Corey's 2007 FJ Cruiser built for expedtion/overland, & daily driver

[Corey]

Eezi-Awn Bat 270 Awning Installed 4-21-2017

Been a month since the last mod.

I have had the Campinglabs awning on my rig since spring of 2008 shortly after I got my Autohome Maggiolina Airlander roof top tent installed.
The awning has been very nice to have, but kind of a PITA to setup on some of the solo trips I have gone on.

Within the past year of so I have seen these 270 degree awnings pop up on forums, and there are a few brands out there.
I am already a fan of Eezi-Awn gear as I have two of their tables I keep in the rig full time which I use one for the chuckbox, the other for dining at.

I bought the awning from Paul May of Equipt Expeditions in Utah, and it had been stored on my living room floor for three plus weeks.
I attempted to install it a few weeks back with the help of a couple that lives next door, but we could not get it aligned up, and quite frankly I am glad we had a snag.
The awning is much heavier than the Campinglabs one, and Paul and BajaRacks had warned me it might bend the BajaRacks awning mounts outwards with the additional weight of this new awning.

Jason the tech at Auburn Off-Road put it on, and indeed it was a little heavy.
But not to worry, him and John the owner of the shop said they could either weld a gusset in there much like you see on a pair of rock sliders, or tie a flat piece of metal stock in there and tie the Eezi-Awn bracket to the horizontal part of the BajaRacks awning bracket together, same as gusseting it.
And it worked!

If I need more stability, I still have the middle BajaRacks awning bracket on the roof rack, but the Eezi-Awn awnings only utilize two positions.
Paul sells the brackets, and if needed, Jason could make up a third piece and tie it in, but we really do not think that will need to be done at this time.
I will keep my eye on it and see how it is holding up.

This awning is such a joy to deploy, as you just walk around the rig with the strap and the awning unfolds for you.
This is a free standing awning, but if rain or wind is expected, it has built in legs you can extend and stake to the ground to make it more stable.
Instead of me making a video of it opening (I may if I get time later) here is a video of Paul May opening the same awning, but his is installed on the right side of the rig instead of the left like mine is.
The make both a left and right hand version, they are not interchangeable from side to side.


Links:

Eezi-Awn Bat 270 Awning Left Hand Side (Driver)

Auburn Car Repair & Offroad

Pictures:

Stock BajaRacks awning bracket in the middle, and the Eezi-Awn bracket bolted to the one on the left

Closeup of the Eezi-Awn bracket

Modified bracket so it would mate to the BajaRack bracket

Both Eezi-Awn brackets bolted up

You can see the extra metal piece Jason fabbed up that ties the back of the Eezi-Awn bracket, and it goes over the long outer tube of the BajaRack that holds the tent, and it ties into the top and bolts though the BajaRack awning mount

Side shot of the very dirty rig with the new awning all zipped up

Case unzipped, and the canvas hanging down before you grab the strap and go for a walk around the rig to open it up

Awning deployed, no legs down yet, and it seemed pretty stable with a light breeze

I had to remove the Rotopax cans, but the aluminum support arm that goes to the right side cleared the Maxtrax just fine

Look at those nice legs

Another shot from the back side

The strap you grab when you go for a walk around the rig to deploy it has a hook on the end, and it fits just perfect around the BajaRacks right side front leg support that bolts to the roof

Side shot showing the Maxtrax, they rub a bit, I will have to find out if they will wear on the canvas, if so, I will come up with a solution

Rotopax back on, and they clear the canvas

Closeup of the aluminum arm with the name Eezi-Awn on it, and you can see it is much lower than the high point on the Rotopax, and this is why they must come off to deploy the awning

What I am going to do when I get time it to turn the Rotopax mounting plate that is on the ladder 90° and lower it some, and the cans will sit sideways, and a little lower, and I think that will solve the problem so I do not have to remove the cans each time.
I do have to remove the CB antenna, but that is on a quick disconnect mount, and very easy to take off in less than two seconds.

Overall I am very pleased with this new awning.
One thing you have to do is make sure you get the three top strap parts out that help tighten up the canvas when it is rolled up.
Not bad though for my first time deploying it and putting it away.

Stand by for tomorrow, as I have another mod that was done today, and it is for the Renogy 100 watt solar panel that keeps the auxiliary battery charged up since that runs the new National Luna Weekender 50 Twin fridge/freezer.

 

[toyotech]

I think the passenger side version would be better since your rear door opens to the driver side.


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[Corey]

I think the passenger side version would be better since your rear door opens to the driver side.


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Only this is I must enter my tent from that side, as my fridge is on the drivers side, and I would not be able to open the doors on that side to access the fridge with the ladder hanging there.

