Triple-purpose JK Build

[jsmoriss]

SWEET RIG!!!

Thanks.

How do you like that head unit?
Considering getting one for my 100, but dont know anyone using one yet.
Feedback? How "iPod Like" is it?

The head unit is nice. Not too many options to play with -- just enough. There are a few drawbacks though; you can't rate tracks, playlists aren't randomized automatically (although there must be some option somewhere to fix this) and the album cover display isn't working. I'll have to call Alpine about it the album cover thing -- I didn't spend a bunch of time adding it for nothin'!

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

So today I took the day off to work on a relay mount with my father-in-law. We got pretty far, but couldn't mount it because it started snowing and crap. Man... When will summer get here!

Two of the relays are to over-ride the JK's diff lockers with additional switches (not limited to 4-lo), another is for the fog lights, and the last two are to switch on some off-road lights with the high-beams. These "high-beam relays" are actually the second relays in-line. The firsts are triggered by some switches. So, to turn on the off-road/driving lights on the bumper and roof rack, you have to flip two switches and turn on the high beams. There's also a third pair of "wide beam" lights on the roof rack, but these are simply turned on with a switch, nothing fancy.

js.

 

[WFTW]

Will you be upgrading your alternator?

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

There are a few drawbacks though; you can't rate tracks, playlists aren't randomized automatically (although there must be some option somewhere to fix this) and the album cover display isn't working. I'll have to call Alpine about it the album cover thing -- I didn't spend a bunch of time adding it for nothin'!

Thanks JS! The Album cover and playlist randomizer arent all that important to me, but good info to know.

Is the function of is very similar to the iPod? I have had the 9851 and now the 9856 which "claim" to have iPod like function, but lack severly!! :ylsmoke:

Thanks

 

[jsmoriss]

Is the function of is very similar to the iPod? I have had the 9851 and now the 9856 which "claim" to have iPod like function, but lack severly!! :ylsmoke:

Yeah, pretty close, although it's not the Apple interface, but very similar. You get the scroll wheel and a ipod-like interface (scroll, click, sub-menu, scroll, click, etc.). If I could rate tunes, see album covers, and get the playlists randomized by default, it would be perfect.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

Will you be upgrading your alternator?

Once I have the trailer, yeah, but not for now. The JK has a 160A alternator, which should be fine for 2 batteries and some off-road lights. The trailer will have a welding setup with 2 additional batteries, so I'll probably install a heavy duty 200A low-rpm alternator.

js.

 

[02TahoeMD]

I am not a Jeep owner, but am a fan of the JK 4 door. I love what you have done with your rig! Great write ups, keep up the good work!

Oh, I was happy with my factory stereo in my Tahoe until I saw your Alpine. Hmmmmmm.....another mod to add to my list.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

The JK has a 160A alternator

Really??? Thats awesome and should be more then enough!

:safari-rig:

 

[jsmoriss]

Thanks JS! The Album cover and playlist randomizer arent all that important to me, but good info to know.

Alright, so I'll admit that I didn't read the manual -- until today. You might think you need the optional "Alpine high-speed ipod cable", but you don't -- that's for older ipod models. In order to get the artwork to display, you MUST use the USB cable and a newer gen ipod. Considering I bought a new 160GB ipod to go along with the HU, this isn't a problem for me. What IS a problem is that I have to rip out the HU _again_ to add a USB cable (included with the HU). :REOutShootinghunter

A small quirk of this head-unit... You'd expect to press the "play" button on a playlist, let's say, and for it to start playing. Nope! You have to click the center wheel and hold it for 2 seconds.

I'm still looking for the default playlist randomizer setting.

js.

 

[pete.wilson]

Hey

Awesome vehicle build, love that color of green too. Keep the pics coming; it looks like a good no-nonsense approach to what your doing...Nice ride. Are you going to add some AC power (inverter)?

Pete Wilson

 

[jsmoriss]

Awesome vehicle build, love that color of green too. Keep the pics coming; it looks like a good no-nonsense approach to what your doing...Nice ride. Are you going to add some AC power (inverter)?

I haven't found a reason to, yet. The laptop could have been a reason, but I have a 12v adapter for it. So we'll see.

js.

 

[LUISJG]

hello.
can you elaborate a bit on the installation of the gauges?

oil ,water ,etc.

brand,where did you buy,how to install etc.

thanks you,,your jeep is looking great!

 

[jsmoriss]

hello.
can you elaborate a bit on the installation of the gauges?
oil ,water ,etc.
brand,where did you buy,how to install etc.
thanks you,,your jeep is looking great!

Luisjg,

I didn't take too many pictures during the install... Here's what I used:

1 x Autometer #7553, Phantom II 2 1/16" Full Sweep Electric Oil Pressure Gauge
1 x Autometer #7555, Phantom II 2 1/16" Full Sweep Electric Water Temp Gauge
1 x Autometer #7592, Phantom II 2 1/16" Short Sweep Electric Volts Gauge
3 x Autometer #2204, 2 1/16" Gauge Cup (Black)
1 x Autometer #2280, 5/8" Heater Hose Adapter
1 x OIL FILTER ADAPTER 4 OIL PRESSURE & TEMP 3/4 x UNF 16 from "glowshift" on eBay.

Plus a fuse box from Painless to supply power, and I also tapped into the dash illumination circuit so the gauges brighten with the other instruments.

js.

 

[stick]

Wow. Great looking Jeep and nice job on the build. I like seeing builds where the whole family gets involved. One word of advice...try to avoid working on vehicles while wearing flip-flops / sandals. Thats a good way to loose some toenails or maybe even the whole toe.

 

[jsmoriss]

Busy week-end...

This week-end my father-in-law and I spent almost 2 full days working on some new wiring. We added that strip of 5 relays in the battery box. In this picture we'd already completed work on the relays, so the battery was back in and a good third of the work was already done.

Two of the new relays will ground the factory diff locker relays -- allowing me to bypass the factory limits on using the lockers. Two others are triggered by the high-beams and give power to some long-range off-road lights. And the fifth allows me to move the fog light relay out of the sPod relay box we added. Here's the relay bracket installed:

The yellow wire there is the fog light power. I still have to buy and install an in-line fuse for it.

Another shot of the battery box, and associated wiring. A lot of the wiring you see was added. It ain't too pretty, but all connections are well soldered, shrink-wrapped, loomed, tie-wrapped, etc. so should last a while...

And here's the first relay box -- an sPod Source. We had to move the fog lights and fan relay cut-off out of this box to make room for all the lighting circuits, plus the upcoming York compressor.

js.