A new Adventure Mobile
- Thread starter SWbySWesty
- Start date
Terrainist
Explorer
Nice switch, I think you'll like having a place to crash ready made. Shelter can't be underestimated really. I gets old loading up and dragging all your stuff out. More peace and less stress awaits.
Vehicles are female, just like ships. And if you don't name her, by default she will become "Baby". As in, "C'mon Baby, I know you can do it", rubbing the dash as you try to slog through a muddy track. And make sure your girlfriend is nice to her or she will get jealous. No kidding, she'll start acting up.
Vehicles are female, just like ships. And if you don't name her, by default she will become "Baby". As in, "C'mon Baby, I know you can do it", rubbing the dash as you try to slog through a muddy track. And make sure your girlfriend is nice to her or she will get jealous. No kidding, she'll start acting up.
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Well, not to be dirty or anything, but the van got to watch us strip out parts we're keeping from the Jeep to get ready to put them in the van. I got to show her how the stereo, cb and dual battery was wired up so she can find a problem if we encounter it. She's so excited to help with the van as she never really had a full connection with the Jeep. She helped lift it, but that was it. This time, I'm leaving all interior convenience items to her. I'll handle mechanical and upgrades, but she's the boss to make it look good inside. :smiley_drive:
Van's also going to get brand new water lines, new water pump and faucet this weekend.
(all sink related)
Last edited:
billwilson
Adventurer
nice ride buddy
make sure you check out TheSamba.com
pm me and will send you pics and details
of the westy i tricked out last year
make sure you check out TheSamba.com
pm me and will send you pics and details
of the westy i tricked out last year
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
I got the dual battery installed. I'm not getting enough charge from the main battery to have the solenoid turn on, but using the existing dual battery solenoid, I was able to hook it up inside the Portable Power pack to charge the battery. So I'll look into what the deal is...maybe the alternator (90amp) isn't big enough for this application...wouldn't be surprised.
Next up -
adding the second deep cycle battery to the auxiliary system and hooking up systems to the PPP
Stereo headunit, amp, sub (coming thursday)
Water tank hoses, pump, faucet (thursday)
CB radio
MAYBE my HID Hellas and HID headlight setup (I wonder if the square lights are the same size)
yikes...all hopefully done by this weekend for the hot springs? pshhhhhhhhh yea right.
Next up -
adding the second deep cycle battery to the auxiliary system and hooking up systems to the PPP
Stereo headunit, amp, sub (coming thursday)
Water tank hoses, pump, faucet (thursday)
CB radio
MAYBE my HID Hellas and HID headlight setup (I wonder if the square lights are the same size)
yikes...all hopefully done by this weekend for the hot springs? pshhhhhhhhh yea right.
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
UPDATE: I used a multimeter to test the input connectors with the engine running at idle and got 13.5V. I thought to myself, jeeze, that's definitely enough for a full charge and for the NL setup to turn on. So I plug it back in and LO AND BEHOLD, the timer starts up and I wait around for 5 minutes
.....
CLICK! - the solenoid switched over, charged the battery up to 100% indicated on the NL panel and then clicked itself off. NICE.
My GUESS is that I hadn't plugged the input connector in all the way? Not sure...d'oh
.....
CLICK! - the solenoid switched over, charged the battery up to 100% indicated on the NL panel and then clicked itself off. NICE.
My GUESS is that I hadn't plugged the input connector in all the way? Not sure...d'oh
Maximus Ram
Expedition Leader
I like the new SN...:victory:
Have fun with the new rig...always nice to get something new to play with.
ps: now you need to change the avatar..
Have fun with the new rig...always nice to get something new to play with.
ps: now you need to change the avatar..
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Spent a little time in it last night:
The stereo didn't help my hangover this morning... :friday:
The stereo didn't help my hangover this morning... :friday:
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
New update: I wired up the rear cigarette lighter to my auxiliary battery. I can run my small travel inverter off of it to power my laptop for movies or charging cell phones, etc via AC power (I don't have a laptop travel thingy). This runs through a 15 amp fuse.
This is good news at least for this weekend since I will most likely need to do some homework while camping in the Los Padres NF.
This is good news at least for this weekend since I will most likely need to do some homework while camping in the Los Padres NF.
now you have a van to sleep in down by the river... nice!
seriously, if you get to the point where you want to go Syncro or put in a new motor, i.e. other than a TDI, check out these guys - www.subagon.com. Not sure how long they've doing this, but they're in CA and Joe, one of the brothers, seems like a really straight-up guy. maybe you've run across them on TheSamba...
have fun, man.
seriously, if you get to the point where you want to go Syncro or put in a new motor, i.e. other than a TDI, check out these guys - www.subagon.com. Not sure how long they've doing this, but they're in CA and Joe, one of the brothers, seems like a really straight-up guy. maybe you've run across them on TheSamba...
have fun, man.
