The Resurection of 'The Beast' (15 Viewers)

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turnbuckles are useful bits of hardware. :cool:

Ah, I shall stop calling them 'thing-a-ma-bobbers' now.

I do need to decide what type of hinges and tie-downs to used. I like the 'recessed' idea to keep a flat platform for sleeping. Recessed tie-downs are easy to find, the local Lowe's has them and I've used them in the back of my FJC. They are a little bigger than what I want but I don't know of a better idea for recessed tie-downs. I could use some simple footman's loops but no local stores have them and they are not recessed - but are small. I think I'm going to use regular 'ole hinges as they are fairly flat...
 
Some of y'all might have seen my post over in Chat. Work on the Pig has taken a backseat for about three weeks. I went down for the count Wednesday and had my appendix removed - sucker was three times the size it should have been. It's not good when you Dr looks you and says "This isn't normal..." :eek:

I can't lift more than 10 lbs for 3 weeks so GSMTR is out, and my new windshield and headliner I had planned for this Friday are postponed for several weeks. I piddled with the dash and some Armor All for a bit on the Pig this afternoon but now I'm resting for the rest of the day. The :princess: will kill me if I over do it. I probably shouldn't have worked on the Pig any today but I had to get out for a little or I would go crazy.

:beer:
 
I don't have a fusible link installed in my Pig. Positive goes straight to starter and negative to frame/ground. Was reading a few posts and in one a guys 40 almost burned up. Do y'all think I should install a fusible link?

I'm also thinking about a dual battery setup in the Pig as often I will be running a GPS, Edgestar fridge and cell phone at the same time with the phone and fridge on overnight. At times will have aux lights running. I've done some research and the National Luna kit seems like a good kit. What chall think?
 
Dual batteries is an excellent idea for any vehicle with a winch and/or a fridge.

National Luna is good stuff but really spendy, like $250 or so just for the controller and solenoid. It's what I'm putting into the HZJ79 that Proffitt's is building for me.

I have a Mobi-Arc fancy solid state isolator in the 100. It is bombproof and simple to install but was really spendy.

A possibly less expensive U.S. option is Wrangler NW. Wrangler NW - Power Products They will help you design the system if you tell them what you want and then custom build it for you.
 
STeve you should have a fuseable link. It won't be a big cable. It't the +12v wire going from the battery to the harness.

If you don't, you need one.

Also if your running heavy wire to the back plan on getting a main fuse for it. I'm a fan of a big power switch. Because it will never leave you stranded.

At night you can just run one battery to power all your stuff. If you waake up the next day and it's drained you can switch to the other battery. That being said it's all manual.

I've heard good things from the NL sysytem. I looked at buying that as well.
 
STeve you should have a fuseable link. It won't be a big cable. It't the +12v wire going from the battery to the harness.

If you don't, you need one.

Also if your running heavy wire to the back plan on getting a main fuse for it. I'm a fan of a big power switch. Because it will never leave you stranded.

At night you can just run one battery to power all your stuff. If you waake up the next day and it's drained you can switch to the other battery. That being said it's all manual.

I've heard good things from the NL sysytem. I looked at buying that as well.

Yeah, I don't think I have a fusible link...I'll waddle out and try to take a look later today.

I guess I'm OK with manual - just have to remember to switch it back and forth - and cheap is good right now.
 
I have a big (hopefully) wrenching day planned for June 21st. I'll be installing a dual battery kit and also a good many extra DC outlets - probably four up front and two in the back.

For the DC outlets I'm going to probably go with marine grade and locking units you can pick up on eBay. I ordered some for my FJ and liked them.

What would y'all recommend for the dual battery setup? I've heard the National Luna kits are nice but they are pretty pricey at $375 EQUIPT Expedition Outfitters - Intelligent Split Charging Kit. I want to only run the primary battery for starting juice, winch and the stereo (I've read that National Luna suggests a winch go to the primary), the secondary will power 2 aux lights, CB, fridge, GPS and 2 iPhones. I have a yellow-top Optima now which I will probably keep for the primary, and I'll buy a Costco/Kirkland deep cycle battery for the secondary battery.

Also, do I need a separate fuse box to run everything to?

The :princess: said yesterday that Sunday, June 13th she will help me work on the Pig all day so I can get the rear sleeping/storage platform in place well enough so I can go ahead and get the headliner and windshield replaced. She rocks.
 
check out wrangler NW

I would install a power distribution/fuse box for your second battery.

I've found a high power 110V inverter to be useful. I have a 1750W one. You need to run big ass cable to it though.
 
check out wrangler NW

I would install a power distribution/fuse box for your second battery.

I've found a high power 110V inverter to be useful. I have a 1750W one. You need to run big ass cable to it though.

I looked at WranglerNW - will again.

I am NOT an electrician, but I have a friend coming over who even though he claims he isn't that good with electrical he is damn good. Something about if you used to wire munitions on fighter jets then you are good enough to do some wiring on my old truck...

That being said, I want to have everything ready for him when he arrives. I'll pick up a fuse box then - any suggestions on one?

Hmmm...an inverter too...that is a good idea. I love the inverter in my FJC. Any suggestions for one?
 
there is a guy in the vendors market section here that has built a really nice accesory fuse box. It seems expensive until you try to price all the stuff to build your own, then you realize his is cheap.
 
Does anyone have pics of where they placed a second battery tray or put a dual tray in a Pig? I'm thinking about fabbing up a dual tray to mount in the same spot the current battery is mounted.
 
Alrighty then!

National Luna dual battery kit and Blue Sea fuse box, along with a few DC marine grade outlets. I need to figure out where to install the outlets - maybe on the right side of the dash (passenger side) so the :princess: has easy access to them, or maybe in the glove box...dunno yet.

Still looking for ideas on a dual battery tray - both design and location - if anyone has any ideas.

:cheers:
 
12V outlets should go on the dash, under the dash, one in the engine bay, and at least one in the back of the truck, probably two

I got nothing for battery tray other than to say if I was designing one I'd make a double tray so I could put the two batteries and the controller all next to each other. If that fits in the factory location great, if not there is plenty of room in that engine bay for extra stuff. Landpimp made a double tray for his FJ40 out of two factory trays hacked up and then welded together.

I heard the http://www.stainlesstrays.com dude was in business again but the website doesn't work. :confused:
 

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