Traveler III
Steve’s 2016 Toyota 4Runner Modification and Adventure Thread
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Traveler III
Final fridge slide design. Parts ordered! Plus, the awesome @Ryan Matthes made a custom fitted plywood base to mount his fridge/freezer and storage box on. And not only is sending a full-size template with cutting dimensions, but supplying the not so common long fasteners to bolt it down in the 4Runner!!! Thank you, sir!
Could you go a little more in depth on how you did this? I'd love to do something like this on my tacoma.
Traveler III
Sure! I used one of these Powerlet receptacles, (http://amzn.to/2tAheLf) and mounted it though the honeycomb of my grille. I had to snip away some of the backside of the grille to allow for clearance of the washer and nut.
I made a harness about three feet long with insulated 1/4 female spade terminals on one end, a fuse holder, and ring terminals on the other end. I attached the ring terminals to the battery, and the spade terminals to the back of the switch. Checked the continuity and grounding, then inserted a 20A fuse. Ready for use.
I used these male Powerlet plugs on my compressor, fridge/freezer, and inverter. http://amzn.to/2tAiVrX
I also have one of these so that I can use my Battery Tender Jr through the grille receptacle for trickle charging. http://amzn.to/2tAnuT5 And it's opposite so that I can use my Powerlet plugged accessories on other vehicles using standard SAE to 12V converters. http://amzn.to/2tAlkTx
Traveler III
Remember this? Well, I received the slides and aluminum angle. $360 worth. And I still needed to cut, drill, buy fasteners, and plywood.
So I returned it all and for $90 more, bought a TemboTusk Jumbo Front-Pull Slide. Jerry was short some bits, but they arrived today, and he's shipping it out yet today! Thanks so much Jerry!!!
Meanwhile, I've made progress on the baseplate that will bring the floor of my 4Runner's storage area up level with the folded second-row seat backs, The fridge slide will be bolted to the baseplate, and the baseplate bolted to the body using the OEM tie-down points. I'm not going to put any covering on it at this point, as we are leaving on another cross-country wander in ten days. I'll figure something out when we come back sometime late August.
I also decided to order a Renogy 100W Solar Starter Kit. If I find that the National Luna fridge is using too much of the starter battery overnight, I'll pick up a cheap deep-cycle to use at night, and charge via solar during the day. Later, I'll move the Renogy panel to the Hiker Trailer.
Friday I'm going to mount the Renogy panel on the Prinsu roof rack. At the same time, I'm moving my ARB awning to a set of Prinsu clone awning mounts, and see if I can put together a MaxTrax mount of some sort.
I'm not getting much accomplished. It's been thunderstorms off and on all week, and will continue through Friday. Temperature this afternoon was 89°F with 83% humidity. So doing inside stuff; refilling the first aid kit, starting a dry goods box for snacks/lunch stuff, and like each previous trip, piles of stuff we won't use... At least we don't need much cold weather clothing in July/August like we have on past trips in September/October.
Traveler III
I just updated the first post, adding the Electrical section, National Luna fridge and Tembo Tusk slide, Renogy solar, etc.
Photos next week before we pack for our 2017 cross-country trip:
Steve & Deb's 2017 Cross-Country Wandering
Photos next week before we pack for our 2017 cross-country trip:
Steve & Deb's 2017 Cross-Country Wandering
Influencer I
Hi Steve,
Do you have any issues with noise with the rack loaded up? My buddy has a Front Runner on his Defender and he says it is quite squeeky over bumps when it is loaded up. It's one of the things that made me wait to purchase Front Runner and I'm glad because the Prisnu looks just as flexible as far as accessories and I like the look of it better as well. I'm thinking of selling my Gobi Stealth rack for something like your rack but I have concerns with the bolt together racks for noise and loosening factor.
Any real life experience feedback would be awesome. BTW my next build is going to be waaaaay more sensible then the last build. lol
I've have found that my rig is overkill for most of what I use it for. My TRD Pro is going to be a very, very different build. Now if I can just bring myself to the place of selling my old friend. No hurry though ; )
Thanks again,
Kyle
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Influencer I
Traveler III
As far as wind noise goes, it is much much quieter than my Thule crossbars and Yakima LoadWarrior basket with the same lightbar and awning mounted. That's the main reason I switched. Deb and I had to practically yell at each other going 65 MPH into a 40 MPH headwinds last fall in Kansas!
