1x1_Speed_Craig
Active member
Amazing photos! Great exploring in a 2WD vehicle, despite that so many claim 4WD is a necessary requirement.
My 2WD F150 adventures
- Thread starter TantoTrailers
- Start date
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
Wow, its been a good while since I updated this thread! Looks like last I posted was that I bought a fridge! Well yes, that led to quite a few additional expenses and upgrades.
MPPT Solar Charger was installed permanently in the rear galley on the other side from the battery area. The box was just not practical. I am still using the Aims Power folding solar panels but I have yet to see more than 110W of power from the 240W between the two panels.
I installed a new Victron shore charger with Bluetooth since my Noco 3500 was total weak sauce. The IP67 is awesome!!
I installed an alternator charging solution by using a DC/DC converter and swapping out to the 7pin wiring hookup to my truck. I am pulling roughly 7A when the battery needs it during a drive...now my fridge will not drain my battery while I am driving all day with no access to solar.
I installed a Vicrton battery monitor with Bluetooth so that I can have a clear picture of what my battery is doing at all times. It works well enough where I can pick up the bluetooth signal in the cab of my truck as I drive so that I can confirm alternator charging is working properly.
I installed a Victron battery protect just in case things get power hungry and start consuming more than they should when I am not around the rig.
I made a small water heater for the water port using an immersion heater rod with a cheap temp control module. I was able to get the WaterPORT tank up to 100* F in a 55* garage (It did take all day and drew a bunch of power but I only plan on using it with my solar)
I installed a Zero23 shower awning on the drivers side of the rig for changing and bathroom duties, this has yet to be tested but it will be getting a full 9 days of testing coming up in UT.
And lastly I needed some heat in my trailer for winter camping as the methods I tried up to this point were not working out well (heated blanket, candles, hopes and prayers). I decided to install a cheap Chinese diesel heater and I couldn't be happier! It sips fuel and keeps me toasty warm in the cabin. I have only had 1 outing in it with the heater but I was definitely more than warm enough those nights.
As for the truck, I did a few small upgrades for the lights and I got a nice big Husky liner for the rear floor area. New LED fog lamps and LED headlight bulbs just went in, definitely make night time driving a lot brighter.
MPPT Solar Charger was installed permanently in the rear galley on the other side from the battery area. The box was just not practical. I am still using the Aims Power folding solar panels but I have yet to see more than 110W of power from the 240W between the two panels.
I installed a new Victron shore charger with Bluetooth since my Noco 3500 was total weak sauce. The IP67 is awesome!!
I installed an alternator charging solution by using a DC/DC converter and swapping out to the 7pin wiring hookup to my truck. I am pulling roughly 7A when the battery needs it during a drive...now my fridge will not drain my battery while I am driving all day with no access to solar.
I installed a Vicrton battery monitor with Bluetooth so that I can have a clear picture of what my battery is doing at all times. It works well enough where I can pick up the bluetooth signal in the cab of my truck as I drive so that I can confirm alternator charging is working properly.
I installed a Victron battery protect just in case things get power hungry and start consuming more than they should when I am not around the rig.
I made a small water heater for the water port using an immersion heater rod with a cheap temp control module. I was able to get the WaterPORT tank up to 100* F in a 55* garage (It did take all day and drew a bunch of power but I only plan on using it with my solar)
I installed a Zero23 shower awning on the drivers side of the rig for changing and bathroom duties, this has yet to be tested but it will be getting a full 9 days of testing coming up in UT.
And lastly I needed some heat in my trailer for winter camping as the methods I tried up to this point were not working out well (heated blanket, candles, hopes and prayers). I decided to install a cheap Chinese diesel heater and I couldn't be happier! It sips fuel and keeps me toasty warm in the cabin. I have only had 1 outing in it with the heater but I was definitely more than warm enough those nights.
As for the truck, I did a few small upgrades for the lights and I got a nice big Husky liner for the rear floor area. New LED fog lamps and LED headlight bulbs just went in, definitely make night time driving a lot brighter.
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
Some pics of upgrades
Last edited:
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
Quick trip update.
I did a long 1300 mile tour of southern Illinois with a quick dip into Missouri for the first night of boondocking. I wanted to visit and explore Shawnee national forest but from a dirt road perspective. I was able to find camp in a huge field at the end of a dirt road that had some turkey hunters camped out already. It was nice and quiet but it got down into the low 30s that night so I woke up to frost on everything. I headed farther south and I was very pleasantly surprised with how beautiful southern IL is (except for Cairo...dont go there). I visited the very tip which is a shabby park with nothing to see besides the Ohio and Mississippi rivers mixing up at the peak. I had a long list of places to visit and I was doing really well along with finding free camping all 3 nights of the trip. On the last day I was checking out a few more places when I decided to take a dirt road detour that was not on my original plan. This road led to a cemetery and was a bit rougher than what I had previously been on. After the cemetery the road went straight into the woods...and what seemed like towards the pet cemetery. The next 2 miles of my 1300 mile trip were pure torture because I ended up on an ATV trail with no way of turning around. This is a story in itself, but I used every bit of recovery gear I brought including dragging the trailer through the woods using a strap, the heavy duty tongue jack wheel held up awesome! The truck ended up with a small dent in the door when I slid on a wet log into a tree. Things got tight....very very very tight but I was extremely impressed with my driving skills and the capabilities of the 2WD truck. I used the lockers, and aired down but I was able to get out of this wet forest with one hell of a story to tell!
