so when we doing big bend? need another cruiser to rolll with @TexasCrane
Texascrane Build Thread
- Thread starter TexasCrane
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@TexasCrane how do you like the spod switches, i'm thinking of either doing the switches or the screen, but i do like how the switches look clean versus the screen hanging down, but then i like the fact you can monitor your battery and alternator with the screen, i wish there was a place to flush mount the screen.
I am not too far from Bigbend. When you all plan to go there? I'll be in Fl between 19-29.
- Thread starter
- #65
If I was buying an spod again today, I would still get the switches rather than the screen. I think the switches install cleaner (I've already got a bunch of other crap on my dash when I'm out exploring - tablet, ham radio, inreach, etc) and I don't really want another screen. I've got a bluetooth odb reader so I can always grab battery voltage from that on my phone or tablet if I need it.
My only complaint is that the switches use incandescent lights instead of LEDs. I've already burnt one out although it's a switch that is almost always on when I'm in the car. I'll probably replace that switch module with an LED one and replace any others as needed.
- Thread starter
- #66
If you guys aren't already on it, join the Texas Overland group on Facebook. It seems like there's always a group there getting ready to go to Big Bend.
- Thread starter
- #67
A few shots from Big Bend in November. I set up my hf ham radio at several locations around the park as a part of National Parks on the Air. I made over 500 contacts across the US and around the world.
@TexasCrane thanks for the advice i was either going to do the screen or the 6 switch panel like yours i just couldn't decide. I like the features the screen has such as dimming the light, but then again i'm not sure how much i would actually use this feature. Which one did you get?
- Thread starter
- #69
I have the Tacoma kit here: Toyota Tacoma sPOD Kit
The Universal kit sits on top of the fusebox which is fine on most vehicles. But on the 100-series there isn't enough room for it there between the fusebox and the hood.
The Universal kit sits on top of the fusebox which is fine on most vehicles. But on the 100-series there isn't enough room for it there between the fusebox and the hood.
Hey how hard was the grom toyna1 to install and do you like it. I just placed an order for one so hoping it's what I need. I want to hook up a galaxy tab 4 to the radio.
- Thread starter
- #71
It was pretty easy. You just need some plastic trim tools to get the dash apart. I think I used some heavy duty velcro to attach the grom over next to one of the air vents. The only thing I would suggest is buying a beefier 1/8" stereo male to male cable. The one that it comes with is pretty flimsy and started coming apart on me near the connector after a few months.
So the unit connects to the phone or tablet via 1/8" connector? I saw something about usb, is that for power or can it read the sound through USB also.
- Thread starter
- #73
The one that I installed just adds an aux-in to the radio. I think they have other units with bluetooth and usb etc, but I just wanted something simple.
I just found a list of all the different units and your right they have one that does Bluetooth and USB audio. It's $124 which isn't too bad but I already ordered the other one so I'll see how that works. If I'm not happy I'll go ahead and get the more advanced one. I think the basic setup will be enough for me though.
As I mentioned previously, I ordered an Eezi-Awn K9 rack.
Do those rails fit equally inside the gutter from front to back? It looks as if the front portion is not seated and that going back it looks wavy.
I finally had som
e time today to get my sPod installed. For those of you who aren't familiar with the sPod, it's basically a fuse/power distribution/switch system. It consists of the "source" which hooks up to your battery and has 6 40-amp bosch-style relays along with fuses (3 15-amp and 3 30-amp but you can swap these out to whatever you want). It also has an inline 50-amp circuit breaker and a low-voltage cut-off.
All of this is connected to a 6-switch panel via a single cable. The idea is that you run the cable for the switch panel once and then in the future you only have to run wiring to the sPod source system. It's not cheap, but from what I can tell it's about $100 or so more than buying similar components yourself, and it has the low-voltage cut-off which isn't something a "home brew" system is going to have.
As far as I know, I'm the first install in a 100-series. I used the Tacoma kit and had to tweak the mounting bracket a bit to make it fit. Toyota Tacoma sPOD Kit
I mounted the switch panel in my sunglasses holder. Sorry I forgot to take pics while I was doing this but basically I yanked it out of the car and used a dremel to cut a hole in the front for the switch panel (using the provided template from sPod) and then cut another hole in the back for the cabling. It just barely fits in there.
I ran the cable through the firewall from inside the cabin into the engine bay. I then ran the cabling up the A-pillar and across the top of the windshield, connecting to the switch panel. I removed the sun visor as well to make it a bit easier to tuck the cable up out of the way.
All back together:
I then mounted the source system in the engine bay up next to the break fluid reservoir. As you can see, I had to tweak the rear mounting bracket a bit so it would sit flush and clear the hood strut.
With the cover on:
It works!
All-in-all, this is a pretty slick system. Right now I only have my ARB twin compressor hooked into the sPod. I don't have lockers, but if you do, sPod has a super easy wiring kit for ARB compressors with front and rear lockers (using the first 3 switches of the panel).
If I have some time this week, I'm going to run the power for my fridge into it so that I can switch it on and off from up front. I'm also planning on adding some aux lighting so that will get wired in as well.
Just bought the SPOD Universal Kit for my 99. Contacted SPOD to get the Tacoma Bracket so I can mount just like you did next to the break master cylinder. It looks like you bent the rear bracket slightly to clear the hood strut. Is that correct? Could you give me some details on exactly what you did? Could using a spacer work instead of bending the bracket or maybe another idea? Thanks, NHouston