Day One...not that this is going to go fast, or anything

[Czechsix]

Well that's a bugger, I was hoping you would have some luck with the software. What year/engine is the other truck it's possibly going to?

I'm thinking that it's for the 2010 and prior series...but I'll do some more digging and find out for sure, eventually. With the trucks that are showing up to the ExPo, I'm sure we can figure out what it'll work on...pretty decent spread of years/models that are going to be showing up.

 

[SkiFreak]

Sorry to hear that the MUT-III does not work on your truck, but thanks for being a guinea pig.
It would be nice to know if it does actually work on a 2010 FG140, as that is pretty much the same truck as my FG84.
If you can get some "real world" testing done at OvEx that would be brilliant, and it might help a few of us out if you get some positive results.

 

[pugslyyy]

I'll update the MUTSIII thread too, but a quick update here: MUTIII, from what I can see, is a no-go. This particular VIC and software package, even though it was updated to 2012 standards, won't work on 2011+ FUSO's. Oh, bother. I'm still waiting for an answer from the seller, but I don't have high hopes. I've been talking to an expo forum member, and if the MUTS doesn't work, in the end, I think they'll get a nice package at a sizeable discount, and I get to chalk up another lesson learned. Or maybe I'll bring it to the western expo and folks with the correct year truck model can play around with it...

Well that sucks, sorry about that. I tried talking with a vendor about it but didn't get much progress... but I also think that in that marketplace they are more inclined to answer "sure no problem it will work for you!" anyways.

Did it just not work, period?

 

[Czechsix]

Yep, would have been nice if it solved problems...but not on this model year. As you've found, real information is tough to source...I think lots of it is going to have to come from our community, as usual.

I'm still waiting on a response from the seller, and if one doesn't come by mid-week, I'll go ahead and update the other thread with what I know up to this point.

Basically, 2010 and prior will use the VIC and software that I purchased, and our later trucks depend on a completely different VIC module, and probably different MUTSIII software too. I'm really hoping that the seller gets back to me on this. Even though I haven't found the more recent VIC for our 2011+ trucks - this system has been out for several years now. Knowing the Chinese, I'm willing to bet that they had cloned systems within the first year. After all, they use the trucks too, and more than likely supply some of the hardware for the diagnostic system. I think it's out there, but not reading chinese.....kinda tough to source. If I do get back into contact with the seller I'm going to specifically ask them to search for a system that works on the 2011+ trucks.

tl;dr version: nope, doesn't work on our newer trucks, period.

 

[yabanja]

You can't beat a good set of Recaros. Corbeaus are cheap. The fabric is very poor and doesn't last(race car experience). Really hoping to sample the MUTT at expo if you still have it!

Allan

 

[Czechsix]

So, a quick update:

Most of the interior is back into the cab. Today was installing the retrofit dual battery kit. The 2012 FG model came with only a single battery. Luckily, FUSO issued a battery upgrade/retrofit kit to bring the battery box up to 2013 standards, giving a dual battery option.

Having fabricated a fair amount of stuff in the past, $231 total for the kit was a price I had no problem paying. It looked like everything was included, so that saves me tons of time. (yeah...notice the past tense there..)

So today was the install day, and it went fairly well. After I added the sealant shrink tube onto the cables, sealing them like they should have been from the factory, it was time to bolt everything on. Everything went fairly well - cables bolted on OK, mounts ok, scraped and painted the frame where it needed to be done. Added brackets to hold the hot cable to the starter, etc.

Bolted the battery box brackets on...and then...


Oh COME ON FUSO!!!...It's a stinking bracket, how hard is that to do?

Sigh.

I looked all over, couldn't find a decent piece of scrap to hack into a 9"x3"x3/16" plate that I could drill out, and make a scab plate. Metal supplies are closed, so it'll be Monday before I get to it again.

Mutter grumble grumble

I guess I'll mount the bed box tomorrow, while the ham is smoking.

Looking for the silver lining, I think I'll integrate the scab plate spacer with a mount for the ARB compressor. I'll mount the compressor right next to the batter box, keeping the power run as short as possible. Then I'll plumb the intakes to a single line that'll run behind the cab, along with the other breathers that are being mounted high. In addition, I'm going to mount the high voltage fuse block higher, or at least as high as the harness will allow.

So..tl;dr version: 2012 owners that want to do the dual battery upgrade from FUSO...be prepared for it not to be plug and play.

 

[yabanja]

Ouch!! That's how it goes sometimes!

Allan

 

[pugslyyy]

That sucks!

My local Home Depot sells small bits of steel and aluminum. It's not the cheapest option but they are close and open 7 days a week.

 

[Czechsix]

Yah, I could do the Home Despot route...but then again today I'm doing an applewood smoked ham and that definitely takes much monitoring, and imbibing while monitoring. I'm thinking today is an off day...at least more of an off day than most, because most days I'm already a bit off.

I might just get a piece of rectangular tubing, which would allow me to set up a very strong mount for both the battery box, and the compressor.

 

[Czechsix]

Little by little, bit by bit.....

 

[mog]

It is interesting you had to add a 'dual' battery box, I thought that was standard on the Fusos. Did they change post 2012?
Looks to be the same as my 'old-school' battery box (don't let that stuff in the background confuse you, that is just a hi/low transfercase and manual transmission :sombrero: )

 

[Czechsix]

It is interesting you had to add a 'dual' battery box, I thought that was standard on the Fusos. Did they change post 2012?
Looks to be the same as my 'old-school' battery box (don't let that stuff in the background confuse you, that is just a hi/low transfercase and manual transmission :sombrero: )
View attachment 280431

Yah, I lucked out with the '12 model. For '13....dual battery box. No idea why they would consider going to a single, other than the obvious cost savings. Hi/low. sigh. sniffle. :squint:

 

[Czechsix]

Ok, pretty much done, except for some small things like getting a better fitting cover, possibly putting a dual battery switch in, and running power out to the winch. And of course, I'm still waiting for a wireless controller to show up, once that hits I'll be installing that.

Batteries are Sears Diehard Platinums AKA Odyssey batts.



Chicken was absolutely no help whatsoever.

 

[Czechsix]

So...seats are in. Mostly. I'm still chasing some air leaks, but I'm replacing the blue line with an Eaton product that's DOT rated for brake lines. Hopefully that'll solve the air leaks. I don't think the other line has thick enough walls, but I'll know by Sunday either way. I did a quick and dirty mount with the small air pump and reservoir in a tool box/diesel tank I mounted on the bed. I'll be running a 5 watt solargizer to keep the battery powered up...temporary setup, but it'll work.

Ah...the seats. I'm not completely happy with them, but they're a definite improvement over stock. Of course, I could have replaced the stock seat with a beach chair and that would have been an improvement too.



The reason I'm not completely happy with them? Well, it's the seat itself. The suspension base does what it's supposed to do, but the seat... Foam sticks out in odd places, the thigh bolsters are relatively useless unless you like softballs as padding, the back rest side bolsters, as far as I can tell, do absolutely nothing at all. I'll still have to play around with the leveling, I like to have some more support around the front of the seat, so I'll probably be spacing that up by an inch or so. The build list from Hackney doesn't hold true for these newer models - the '99 Ford F Series adapter kit is absolutely useless, other than supplying some stock to cut up. The seat belt adapter kit is also useless, and you'll have to come up with a solution. I simply did a hole in the seat frame, reinforced it, and bolted the seat belt fitting into it, along with an extender to the original belt mounting point. I might still modify that, but it seems to be working.

The seats themselves, well, I can see myself getting some higher quality seats in the future and pulling these out. It would be simple to rig a small valve to control the suspension base ride height and firmness.

Interior sound proofing was fun too...30 square feet of Hushmat went in. Yeah...not a clean job, but hey, anything helps, right?



Chicken is still no damned help



Next thing to do is start getting various accessories - lights, compressor, USB ports, HF radio, etc - powered up. I'll be using a bluetooth relay controller to run the various accessories.

 

[jomobco]

I love the RC. I was looking at a 4x4spod.com but having 16 items to program you could do most of the camper as well as the cab.