Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

How often do they get used?

 

I've never had a lot of stuff, so when the homestead starts to get overcrowded the anxiety kicks in and I need to get rid of some stuff....to make room for more stuff...
https://youtu.be/MvgN5gCuLac?si=qs7qJsxtITMNqU8W

 

Well, I also have an iceboat…

 

So true.

Speaking of stuff. If I remember correctly your running 32in tires. I have a 255/75/17 Hancock Dynapro At mounted on a stock 17in steel spare, 0 miles.
If you need a full size spare let me know.

 

We all found out in my 1st month here that I don't know what a steel spare is.

When I figure it out I'll reach out to you 1st.

 

The whirlybird burns about a gallon a minute…but we can do 152 kts so it kind of evens out

 

Here's my battery back-up.
10k mah Anker. Plugged into center console adapter. Charges when truck is on.
Who needs a fridge,
I could go a couple weeks on Beef Jerky, Granola Bars, Water and Westsoy.

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/a-s...cruiser-pickup-truck-that-toyota-should-have/

 

Still got mine. That's the #2 "value" one that I won't let go. Did some custom bridgework with a badass2 and ebony wings.

 

Article just kind of ends. Doesn't really talk about the bed at all, other than stating it was originally for a Nissan Patrol (booya!)

 

This is an aux battery setup...it's enclosed in a battery box. Full sized group 27 AGM. With a built-in DC/DC charger. Your fridge will likely have a cigarette plug for power.

 

All summer long! Except the kayaks. I dislike them so I avoid those

 

Yep. that is exactly what I am doing. Thanks for that diagram. I thought the fridge could be direct wired (with a fuse) to the aux bat, but I wasn't sure.

Right now I'm planning to install a fridge only. I have a much better understanding how this all works. If I went with a distrib. block, it seems to me that adding a bunch of stuff later should be relatively easy.

There is a rubber plug in front of the passenger seat to fish a line through the firewall. I'll probably use 6 ga wire as that is what came in the REDARC kit.

I just checked a couple of vids and this is a lot easier to install than what I am doing now. There's only 3 wires to connect. I would have to cut the connectors so that the battery cables could be fished through the firewall from the engine bay to the cabin. It would be a major PITA to fish them from the inside to the engine bay. Thanks for the link, Rich. My main concern is the space this set up takes in the cargo area. With just the wife and me, it's not a problem. When we have the grandkids, the coolers have to go on the receiver rack. I need every square inch of cargo space available, and this Kick-Ass box does take up some valuable real estate.

A distribution block would make a lot of sense, but I have precious little room. I am struggling to figure out how to fit/mount everything under the hood as it is.

 

I thought of that after I posted. I would thing your controller and something like a Blue Sea distribution panel could be mounted near where I'm thinking your battery is going to live under the hood. Something like this doesn't take up much real estate:

$16 AUTIDEFY 6 Way Fuse Block Blade Fuse Box with Negative Bus - ATC/ATO for Boat Yacht Vehicle Auto RV Car Trailer Truck SUV

https://www.amazon.com/AUTIDEFY-Fus...wer+distribution+block&qid=1714857717&sr=8-54

That KickAss box works for me, because I have most of the bed to work with and can reside under my bed platform.

 

If I had the space, I'd definitely get the Kick-Ass. Easy to install, portable, you can put it on the shelf when you get home, multi charging ports. Checks some boxes I hadn't thought of.

 

So a decision has been made. Notice to difference that the word made versus reached implies... In a double team end run around my wishes, a decision about our future home has been made. For you all in Wisconsin, it may be a good or sad decision. So what is it you ask? Northland College has enough money to make next year work. The future is perilous at best for the school beyond that. No sure thing in life, and certainly no economic security. As such...We risking all and are staying in Wisconsin (for at least two more years.)

I really loved the place we looked at in Virginia. Huge step up, I think, for me professionally. Same BS problems etc. etc. but a huge WOW! Oh, well... back to the salt mines.

 

I, for one, am happy to hear that you'll still be "local" a bit longer! Of course after TWArk I know I'd meet up with you to play anywhere. Congrats on making a hard decision.

 

Speaking of TWArk, I did my 5 wheel tire rotation today. Pretty obvious which tire was under the truck through the Ozarks.

 

Time to go get the other 4 muddy again

 

That had to be a hard decision to make. Glad you'll be around for a bit longer. Looking forward to at least 2 more years of following you down a scratchy trail.