AZ BS Thread 4²0

Fair enough.

 

Can a bigger battery work? Sure it can...but it's just not worth the risk to me, and there are so many variables in play at any given time.

I run all my stuff off the house battery...fridge, lighting, etc., and I'm usually totally off grid for days. The start battery has no load and is just sitting there chilling until I need to roll out. On the days we're not moving (which are rare, but sometimes you find that sweet camp site), I'll supplement with solar.

I need my shit to get me out there AND back with zero drama...a dedicated secondary power system is peace of mind for me to go further and stay out longer...power issues are just not something I want to deal with. That's not to say it's perfect, but hopefully I mitigated most potential gotchas so I can sit back, enjoy the quiet/scenery/good whiskey.

I apply that same concept to comm systems as well...and because it keeps the lady happy!

 

As a side note on the bigger and more importantly heavier batteries, there seems to be some concensus that the heavier load on the fender can lead to failure of the radiator support bracket. At the very least if you are going to add this weight I would at least change out the mounting bushings on your radiator support bracket. I did this on my truck at about 70k miles with the little 24f battery and my bushings were shot.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/polyurethane-radiator-support-mounts-cab-also.361346/

 

We lasted 10 days, middle of July, 2 coolers (one for beer one for food). Y’all and your fancy fridges are silly.

 

The stiffer poly bushings will only make core support cracking worse. The frames on these trucks flex a lot, and by doing this you are stiffening the body mounts but still allowing the frame to flex. This will accelerate cracking of the core supports. Ask @Sixthelement what we found in his truck last weekend. I’ll give you a hint, a lot of cracking sheet metal

Edit: and it has nothing to do with bigger heavier batteries or dual battery setups. Mine were torn completely apart and was running just a single stock style battery. If you use and abuse your truck off road, cracking core supports is going to happen

 

Agreed on the getting back part.

On this note, what are your thoughts on something like a Jackery 1500, supplemented with solar and charged while the truck is driving, as opposed to a dual battery setup? I've done some reading, but you know more than I do.

My thoughts mainly revolve around two completely separate entities, keeping hassles/improper use to a minimum.

 

Mine are on either side of the truck...the ones that stack batteries in the stock location can be problematic, especially on an offroad rig.

And they use nutserts

Solid option...considered it as well, but factoring in the other stuff I have hooked up, a truck-based system was a better fit for me.

 

Things like a winch and numerous lights around your truck?

This truck will have a winch, and some front and rear lighting at some point.

 

After reading some of that thread I posted I would agree that a good portion of the folks with trashed brackets were doing things like high speed runs through the cinders. I like to think I'm pretty mellow off road, and I haven't seen any damage to my fender skirts or my bracket, but if the stock rubber bushings aren't going to handle the abuse of a daily driver what are the options?

 

Winch is connected to my start battery with an interrupt...not likely I'll be using it without the truck running.

House battery has the Trigger controller (lighting), Anderson ports (front for compressor/cab for fridge), comms, bed/rack lights (ext switched)

I'm not an expert, but it works well for my use case...seems like I'm tweaking it a little after every trip, though...because perfectionist

 

Thank you

 

*eating my non-soggy sandwich*

I still rock a cooler every now and then...sometimes you just want to be gone in 30 seconds

 

Fuck outta here.. you would rock one once you tried it. Haha

This.. fuck ice ruining my food and stuff.

Plus once you upgrade... You can't go back... Ha.. ice cooler peasants.

 

I’m thinking about getting the Baja designs squadron sports for my fog light cutouts on the bumper. What would be a better a more useful beam pattern, Driving/combo or flood light?

 

The real ones eat jerky and and drink luke warm water out of a recycled Dasani bottle.

 

Ease and quickness is why Im doing it. I camp a lot, ~30 nights a year and basically never in the same spot for more than 1 night. A lot of the trips I decide on at the very last second and I want to be gone instantly. I dont want to mess with filling and draining a cooler, extra stops at the store, shit sloshing around when it melts and ruining my food. I want it ready at all times. I also want everything to have a place and be carefully thought out. I dont want to hoist a huge cooler in the truck every time. Im done with the days of throw it in the back and strap it down. I always wound up bringing way more than I needed and wasting time/money/space/energy. I want consistency and peace of mind.

Im actually in the process of building a slide for my water tank and after that Ive been brainstorming ways to lower the entire sleeping platform of the GFC 3-4 inches so I can keep all my bedding in place, save setup time and save space in the truck bed. Im currently at about 5 minutes setup time but the goal is to roll into camp and be setup in under 60 seconds. I have buddies that are that dialed and its fucking rad.

 

Driving combo FTW

 

In other news, trade you my Yoko MTs for that Powertank

 

Ah if I hadn't just purchased K02's from Danny I would be all over that. Already overloaded with wheels and tires as it is!

 

Might actually go with KC HiLiTES c-series… might fit better