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Based on experience, I guess I should also throw in a common sense caution about mounting batteries on their side. Installing a battery on its side presents additional opportunities for shorting the POS and NEG posts. This is a mounting issue, not a battery issue. It goes without saying that...

Several sources say that AGM batteries are not sensitive to orientation. Personally, I've run several yellow-tops mounted on their side for over 6 years and have had no problems. The D31T has a vent port that I keep on the upper side, but as what is being vented is hydrogen gas (in the...

The DC-DC charger is working out very well for me. I've made several extended camping trips with it installed and I'm getting outstanding performance from my aux battery. My 2.5 year-old yellow top D-31T was showing symptoms of aging but now seems to be performing like it was young again :)...

I don't know about Rainbow Lane specifically, but there are a couple of nice trails that run from Big Bear down the mountain to Yucca Valley near Joshua Tree National Park. It is likely that Rainbow Lane hooks up with those trails. The best known trails start near Baldwin Lake (the 'sometimes'...

I'm also curious about CTEK's claims about desulfation. As you say, the benefits promised are not backed up with any data. Supposedly, the CTEK charger detects sulfation in a battery when first connected -- I presume through detection of higher internal resistance -- and then pulses current...

HenryJ: Thanks for the data! I've used those general specs before to determine battery condition. Unfortunately, unlike a wet-cell battery, you can't use a hydrometer on an AGM battery to accurately measure the SOC. It would be much easier if you could! Also, there are a few more variables...

That's a surprisingly hard question to answer. I don't have a science-quality test setup, so my data is what can charitably be called 'informal'. My subjective observation is that my aux battery has been charging back up in about 2 hours of driving from the approximately 11.5V I've used as a...

Optima Jim: Thanks for your response. I took a look at the specs of the new (Spring 2012) Optima Digital 1200 charger and they are similar to the observed performance of the CTEK (e.g., the 1200 has up to 14.9VDC output, temp controlled). As the Optima 1200 charger is cited to enhance the...

Optima Jim: When I noticed that the website was in Australia, I thought that might be the case and I understand your response. That an Australian outfit is selling the CTEK chargers implies only that they in particular apparently think CTEK chargers work well with Optima batteries. From...

Optima Jim: Here is the reference to Optima selling CTEK chargers. I now notice however, that the website is from Optima in Australia but I'm presuming that Optima batteries are the same worldwide, correct? teotwaki: The manual also covers the Smartpass, which is essentially an isolator/12V...

Keep this good info coming guys! teotwaki: Yes, I recently installed a CTEK 250s Dual DC/DC charger in my 2006 Tacoma. I was using an automatic charge relay (Blue Sea Systems 7610 ACR) to isolate/connect the starter/service batteries in my system. It did a great job managing my aux power...

Here is another alternative. The CTEK 250s is a bit pricey, but has some nice features. If you run a solar system in your vehicle, it also has a built-in MPPT solar controller. My observations so far is that the charging voltage, at least on the meters I have, is a bit above 14.4VDC...

Reading the fine print on the ScanGauge web site reveals a complication regarding the ability to add a transmission temp gauge via X-Gauge commands. It seems that the coding provided by ScanGauge here will only work if your Toyota uses the CANSF OBD protocol. If you check this page on...

Santa brought me a ScanGauge II for Christmas and I just finished mounting it in my 2006 Tacoma. Your 4Runner may be a bit different, but I simply mounted mine above my rear view mirror by fabricating a small aluminum plate that is screwed (carefully!) into the back of the rear-view mirror. I...

Can't comment on the 4Runner, but I can confirm it works on the 2006 Tacoma.

The mic PTT switch in the ICOM 2200 has been known to fail. Some research on the web will turn up some stories. Cleaning the switch won't help as the contacts in the switch fail internally (you can verify this with an ohm meter). Some people have had luck with shimming the switch, but others...

I use an 85W panel on my Tacoma. It's stored under the roof of my shell and then set up on a pole arrangement from my front Aluminess bumper. It will produce up to 5a @14.4VDC, as determined by the controller (Vm is about 21VDC). Here is a link to a unit very similar to what I have. I've...

Had a breaker but ... I originally installed a 150a breaker in the positive cable to my winch but I eventually realized it was under-rated and would probably trip at the worst possible time, most likely when stalling out or under a heavy winch load. I swapped it out for a heavy duty on/off...

As you can see from the photo, the 85W panel mounts to a telescoping pole that I use for other purposes as well (solar shower bag, camp lighting, radio antenna mount). I chose this method instead of hard-mounting the panel so that I could park in the shade and put the panel out in the sun. In...

I have a dual battery system and do a lot of backcountry camping. I use my battery overnight to run my Engel 35 and some other equipment loads that usually draw my D-31T Optima Yellow Top battery down pretty far (~11.5v). I typically let the alternator charge the battery back up the next day...