Main Line Overland JK Build Thread

[Main Line Overland]

After an over 2 week trip in hot climates, I have to say that the National Luna Dual Battery system worked flawlessly. No joke, we ran our ARB Fridge/Freezer for over 2 weeks straight, non-stop, overnights while camping without a single problem. The main battery stayed at full charge, the secondary battery would drop no lower than say 60%, and within a short time back on the trails it would be back to full charge. I would have to say that this is an essential product for overlanding, and it was great not having to worry about it at all during the entire trip.

 

[Humvette]

Cool setup

Are yall back in town? Will you be at or near the shop Sept 17th or 21st?

 

[Main Line Overland]

We are back in town. We will be around on the 17th if you want to drop by, the 21st we will be up at the Overland Rally in Vermont.

 

[venture4wd]

After an over 2 week trip in hot climates, I have to say that the National Luna Dual Battery system worked flawlessly. No joke, we ran our ARB Fridge/Freezer for over 2 weeks straight, non-stop, overnights while camping without a single problem. The main battery stayed at full charge, the secondary battery would drop no lower than say 60%, and within a short time back on the trails it would be back to full charge. I would have to say that this is an essential product for overlanding, and it was great not having to worry about it at all during the entire trip.

This is on my to-do list... somehow. Two batteries under the hood of an XJ seems to be a bit more challenging than on Wranglers, but still. Thinking about prioritizing a snorkel so I can make room by omitting the air box, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I've run my old ARB fridge for up to a month straight on a single battery, as long as I drove the car at least once per day, with peace-of-mind. So it can be done, but if you forget to drive your car one day, then you're out of luck. Which I have also done plenty of times. Needless to say, a dual battery setup is past due.

Strangely, I'm not that happy with my Platinum. I've only had it for a little over a year, and right now, it's not running the fridge for over 10 hours without risking a no-start. I've had far better luck with a yellow top. It is remotely possible that my alternator isn't putting out what it should be. It's old. The whole Jeep is at that age.

 

[PhotoJared]

This is on my to-do list... somehow. Two batteries under the hood of an XJ seems to be a bit more challenging than on Wranglers, but still. Thinking about prioritizing a snorkel so I can make room by omitting the air box, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

This would solve your space issues and give you a "snorkel"

 

[Trail_Blazer]

Did you reinstall the subwoofer? If so, where? I'm in the process of building my 2011 JKU and many of your items are on my list. (BTW, Great Build! :wings I have the sPod, which really has made the electrical installs a breeze. I'm considering either building a box to mount on the side between the roll cage, or mounting it in the rear door. My concern with the door is the magnet affecting my CB Coax not far away. I'm interested in your reinstallation and following your build. I'd like to see your rig when it's done, but I'm on the wrong coast.

 

[Main Line Overland]

Did you reinstall the subwoofer? If so, where? I'm in the process of building my 2011 JKU and many of your items are on my list. (BTW, Great Build! :wings I have the sPod, which really has made the electrical installs a breeze. I'm considering either building a box to mount on the side between the roll cage, or mounting it in the rear door. My concern with the door is the magnet affecting my CB Coax not far away. I'm interested in your reinstallation and following your build. I'd like to see your rig when it's done, but I'm on the wrong coast.

I removed my subwoofer all together. I needed the space, and didn't really use it much. I would much rather have space for gear that is of more use out on the trail. My ARB Fridge now takes up some of space that once was used by the subwoofer.

We were out west this summer, who knows, maybe we will see you on your coast soon. Me and my wife have the red woods on the list of things to see, so who knows.

 

[Trail_Blazer]

Rounding corners on the Microphone bracket

Jim,

I definitely plan on rounding the edges, just ran out of time. And I may even consider moving it entirely, still going back and forth on its location.

On my previous JKR, I put in a similar bracket. Besides rounding the corners, I put on trim edging to further protect the edges and painted it black. Worked well! I'm not sure if I'll do the same on my current 2011 JKRU.

 

[Trail_Blazer]

I made some more progress this weekend, after finishing up some customer vehicles over this past week. The dual battery tray I fabbed up was painted using wrinkle paint, and it came out amazing, as well as the air-box mounting brackets. The tray is made of 10 gauge sheet steel, and it has zero flex, with six mounting points it easily supports the 100+ lbs of battery weight. I wanted to stack the batteries front to back instead of side-by-side because I plan on doing a Hemi swap at a later date. The side-by-side versions do not allow the room necessary for the Hemi, so I did not want to have to redo the battery tray at the time of the swap. Also with the stock airbox in its normal location I can utilize an AEV Snorkel kit, which is also coming soon. Here are a few shots:

Here is the National Luna Intelligent Solenoid, the brains behind the dual battery system, which I mounted to the battery hold-down strap I fabbricated:

[
This dual battery setup also utilizes a National Luna dual battery controller[/URL], which monitors the batteries charge levels, and has a built-in momentary switch, allowing me to connect the batteries for hard starting situations.

And here is the final system wired up, note the There is a lot going on in this photo, due in part to the multitude of factory harness plugs and wires, which I may work on lengthening and cleaning up at a later date, but this is good for now, and I have other work to prepare the JK for our trip out west at the end of the week.

Really like the battery tray arrangement. Did you draw it out first and are the drawings available?

 

[Trail_Blazer]

I removed my subwoofer all together. I needed the space, and didn't really use it much. I would much rather have space for gear that is of more use out on the trail. My ARB Fridge now takes up some of space that once was used by the subwoofer.

We were out west this summer, who knows, maybe we will see you on your coast soon. Me and my wife have the red woods on the list of things to see, so who knows.

Let me know when you make it out here. We have a few great wheeling locations, but the southern part of the state has more open and interesting routes for an Overlander. I recommend the Lost Coast in Norcal for seeing the redwoods. It's an easy trail and you can sleep on the beach.

 

[Main Line Overland]

Let me know when you make it out here. We have a few great wheeling locations, but the southern part of the state has more open and interesting routes for an Overlander. I recommend the Lost Coast in Norcal for seeing the redwoods. It's an easy trail and you can sleep on the beach.

Nice sounds awesome.

The battery tray was actually built first in cardboard and then transfered to the 10ga sheet metal.

 

[Main Line Overland]

Getting the Jeep ready for this weekends Overland Rally event in VT. Who else is planning on bringing their Jeep to the event?

 

[ncflyer]

Great stuff - In regards to the dual battery set-up. Most new dual set-ups for the 2012 that have been announced months ago and yet to be shown have them stacked top and bottom vs front to back like yours and the typical side to side. Any idea if this would fit in a 2012 with the 3.6 =qualing less room. If so...wanna make another one?

2nd quest. - I understand it's not much of a concern for your purposes but did you notice much diff. with the sub gone from the back? Thought about moving mine but total removal is an option as well. Any pics of the area?

 

[Main Line Overland]

We had ansolute blast at the VT Overland Rally, which we sponsored. Here are some great shots of our JK as well as a few of our newly aquired Willys CJ2A which we put through it's paces during the Overland Trophy event on Sunday morning.

 

[expdnJP]

This is great build!

Your first addition was roof rack and roof tent. What is the real impact of these changes on your cabin noise level? I have noticed that you later added cover plate above a windshield. How helpful is it? I assume you must hear some whistle noise. Is it very annoying on long trips?