SW PA/Pittsburgh and wherever camping, wheeling and beer trips

Well I already have the setup from a previous rig, minus the 2nd battery tray. The company I bought it from is called National Luna, I believe out of Australia. It’s a smart solenoid, where it senses the currents and always makes sure the primary battery stays charged. It won’t let you charge the secondary battery if there isn’t enough power. This is one of the preferred companies which people use abroad. I did read some complaints about it, but I had good luck with it and like the easy install. My only problem is the remote they use to show the currents and status is too big for my cab. My buddy that had this in his land cruiser just kept it in his center console hidden. I personally like to see the current voltage.

 

@PlatinumCloud

 

just spent some time looking at both and comparing them. looks like the bluesea setup is basically the same, but geared for marine use. prices are similar - looks like the luna is slightly cheaper, but requires one less plug. i like the controller of the blue sea as it looks like it may be easily fitted into a stock switch hole vs that giant controller the luna uses. i like the thought of having two batteries, but i dunno if i can justify buying them for a little bit of camping and winching. it would however let me ditch the generator tho.

which leads to the main question; what battery to go with? i was looking at the northstar.

 

I’m not much help with batteries, nor do I know the options. What I do know is that they all wear out. Another important factor which would be a good upgrade if you did go through with this is switching to a high output alternator. We actually live in an area where we could just have a shop upgrade the stock one. I know that I used my setup a lot in my suburban, and never wanted to look back (a large inverter is what I really liked). I could tell my truck was struggling more and more to keep the voltage up from the strain, but it never died on me so I never did the high output upgrade. .

Here’s another option: switch to a high output alternator(if desired), install an inverter if needed, and forgo the dual setup. I have a friend that constantly uses his inverter, but didn’t add a 2nd battery. He’s a hot air balloon pilot that totally justifies a setup and doesn’t have one. He just keeps his truck securely running when he needs power....

My national Luna is what I own, and that’s half the expense. I am going to get my CB installed permanently first, and then work on the inverter and dual battery setup. My cost will be really low if I can make a tray for my 2nd battery. I just need to see where I can map out and run 00 wires from the battery to the inverter. They are extremely bulk...

 

I’ve found a route for the MABDR


I may go real soon.





It’s super easy, a corolla could do it, but I’m bored AF since I’m laid off.

 

Need to make a loop of this. Head north to the PA Grand Canyon then loop the bottom to the purple fiddle

 

How many days are we talking here?

 

Finding a home for my dual battery setup. I have a national Luna solenoid and remote. I’ll most likely do Velcro or 3M take. I have everything but the battery tray since I ran it in my suburban. Looks like I’ll be doing this project sooner than later.

 

was actually thinking of doing a cut through and picking it up around 68 and heading North.

 

I was thinking just maybe 3 nights and doing PA. But it’s a lot easier to camp legally In WV

 

Well if you’re looking for company, we could social distant camp with you and go along.

 

alcohol kills everything

 

im laid off, so I’m open. I’m just wondering what the camping situation would be like in PA?

we Road it on our dual sports and only stayed 1 night in PA tucked back in a clearing off a dirt road and just wild camped. Harder to hide trucks!

 

it is legal to camp anywhere in a national forest and i believe the same goes for state forests. so that being said you can pretty much camp anywhere in the PA section.

 

Really?!

That’s where we stayed on the bikes! Stealth hammock with a dual sport is realatively easy.

 

I should have all my final cb parts tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll be online in the truck soon.

 

where did you order from?

 

Right channel. I ordered from them before, but needed a coax with a removable end to fit the line through the rear grommet hole in the truck also needed a spring for my Antenna mount and got the heavier duty 12volt lighter adapter

 

you doing a rear mount?

 

I bought the Cobra last fall for a crazy 17 day western “overland” trip with BFG and Sparcas on our Subaru.

We used the free campsites page and other sources to get pretty remote.

This is on Buff Pass above Steamboat in Colorado.


Approaching Rollins Pass





This is what 13 or 14k feet looks like in September!