Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

I look at is as an excuse to add spme things and change a few things up. (Beds still staying (ish)).

 

Missing bumps would not have caused that buckle in the frame, quite the opposite really - a lot of folks have wrinkled their frames right at the bump stop pads from hard hits. A loaded truck and a single hard bottom out would do that...the single layer portions of the frame are ridiculously soft. I don't think that spot is as bad as you think because the frame has a wave in it there OE because it flattens out where the cross member meets it. The frame rails back there are super easy to manipulate and repair but you would definitely box / plate your frame rails after it is repaired.

 

Keep the bed, not a big fan of flatbeds

 

Yah the bed is deffinatly staying. Alteast the sides and tailgate. Dont know how much will be cut out of the bed its self though.

 

Soooo many sweet rides !!

 

I did the Bird Dawg Tech Deck. Dedicated devices for running Torque app and GPS apps.

 

What size panel are you planning on using? I have a good bit of solar installer work under my belt and have done a bunch of installs on RV and sailboats for extra cash down here on the gulf. IMO running just one 100W panel is kind of a waste and you'd be better off upgrading your alternator and just running the truck a few times during the day. A 100W panel could only give you 8Amps with full sun on a 12v system.

 

It's hard to tell but where/how are they mounted?

 

Bird Dawg is a member here. Here is a link to his site. I did the Tech Deck and his Mirror Riser. Both a great help for clearing up visibility through the windshield.

http://www.birddawgindustries.com/home.html

 

Yup, I have both as well. Great products.

 

Oh hey there. I'm part of Microlander Overland, a Utah based expedition group. We are all Toyotas except for one badass Ram. We plan overland trips in Utah and surrounding states once a month and do over night camping trips several times in between. This last weekend was summiting Washington Peak in Nevada (11,600 feet) (first pic).

My truck is in overlanding progress but the tent should be arriving soon!



Largest turn-out this summer was 15 rigs.






Stopping for lunch


Fur companions welcome.

 

I found this interesting. Not challenging your credentials as I only have this system installed under my belt so I'm by no means im I a pro. However on my system I am running a stand alone 100w solar panel on a stand alone battery. With a 1000wat inverter I am able to run a Whytner 45 quart fridge in the bed of my truck for 4 days (varying sunlight) (didn't test it till the battery died, just had to take it out for something else so it could have run longer I am assjming). Additionally I was charging other devices and had lights going off the same battery. The best part is if the battery does die, I'm not SOL as my house battery is just running the truck. So I have been very happy with the way it's set up.

Now if I just had the panel on the house battery, I could see it not being worth it, but even on a secondary battery (run of the alternator) I could see it being a good aid.

The best option would be 150-200 watt panel (for a fridge and other smaller acesories) the issue is, that many panels to produce that wattage take up too much space (especially if you hard mount them to your roof since you can charged up as you drive).

That's been my experience with my system so far. Just chiming in.



even run power tools and radios diring a 4/5 hour job

 

Does that model Whynter fridge not have a 12v mode? Just curious why you're using the inverter?

 

But there is a separate battery back there that the inverter is run from

 

How many AH is your 2nd battery? How many Amps are you drawing from all your devices? How many hours of sunlight did you get for this trip?

The point I was making was that a single 100W solar panel is not going to come anywhere near the value of a larger alternator would.

Here is a solar insolation map.

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-information/sun-hours-us-map

If I'm in zone 4 then I have an average of 4.5 peak sun hours. Meaning that a 100W solar panel will put out it's peak amperage (8A) for only 4.5 hours per day.

Which is 36A it may trickle out a few amps here or there but really it's only going to be producing real power for 4.5 hours in the day.

I looked up the fridge you have and it uses 4.5A/h which equals 108A in 24 hours. Your single 100W solar panel only produces 36A in 24 hours... so for every day you use your fridge it would take 3 days of perfect sunlight for the solar panel to play catch up.

The reason why your battery lasted 4 days was because it probably has a large reserve capacity. Depending on the type of battery you're using you could even be destroying it by going past 50% discharge.

Running a 130A alternator for a little bit a day will out preform any solar setup you could fit on these trucks. And it'd take a life time for the cost into the solar panels to offset the cost of the gas for running the alternator.

 

It does. Was testing the consumption and drain on the solar system. Figured the inverter was less efficient than direct to the battery.

Was testing it.

You are right. Also the plug is also easier to hook up as the 12v connection has a cigarette lighter connection which I don't have hooked up at the momment. Didn't want to have to cut the cord up either.

Soon enough. Will just have to hook it up and fuse it and what not. The inverter was just easier for the time being during testing.

 

Absolutely right. I do not have much draw going and I was simply speaking in terms of cost and just giving insight that it can work depending on your use. It was cheaper and easier for me to do the solar panel than a alternator. Just giving some advice/different point of view for those interested.

As for destroying the battery,I am aware that I will need another panel to catch up (even whytner states 150watts minimum) but with a 5 year return policy on the battery with a "we don't care return it" policy I am going to abuse the battery for the time being.

Like I said in my initial post I am by far not a professional. I was just giving my experience as to not detour any one from running a solar panel.

 

Some more points that I've been learning as a newbie in the medium/large scale solar industry.

Be careful in how you setup your mounting of solar panels. Any shade drastically reduces the output. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 5% coverage/shade will reduce output by about 90%. This is self-protection to avoid burning up due to the hotspots because dark/shade is creating resistance and heat in that area. So direct view to the sun is priority.

This will vary by region, but the best solar production in the desert also heats up all the truck stuff (cab, tent, fridge/cooler, etc) I'm looking for any shade I can find.

 

I wasn't trying to detour anyone from running a solar panel just giving facts. Solar technology still has a long way to come before it can be used for anything other than niche purposes.

On a EXPO Tacoma there really isn't much use for a solar panel and amounts to a waste of money.

 

Not detouring anyone eh?



Just giving my 2cents on my experiences with running a solar panel. Works for me, doesn't work for you. May or May not work for someone else. Just giving insight that may be useful based on EXPERiENCES that I have had.

Even though you disagree with my insight based on your facts (which I don't disagree with) this may be an option for someone who has a similar setup or needs that I had/was trying to fulfill.