reddog90
SILVER Star
I currently have a 1987 FJ60 and a 2013 200 series. These are mildly built daily drivers and weekend trucks, not expedition vehicles. My primary need out of a battery system right now is to run a 12v fridge. For the foreseeable future, trips will be limited to weekends here and there, and a 7-10 day trip once a year. Those long trips once a year will include driving the vehicle each day, not getting somewhere and parking for a week. I might put a winch on the 60 at some point, more likely to add driving lights to the front bumper first though. No other real electrical additions planned for either vehicle.
At this point, I don't really want to mess with a dual battery system in either truck, and I like the flexibility a portable power station offers for a two-truck situation and the fact that each can be returned to "stock form" easily. I am eyeing a goal zero yeti 1000 core, on sale for $900 right now. It should run a 45L fridge for 2-3 days on a full charge, but can be plugged into either vehicle's 12v socket to charge while the vehicle is running as well. I could invest in a solar panel to charge it later on if I really need to. And I could also just recharge it from shore power if I am in a campground on a long trip like I will be at SAS this summer.
The other option I have considered is upgrading the single battery in each truck, and upgrading the alternator in the FJ60 to an 80 amp 3fe alternator. I thought I could get by with a good quality AGM battery in both trucks that would serve as a starter battery and run the fridge when camping. I have done some research on this topic but I am still a little confused. Would I need a dcdc charger in each vehicle to property charge a single AGM battery to get it's full life? And upgrading each truck's battery means I would still need to properly and safely run power to the back for the fridge. And if I am already running power back there, I might as well have a meter, some other charging ports, room to expand the system later without running more wires, etc. It seems like a slippery slope and a portable power station will really take care of my needs just fine.
Is this analysis paralysis? Should I just get a yeti?
At this point, I don't really want to mess with a dual battery system in either truck, and I like the flexibility a portable power station offers for a two-truck situation and the fact that each can be returned to "stock form" easily. I am eyeing a goal zero yeti 1000 core, on sale for $900 right now. It should run a 45L fridge for 2-3 days on a full charge, but can be plugged into either vehicle's 12v socket to charge while the vehicle is running as well. I could invest in a solar panel to charge it later on if I really need to. And I could also just recharge it from shore power if I am in a campground on a long trip like I will be at SAS this summer.
The other option I have considered is upgrading the single battery in each truck, and upgrading the alternator in the FJ60 to an 80 amp 3fe alternator. I thought I could get by with a good quality AGM battery in both trucks that would serve as a starter battery and run the fridge when camping. I have done some research on this topic but I am still a little confused. Would I need a dcdc charger in each vehicle to property charge a single AGM battery to get it's full life? And upgrading each truck's battery means I would still need to properly and safely run power to the back for the fridge. And if I am already running power back there, I might as well have a meter, some other charging ports, room to expand the system later without running more wires, etc. It seems like a slippery slope and a portable power station will really take care of my needs just fine.
Is this analysis paralysis? Should I just get a yeti?