Hey Connecticut, our backs hurt

The second one also has you drilling through the roof (more holes) but you're able to unplug the solar panel should you need to.

If you don't want to drill, you should look for some adhesive channel like this:

$14 Wire Covers for 2 Cords, 68in Wire Hider on Wall Mounted, Black Cord Cover Kit, Cable Cover Paintable, Cable Concealer for Extension Cord, Ethernet Cable, Speaker Wire Hider, 4X L17in W0.7in H0.4in

https://www.amazon.com/Raceway-Pain...27&mcid=4a4af4a0f9da3130b8c44b72af1a7875&th=1

You would probably have to get some with out double sided tape and use 3M tape for better adhesion. You can paint it to match the truck.

 

It's a beautiful morning out there...too bad it's a Monday

@Jrs13086
Did you get your bed system in yet?

 

Oh okay. More holes = anxiety lol. That's a good call about using a raceway. A quick search revealed they make flexible ones. Seems I have some research to do.

I unfortunately did not....the rain and weather this week would have made it rather unpleasant to install. My day off is Wednesday so I'm looking at that. Best case scenario is I have time to start after work tomorrow.

 

Morning everyone.

Happy Monday.

 

You can use the grommets. Actually, I'd see if one of the pass throughs that Harry listed fits in the holes from a grommet by any chance. I used one for a CB antenna wire, then removed it.

That's fine. My 100W puts out about 2.3A in mild clouds. I run a Dometic CFF 45, it's only been going for a few weeks now, but the truck hasn't missed a beat, even after a couple days of not moving. According to their spec sheet it uses about 0.9AH draw. As long as you load down the empty space with waters, fridges are actually pretty efficient.

To note - I have some aux lights (all LED), and a radio (switched and on an ignition circuit, but might go direct to battery on that soon). I DO NOT have a winch, so my main battery is powering only the normal main things for all intents and purposes.

If I was going to use my air compressor a lot more, or a winch, I would absolutely be looking at a second battery.

It's all kind of a give and take. A bunch of people use a power station they charge off the bed outlet during the day. It's going DC > AC > DC > Stored > DC so super inefficient. BUT, it works, with no modification to the trucks. So, between me running a solar panel and wires and shenanigans, or these people who throw it in 4 seconds and go, who is doing it better?

Your secondary will be more than enough for the fridge with a 160W panel. For me, since I was only adding a fridge, and I have 100W going, I just went off the single battery. Not worth it doing a dual battery/dual system.

Your other option is to run it down the windshield, through the firewall, then along the door sill channels. That's what I did but that's because half way through I tap into the battery

Dennis....You don't wake up and go to work.....

I have 10AWG wires along the channel of my windshield. They do NOT tuck in nicely...Gotta figure that out.

I wouldn't drill a hole in a '23 with no trail rash and a new truck smell still. I'd do mine with a sawzall, but I get you not wanting to

 

Well apparently neither do you....

 

....This is fair...

I have changed it so now it's more accurate

 

Good call on using a pass through in place of the grommet.....that is the ultimate clean look. That's all fair. 10 awg isn't small wire but its a whole hell of a lot better than the 4 awg I have to the second battery. I agree with you on the right vs wrong however I will say inefficiency is silly and having to go through all that would drive me nuts. If you're going to do something like this I think organization and neatness are the key. Plus I hate when things look messy and out of place.

I may go nuts and go pass through on the firewall as well. I will have to see how it all looks.

side note...how do you like the Dometic? A fridge will be on the short list; plus its a write off

 

I love it so far. I'm moderately concerned it won't fit in the bed under the tonneau, but i wasn't going to get the 35L - If I'm spending this much, I'm getting the 45. In theory it will juuuuuust squeeze in there. But I'm very happy with it. Side open so i can open it from either side in the cab without height concerns. Huge plus.

 

Happy Tuesday CT.
I started on my compressor wiring yesterday and I would've got more done but we left work too late in the day (3:30) and I forgot to bring 16 gauge red wire to work.
Hope to get a little more done today. I have an idea on where I want the switch. There may or may not be room behind the panel. I'll check today on lunch.

So much stuff to do.

 

Morning all. Seems like another beautiful day today.

 

I forgot to add that my ground junction block came in along with more heat shrink (non adhesive lined for interior wires).
Going through my plastic bins organizing stuff so I don't forget something again.

 

Morning Connecticut
2 whole days in a row no rain

 

Morning everyone.

Happy Tuesday.

 

At the doc, waiting for him to come in.

Gonna ask some questions re MRI, cortisone shot, preventing it from happening again, etc.

 

Ok... First step, MRI.

Gotta schedule that, and then we'll go from there.

Also giving me a steroid for now to help with inflammation.

 

Prednisone run?
How many days?

 

Just 6.

Just got home, so going to call and schedule the MRI and wait for the text from the pharmacy so I can get crackin on the roids.

 

Just got back from nearly 2 weeks out in Joshua tree, Mojave, Red Rock Canyon, and Death Valley. WHAT A PLACE! We had a Buick Enclave for a rental which handled some backroads in those areas okay, but it really got me inspired to start throwing money at the taco to give it a lift, tires, and get it ready to see those kinds of places. We may head back out west next spring in the taco. The rigs I saw out there in Death Valley were just absolutely insane. Y'all gotta go if you have never been!