ARCHIVE 80 Series D-Pillar Mount

[Dazrin]

For the light, what are your thoughts about a longer (15 FT or so) cord? Would that be able to be rolled up behind easily?

The reason I ask is that I had an "old" (96) Chevy that had a work light on a reel under the hood. It didn't put out much light but it worked. I imagine having a longer cord on this and a magnetic base to stick it to whatever you are working on. Give it a home on the D-Pillar and enough cord to reach around to the front for changing tires or anywhere in between if you have a specific need. Maybe a disconnect at the D-pillar and another socket under the hood to reduce cord length needed.

 

[Dirty Koala]

Very much digging this whole setup. Obviously I will be getting one.

Not sure if everyone would have that needs as I do, but in addition to having a switched cooking light, I could use one or two more switches for led strip lighting just inside the gull wings or along the awning. You could label that 'mood lighting'

 

[NLXTACY]

This is the part where someone posts a meme that says "TAKE MY MONEY!" I am not that someone. Instead I will just say, "I want one. When can I buy it please? Thank you kind sir."

So right now I need to redo the main structure itself so that its angled more away from the side of the truck and more towards the center. This would/could give me three mounting faces. These skinny panels won't change so that's why I wanted to figure out all of the minutia first on these panels so I can start production and not have to worry about slamming it all together.

Of course there is a lot of crap I need to buy to even start assembling but I'm not ready to take money yet. I made people wait for waaaay too long on the LockingLid and the LockBoxes. I hate that. No one complained at all which is cool but it still makes me uncomfortable.

Once I have every component dialed in and I have my costing for each, then I'll throw out some pricing for pre-orders.

 

[msapers]

Everything wired up. I will make sure that everything is wired up so that its plug-n-play. View attachment 1198880 View attachment 1198882

Damn it man! I didn't want any of that electrical tomfoolery, then you post those pictures and suddenly, I NEED all of it. Sigh.

 

[NLXTACY]

For the light, what are your thoughts about a longer (15 FT or so) cord? Would that be able to be rolled up behind easily?

The reason I ask is that I had an "old" (96) Chevy that had a work light on a reel under the hood. It didn't put out much light but it worked. I imagine having a longer cord on this and a magnetic base to stick it to whatever you are working on. Give it a home on the D-Pillar and enough cord to reach around to the front for changing tires or anywhere in between if you have a specific need. Maybe a disconnect at the D-pillar and another socket under the hood to reduce cord length needed.

Let's keep this idea moving forward. If there is something off the shelf or something I could relatively easily assemble then I would be interested in it. If it really is a disconnect then I would use a different type of connector that had cycles in mind.

 

[NLXTACY]

Very much digging this whole setup. Obviously I will be getting one.

Not sure if everyone would have that needs as I do, but in addition to having a switched cooking light, I could use one or two more switches for led strip lighting just inside the gull wings or along the awning. You could label that 'mood lighting'

Adding more switches, or at least knockouts, is easy and I think there is still room to do so. Of course it could all be on one switch...but then that takes the "mood" out of the equation.

Edit: I'm pretty sure I could add three or four more switches up top. Need to be careful though. If it's just for low wattage LEDs then it should be ok. Anything else that draws more current and I'll need to re-evaluate wire gauge BUT I'm open to it.

 

[Qball]

Damn it man! I didn't want any of that electrical tomfoolery, then you post those pictures and suddenly, I NEED all of it. Sigh.

This is one of those rare items where NEED and WANT collide with full fury.

 

[msapers]

OK, I'll play- how feasible would it be to add the voltmeter and switch from your underhood panel to this so that the condition of both batteries can be monitored from this command center?

 

[Dirty Koala]

If you are going solar, then that controller has a built in LCD the displays solar current, load current and battery voltage.

 

[NLXTACY]

OK, I'll play- how feasible would it be to add the voltmeter and switch from your underhood panel to this so that the condition of both batteries can be monitored from this command center?

Hmm, not difficult but I would be concerned about the accuracy at that distance. And why both batteries? If power is not coming from the Solar Charge Controller then it's coming from whatever battery is supplying power. It can do both batteries but then you are running extra wires. To check voltage of the supplying battery then it's just metering the supply voltage.

Unless you mean a switch to toggle the LCD off and on?

 

[LS1FJ40]

I just wanted a place to hang my first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Now I have to have lights. I'm thinking a fan mounted on one would be nice for camping. It wouldn't have to be permanent but could just plug in.

 

[jaymar]

Update: one small piece of the puzzle is done. 14 gauge aluminum, powder coated red, silk screened with reflective paint. Using vinyl for representation only. The pics show front and back of the insert.

I'll have more to show in a little bit
View attachment 1198815 View attachment 1198817

How about a subdued gray-on-black option for those of us who are pathologically averse to bling and reflective-shiny-stuff?

 

[NLXTACY]

I just wanted a place to hang my first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Now I have to have lights. I'm thinking a fan mounted on one would be nice for camping. It wouldn't have to be permanent but could just plug in.

Funny you should mention a fan. I was going to get a 12v fan to keep the mosquitos off me while I'm cooking on the tailgate.

 

[NLXTACY]

How about a subdued gray-on-black option for those of us who are pathologically averse to bling and reflective-shiny-stuff?

Let me look at cost first before I do alternate colors but I get it, tactical signage

 

[Qball]

Let me look at cost first before I do alternate colors but I get it, tactical signage

Camo scheme is all the rage now and days. Camo colored emergency kit and fire extinguishers? Cool but ever so slightly counter intuitive.

 

[jaymar]

Camo scheme is all the rage now and days. Camo colored emergency kit and fire extinguishers? Cool but ever so slightly counter intuitive.

I prefer to avoid anything that smacks of a "military" look--which can attract the wrong kind of attention. Cops might think you're some kinda wacko, thieves might think you're a hunter and there's a firearm to be stolen. "It's a strange world we live in."

 

[Dissent]

The only mood device I'd like to see is a bug repellent device. I hate having the truck open camping for all the critters.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I would love to share the story of the customer's house I went to today. Holy freaking s***! Tactical EVERYTHING! Couch. Chairs. You name it. And a 1200ft2 basement FILLED with MREs, water, guns, and ammo. I'm guessing a solid half mil in the basement. I'm guessing I'm on the FBI watch list just for going to his house.

 

[jaymar]

The only mood device I'd like to see is a bug repellent device. I hate having the truck open camping for all the critters.

Mesh. Also, taking a lot of B12 apparently makes you taste yukky to skeeters--and aids dream recall (if that's a good thing)...

 

[jaymar]

I would love to share the story of the customer's house I went to today. Holy freaking s***! Tactical EVERYTHING! Couch. Chairs. You name it. And a 1200ft2 basement FILLED with MREs, water, guns, and ammo. I'm guessing a solid half mil in the basement. I'm guessing I'm on the FBI watch list just for going to his house.

And if not, you're probably on the list for mentioning the list.