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MadTaco Build

Discussion in '1st Gen. Builds (1995-2004)' started by Phessor, May 31, 2017.

  1. Apr 4, 2025 at 9:29 AM
    #801
    Arctic Taco

    Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2011
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    First Name:
    Steve
    Denali Park, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    98 Tacoma Xtra Cab DLX, 85 Toyota LWB 4x4
    dents and missing bits, built in the Gravel garage, hillbilly trained mechanic…
    Thanks for the response. Always looking for something that fits right, and stows small.

    So with your mount at the battery, is that bent and bolted underneath to the battery mount then? Just trying to figure out what size plate to get and bend to fab a mount, it is the best location (most room under a crowded hood). I the red block near the base a fuse holder?
     
  2. Apr 4, 2025 at 10:27 AM
    #802
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

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    #123156
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    It is a piece of flat stock I had laying around with a couple pieces of angle brackets bolted to the fender, and the battery.

    The red block is just a bus bar for all the powerpoints.
     
  3. Apr 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
    #803
    Arctic Taco

    Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2011
    Member:
    #55445
    Messages:
    859
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    Denali Park, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    98 Tacoma Xtra Cab DLX, 85 Toyota LWB 4x4
    dents and missing bits, built in the Gravel garage, hillbilly trained mechanic…
    Looks good and functional. Thanks for the info. I have to put a battery disconnect switch on the rig till I can chase down the short. It’s also a back up rig so it needs to be easy for my sweetheart.
     
    Phessor[OP] likes this.
  4. May 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
    #804
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    #123156
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    I picked up a starlink mini for my travels. It worked great using the 110 power plug.
    I purchased some 12 volt power cables, but they wouldn't power it up.
    So I installed a small step-up transformer and external power plug, it works great.
    Not the greatest install, but I didn't have a switch in my spare parts bin.

     
    jubei and chrslefty like this.
  5. May 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
    #805
    CoWj

    CoWj Lost and Found at the same time.

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2019
    Member:
    #282309
    Messages:
    857
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    Male
    First Name:
    Wyatt
    Northern CO
    Vehicle:
    Burt: 1998 2.7 Regular 5 speed 4x4
    Bilstein 5100, ARB Bumper, Warn VR EVO 8, 34x10.50 Toyo 4.88s ARB Locker
    The Starlink Mini can run on 12v, but only if you have a short cable, sub 8', they like 20v USB-C but above 24V is where they are the best. It looks like you got a 56v converter? Those work really well even on the fullsize gen 3 units.
     
  6. May 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
    #806
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The first cable I got worked fine on a twelve volt outlet the first time. But when I tried to use it later, it wouldn't power up. It worked fine on my 1000 watt transformer, but I didn't want to use that just to watch a movie.
     
    chrslefty likes this.
  7. Jun 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
    #807
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Added some updates to my truck.

    I now have two batteries for my camper power system.
    20250626_123557.jpg
    20250626_123612.jpg

    I also added a mirror.
    20250623_141226.jpg

    I also replaced my old lighting system with a new one.
    20250626_123711.jpg
    20250614_140925.jpg
     
    chrslefty and jubei like this.
  8. Jun 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
    #808
    chrslefty

    chrslefty Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2012
    Member:
    #77258
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    First Name:
    chris
    Mesa az
    Vehicle:
    01 trd
    Stockish
    How's that auxbeam setup? Is the quality there?
     
  9. Jun 27, 2025 at 6:15 AM
    #809
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I like it so far. I have wanted to replace my six shooter for years, it never worked correctly, and the switch ate batteries.

    The aux beam allows me to use the control panel, remote, or my phone.
     
    chrslefty[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Aug 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM
    #810
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

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    #123156
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    After my last week long trip to Idaho, I found some issues with my truck that needed fixed.

    First was the bed, the front mounting points were cracked and broken. I had to remove the bed and weld everything back up. I plan to keep an eye out for a good replacement bed for the future.
    20250811_171715.jpg
    20250813_141355.jpg
    20250813_141410.jpg
    20250818_161649.jpg

    Next was some wiring issues. I have ran my power for my fridge and water pump to a double Hella plug for a year now with no issues. But the long trip and the extra gear caused things to bump into the wiring causing wires to come loose and loss of power. The other issue is my Renogy solar controller, it has random faults that shuts off the unit, which I had my fridge power tapped into the load circuit.

    So to fix this problem, I build a power distribution box for the fridge and water pump. I ran the power directly from the fuse box, and I switched to Anderson plugs. So no more dealing with my solar charger, which I am looking to replace with a Victron or Redarc unit.
    20250827_160107.jpg

    Another issue that popped up, the metal door latch I installed. It broke! Not the metal part, the plastic part. So i replaced it with a dorman handle, it actually works smoother.
    20250819_145801.jpg
    20250819_145808.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2025
    jubei and Digiratus like this.
  11. Aug 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
    #811
    Phessor

    Phessor [OP] Well-Known Member

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    20250813_175735.jpg 20250813_175743.jpg I also took the time to do a little organizing. I picked up some packout boxes. One for my air compressor and hoses, the other two for smaller items. I may order up another small box to add to the stack.

    20250827_160145.jpg
    20250827_160235.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2025
    CoWj likes this.
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