andy666 build up - more stuff

[boxhead55]

NICE very nice !

[jaybags]

x2 on that, looks good. Scoop looks good on that colour too.

[packeteer]

ute looks awesome mate

[andy666]

Cheers, boys.
Few extra bits going on this weekend.

[jaybags]

Keen to see!

[mattwhite]

Looks good man. I reckon the snorkel improves them performance wise.

[andy666]

Yeah, would say its a combination of the snorkel and wide mouth bonnet scoop.

[andy666]

Today was one of those days were everything falls into place and a few different projects all got finished. All the projects were electrical related though, so kind of flowed on from each other.
The first part was finishing up the wiring on the dual battery setup. The 2nd battery mount under the tray has been built for a few months now, but sat empty until this week. I wanted to mount the 2nd battery under the tray for two reasons. To distribute the weight more evenly over the vehicle, and so that I didn't have to move my water trap fuel filter.
Running a ctek dc/dc charger and 2nd fuse box under the bonnet, connected to the 2nd battery by 8mm battery cable. I also upgraded the earth cable to the chassis, as the only direct earth from the main battery to the chassis is through a pissy little 4mm cable
Oh, and before anyone panics, the weld between the guard and the battery mount is to stop the guard hitting the wheel. It's not the guard supporting the battery





Since I don't like the idea of running 5m of battery cable through the chassis without it being fused in some way, I fitted a Projecta fused battery terminal, to the 2nd battery. Great idea, it includes one 150amp fuse and two 30amp fuses, so can connect accessories directly to the battery and still be fused or if the main cable from the battery rubs through my ute won't catch fire.



Next job was to finish connecting the flexible LED strip lights for the doors of the canopy. Picked up 5m of the strip lights and a few dimmers from eBay for under $30 (5050 LED's). Instead of using the sticky back on the lights to mount them though, I stitched them onto some 20mm webbing with Velcro end loops, so that they can be moved around to where I want them.
Tried them last night and I am glad I got the dimmers, super bright



Had about 3ft of the strip lights left over, so put them on the tow bar and wired them into the reverse.



Still not finished with my soldering iron, I wired up a dual power outlet in the tray. This one I just connected directly to the battery under the tray.



The final job for the day and the main reason for the 2nd battery, was to fit my new waeco CFX 50 fridge. I spent a lot of time deciding on which fridge to get and considered a lot of different options. Everything from the cheap techniice fridges to the Engels, but in the end the waeco won out.



Well, I think that's enough for today. I might spend tomorrow testing the waeco fridge, by drinking the 6 pack I have chilling in there overnight

[jaybags]

Jealous of the fridge!

The LED strips look pretty sweet. Cool idea with the reverse lights.
How do the strips work? Cut them where you need and connect a new wires to them?

[10 luxxxx]

Very nice work mate it may not apply to your power outlet but I had problems with mine coming un plugged when they were facing down so now have it sideways
Gotta love led lights best cheap mod ever.

[andy666]

The LED strips look pretty sweet. Cool idea with the reverse lights.
How do the strips work? Cut them where you need and connect a new wires to them?

Yep. Just cut, strip back the silicon covering, solder on new wires, and re-seal with silicon.
I would definitely recommend getting some of the mini LED dimmers if you want to use them in a canopy. They are very bright.

Very nice work mate it may not apply to your power outlet but I had problems with mine coming un plugged when they were facing down so now have it sideways

Cheers mate, I might look at putting a cable tie on the plug to hold it in.

[Chappy78]

I bought a spare fridge cable cut the end of and put a Anderson plug for my fridge in my camper. Bonus is I also put a Anderson plug on my solar panel so I can plug it into the same socket if needed to charge battery don't think a Anderson would rattle loose

[andy666]

Cheers mate, but the lighter socket has worked well for the last couple of months (without a cable tie) and has never fallen out.

[hartster]

Excellent lighting and excellent price. I'm after some of those too. Watch out for the lighter plugs, I've had one fail and short out the fridge circuit cos they wobble around a fair bit. I use the screw in Engel type plugs now.

[Kata]

Nice setup and even better lighting
I think your onto a winner, may copy that
Love the idea of the webbing.

Can I ask whiche seller off ebay or link and where did you get the webbing

cheers

[Fixa4377]

Mate, rippa build you got there!

A lot of man hours!, thanks for a few ideas!

[andy666]

Cheers mate,
There has been a few more small mods, just have to get some pics and post them up

[andy666]

A few more upgrades to the ute. Some have been done for a while, just haven't posted any pics.

Fire extinguisher mounted in front of the drivers seat. Made a custom braket to pick up the seat bolts, rather then screw into the floor.


Fitted some mesh to the snorkel opening to catch the bugs. Used some stainless steel crimsafe mesh.


Rewired the stereo so it is powered off the auxiliary battery. Also fitted an on/on switch so the stereo can switched on with the ignition or by itself.


Made up some brackets and mounted the high lift across the back of the chassis.






Also wanted to beef up the weak sounding factory horn. Ordered a stebel compact air horn from eBay and mounted it behind the grill.
This thing is deafening!

[Beaujangles88]

Hello andy,

Ive been reading about your high idle kit
Im extremely interested in on the fly kit if you are still making them.
I have been trying to join just so i can talk with you about this item.
Ive had to use my wife email as for some reason my two email address wouldnt work.
Any ways if you are still making them i am keen, do you think it would work with the factory dimmer switch?


Cheers Beau

[jaybags]

Does your extuinguisher ever get in the way being on the drivers side floor? Mines sitting under the seat at the moment still, been doing my head in on where to mount it. Thought of where you have but figured it'd keep getting in the way and get quite annoying. I may be pretty wrong