97 R50 Pathfinder- Building the dream
- Thread starter Lecoq
- Start date
Lecoq
Explorer
Me as well. The good thing about the ARB compressor is that it's made for it. The wiring harness that came with it is ready for lockers. All I need to do is install 2 switches (Front and Rear lockers) and screw in the solenoids for the lockers.
I have to decide if I want a bumper and winch or a set of lockers next. After the skid plates of course.
I have to decide if I want a bumper and winch or a set of lockers next. After the skid plates of course.
stioc
Expedition Leader
Yeah, the ARB comps come with the full setup to be used with their lockers. Air locker is the next big item on my list but it's about $1600 out the door. You can buy a lot of other goodies for $1600. If not the lockers I'll go with the skids. Unless I find a good deal on the ARB/TJM bumper before the other stuff it's going to be last even then I'm not sure I want to carry 160lbs on the front with just the OME MD springs I have. A winch is good to have but I wouldn't mind using the hi-lift as a winch if I ever get myself into a situation where I would need to winch out and no one else around to tow me out. As for the skids I want something made out of 1/8" plate as opposed to the heavier 3/16. I was going to ask Steve (fluery) to make me a set but shipping from Canada will be a deal killer.My skids will merely serve to protect the drive shaft and oil pans from smaller rocks kicked up when driving 30+ mph on wide open desert roads, I don't bash the underbody on big rocks to need more than 1/8".
Oh as for the battery unless you'll run a fridge or other stuff off the battery a deep cycle isn't necessary and you give up the CCAs- although RC capacity is more important. Also, while it's like the "best oil" debate the Odysseys are better batteries than the Optimas. If you have Sears there you can actually get their Sears Platinum batteries which are rebadged Odysseys for about $30 less.
Oh as for the battery unless you'll run a fridge or other stuff off the battery a deep cycle isn't necessary and you give up the CCAs- although RC capacity is more important. Also, while it's like the "best oil" debate the Odysseys are better batteries than the Optimas. If you have Sears there you can actually get their Sears Platinum batteries which are rebadged Odysseys for about $30 less.
Lecoq
Explorer
Thanks for the info on the battery. Between the extra lights, the future winch and the compressor, I want to make sure the battery can handle all I can throw at it.
I'm looking at ordering skid from Fleury when I have a chance. I was going to get them made locally but nobody seems interested to do business...
I'm looking at ordering skid from Fleury when I have a chance. I was going to get them made locally but nobody seems interested to do business...
I run a Waeco Coolmatic fridge when I go camping, and I have drained the battery (even Optima yellowtops!) on extended trips, requiring a jumpstart. To remedy this, I upgraded to a Diehard Platinum and installed a second emergency-backup Odyssey battery, which is isolated from the main battery with a Hellroaring Battery Isolator.
For whatever reason, should that fail, I also bring a 5000mah 3S (11.1-volt) Lithium Polymer battery (which I run in my R/C cars) that I can connect temporarily to help boost the main battery when starting. The battery mentioned can sustain 200amps of continuous discharge, with up to 250amps of burst discharge.
Note: there are inherent risks to using this type of battery for this purpose, so I don't recommend making a habit out of using LiPo packs to jump-start!
For whatever reason, should that fail, I also bring a 5000mah 3S (11.1-volt) Lithium Polymer battery (which I run in my R/C cars) that I can connect temporarily to help boost the main battery when starting. The battery mentioned can sustain 200amps of continuous discharge, with up to 250amps of burst discharge.
Note: there are inherent risks to using this type of battery for this purpose, so I don't recommend making a habit out of using LiPo packs to jump-start!
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Re: HID wiring
It wasn't hard to wire them at all, just time-consuming to plan out the wiring and route the wires. The sheetmetal cutting to fit the lamps was even more time-consuming than the wiring. I bought two relays (with the associated fuses/wiring harnesses), one for the low-beams, one for the high-beams. I tapped into the factory 9004 sockets, and connected everything else according to typical auxiliary-light wiring diagrams. Fortunately the lights I purchased included all of the connectors/sockets. Without those, wiring would be MUCH more complicated.
Last week I learned that when one of the HID (D2S size) bulbs dies, you must remove the whole headlamp assembly in order to take off the cover which protects the HID bulb. And you need security Torx bits to take the cover off.
Here's an installation guide: click me!
It wasn't hard to wire them at all, just time-consuming to plan out the wiring and route the wires. The sheetmetal cutting to fit the lamps was even more time-consuming than the wiring. I bought two relays (with the associated fuses/wiring harnesses), one for the low-beams, one for the high-beams. I tapped into the factory 9004 sockets, and connected everything else according to typical auxiliary-light wiring diagrams. Fortunately the lights I purchased included all of the connectors/sockets. Without those, wiring would be MUCH more complicated.
Last week I learned that when one of the HID (D2S size) bulbs dies, you must remove the whole headlamp assembly in order to take off the cover which protects the HID bulb. And you need security Torx bits to take the cover off.
Here's an installation guide: click me!
Lecoq
Explorer
Battery died on after filling up with gas on Tuesday. So I picked up a spiral battery with 750cca. Upon installing it I saw how much room there was. So I'm gonna pick up another one and look into a dual battery kit. Any home made setups or decent kits that don't cost $400?
I also picked up some more Rigid LED Dually. So I made some brackets with aluminum pieces. Replaced the stock fog lights with a pair of Dually on each side. The outer ones are the original amber ones I bought a few weeks back, the inner ones are white spot beams. I'm really impressed with how bright these are. I also wired the amber ones to the OEM fog light switch on the stalk.
Enjoy!
I also picked up some more Rigid LED Dually. So I made some brackets with aluminum pieces. Replaced the stock fog lights with a pair of Dually on each side. The outer ones are the original amber ones I bought a few weeks back, the inner ones are white spot beams. I'm really impressed with how bright these are. I also wired the amber ones to the OEM fog light switch on the stalk.
Enjoy!