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New Swift Camper, Mods, Upgrades Etc......Pic Heavy.

swift fwc four wheel camper Tacoma Toyota

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#51 Hodakaguy

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Posted 19 March 2018 - 01:34 AM

ARBs are worth every single penny!  Best mod i have done hands down.  Insanely efficient compared to most!

 

Running solely on a 100 watt panel, and a Odyssey PC2150, i havent shut my ARB off in well over a year and the battery is always tip top!

 

 

Yeah I have friends running the ARB as well and love them.  I had a Truck Fridge in my Westy and hated it, never stayed cold enough.  Happy to have the ARB this go around :-)

 

Hodakaguy


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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE


#52 Hodakaguy

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Posted 19 March 2018 - 01:36 AM

Installing the Solar Controller and Powerlet Connection.

 

I'm getting ready to install the solar panels on the roof and it's time to get the Solar charge controller installed.  I'm going with a BlueSky Solar Boost 3000i MPPT Controller, I've used this controller in my Syncro and it worked great so decided to stick with what works :-)

 

The factory provides a cut out for their controller right above the heater.

 

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Removing the cover on the controller cutout.

 

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The factory pre-wired the camper for a Solar Controller so install will be simple.  The wiring is tucked up above the heater unit.

 

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The 3000i charge controller

 

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The factory cut out is a little small for this controller so some cutting is in order.

 

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Covered the heater unit with a garbage bag to keep the saw dust out of the important bits.

 

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Front cut out and here I've marked a notch that needs to be cut for the rear of the unit.

 

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Test fitting the controller.

 

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Battery wiring is tucked against the far wall behind the batteries.

 

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All the wires were marked from the factory making it easy to identify, I went ahead and verified everything with a meter before wiring everything up just to make sure.

 

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I used Marine grade heat shrink crimps on all connection.  I didn't get any pics but there is a fuse holder wired into the battery area.

 

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Connecting the controller.  I'll be fabricating a cover for the rear of the controller soon.

 

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Continued Below.....


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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE


#53 Hodakaguy

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Posted 19 March 2018 - 01:37 AM

Continued from above....

 

Time to install the power connection for the ARB Fridge.  I absolutely hate US cigarette lighter connections, they always get loose and your constantly pushing the plug back in.  I cut the factory cigarette lighter plug off the fridge harness and wired in a Powerlet connector instead, I'll keep the cut off end and make an adapter so I can also connect to a Cig lighter if needed.  Powerlet connectors are great, they snap in place and won't get loose as you travel down the road.

 

Here is the fridge harness with the new Powerlet end installed.

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Powerlet socket that will be installed in the camper.  The depth of the socket isn't deep enough to pass through the wood on the camper so an adapter will need to be fabricated.

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Fabricating the Powerlet adapter from a scrap piece of aluminum.

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Holes drilled and socket test fit.

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I drilled a hole in the heater unit just above the heater to install the Powerlet.  The hole needed to be slightly bigger to clear the nut on the back of the socket.

 

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Wiring completed for the Powerlet socket.

 

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Controller and Powerlet installed, I painted the adapter black.  Looks factory :-)

 

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Hodakaguy


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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE


#54 So Cal Adventurer

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Posted 19 March 2018 - 02:13 AM

Excellent Clean Work!

I’ve used powerlets for years on my motorcycles and dual sports. Never seen them used on a vehicle or a camper though.

GREAT idea!! Yes, 10x better than “cigarette” plug for sure!
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#55 Hodakaguy

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Posted 21 March 2018 - 03:57 AM

Excellent Clean Work!

I’ve used powerlets for years on my motorcycles and dual sports. Never seen them used on a vehicle or a camper though.

GREAT idea!! Yes, 10x better than “cigarette” plug for sure!

 

 

Thanks, yeah the Powerlets are great!  No worries on them coming loose on the road :-)

 

Hodakaguy


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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE


#56 Hodakaguy

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Posted 21 March 2018 - 03:58 AM

Installed the fridge to run it for a couple days and test the battery system, should be able to run for several days with no external power with the dual batt system.  I'll be installing 240W of solar soon then battery power shouldn't be a issue.

 

IMG_0505-X3.jpg

 

With the top down on the camper there is still plenty of room to get into the fridge at rest stops ect without having to pop the top. I'll be installing mounting straps to keep the fridge secure in this location.

 

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Next up fabricate a rear guard for the solar charge controller to protect it from items stored inside the cabinet.

 

Starting out with a piece of aluminum plate.

 

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Cutting the piece down to rough size.

 

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Corners trimmed.

 

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Marking out the locations for the air vent holes.

 

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Air holes drilled and beveled.

 

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Using the finger brake to bend up the guard

 

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Fabricating some hidden mount tabs from some scrap pieces of stainless.

 

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Factory trim pieces cut down to size and re-installed.

 

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Test fitting the guard in place.

 

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Guard painted and installed in place.  Should keep the controller well protected.

 

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Hodakaguy


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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE


#57 kestrel69

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Posted 21 March 2018 - 04:36 PM

How far out is the pickup date? You can ask for a change order.

I pick it up on April 7......so too late.  Plus it saves me some $$


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#58 Hodakaguy

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Posted 24 March 2018 - 02:09 AM

This morning I installed a 110V NOCO power plug on the side of the camper. This port will connect to a IOTA 15A AGM onboard charger (to be installed soon).

The NOCO power port

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I'll be sealing the port to the camper with Sikaflex 221....Good stuff.

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The port will be going into the battery compartment just aft of the vent.

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Pilot hole drilled....committed now lol.

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2" hole drilled.

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And power port installed and sealed.

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Hodakaguy

Edited by Hodakaguy, 24 March 2018 - 02:10 AM.

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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE


#59 Wandering Sagebrush

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Posted 24 March 2018 - 03:44 PM

Nice work!   If the grip on the cap to the power plug isn't tight, you might consider rotating it so that the wind stream doesn't pull it open on the road.   We've had that occur to another, less important cap, on our travel trailer.


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I am haunted by waters


#60 Hodakaguy

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Posted 24 March 2018 - 06:09 PM

Nice work!   If the grip on the cap to the power plug isn't tight, you might consider rotating it so that the wind stream doesn't pull it open on the road.   We've had that occur to another, less important cap, on our travel trailer.


Thanks for the tip. The cap is pretty secure once inserted, I wanted the cap to open upwards but the holes in the gasket didn’t allow for that orientation.

Hodakaguy
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My 4wd Sprinter Build: CLICK HERE

My Unimog U1300L Build:  CLICK HERE

My VW Syncro Westy Build:  CLICK HERE

My Tacoma/FWC  Builds: CLICK HERE

Ride Report - In Memory Of The Crewmen: CLICK HERE






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