With the awning, lightbar, and RoadShower, it is almost unnoticeable. The other day I added a solar panel and changed awning mounts, and it got a little louder. I don't know which change made the difference, but I'm assuming the solar panel. I'll remove the panel late this fall, so I'll know then if that's the cause. Still, not too bad.
I have not had it off road or loaded with gear yet, so I don't know if it creaks or speaks. I can't imagine that it would, as it seems *very* solid.
We are leaving Saturday for another cross-country trip, so I'll let you know how it works out then. Follow along on Instagram or Facebook using the links in my sig.
Influencer I
Thanks for the quick response.
I am also looking at that solar panel that you purchased for my own rig. Did you go with the mono or the poly panel? The poly looks a little smaller specs wise then the mono.
Monocrystaline panel being 47 x 21.3 x 1.4" and the Poly being 39.7 x 26.7 x 1.4. Curious as to which dimension you chose for mounting purposes.
Thanks again and sorry for all the questions right before your trip. I'm sure you have enough to plan and think about already. : )
Kyle
Advocate I
Traveler III
I bought the monocrystaline panel, as that's what Amazon had in the starter lit at the best price. I know barely anything about solar, so I wanted to get started relatively cheaply. The panel is mounted, and I'm bringing the wires and charge controller with me, but will only buy a deep cycle battery and hook it up if I find the starter battery isn't able to keep up. I've spent more than enough here lately!!!
Traveler III
Today I received the Tembo Tusk Jumbo Front-Pull Fridge Slide from Jerry. He didn't even have all the parts until six days ago, and it arrived late this afternoon.
Once I knew the bolt pattern for the slide, I disassembled the platform that @Ryan Matthes sent me the plans for, installed tee nuts on the underside, and then finished installing and bolting down the platform and slide. I put in two sets of tee nuts; one as shown, right up against the edge of the folded back seats. And the second set with the slide just hanging over the rear edge of the platform. The latter is needed with the National Luna 90 Twin when I have the rear seats in their upright position.
Once we get back from our trip, I'll add a covering on the platform. Ryan used carpet, but I might go with a heavy rubber flooring so that things don't slide around.
This trip will certainly be telling as to whether the 90 Twin is too larger, and whether we have enough room for the rest of our stuff. It takes up fully half of the cargo area behind the seats!
Once I knew the bolt pattern for the slide, I disassembled the platform that @Ryan Matthes sent me the plans for, installed tee nuts on the underside, and then finished installing and bolting down the platform and slide. I put in two sets of tee nuts; one as shown, right up against the edge of the folded back seats. And the second set with the slide just hanging over the rear edge of the platform. The latter is needed with the National Luna 90 Twin when I have the rear seats in their upright position.
Once we get back from our trip, I'll add a covering on the platform. Ryan used carpet, but I might go with a heavy rubber flooring so that things don't slide around.
This trip will certainly be telling as to whether the 90 Twin is too larger, and whether we have enough room for the rest of our stuff. It takes up fully half of the cargo area behind the seats!
Influencer I
The build is looking great! I also can empathize with the "I've spent more than enough here lately!!!" statement. My wife calls my truck the mistress. lol
Two recommendations for you Steve.
1) TRD Pro 4Runner front skid. The one on our Pro is a solid peice with good protection. Toyota did well on its design ours has taken some pretty good hits and still looks good as new.
2) Bed liner on your new plywood platform base. It will waterproof it and will make it easier to clean up should anything spill on it.
If @Ryan Matthes wouldn't mine I would like to have a copy of those platform plans as well.
1) TRD Pro 4Runner front skid. The one on our Pro is a solid peice with good protection. Toyota did well on its design ours has taken some pretty good hits and still looks good as new.
2) Bed liner on your new plywood platform base. It will waterproof it and will make it easier to clean up should anything spill on it.
If @Ryan Matthes wouldn't mine I would like to have a copy of those platform plans as well.
Traveler III
Here's the Tembo Tusk Jumbo slide with the National Luna 90 Twin installed. I have it on 110V cooling down. It fits and works great, but takes up a lot of the 4Runner's cargo space!
We leave on our next cross-country trip in three days, so I'll post pictures somewhere other than our driveway soon!
We leave on our next cross-country trip in three days, so I'll post pictures somewhere other than our driveway soon!
Traveler III
I'm not doing any armor until and unless I get to a point where whats on it now proves inadequate. That's my philosophy on suspension, too.
Bed liner is a possibility. I want to use this trip to see how I use it and then decide.
After we return, I'll check with Ryan and maybe put the plans in CAD. Or just forward on what he sent me. Give me about a month.
Influencer I