 

[Corey]

Anderson SB50 Plug & Cable Added To Aux. Battery For Solar Panel Installed 4-21-2017

This was done Friday, but I just got pictures and hooked up the solar panel an hour ago.
The auxiliary battery under the hood is primarily used just to power the new National Luna Weekender 50 Twin fridge/freezer I picked up last fall.
It also supplies power to the comm units in my rig, both CB and ham.

For my Renogy folding solar panel the way I hooked it up before to the auxiliary battery was with the supplied battery clamps like you see on jumper cables which you will see in a few pictures below.
Had to pop the hood for this each time, and I wanted a better setup.
The Renogy kit already came with and Anderson SB50 plug, so I had Battery Stuff make me up a short cable that would go to the battery, and the other end would go to an Anderson plug and be on the outside of the rig so I did not have to pop the hood open.
I also had them make me up an extension cable that would extend the range by about 20'.
They did not however install a 15 amp fuse on the shorter cable, I had to do that myself.

However as I was waiting in the waiting room at Auburn Off-Road getting my new awning installed, I was looking through a copy of 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine from last summer (I had read the article before) I saw a solar panel company called Overland Solar that has the same cable and extensions that come fused.
Wish I had known about them, I would have bought the shorter cable from them already fused, and just got the non fused extension from them too.

The external Anderson SB50 plugged is attached to the side of the ARB Intensity LED light bracket.
It makes for a pretty stealth installation, and is way better than drilling into the bumper.

From testing the setup today in very overcast conditions, I was very impressed how fast it brought up the voltage from 12.3 to 13.4 volts.
When I fire up my rig to drive it, both voltage displays go to about 14 volts, then back down to 13.4 volts when cruising, so I am impressed, I already said that right

Links:
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Foldable Solar Suitcase
This one has a newer charge controller than the one I have one mine, and they got away from the Anderson plugs, not good in my opinion, as I prefer the Anderson SB50 A plugs.

Custom Cable 4' 10 Gauge with Rings & SB50 10ga4ringSB
They also made the 20' 10 gauge cable for me with the Anderson SB50A plugs on each end, but you will have to call them to custom order it.

On with some pictures:

The Renogy kit comes with a new semi-hardshell case

The old battery clamp cable on the far left I use to use, the new Anderson plug equipped one that connects to the battery in the middle, and the 20' extension on the far right

The charge controller on the rear of the solar panel, and a mugshot of me got in there somehow

Cable attached to the auxiliary battery, and yes, it is a mess of pine needles under there, as I park under trees at home and at work

Anderson SB50 plug attached to the side of the ARB Intensity LED light bracket

Beginning voltage on the auxiliary batter is 12.3 volts

The charge controller needs the date and time set, but it lights up as soon as it detects the auxiliary battery attached, and you can also see a smiley face in the display, all if good, plus the green light for working
Sorry, I could not get a good focus on the display.

Cable plugged into the Anderson SB50 plug on the rig

Solar panel soaking up the rays, and it is highly overcast here this morning, very impressed as you will see in the other voltage picture

About fifteen minutes or so later, the 12.3 volts jumped to 13.4 volts, about the same as when I am driving down the road with the alternator charging up both batteries, I am impressed

 

[Corey]

Fridge Monitors, Rotopax, & Awning 4-29-2017

Added two digital fridge monitors to my National Luna Weekender 50 Twin fridge/freezer this morning.
The Engel wireless one I have been using since 2008 is not working properly anymore, and I got away from wireless.
I found these on Amazon a few weeks back, and you can set it for Fahrenheit or Celsius.

Although the fridge has an LED readout on it, I wanted a temp monitor in each section to get a better reading on my temps.

Link:
Digital Refrigerator Freezer Room Thermometer, Max/Min Record Function with Large LCD Display (2 Pack of Black)

I lowered and turned the mount 90 degrees for the two Rotopax cans I carry as I could not deploy my new awning without taking them off.
And the Adventure Tool Company Tool Roll is so handy to have wrenches available to work on the mount.

Compare below in the first picture when the Rotopax were upright, you can clearly see the Eezi-Awn swing arm is lower than the cans, thus why I had to remove the cans to deploy the awning.

Now look at the arm with the Eezi-Awn name on it and see how it sits higher than the Rotopax, thus allowing me to deploy the awning without removing them.
I do have to lift that arm up slightly to clear the top of the Maxtrax, but there is a little flex in the arm, but not enough to have cleared the Rotopax when they were up higher.

In the picture below I have two of the awning legs down, and the rear one is pushing up the canvas enough to clear the top of the Maxtrax when opening the rear door, or just sitting.
This clears the top of them from rubbing on the awnings canvas in case it is windy.
The Alu-Cab 270 awnings actually have a small arm you flip up to lift the canvas higher, but not really needed in my case.

