What have you done to your 200 Series this week? (52 Viewers)

[Markuson]

Looks awesome. Sorry if I missed this in the thread, but are these National Lune lights?

Yes. They are both red and white, with three levels of brightness for each color. More than enough light.

When you sleep inside your truck as I often do, it’s a bummer to only have white interior lights...because SWARMS of bugs get in there and are nearly impossible to get out.

I’ll be adding an additional amber light toward the front. Odd combo...but amber lets items look more normal than red. Also...I’m interested in a direct comparison with various bugs.

Only one way to truly know....TEST & Compare in the field.

By the way... I still have and use my existing, rotatable, @Mogwai-inspired LEDs. They are perfect once I’m inside the back because they can be aimed at the ceiling for a nice, diffused, indirect lighting. The National Luna’s would blind me.

Also...I added a bit of Velcro to shade the rear-facing direct LED light from the NL units for the same reason. It’s in your face while standing at the tailgate without that (one of many new benefits I’m discovering with my now fully-Velcro rear interior. More on that later.

 

[mcgaskins]

Yes. They are both red and white, with three levels of brightness for each color. More than enough light.

When you sleep inside your truck as I often do, it’s a bummer to only have white interior lights...because SWARMS of bugs get in there and are nearly impossible to get out.

I’ll be adding an additional amber light toward the front. Odd combo...but amber lets items look more normal than red. Also...I’m interested in a direct comparison with various bugs.

Only one way to truly know....TEST & Compare in the field.

I think I have the same one, but I only went with a single. When I ordered mine from Equipt, the white/red was on backorder, so I got the white/amber. I was pleased on my camping trips with the performance of the amber and noticed like you said things like more normal with amber.

 

[Markuson]

I think I have the same one, but I only went with a single. When I ordered mine from Equipt, the white/red was on backorder, so I got the white/amber. I was pleased on my camping trips with the performance of the amber and noticed like you said things like more normal with amber.

Nice. I may go with Amber at some point in the future if it proves effective for insects. Have you been able to test that yet?

About having two... One is certainly bright enough. What I like about 2, though, Is it virtually eliminates shadows while tinkering with things on the tailgate. Super nice, diffused lighting.

 

[mcgaskins]

Yep I camped about 30 feet from the Delores outside Moab in a pretty marshy area and had no problems at all with bugs in the truck. I had red lighting inside the camper on the Tacoma and it worked equally well for bugs, but for my eyes the amber seemed to be a little easier to navigate around though that could be because the amber ones can be cranked up brighter than the red ones I had.

 

[OrangeTJ]

I hadn't posted in quite a while but I thought I'd share. I just powder coated the wheels this week and got new BFG's today. I'm running a stage 1 Icon suspension with 2720 OME rear coils. Absolutely love the ride. Quite the difference in ride after the suspension broke in. Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

View attachment 1833946

Looks awesome! I have been starting to contemplate a suspension upgrade on my 2015 200. I'm running 275/70 18 BFG KO2s - is that what you have on yours? For your suspension upgrade, did you need anything beyond what came with the kit? Is it really just as simple as replacing struts up front and coils shocks out back? I'm looking at OME but have also seen the Icon. Any reason you went Icon over the others? Sorry for so many questions!

 

[Markuson]

Yep I camped about 30 feet from the Delores outside Moab in a pretty marshy area and had no problems at all with bugs in the truck. I had red lighting inside the camper on the Tacoma and it worked equally well for bugs, but for my eyes the amber seemed to be a little easier to navigate around though that could be because the amber ones can be cranked up brighter than the red ones I had.

Thanks, and glad to hear.

I may switch to amber in back then, since my crazy bright Buggy Whip makes an effective area camp light in a circle about 40’ in all directions. Amber rear hatch would be easier on the brain.

 

[mcgaskins]

Thanks, and glad to hear.

I may switch to amber in back then, since my crazy bright Buggy Whip makes an effective area camp light in a circle about 40’ in all directions. Amber rear hatch would be easier on the brain.

Haha that’s awesome. I’m sure it’s easy to spot your truck at camp!

 

[Markuson]

Haha that’s awesome. I’m sure it’s easy to spot your truck at camp!

Ya, I see it as a momentary light. Not something I’d leave on in camp for long. But it really does provide a great, non-blinding, diffused light.

 

[Markuson]

Was trying to figure out why everything was taking so long on my LC...do I wrote down what I’ve done over the last few weeks...

