- Thread starter
- #61
Here's a shot of the Slee dual battery tray completed as well as the Optima YellowTop used to replace the main battery.
OutdoorX4 Family Overlander Build
- Thread starter txoutdoorx4
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Looking good! FWIW the red top is better suited for starting and the yellow is more suited as a "house battery"
Did the accordion looking pieces come wit the bumper? Or is it a part of the vehicle?
Did the accordion looking pieces come wit the bumper? Or is it a part of the vehicle?
Love the Cruiser and the Magazine! Yuman is right about the batteries, the Red Top is geared to starting (not continuous deep discharges) while the Yellow is built to allow deep cycling, things you would typically do with a fridge or leaving lights on at camp.
- Thread starter
- #64
Yep, you both are correct about the batteries. I'll likely run terminal cables from each battery to the other and install a Cole Hersee switch to regulate which battery is used in certain scenarios. I know that's similar to how several others here are doing it.
In hindsight, I should have gone with the larger RedTop for the main battery and smaller YellowTop for the accessories.
In hindsight, I should have gone with the larger RedTop for the main battery and smaller YellowTop for the accessories.
- Thread starter
- #65
Ok, so it's been WAY too long since we updated this thread and since the last post, a LOT has been updated on the Cruiser in advance of 100s in the Hills two weekends ago.
We knew the truck needed to have exterior protection from rock, etc and eventually decided on a rear bumper from the fine folks at Bump It Offroad and Sliders from Metal Tech (Sliders will be posted separately). At first, it was suggested to go with a simple rear bumper with no tire carrier, etc. However, I wanted to get the spare tire out from under the vehicle over concerns that it could eventually get punctured or damage on the tough limestone here in central Texas. Once it was decided to go with a tire carrier, I also wanted to have an easier way to access the Gamiviti Roof Rack than stepping on the tires. So, I chose to add the ladder option to the rear bumper. Lastly, I had been using a pair of AT Overland fuel can holders in the past but they are bulky and a bit of a hassle loading/unloading from the roof. So, we integrated the Rotopax mounts onto the ladder of the bumper and now have a much more efficient use of that space, leaving plenty of room on the roof rack for essential gear. Here's how the build came along and a special shout out to the very nice and knowledgeable team at Woodlands Performance & Suspension here in Spring as they did the bumper install and did a fantastic job! Note the spare tire was pretty dirty from a recent off-road trip we had done prior to the rear bumper install in the Texas mud.
We knew the truck needed to have exterior protection from rock, etc and eventually decided on a rear bumper from the fine folks at Bump It Offroad and Sliders from Metal Tech (Sliders will be posted separately). At first, it was suggested to go with a simple rear bumper with no tire carrier, etc. However, I wanted to get the spare tire out from under the vehicle over concerns that it could eventually get punctured or damage on the tough limestone here in central Texas. Once it was decided to go with a tire carrier, I also wanted to have an easier way to access the Gamiviti Roof Rack than stepping on the tires. So, I chose to add the ladder option to the rear bumper. Lastly, I had been using a pair of AT Overland fuel can holders in the past but they are bulky and a bit of a hassle loading/unloading from the roof. So, we integrated the Rotopax mounts onto the ladder of the bumper and now have a much more efficient use of that space, leaving plenty of room on the roof rack for essential gear. Here's how the build came along and a special shout out to the very nice and knowledgeable team at Woodlands Performance & Suspension here in Spring as they did the bumper install and did a fantastic job! Note the spare tire was pretty dirty from a recent off-road trip we had done prior to the rear bumper install in the Texas mud.
- Thread starter
- #67
Here's a black and white shot on the driveway:
Looked fantastic in person at HIH5. I also have BOI's Front/rear as well as Rotopax can holders...which came in hand for a fellow HIH5 attendee that needed some fuel.
Here's a black and white shot on the driveway:
Are you using OEM Toyota pads?
Any reason you didn't get a bumper with an integrated hitch receiver? Seems like the hitch would limit your clearance like the spare you moved.
^^^ I thought the same thing 1/2 second after seeing the pic!
The hitch is the bumper protector. Joking, but that's what mine has been delegated to.
- Thread starter
- #75
I'm planning to add a trailer to this setup in the near future and didn't feel the bumper would be able to handle the GVWR of the trailer. Of course, the cost of this is reduce departure angle in the rear but I was willing to sacrifice a little rear clearance for a hitch that's mounted to the frame and can adequately handle the towing capacity needed for a trailer.
Which 2 hawse fairleads did you use, and do you know how thick each one is, I have the same issue with my bumper
I took my frame mounted hitch mount off when mounted my bumper, because I rarely use a trailer. Just for perspective though I have a Slee rear bumper with a short hitch receiver, that I have a factor 55 hitch link mounted in it. I took out the hitch link the other day in the desert because it took up just that much needed rear clearance
2 Slee fairleads for me.
do you know how thick they are, Factor55 makes one that 1.5" thick
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #80
I'm using a Hawse fairlead supplied with the Ramsey Patriot 9500 UT winch (Ramsey fairlead) as well as a Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead. The Factor 55 is 1.5" thick as per above and is the one that's on the outside. It, with the Ramsey fairlead, fit perfectly within the inset of the fairlead area of the bumper with about 1.5" of spacing from the fairlead to the edge of inset.