Another storage project begins

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bugsnbikes

bugsnbikes

Joined
Jul 3, 2005
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Yet another take on storage for the ol 80 series. After much hemming and hawwing over RTT/storage/ and the direction the rig was going to go-i decided to dive in and apply the keep it simple rule.
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After experimenting with differentL brackets for horizontal and vertical strength- i came up with the right mix so i can float the whole bed and have it flex with the rig without creaking and chewing itself up.
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made a template of the whole interior space and roughed in the floor in two large pieces right up to behind the seats.

and scrapped the center console and ran the bed right up to the shifter console with a cutout for the ebrake.
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moved compressor fwd

One 2.5 gallon tank inside- one 2.5 gallon underneath on the metaltech slider mount.

drilled and bolted in two aluminum angle pieces to support the door opening span which would be pushing it for 3/4 ply and my 230lbs....
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Found some .5 inch closed cell foam to go under all the carpet.

Decided to have one mid hatch opening and one side access behind the passenger seat and the compressor/tank/recovery gear behind drivers seat area accessible from the side. (middle hatch lid propping up for pic)
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Would it work as a good bed too? I think a pillow would be a nice addition for those long hauls. Any place for the spare? Try making one of those holders.
 
Im 6'3 and with the drivers seat forward--i can slip in a 6" attachment piece that adds to the bed for an easy fit- no diagonal sleeping needed. 60"width fits two large thermarests side by side as im just above the wheel humps.

My goal with the storage was not to take up a ton of height/weight with large drawers (the girlfriend wants to be able to sit up inside if we decide to bunk in the cruiser.) I also wanted something on the lighter side build wise.

I havent weighed the pieces of the puzzle but id say im comfortably under 80lbs. I was able to use all the seat attachment holes and eliminate subflooring. Aluminum angle pieces run around the outer edge of openings like the door-rear side panels to sure up the 3/4birch ply on any spans over 18".

Im finishing off the front compartment holding the two batteries which are sitting where the old center console was.
 
Heres a few shots of the dual 6volts home.

I still havent come up with a good way to hold down the batteries.......ideally my hope is to have something that is easily releasable/removable in the event i want to unplug and yank them if im not going to use them for shorter trips/daily driving.

Any ideas on something very easily removeable as a holdown???(its very tight with only about 2mm on each side but i worry more about vertical movement)
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I also go the front lid padded and carpeted and ready to attach to the hinges of the behind seat piece.

Im hoping to find a second upper tray console (two will fit side by side as an armrest for the passenger and driver)
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Lifelines passed Milspec B testing recently and apparently only transmit tiny amounts of gas under 130deg+ heat combined with serious overcharging abuse. Im planning on going with a smart charger that regulates charging and will shut down when the batteries are full.
 
bugsnbikes said:
Lifelines passed Milspec B testing recently and apparently only transmit tiny amounts of gas under 130deg+ heat combined with serious overcharging abuse. Im planning on going with a smart charger that regulates charging and will shut down when the batteries are full.
Click to expand...

What kind of charger are you going to use?
 
If Bjowett gets the alternator mount for the Tundra 130amp swap---im going to go with the Sterling power(promariner) digital 130.......

one of the benefits of Lifeline Deep cycles is that they can accept huuuuge amounts of power fast. They will gobble up 130amps and fully recharge their 200ah very fast with the Promariner Digital 130 on its bulk charge phase. The Promariner tricks the alternator into thinking the batteries have a very low charge and allows the alternator to put out max amps for the bulk phase. It also monitors battery and alternator temps and is one of the few high amp Alternator to Battery chargers. Promariner is the U.S. dist. for a company in England called Sterling Power and they make mostly Marine stuff.
 
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