100 Series Family Adventure Rig

[Bretthn]

I missed your post from the weekend trip. Great photos and trip report!

Thanks. We are due for another day trip soon.

Great Trip!

How are the coopers holding up?

Likes? / Dislikes?

MPG up or down?

They are holding up great. I am at 5,000 miles and about to do my first rotation. They ride straight, smooth, and are wearing even. There is a slight hum but like I have said before, no more more than BFGs or Terra Grapplers. I have had them in rocks, loose gravel, on washboards, and in slick clay and they performed great. I run off road pressures between 14 and 20 psi. I hope to try them in some snow soon.
I do not think they have added to the fuel consumption since I still often get 16 MPG on the highway and average 14.5 MPG around town.
I would not hesitate to recommend or buy them again.

 

[28.]

those look sick.. After seing these on your truck I think I might have to sell or trade my 18s for a set of 16s..

 

[Bretthn]

those look sick.. After seing these on your truck I think I might have to sell or trade my 18s for a set of 16s..

Rumor has it that Cooper is releasing a new line of sizes in this tire next year. Check out the general vehicle modifications section for a few threads discussing it. Maybe they will offer something for 18s. Your Lexus looks great by the way.

 

[fireball]

Hi Brett,

I've gone through your thread again looking for ideas for my upcoming electrical projects on the 100 and have a few quick questions:

1. did you run a 2# power and ground back the pass side to the safetyhub? Did you do any calculations or why did you choose 2? I was planning on 4.
2. do you have a link or know the ebay seller name of the rock lights? Those look really nice and would be a nice little addition.
3. What all wires did you have to pass through the fancy new grommet you put on the driver side of the firewall?
4. did your 2# power/ground go through an existing grommet on the pass side?
5. are you happy with your choice in dual battery setups? I've been reading up on the T-max, and looks like a pretty good option especially considering the ~$125 pricetag.

Thanks!

 

[Bretthn]

Hi Brett,

I've gone through your thread again looking for ideas for my upcoming electrical projects on the 100 and have a few quick questions:

1. did you run a 2# power and ground back the pass side to the safetyhub? Did you do any calculations or why did you choose 2? I was planning on 4.
2. do you have a link or know the ebay seller name of the rock lights? Those look really nice and would be a nice little addition.
3. What all wires did you have to pass through the fancy new grommet you put on the driver side of the firewall?
4. did your 2# power/ground go through an existing grommet on the pass side?
5. are you happy with your choice in dual battery setups? I've been reading up on the T-max, and looks like a pretty good option especially considering the ~$125 pricetag.

Thanks!

1. I have just run a 2awg power to the rear. I created a chassis ground in the rear. Once I start hooking up some more electronics I may do a full ground run.
I have not done any calculations and 4awg probably would have been sufficient but I had the 2awg already.
2. I got them here http://www.horsepowerjuice.com/led-lights/rocklights.html but have since seen them on ebay for much less.
3. So far… 4 wires for the dual battery control switch and 2awg power running to the trunk. There is room for much more and eventually there will be more.
4. see #3 above
5. Very happy! It works great and has a lot of features that I am not using…. yet. Good luck in your choice.

 

[fireball]

Thanks for the info!

I was confused about the DS grommet since the aux battery is on the pass side I thought it would've been easier to run everything down that side.

Anymore info on why you chose that particular dual battery setup? Did you investigate the T-max and decide against it for some reason? I've been trying to read about the various setups but my limited electrical knowledge means the content quickly goes over my head, and I think after all this reading I'm not any better off than I was when I started

 

[Bretthn]

Thanks for the info!

I was confused about the DS grommet since the aux battery is on the pass side I thought it would've been easier to run everything down that side.

