MadTaco Build

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Added some updates to my truck.

I now have two batteries for my camper power system.



I also added a mirror.


I also replaced my old lighting system with a new one.

 

How's that auxbeam setup? Is the quality there?

 

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.

 

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.





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.


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.

 

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.

 

Mounted my new Yaesu ATAS antenna on my bumper. Also put my Diamond dual band antenna back on, I get more range with it.


I also did the passenger lighted window switch mod. My passenger side window has been a pain for years. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. But most of the time the passenger window switch would roll up the window, but it would not roll it down. Now it works like a champ.

I also took the opportunity to disassemble my driver's side door switch and clean all the contacts and grease up the moving parts. Now, it works like a champ for both windows as well.

 

The ATAS antenna is for my Yaesu FT-857D rig.

The Diamond is for my Kenwood TM-710G.

 

Some parts arrived today, I think I have my work cut out for me...

 

Marlin rebuilt trans? Was yours messing up?

 

Once my transmission warms up, it has a really hard time going from third gear to fourth gear. It will downshift from fifth to fourth with no problem.

So I found another one and had it rebuilt with their HD shift forks and bearing plate.

 

Ah, I was wondering too. Are you going to tackle the swap by yourself? 25 years ago I swapped the clutch on an '86 Mazda 4wd laying on my back..... in the back yard, LOL (at least that's the way I remember it).

 

I will, but I sure wished I had a lift and a jack

 

I did a 4x4 trans myself and I’d say even if you remove it all at once, consider replacing it separated from the transfer case. I’d also recommend the HF 800 lb trans jack. There’s a 15% off any item coupon until tomorrow if you’re interested. It’s not the greatest trans jack of all time, but it’d definitely be better than nothing or a floor jack alone.

 

My 9.5 inch diff rebuild is done...
4.88 gears and a Harrop e-locker installed.