In the final pic is me just relaxing in my new Blue Ridge Chair Works called "The Blue Ridge Chair".
I picked it up about a month back, very comfortable after I was done working for a few hours earlier on the rig.

 

[wildorange]

@Corey

Nice setup & well thought out..


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[Corey]

@Corey

Nice setup & well thought out..


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Thank you very much.
Getting the rig out over Memorial Day weekend to mark some waypoints of campsites I want to hit up this summer.

 

[JamesDaily]

This thread makes my mouth water constantly.... grrr

I'd love to get my hands on a 270 degree awning (and about $50,000 to finish my FJ).

 

[Corey]

This thread makes my mouth water constantly.... grrr

I'd love to get my hands on a 270 degree awning (and about $50,000 to finish my FJ).

Thanks James!

Hey, are you going to Expo West this weekend?
Wish I was there, my mind would be overwhelmed by all the cool setup rigs for overlanding, and all the vendor booths full of the latest gear.

Yes, I really like this new Bat 270 awning.
If the weather is not too bad this weekend I need to open it up again and see if there is a way to hang some Goal Zero LED lanterns on it like I use to hang on my old awning.
Have a lot of little projects to work on, but most are all good weather dependent too.

 

[Corey]

Mini Quick Fists & Gerber BG Hatchet Mounted 5-13-2017

I use to keep my Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet in one of the drawers of my cargobox.
After mounting the Fiskars axe awhile back, I thought it would be a good idea to free up some space in the cargobox and mount the little BG hatchet by the Fiskar axe using some Mini Quick Fists.

It turned out pretty good, and now I have easier access to it while camping, or fending off rouge zombies

I have a lot more projects to work on such as installing a new 12v LED light in the roof top tent, mounting up a Trasheroo trash bag on the spare tire, but it looks like rain is before too long.
Next weekend it looks like better weather may make an appearance.
Trying to get a lot of these little things out of the way before camping season is upon us.

Also the owner of Outer Limits Supply announced last week on Instagram that he has a new holder setup for his first aid kits like I have on my rear doors table/rack.
It eliminates having to use the straps that are on it now, and it will not move around as much.
Will be looking into that for sure.

He is showing them at the Overland Expo West this weekend to the lucky people who could make this annual event in Arizona.

Links:

Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet

Mini Quick Fist Clamp for mounting tools & equipment 5/8" - 1-3/8" diameter (Pack of 2)

 

[Corey]

Test...

 

[Corey]

Goal Zero Lanterns, Yeti 400 Lithium, And Compass Hood Decal

I have several Goal Zero LED lanterns I used on my old Campinglab awning.
I was not sure how I was going to "string" them on the new Eezi-Awn Bat 270 awning I picked up recently, so I deployed the awning this morning to see how it could be done.

Low and behold the awning has these nice little aluminum rods at the end of the awning support bars with the exception of the very last one that wraps around the passenger side, and I just ran a zip-tie through a hold on that one to hang the lantern from.

The Goal Zero Light A Life lanterns can be daisy chained together, and they also have a built in hook/clasp which makes it easy to hang it to attachments such as the rods and the zip-tie on the awnings support arms.

Depending on where I put my new Nemo crapper/shower tent I picked up for this new season, I can probably have enough length in the lanterns cable to run a 5th one to the Nemo.

How am I powering these lanterns?
Yesterweek I picked up the new Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium solar generator.
Some of you may remember I picked up the ArkPak a few years back, and it is very nice for powering stuff at home during a power outage, and for camping.
But...it weighs in at close to 100 lb, and the Yeti is only 17 lbs.
The ArkPak will be retired to home duty only since the Yeti 400 is so light.
It has both an 8mm 12v output, and also a cigg12v outlet.
Also two 110v outlets.

I also picked up a cool folding stool awhile back to stand on when packing the awning away from Amazon, and it will also be used for setting the Yeti 400 on.

For charging it it has a 110v 8mm input, and that is also how you plug in a Goal Zero solar panel.
I ordered the Boulder 100 watt Brief Case model with built ion charge controllers, and that will arrive probably by this coming Friday.
So now I will be running three solar panels:
1. Powerfilm foldable 60 watt for the starting battery
2. Renogy 100 watt suitcase style for the aux battery that powers the National Luna Weekender 50 fridge/freezer
3 Goal Zero Boulder 100 watt Brief Case for just the Yeti 400 Lithium solar generator

I also ordered a nice compass decal via Amazon, and installed it this morning to the hood.
The compass decal is high quality, but unfortunately my die-cut decal installation procedure is not.
I messed up up and got some of the black parts that adhere to the hood misaligned, and it looks like crap if you look at it closely.
I already have another one on order, and I am going to see if a local body shop or vehicle decal place can do the installation for me.

