Kryptoroxx
New member
I found those a long long time ago but wondered how much more signal you can pull out in the boonies. What has been your experience?
My expedition runner project
- Thread starter calimobber
- Start date
calimobber
Member
They have been great for me. I also have a home sized booster. I find that if you can get even the smallest signal the booster turns it into full usable Internet and all. If there is no signal it's hit or miss whether it's going to work or not.
Kryptoroxx
New member
Cool! Thanks for the info. Probably will be down the line but I had never heard from a real person if they worked or not.
calimobber
Member
haha yea, we just might be. Nice build, funny how we both are on the same direction for builds.
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calimobber
Member
Finally got my 85w panel installed and my new morning star sunsavor. All in all im pretty stoked how it turned out, I copied an idea I saw on here by revmoving the rear storage cubby giving it way more room. I moved all the electronics to that spot and put a blue sea fuse box for everything.
I left made the wiring an extra 10ft so I can pull the panel off and lay against the car for direct sun when camping.
The 2 30w will be hinged together and brought along camping trips for extra juice.
I left made the wiring an extra 10ft so I can pull the panel off and lay against the car for direct sun when camping.
The 2 30w will be hinged together and brought along camping trips for extra juice.
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calimobber
Member
OK so been basicly riding around on my airbags to keep the 4runner lvl for a few years now. I finally decided to upgrade the shocks. There is so much opinion about lifts that its seriously a giant head ache.
I decided to go with Bilstein 5100 all around and OME 890 in the rear. after reading a few post on using the stock coils up front I decided to give it a try. If I dont like it i can upgrade the coils later.
I put the front coils on the 4th clip and it seems to sit pretty lvl with maybe a small rack in the rear. time will tell. Also I used this compressor, It worked great and would recommend it as it would have cost more to pay a shop.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DCZP22G/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1426392383&sr=1&keywords=coil+compressor
Word to the wise.....Make sure the strut coil tray is in the right way and not upside down or you may have trouble compressing the coil enough :lmao:
It just may save you some time on the installation :lmao::lmao:
I decided to go with Bilstein 5100 all around and OME 890 in the rear. after reading a few post on using the stock coils up front I decided to give it a try. If I dont like it i can upgrade the coils later.
I put the front coils on the 4th clip and it seems to sit pretty lvl with maybe a small rack in the rear. time will tell. Also I used this compressor, It worked great and would recommend it as it would have cost more to pay a shop.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DCZP22G/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1426392383&sr=1&keywords=coil+compressor
Word to the wise.....Make sure the strut coil tray is in the right way and not upside down or you may have trouble compressing the coil enough :lmao:
It just may save you some time on the installation :lmao::lmao:
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BrianSD_42
New member
Cool thread man.
Subscribed. I like what you've done with the solar panel. I've thought about doing that myself but I don't run a fridge or anything so I haven't seen the need for it.
Have you had any electrical issues or complications?
I'm surprised you need that much juice, what with 2 batteries and all. I figure you drive to your destination and both batteries are charged. That should be able to run the fridge for awhile right?
I had a Yellow Top Optima and I'll never buy one again. From now on it is Interstate or Die Hard Platinum for me. I hope you have good luck with them though.
My understanding is that a lot of electrical juice issues get blamed on the charging system when the problem is sometimes the quality of the batteries.
I also found it interesting you mentioned the Square Wave (eg cheap) versus True Sine Wave inverter. I was shopping inverters and checking out threads about them and it seems that True Sine Wave is the way to go. I'll be buying one in the next few months.
Subscribed. I like what you've done with the solar panel. I've thought about doing that myself but I don't run a fridge or anything so I haven't seen the need for it.
Have you had any electrical issues or complications?
I'm surprised you need that much juice, what with 2 batteries and all. I figure you drive to your destination and both batteries are charged. That should be able to run the fridge for awhile right?
I had a Yellow Top Optima and I'll never buy one again. From now on it is Interstate or Die Hard Platinum for me. I hope you have good luck with them though.
My understanding is that a lot of electrical juice issues get blamed on the charging system when the problem is sometimes the quality of the batteries.
I also found it interesting you mentioned the Square Wave (eg cheap) versus True Sine Wave inverter. I was shopping inverters and checking out threads about them and it seems that True Sine Wave is the way to go. I'll be buying one in the next few months.
calimobber
Member
Thanks man, Its been a fun project so far. Working at the speed of money :biggrin1:
No Electrical troubles yet, everything seems to run as it should. Well besides my radio cutting out, but i think iv'e narrowed that down to being inside the radio.
So far im not very impressed with the optima for my use(they are meant for starting cars not storing power iv'e learned). I use allot of juice when camping and the batteries will drop below 12v after the first day of camping. I have plans for a deep cycle group 31 next so I should be good I hope.
Yea the cheaper modified sine works for simple things but would do weird things to my laptop and ipad and It fried my heated blanket. So when it broke, I think spending a little more money on the sine wave was worth it. Iv'e had zero trouble since.
No Electrical troubles yet, everything seems to run as it should. Well besides my radio cutting out, but i think iv'e narrowed that down to being inside the radio.
So far im not very impressed with the optima for my use(they are meant for starting cars not storing power iv'e learned). I use allot of juice when camping and the batteries will drop below 12v after the first day of camping. I have plans for a deep cycle group 31 next so I should be good I hope.
Yea the cheaper modified sine works for simple things but would do weird things to my laptop and ipad and It fried my heated blanket. So when it broke, I think spending a little more money on the sine wave was worth it. Iv'e had zero trouble since.
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calimobber
Member
So I got an idea after seeing someone use LED's for a under the hood light. I have an old mercury switch I had from an old project.
I also had a 12v LED strip from another project I havent used yet. So I thought they would both work great for an automatic hood light. Everything went together smooth and only took maybe 30minutes. Ill have to wait until its dark to test it out.
The Mercury Switch
the switch being connected
switch taped in the right direction, so when the hoods up its activated.
LED strip, The angle on the metal is perfect. I always added a few strips of gorilla tape cause I don't really trust the sticky side of the strip.
I will update yall with night shots when its dark.
I also had a 12v LED strip from another project I havent used yet. So I thought they would both work great for an automatic hood light. Everything went together smooth and only took maybe 30minutes. Ill have to wait until its dark to test it out.
The Mercury Switch
the switch being connected
switch taped in the right direction, so when the hoods up its activated.
LED strip, The angle on the metal is perfect. I always added a few strips of gorilla tape cause I don't really trust the sticky side of the strip.
I will update yall with night shots when its dark.
calimobber
Member
While I was still fiddling with my idea's for LED back up lights, I saw a post for using T4 50w bulbs in place of the stock reverse bulbs. They were only $6 shipped on amazon so I went for it.
I used Philips t4
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FA08YC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
All you have to do is smash the plug terminals together so it hold the new bulbs better.
Like the hood Ill do an update on the lights tonight.
I used Philips t4
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FA08YC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
All you have to do is smash the plug terminals together so it hold the new bulbs better.
Like the hood Ill do an update on the lights tonight.
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calimobber
Member
Hood LED's look amazing! super happy with the mod. especially since its so simple.
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Kryptoroxx
New member
I like that mod but usually I try to avoid having my hood up at night lol.
RJ MacReady
New member
this is a great build thread. im just waiting for the .50cal machine gun mod write up. good sh*t
calimobber
Member
I didnt do a side by side comparison but so far i'm very impressed. I don't even feel the need for the led bar backup light I had planned, but time will tell.