-Buggy Whip Mount/wiring
-External Voltage meter
-Dual external USB
-External 12V socket
-External Master power switch
-Camera Relocation
-External 110AC outlet
-Additional Internal 110AC outlet
-Warn Remote Storage/Charge Mount
-BT Speaker Mount
-Internal wire re-routing
-4g inverter wire to 1 gauge swap
-Reconfigure existing wires to enable above
-Propane Tank Mount mod & split propane fittings & quick mounts
-Re-do propane tubing with high pressure tubes & new fittings
-Liftgate Velcro
-Buggy Whip external switch
-Tailgate storage molle diversion
-Inverter full replacement
-External Phone Mounts
-External connectors/charge box
-Propane locking device
-Modify wheel carrier for Maxtrax
Mount & install
-The Buggy Whip interior non-use mount solution
-Velcro quarter panels
-1500 screws for above(!!)
-Water-heater Platform fabrication
-Lithium batt Charger relocate (wiring, Mount)
-18650 charging stations
-Inverter control/monitor Mount (rear)
-Fridge power outlet wiring
-National Luna Red Tailgate lighting
-Flame Thrower tubing setup

Several of those took FOREVER (screws for Velcro...!!)...
...But anyway...so feel better about how long everything took.

 

[Mendocino]

This week I bought a Kenwood TM-D710G for the 200 and made the build appointment with Slee. i bring it in next Monday for: BP-51s, alignment, ARB front bumper, Slee rear bumper, sliders, dual battery set up with IBS, and drawers and a fridge slider. This will make a huge difference.

 

[Markuson]

Let me get that door for you, ma’am...

 

[robe]

Looks awesome! I have been starting to contemplate a suspension upgrade on my 2015 200. I'm running 275/70 18 BFG KO2s - is that what you have on yours? For your suspension upgrade, did you need anything beyond what came with the kit? Is it really just as simple as replacing struts up front and coils shocks out back? I'm looking at OME but have also seen the Icon. Any reason you went Icon over the others? Sorry for so many questions!

Hello OrangeTJ. The tire size I'm running are 285/65/18. For the suspension, all I did was change shocks and coils. I was considering doing the UCAs but decided not to. Btw, the alignment came out perfectly fine. I believe the only thing that I lose by not changing UCAs is suspension droop. I may change those at one point - maybe. I also considered Fox, OME and Radflo but ultimately went with Icon. I ruled out OME because I read the ride was a bit harsher with the standard shocks and the BP-51 were a bit more than what I wanted to spend. Fox came in at a close 2nd but Icon provided 1" more of travel - incase I ever had the urge to give it more lift. And the Radflos, well I just couldn't get enough real world test info and feedback, so they were easily out. By the way, I purchased my Icons last year from ORW with a 20% black Friday discount which is available now if you decided on them. I hope this helps but feel free to ask more questions if you have any.

Robert

 

[unclemat]

wrong thread - no way to delete a post?

 

[Markuson]

wrong thread - no way to delete a post?

Join (become a yearly supporter) and it adds many functions, including the ability to delete your own posts.

 

[Markuson]

With no second row, this armrest is wasted space, and a perfect spot for quick-grab tools/items via Velcro...

Just doing this one strip for now, but it’s perfect for stuff I’d like to charge without opening the rear hatch/swingouts, etc.
Will soon add an in-door USB charger so I can handle radios after each trail day, and a few other items.

 

[Markuson]

Cut out the useless ash tray in the door and replacing with this. Including switch so that I can charge without running the engine, but also turn off if concerned about consumption.

Tight fit, but just about perfect space with adequate void for the sockets where the ash tray was:

Obviously not done wiring...

 

[Markuson]

All set.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Markuson, looks great, what did you splice the outlet into?

 

[Markuson]

Markuson, looks great, what did you splice the outlet into?

Thanks!

I ran a positive from another pos. wire I ‘d already run to the back through the door step “conduit.” Then I just grounded the negative to a bolt in the door that was used for ground by another Toyota wire within the door.

The wiring of two outlets and a lighted switch is convoluted in appearance...especially since I added a “poor man’s fuse) just under the unit as well.

 

[Markuson]

@TonyP , this one’s for you...

(After Baja, I remembered Tony saying that next time he’d Mount a paper towel thingy for cooking, etc. I agree. -So helpful when grease is flying...)

**This is one of a nearly unlimited number mount spots with hook&loop everywhere.