Also these come in many different colors, and when you order it, it defaults to black unless you contact them after placing your order to select another color.
I am wondering if I should stick with black, or get a white one.
What do you think???

Links:

Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Portable Power Station

Boulder 100 Briefcase

Jeronic 11-Inch Plastic Folding Step Stool, Black

Compass Hood Sticker, Compass Car Vinyl tr1882

 

[Corey]

Continued, I was getting an error with the pictures insert

Pictures:

Passenger side light, the only one that needed a zip-tie to hang from

Lanterns lit up, I wish I had some pics in the dark, but it gets light out now around 5:20 am

These put out quite a bit of light when it is dark out

The Yeti's control panel showing how much charge in hours is left if all four lanterns are running, turn off half the lanterns, the run time doubles

On the new stool

Closeup showing the lanterns hook/clasp attached to the awnings rod in the support arm

The 42 liter Alu-box I keep my Goal Zero lanterns, two propane lanterns, and the Powerfilm 60 watt solar panel in

From a distance it does not look too bad

But when you get closer, you can see line that points to the S is crooked, and the lower circle part to the left of the line
I also have a few bubbles in it.
Maybe a shop can fix it, but just in case, I have a new one coming if they have to scrap this one.

 

[Corey]

Outer Limit Supply Quick Release Bracket Installed 6-3-2017

I have had my Outer Limit Supply Weekend Warrior first aid kit for awhile now mounted to the Springtail Solutions table/rack setup on the back door of my FJ Cruiser.

This is a top notch kit designed by Travis owner of Outer Limit Supply.
The way the kit mounted before was a two strap setup, and his new mount he unveiled at Overland Expo West 2017 is a much better setup IMO, and so much easier than having to release the two straps.
The first aid kit could move around a little with the straps, not so with this new setup!
It is held in with magnets, and they will not release until you pull down a red straps.
You can mount the strap at the top or bottom, I chose the latter.

The included instructions and template you tape to the rear of your kit make the installation a breeze.
This is way faster to get to your kit if needed, and much more secure.
If you want to upgrade to the new setup, get a hold of Travis, I am very excited about the new kit for sure!

Links:

My first aid kit, Weekend Warrior Series

Quick Release Mount

Pictures and one video:
Please excuse me for not looking into the lens, I was looking at the LCD screen which I had flipped towards me on my Canon Rebel T5i camera.

Tape the included template to the rear of the kit to drill four holes for the quick release bracket
Make sure to empty your kit first, which Travis mentions in the instructions.

Push the four bolts with the flat washers and rubber washers through the holes

Then attach the QR bracket to the rear of the case, and tighten up with the included nuts for the bolts

Screw the mounting plate to the quick release bracket through the magents with the four counter sunk screws

Mounting plate and QR bracket
Skottle is feeling lonely not getting any attention until tonights dinner.

Bracket mounted to the rack/table

Plenty of room for the rack/table to be in the down position, and not have the kit interfere with the plastic surface of the FJ

Showing the old mounting plate above that used the two strap system, not sorry to see it go

You really do not see the red strap hanging down unless you look from underneath

See, the strap kind of disappears when you look at it from straight on

Outer Limit Supply Quick Release Bracket

 

[Corey]

Goal Zero 100 Watt Solar Panel For The Yeti 400 6-4-2017

I may post these two videos to the camping section later too, but the Goal Zero Boulder 100 watt solar panel and the Goal Zero Yeti 400 lithium generator will be used with the rig.

Powering up the old school Goal Zero 3 watt LED lanterns which will be hung on the Eezi-Awn Bat 270 awning, and also for charging up items such as the Goal Zero Lighthouse 400 lumen lantern, charging flashlight batteries, and also charging up the batteries for my Canon Rebel T5i camera.

I am a little disappointed in the Goal Zero canvas case the solar panel ships with, as there is zero padding.
However the Renogy solar panel I use to charge up the aux battery that powers the National Luna Weekender 50 Twin fridge/freezer ships with a nice padded case that works with the Goal Zero solar panel just fine.

For what you pay for Goal Zero gear, they should include a padded case as well.

One more thing, the Goal Zero solar panel does not include a charge controller, but one is not needed since the Yeti 400 has one built in.
If you want to use this solar panel to keep a rigs battery topped off while camping, you will have to wire one in, or you could get the plug & play Goal Zero Guardian 12V Plus Charge Controller.
I have two of them (never used them yet), and they connect to the 8mm plugs that Goal Zero uses.
You could also cut off the battery clips and hard-wire it to your battery.

Goal Zero Boulder 100 Watt Test Part 1


Goal Zero Boulder 100 Watt Test Part 2