Featured 100: paflytyer

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Good write up Stan.

For me a monitor system means one less knob to have to remember when the kids are bringing the Mahem to camp lol!
 
Cruiserdrew said:
Like you say, this isn't a dual battery thread, but, if you want to know how your batteries are doing, install dual voltmeters and keep track. I'm doing that in my FJ60. Most dual battery systems are so reliable this isn't needed but it's still fun to monitor.

With a switch only, there is nothing to go wrong, except forgetting to use the switch after a hard day.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea and I like the way Tony K wired his in Toyota Trails a few issues back. That is on my list of "things to do". One voltmeter, and a 3-way spring loaded temporary switch. Press the switch up and you get a main battery reading. Press the switch down, you get a aux battery reading. It only reads when the switch is engaged so you're never drawing from the battery for more than a split second. I carry a voltmeter in the glovebox now. My ham gives me a reading as soon as I turn it on, so I always know what's happening with the aux battery. I use the voltmeter almost every time I camp just to see how things are doing with the main. I've never had one issue. Main and Aux batteries have always stayed healthy and accepted a charge. I would easily know if one battery wasn't charging correctly just by checking it with the ham or voltmeter.

There is no system or smart box that can tell you a battery is going to fail. It can tell you it's not linked, or not charging, but not that it's going to fail on Thursday at 3pm. That would be like a TPMS telling you that the rock up ahead is going to puncture your tire.

Also, when the folks running the smart battery systems with the LED boxes start their truck, and both batteries read full, that has zero to do with your batteries. It's taking that reading from the alternator. The truck needs to be off and the button pushed on the box to get the true reading..... at least I hope the box doesn't stay lit when the truck is off? That would be totally useless.
 
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Stan, you can hit the display button the cheapy T-max controller that I have to get a true reading before starting the car. At that point in time they are not linked so you do get an actual number. Once the truck is running, batteries linked and alt charging it's just a bunch of fancy lights!

The T-max has been a great system for me at a fraction of the cost of the IBS. Although it seems we keep derailing your build thread, it is fun to see how different solutions work for different folks based on their needs and what they do with the truck.

BTW, just got my newest issue of TT magazine and would like to compliment you on your article and looking forward to your involvement with the magazine. I just hope you don't get so busy that you forget to switch your batteries ;)
 
I have a $15 self-contained voltmeter that plugs in the cigarette lighter and displays the battery voltage at all times. (Well, when the key is on, that is, so the voltage read with the engine off is likely a tad smaller than the open circuit one.) Plus all sorts of colorful LED lights if the voltage gets too low under charge or no charge. Very convenient. It gives me a good idea of the charge level and condition of the battery. And would show clearly if the charging system goes bust, the main reason I got it for desert runs.
 
I literally LOL'd at the 'wife driving the truck into the house with the RTT attached' bit.... Been there done that with a $Texas mountain bike. Great writeup.
 
Nice thread Stan!
 
If you look close I was probably trying to sneak a dirty diaper into Chris' trasharoo! :eek:

NEVER leave your trasharoo facing a family with a 1 year old overnight LOL! :flush:
 
Awesome thread Stan! And talk about a great advocate for the 100 community! Nicely done! You ought to make it out to Oregon some time!
 
ICON Vehicle Dynamics adjustable rear links..... so very nice.

DSC_0207 (1280x853).webp


DSC_0211 (1280x853).webp
 
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Kofoed said:
Hum. I didn't know they produced these. I went with metaltech, and am happy with them. I did note that metaltech doesn't have LC stuff list on their website. [edit....the website must have been partially down, the LC stuff is back up, whew]

You'll really like the Icon shocks. I gotta say the bumpstop feature (progressive damping of the last bit of travel) absorbs that last bit of travel nicely right when you think you are going to bottom on the whoop you took too fast...
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HFDPNL said:
Forgive me if I missed it in all the dual battery talk...(I have similar setup to yours, without the switch(no fridge yet)), but when you posted the rear links a few pages ago, you linked to the 4Runner rear links on Icon's page......are they, in fact, the same?
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These are a custom set, so they're not on the site. They actually don't make them for the 100 Series, at least not yet. I believe there's only one other set out there. I also believe there's a market for them with 100 Series owners, but I'm not sure where the cost would be. Contacting Todd directly at ICON would be the best bet for retail info.
Todd McNulty
951-689-ICON (4266)
todd@iconvehicledynamics.com
 
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I was actually told by icon yesterday that MOST of the 4Runner suspension parts work with the 100 series.. Guess that's good news. :)
 
Did you speak with Todd and/or Jeremy?

They are doing some fitment tests with the rear links. But, it's hard for me to believe that they said "most of the 4Runner parts". That doesn't make sense. It's two very different systems.
 
paflytyer said:
Did you speak with Todd and/or Jeremy?

They are doing some fitment tests with the rear links. But, it's hard for me to believe that they said "most of the 4Runner parts". That doesn't make sense. It's two very different systems.
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I was talking in regards to suspension. I don't remember who I was chatting with.. They said the shocks and UCA work. All I was worried about.

Sorry if I generalized. :)
 
GKCArmory said:
I was talking in regards to suspension. I don't remember who I was chatting with.. They said the shocks and UCA work. All I was worried about.

Sorry if I generalized. :)
Click to expand...

The 4Runner uses coilovers, and their UCA's are different. The coilovers will 100% not work.
 
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The UCA don't care what type of spring you are running. I'm not saying they are interchangeable, but they could be...

This is the Total Chaos 100-Series UCA:
78ab12b2c8aed9ba04188e894be8e150.image.450x338.jpg


This is the Total Chaos 4Runner UCA:
Picture%20248.jpg


They are obviously different, but they are close enough that it is possible to make on work for both as long as the mounting points are in the same place...
 
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