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Thanks dude!
UPDATE: I've wired two Optima Yellowtops in parallel to run off of the National Luna Portable Power pack. And yes, they BOTH fit in PPP box. QUITE the tight fit but works. I've got a few accessories running off the batteries, but I HATE how they all come off the battery posts so I am picking up a BlueSea fuse box to clean things up today after work. I hope I can get it all clean and less firehazardy before the trip! :coffeedrink:
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
For anyone that missed it, I took the van on its inaugural trip to the Santa Barbara Hot Springs:
Trip Report has been posted.
http://theadventurebrigade.blogspot.com/2010/10/santa-barbara-hot-springs-in-october.html
Is it bad I'm looking at 15/16'' steelies and BFGs? I don't think this van knows what its gotten itself into. At least she'll be happy to head where she belongs. The wild.
Trip Report has been posted.
http://theadventurebrigade.blogspot.com/2010/10/santa-barbara-hot-springs-in-october.html
Is it bad I'm looking at 15/16'' steelies and BFGs? I don't think this van knows what its gotten itself into. At least she'll be happy to head where she belongs. The wild.
vanderpooch
Authentic Adventurer
I'm just Diggin all the Vanagon love on the Forum these days!!! :wings:
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Stereo update: I hated the JVC stereo. It was freakin' hard to use and complicated, and the usb input didn't link my iPhone. I thought it did.
I am happy to report that this new stereo works, is easier to use, works with my iPhone and FITS IN THE DASH!
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158GT640UI/Sony-CDX-GT640UI.html?tp=5684&tab=features_and_specs
The reason it fits is because all the wiring doesn't have to be behind the unit. If you look in this picture, you'll see the subwoofer amp RCA outs on a cable which means they don't stick out behind the unit. No rebending of metal needed!
The speakers sound terrible when turned up.
So also, after putting in this new headunit, it puts out 17 watts RMS and the speakers in the van, I found out, are CRAPPY Autozone $5 speakers which can handle PEAK 25watts...yikes, no wonder it sounds awful. I also found some interesting wiring leftover from the previous owner...not sure how he thought this was a good idea. Even MY wiring isn't this bad...
SO - I was really happy with my Pioneer speakers I had in the Jeep (which were ~$60/pair). You can crank them up after taking the bass out (via the equalizer in the headunit) and use them for all the high notes and let the subwoofer handle all the bass notes. This worked great for heading out on the town and bumpin' the party tunes with a carful of people! It even got TOO loud and that was without an amplifier to the speakers.
The plan now is to get some decent Pioneer rear 5.25 speakers (since those are what the Jeep had) and get some Pioneer 4'' speakers for the front stock location. These speakers will come from the Crutchfield outlet and would cost less than $100 for all 4 new speakers.
Sigh, a simple project turns complicated...in other news, my buddy heater came last night. Mojave Desert next month will be oh so nice!
I am happy to report that this new stereo works, is easier to use, works with my iPhone and FITS IN THE DASH!
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158GT640UI/Sony-CDX-GT640UI.html?tp=5684&tab=features_and_specs
The reason it fits is because all the wiring doesn't have to be behind the unit. If you look in this picture, you'll see the subwoofer amp RCA outs on a cable which means they don't stick out behind the unit. No rebending of metal needed!
The speakers sound terrible when turned up.
So also, after putting in this new headunit, it puts out 17 watts RMS and the speakers in the van, I found out, are CRAPPY Autozone $5 speakers which can handle PEAK 25watts...yikes, no wonder it sounds awful. I also found some interesting wiring leftover from the previous owner...not sure how he thought this was a good idea. Even MY wiring isn't this bad...
SO - I was really happy with my Pioneer speakers I had in the Jeep (which were ~$60/pair). You can crank them up after taking the bass out (via the equalizer in the headunit) and use them for all the high notes and let the subwoofer handle all the bass notes. This worked great for heading out on the town and bumpin' the party tunes with a carful of people! It even got TOO loud and that was without an amplifier to the speakers.
The plan now is to get some decent Pioneer rear 5.25 speakers (since those are what the Jeep had) and get some Pioneer 4'' speakers for the front stock location. These speakers will come from the Crutchfield outlet and would cost less than $100 for all 4 new speakers.
Sigh, a simple project turns complicated...in other news, my buddy heater came last night. Mojave Desert next month will be oh so nice!
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Last edited: