Builds Heritage Blogmobile Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[BloggerL]

Moving forward in the vehicle, I got some wiring sorted out for the Goal Zero power station, with some instructional help from my brother, who's an electrical engineer. I also added a large power strip to the back of the front passenger seat.

Here's the power station:

What's happening here is that a GFCI extension cord is plugged into one of the 2 AC outlets on the Yeti. This cord provides 3 outlets of it's own. Two are attached to lines that run under the second-row seats to the molle panels in the cargo area, and one is attached to a line that runs right up to the back of the front passenger seat, at the base of which the Yeti resides. Each of these lines terminates in a power strip. I have the GFCI attached to the power station in a way that allows it to double as a shelf for the USB cords. So if someone accidentally pressed down on one of the USBs, the GFCI would help prevent them from bending inside their jacks. Meanwhile, the straps running from the handles to the seat bolts keep the Yeti from falling backward and smashing the plugs against the second-row. The waterproof external power inlet that I converted to an outlet is plugged into the other AC outlet on the Yeti. As I showed in a previous posting, that external outlet connects its own GFCI at the device-end of the line. Of course, during normal use of the vehicle, I will keep the external outlet line unplugged from the Yeti for safety reasons.

I used to have the Yeti sitting in its dedicated foam bag, but now that I expect to use a lot of power on some days, I've abandoned the bag so that the Yeti can stay cool.

Here is the power strip at the back of the seat. No rocket science here. I was happy to enjoy a moment of slide-in simplicity.

 

[BloggerL]

Okay, I'm starting to focus on the strictly photographic stuff. This will take me outside the scope of this forum, so I won't be posting much more detail on this avenue of activity. But here are a couple of pictures showing how I'm adding a second "layer" of lighting to the vehicle for blogging purposes. LED lighting is really amazing these days. I'm finding ways to attach it out of the way, on the second sun visor and in various organizer slots. The Rago molle panels are also turning out great for mounting magnetic lights and hiding wires.

A lot of what I'll be working on now is cargo storage approaches for my gear. This stuff gets really complicated, because I need different bags and cases for the truck than for the plane. Creating a packing system for both types of transport is a bit of a puzzle.

I will update here further as I make progress on some outstanding items:

1) Custom water tank
2) Potential aux gas tank (still unsure on this)
3) Potential suspension adjustments (decided on no lift, but might need more support in the rear when vehicle is loadedand might just lift at the same time if I have to change springs)
4) Potential slight tire increase if doing lift
5) Night vision system (been working on finding a way to integrate the animal alert system from consumer device with the higher resolution of pro devices)
6) Security enhancements
7) Potential satellite comms (probably not till late next year)

Dream item: better windshield cleaning system for filming through the windshield. I wish there were something better than the standard wipers out there so that I could keep up more aggressively with bug splatter.

Some of these items will require further experience using the vehicle for its full intended purposes, which is delayed due to coronavirus. It's possible it will be delayed until the spring.

 

[04UZJ100]

What will you be blogging about/taking pictures of from inside?

 

[BloggerL]

What will you be blogging about/taking pictures of from inside?

I'm producing an independent documentary series and will be blogging about my experiences as I drive down around the country. To help do this safely, I'm creating a robotic system that will allow me to preset several pan/tilt positions and focus points of a camera hanging from a bracket that's mounted to the sheet metal through the sunglass-holder and then select from them with a single button press so that I can operate the camera without distracting myself from the road. This will only be useful in certain conditions, as filming in a moving vehicle is challenged by rapidly changing light, glare, dirt on the windshield, etc. But I want to have this functionality since I'll be driving a lot. The vehicle is mainly transportation, so this will be a secondary aspect of its use.

Not much more to share at this point, but feel free to DM if you'd like to know more!

 

[04UZJ100]

I'm producing an independent documentary series and will be blogging about my experiences as I drive down around the country. To help do this safely, I'm creating a robotic system that will allow me to preset several pan/tilt positions and focus points of a camera hanging from a bracket that's mounted to the sheet metal through the sunglass-holder and then select from them with a single button press so that I can operate the camera without distracting myself from the road. This will only be useful in certain conditions, as filming in a moving vehicle is challenged by rapidly changing light, glare, dirt on the windshield, etc. But I want to have this functionality since I'll be driving a lot. The vehicle is mainly transportation, so this will be a secondary aspect of its use.

