system for the back
Thinking the corner brackets should be better.