Anymore info on why you chose that particular dual battery setup? Did you investigate the T-max and decide against it for some reason? I've been trying to read about the various setups but my limited electrical knowledge means the content quickly goes over my head, and I think after all this reading I'm not any better off than I was when I started

For you it will be much easier to run it on the passenger side but I have the AHC pump in the way which doesn't leave me with much access to the firewall in that area.
I felt the same way as I was reading about each of the dual battery kits. A few reasons I went with the Blue Sea ACR

• It is made to withstand salt water environments so anything I throw at it will not be a problem
• Simple dash switch rather than a control panel
• It has many smart automatic isolation options that you can wire it to do such as automatically isolate when the starter engages to eliminate any dirty electricity if you have a laptop charging
• I have read reviews of some of the smart solenoids not working properly when hot.. i.e. in the engine bay in summer
• The ACR draws no constant power when isolated or engaged and draws less than standard solenoids when switching back and forth because it is magnet based
• My favorite feature is the manual override switch which makes it easier when working in the engine bay

In the end I don't think you can go wrong with any of the big names out there, they each have their positives and negatives. Good luck in your decision and let us know what you go with.

 

[Bretthn]

This morning I blew my heater hose Ts. I would normally do this repair myself but with my current schedule I am just letting my local Toyota dealer handle it. I get a free loaner Tundra and I needed to have the green coolant flushed out and replaced with Toyota coolant anyway which the dealer is going to do while they are in there.
I was planning to replace the Ts during the upcoming timing belt service but I guess they couldn't hold out.

 

[boo471]

Aaah that sucks. Get the parts and we will get that timing belt done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bretthn]

Aaah that sucks. Get the parts and we will get that timing belt done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Soon... I hope.
I must say that I am not minding the Tundra that the dealer gave me as a loaner. It's amazing how much space the back seat has on only a cab and a half. The double cab must be like sitting in the back of a limo!

 

[Chris Boyd]

Hi Brett,

I've gone through your thread again looking for ideas for my upcoming electrical projects on the 100 and have a few quick questions:


3. What all wires did you have to pass through the fancy new grommet you put on the driver side of the firewall?

Any more data on this grommet? I'm getting ready to do the same thing... I'm planning to put my rear fuse block in the compartment where the factory jack is. That's not useful to me anymore with the lift and bigger tires...

Wish I could make a run with you guys and take look, but covered up with family and work stuff.

 

[fireball]

Pretty sure this is the one he used:

 

[Bretthn]

Any more data on this grommet? I'm getting ready to do the same thing... I'm planning to put my rear fuse block in the compartment where the factory jack is. That's not useful to me anymore with the lift and bigger tires...

Wish I could make a run with you guys and take look, but covered up with family and work stuff.

If you have't seen it already, look at posts 31 and 36 for more information. Search Daystar firewall boot.

Pretty sure this is the one he used:

Yep, that is the one.

 

[Bretthn]

It's been a while since I have had any updates. I haven't really done much since I have been busy with work and the holidays.
I had some spare airline miles laying around and and used them to buy myself and iPad Mini. I have a Kindle and love it too much for reading to get rid of it. The main purpose for the iPad will be navigation.

My wonderful wife has already bought me the Ram mount for it. This is the Ez-roll'r and it fits the iPad great.


I still have a few things to piece together before installing it. I will use the ProClip vehicle specific mount and a few more Ram pieces to make it adjustable for access by the driver or passenger.

On the more boring side of things… I think my fan clutch is going out. I just had it at the dealer to replace the heater hose T's and do a coolant flush. The last few days it seems to be running a little hotter than usual and from a quick search of the inter webs and a little troubleshooting, the fan clutch seems to be the culprit. I think I will finally be getting the timing belt service done after the holidays and will have it replaced while they are in there. I am thinking about having the radiator replaced at the same time… is it worth the added piece of mind at 170,000 miles?
Things I plan to have done at the same time:

• Water pump
• timing belt
• idler pulleys
• timing belt tensioner
• thermostat
• serpentine belt
• spark plugs
• cam/crank seals
• upper and lower main radiator hoses
• possibly replace radiator while in there

Let me know if I missed anything that should be done while they are in there. I would love to do this myself and normally would but finding the time to do it is becoming a challenge and I do not want to continue to put it off.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Take a look at your valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals... mine were leaking at similar mileage and were replaced at the ~180k service. You will need two gallons of the coolant as well. Great info here: http://tlcfaq.com/main/2013/04/90000-mile-service-parts-list/