Not much more to share at this point, but feel free to DM if you'd like to know more!

I do hope you share some of the footage on here. Sounds neat!

 

[BloggerL]

Never thought I'd be so excited about brackets, but life takes unexpected turns, and here I am. Here we are.

I took a cue from a thread started by @TheGrrrrr (Kaon Roof Shelf...) and bought several of this custom hardware set from Kaon: https://www.kaon.com.au/roof-handle-m6-captive-nuts-to-suit-lc200-and-pradd. This hardware facilitates mounting something in place of the upper pull handles. And let me tell you something: this hardware is AWESOME! Solves a problem that I previously solved in the back with toggle bolts, but this is easier and more secure for certain kinds of force.

In my case, I'm mounting custom-fabricated brackets for various gear. But all kind of other things could be mounted too.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Never thought I'd be so excited about brackets, but life takes unexpected turns, and here I am. Here we are.

I took a cue from a thread started by @TheGrrrrr (Kaon Roof Shelf...) and bought several of this custom hardware set from Kaon: https://www.kaon.com.au/roof-handle-m6-captive-nuts-to-suit-lc200-and-pradd. This hardware facilitates mounting something in place of the upper pull handles. And let me tell you something: this hardware is AWESOME! Solves a problem that I previously solved in the back with toggle bolts, but this is easier and more secure for certain kinds of force.

In my case, I'm mounting custom-fabricated brackets for various gear. But all kind of other things could be mounted too.

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View attachment 2474210

The possibilities are endless. I could see someone building a modular system using them. Swap shelf for gear racks or a standard tv/monitor vesa mount or any manner of slides, hinges and complex joints to accommodate damn near anything. Would love to figure out the load rating. Keep the updates coming.

 

[BloggerL]

The possibilities are endless. I could see someone building a modular system using them. Swap shelf for gear racks or a standard tv/monitor vesa mount or any manner of slides, hinges and complex joints to accommodate damn near anything. Would love to figure out the load rating. Keep the updates coming.

Indeed. I'd actually like to put these brackets up front too. However, I'm concerned about potential implications in a crash. I'd be replacing soft material with a plate of steel and a couple of bolt ends. It sounds ridiculous, but I've been watching crash simulations on YouTube to try to assess the risk that a person's head could strike that area of the vehicle in an accident. Assuming seat belt is on, looks very unlikely, but in the event that it did happen...

 

[gaijin]

The possibilities are endless. I could see someone building a modular system using them. Swap shelf for gear racks or a standard tv/monitor vesa mount or any manner of slides, hinges and complex joints to accommodate damn near anything. Would love to figure out the load rating.

FYI, Kaon rate their shelf at 10kg (22lbs). That's spread over two bracket sets, so maybe 5kg (11lbs) per side?

 

[BloggerL]

Monitor challenges solved at last!

The larger, plasticky monitor was just a no-go. But it was impossible to find a US-marketed monitor that was reasonably large, offered 4K resolution, had good color reproduction, and was housed in a solid body. Then, after much hunting, I found this: Amazon product ASIN B078Q4YXB3. This rather obscure monitor from China arrived a couple of days ago and has been almost shockingly outstanding. It's house in a rigid metal body, has outstanding color right out of the box, and is 4K. Even the packaging is beautiful. Quality cables, screen protectors, and a beautiful cover are included as well. It's smaller than what I had at 17.3", but that's a compromise I can accept.

Here it is mounted:

Drove around a bit after mounting, and everything is solid as a rock. No squeaks or excessive vibration. In fact, having the monitor in place actually counteracts a prior annoyance I was experience: excessive vibration from the headrest!

 

[greynolds]

Nice find and the price isn't bad for something that's rugged.

 

[tiger333]

Hi, all. New here. I really appreciate the depth of information and spirit of sharing on this board; so I thought I'd start a thread for my own build. This build is for a vehicle that will primarily be used for blogging and multimedia production, often in remote locations.

This build will be done incrementally over several months. I had been hoping to commission my build from @Eric Sarjeant , given that his expertise was incredibly impressive when I consulted with him, but I'm just not ready to do everything at once. I needed a vehicle now but also need time to figure out some of my needs. So, for starters, I picked up a 2020 Heritage Edition from my local dealer. I had them install a Front Runner Slimline II rack and KO2 tires as part of the deal, and then I added partial expedition rails to the rack. You can see my starting point down below.