After that it has been pretty quiet, I have done 2 winter trips testing things out, first one was without the heater and trying 100 different things to stay warm (all unsuccessful) and the second trip was with my new heater installed...what a game changer!! No more condensation, and no more freezing my ass off when I get out of bed to get dressed! These were local trips for gear testing and shakedowns but I am one of those people that can go 5 miles and be happy as if I went 500.
I did a long 1300 mile tour of southern Illinois with a quick dip into Missouri for the first night of boondocking. I wanted to visit and explore Shawnee national forest but from a dirt road perspective. I was able to find camp in a huge field at the end of a dirt road that had some turkey hunters camped out already. It was nice and quiet but it got down into the low 30s that night so I woke up to frost on everything. I headed farther south and I was very pleasantly surprised with how beautiful southern IL is (except for Cairo...dont go there). I visited the very tip which is a shabby park with nothing to see besides the Ohio and Mississippi rivers mixing up at the peak. I had a long list of places to visit and I was doing really well along with finding free camping all 3 nights of the trip. On the last day I was checking out a few more places when I decided to take a dirt road detour that was not on my original plan. This road led to a cemetery and was a bit rougher than what I had previously been on. After the cemetery the road went straight into the woods...and what seemed like towards the pet cemetery. The next 2 miles of my 1300 mile trip were pure torture because I ended up on an ATV trail with no way of turning around. This is a story in itself, but I used every bit of recovery gear I brought including dragging the trailer through the woods using a strap, the heavy duty tongue jack wheel held up awesome! The truck ended up with a small dent in the door when I slid on a wet log into a tree. Things got tight....very very very tight but I was extremely impressed with my driving skills and the capabilities of the 2WD truck. I used the lockers, and aired down but I was able to get out of this wet forest with one hell of a story to tell!
After that it has been pretty quiet, I have done 2 winter trips testing things out, first one was without the heater and trying 100 different things to stay warm (all unsuccessful) and the second trip was with my new heater installed...what a game changer!! No more condensation, and no more freezing my ass off when I get out of bed to get dressed! These were local trips for gear testing and shakedowns but I am one of those people that can go 5 miles and be happy as if I went 500.
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
I used Gaia to make my entire route. There are several links that show you the major attractions and parks in that forest...there are a lot! If you have a lady companion, there is a wine trail which goes from winery to winery and some, if not most are on dirt roads. I picked a bunch of the highlights like the land bridge, Garden of the Gods (never got there due to my 2 hour, 2 mile excursion), little grand canyon, etc and then I searched for dirt roads between them. If you get a chance, go camp at the Turkey Bayeux, its free and an awesome campground with good fishing too! I dont recall all of the links I used to make up my points of interest list but here are a couple to get you started. There is an awesome canyon there too for rock climbing, I hiked for miles and was never able to find a way down to the bottom but there were chains everywhere and climbers all over the bottom.
https://travelinspiredliving.com/things-to-do-in-the-shawnee-national-forest-area-southern-illinois/
I will be going back to finish my intended route and skip the pet cemetery road detour.
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
UT trip is underway and off to a proper snowboard start with a full blown blizzard and rain at 24*F.
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
TBT - I suppose I should post up some build info about my trailer! Here is a teaser...oh how far it has come (and gone) since this video! Almost 2 years in and it has over 15k miles. I will post up a trip report for the remainder of UT in a bit.
RAM5500 CAMPERTHING
OG Portal Member #183
Looking Good Man!
Simple is beautiful
Simple is beautiful
Explorerinil
Observer
Southern Illinois is one very scenic place. If you pass through central il give me a heads up, I’d like to check out your trailer.
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
I will definitely reach out! I have an unscheduled plan to return and finish my route which was completely derailed when I got stuck in the woods. I would be happy to show off the trailer! I mountain bike in Peoria from time to time so I may be camping out in that direction sometime this spring-fall season as well, I'll let you know.
Explorerinil
Observer
Where do you ride at? I ride at jubilee state park.
TantoTrailers
Well-known member
Ive camped there but havnt ridden there. We usually ride the other Pamba trails, mostly Farmdale, I think I have been to Black Partridge as well.
Explorerinil
Observer
Ok I live close to there, awesome trails.