After some initial testing at a nearby offroad park, I've decided not to lift the vehicle. I found myself more worried about maintaining a low center of gravity during climbs and turns that tilted the vehicle than about clearing obstacles beneath it. But if I ever find a robust, reliable system that can lift the vehicle on command for those occasional situations in which I need to clear larger boulders and such, I might consider it.

I'm currently gathering parts and vendors for the following:

1. Onboard air
2. Hidden winch
3. Front LED bar mounted to the rack (mainly to illuminate more of the distance in front of me when going down steep hills, which I found to be an issue in initial testing)
4. Ditch lights to better illuminate corners when turning
5. Ground Zero 1500x portable power system when released later this summer/fall with alternator-based charging system
6. Swiveling rods that clamp onto expedition rails and swing out for mounting of various lights and camping gear, as needed
7. DC power outlets mounted to the rack and connected to the 1500x battery
8. Custom painting on the grille, and fabrication of custom emblem
9. Longer term: low-orbit satellite service with flat dish for mobile broadband Internet while moving. The Kymeta system is available now but costs 18K plus about 1K a month in service fees, and I worry the whole system will be obsolete in a year. So I'm waiting for news on potential other developments. These systems will eventually proliferate and come down greatly in cost.
10. Drawer system/sleeping platform that can easily be removed from vehicle without prolonged disassembly routine

View attachment 2362680

Just got a brand new LC200. Wish I had gotten the dealership to put on TRD wheels. What size tire were you able to fit in the stock suspension? Are they just a bit noisier than the stock tires?

 

[BloggerL]

I put on stock size KO2s. But I'll be going up in the spring.

I never drove on stock, except during my test drive. But I have milder Blizzaks on now for the winter, and they definitely feel nicer on pavement.

 

[BloggerL]

Extremely trivial update today that will only be relevant to my fellow OCD sufferers. But I found this cool backpack with a molle-like grid of stretchy straps inside and adapted it to house a portable, ready-to-go AC charging kit for my Goal Zero Yeti. (GFCI plug with two female ends might be confusing, but see earlier posts about how my shore power outlet on the side of the vehicle can be reversed into an outlet for powering outdoor gear).

 

[BloggerL]

Followed the lead of @SharpeCat and others here, and installed the Weboost Reach OTR. Happily, I also have a new spot in my loft building's garage, with much better light for photos.

I mounted the antenna to my FrontRunner rack using the Rhino-Rack mount. Worked out well, but we'll have to see if the one-bolt install of the bracket to the rack's cross beam holds up over the long term (I did use threadlock). One annoying thing about the mount that I don't like is you have to secure/unsecure the hinge with a screw when changing position; I wish the process were quicker.

I mounted the central box to one of my molle panels with zip ties and mounting tape. For power, I'm using the car's native DC outlet at the back of the armrest console.

Ran the external antenna wire down the hatch and under the lower hatch door plastic piece. Then made a notch in the weather stripping, close to the middle of the vehicle, and brought the line back toward the corner and into the vehicle.

I haven't gone anywhere with low signal yet, but the unit turns yellow into green on my signal meter app when inside the garage, so I already see a difference.

Very happy with the unit. Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experience with it!

 

[SharpeCat]

Man that thing looks SWEET, keep up the great work boss.

 

[BloggerL]

A couple minor updates today. Added custom-cut marine cargo nets to the front of my drawers.

Nets are shallower than expected, so I might orders a second set and double them up.

Second, installed OEM window deflectors.

These things are awesome. Was able to drive in the rain while getting fresh air. I imagine they'd help with dusty drives too.

 

[BloggerL]

Big day today! Suspension upgraded to the new Dobinson MRAs. 2.5" lift (initially, should settle closer to 2"). 305/65R18 KO2s with 1.25" spacers on stock Heritage wheels, and Dobinson upper control arms.

I picked up the truck today after a few days in the shop (a little over 2 days for the installation of everything and some hours to address a battery drain). So all I've done so far is drive a couple hours home, play around in the snow a bit, and go flying over a low-traffic area of some of the worst pavement New Jersey has to offer (which is very, very, very bad pavement, trust me). I don't have offroad experience with the set up yet, but compared to stock so far...

... IT IS NIGHT AND DAY.

Not just any night and day, but a starless, lightless cloudy night in the middle of the wilderness vs high noon on a white-sand beach kind of night and day.

I wasn't sure if I was driving a tractor or a cloud home. All I can say is these E-rated tires (running at 35psi) felt infinitely better than the smaller C-rated Blizzaks despite some concerns about the harshness of Es. I experienced a huge increase in handling on the road despite the lift. At speed, bumps were... pretty much nonexistent.

At lower speeds, some adjustment may be in order to add plushness. I will dig into the low-speed compression adjustment when I have time.

There is zero rubbing on the tires, forward or back, at any angle. The shop removed the front mudflaps and trimmed the fenders to make this happen.

Traction in the ice and snow--very bad road conditions driving home--was incredible. I experienced zero loss of traction in the snow, slush, ice, and puddles of the storm.

Vibration over rough pavement, a previous nuisance, no longer exists.

The flinging of the truck's weight around during strong corners and stops no longer occurs.

The truck looks incredible to my eyes. It looks like I think a Land Cruiser should look.

Happy day.

Thank you to Mike at Exit Offroad for the consultation and help with product selection. There was an issue at the warehouse, but he stepped up and wiped it out right away: top-notch service.

Thanks as well to Kenny Deans in New Jersey for top-quality work. I really like this shop. They're not 200 specialists but are overall Land Cruiser guys, and they are also deeply experienced offroaders, racers, and customizers. Their approach to the work seemed rooted in a kind of holistic awareness and intuition. They are really the perfect shop for an individual doing mods and custom work that deviate from the book.

 

[Redbull]

Big day today! Suspension upgraded to the new Dobinson MRAs. 2.5" lift. 305/65R18 KO2s with 1.25" spacers on stock Heritage wheels, and Dobinson upper control arms.

I picked up the truck today after a few days in the shop (a little over 2 days for the installation of everything and some hours to address a battery drain). So all I've done so far is drive a couple hours home, play around in the snow a bit, and go flying over a low-traffic area of some of the worst pavement New Jersey has to offer (which is very, very, very bad pavement, trust me). I don't have offroad experience with the set up yet, but compared to stock so far...

... IT IS NIGHT AND DAY.

Not just any night and day, but a starless, lightless cloudy night in the middle of the wilderness vs high noon on a white-sand beach kind of night and day.

I wasn't sure if I was driving a tractor or a cloud home. All I can say is these E-rated tires (running at 35psi) felt infinitely better than the smaller C-rated Blizzaks despite some concerns about the harshness of Es. I experienced a huge increase in handling on the road despite the lift. At speed, bumps were... pretty much nonexistent.

At lower speeds, some adjustment may be in order to add plushness. I will dig into the low-speed compression adjustment when I have time.

There is zero rubbing on the tires, forward or back, at any angle. The shop removed the front mudflaps and trimmed the fenders to make this happen.

Traction in the ice and snow--very bad road conditions driving home--was incredible. I experienced zero loss of traction in the snow, slush, ice, and puddles of the storm.

Vibration over rough pavement, a previous nuisance, no longer exists.

The flinging of the truck's weight around during strong corners and stops no longer occurs.

The truck looks incredible to my eyes. It looks like I think a Land Cruiser should look.

Happy day.

Thank you to Mike at Exit Offroad for the consultation and help with product selection. There was an issue at the warehouse, but he stepped up and wiped it out right away: top-notch service.

Thanks as well to Kenny Deans in New Jersey for top-quality work. I really like this shop. They're not 200 specialists but are overall Land Cruiser guys, and they are also deeply experienced offroaders, racers, and customizers. Their approach to the work seemed rooted in a kind of holistic awareness and intuition. They are really the perfect shop for an individual doing mods and custom work that deviate from the book.

View attachment 2589878

Wow! More pics please!

 

[greynolds]

Yeah, that looks great! I wish I had a taller garage - there's no way I can add a roof rack, lift, and larger tires and still park in my garage. I might be able to install one of the low profile racks that is only slightly higher than the factory rails and slightly larger tires, but that's about all I have room for. But I'm not planning on any serious off roading, so huge tires really aren't needed. So my garage is helping me keep my spending in check .