LagunaH1's build thread

[LagunaH1]

Well, I've finally made some changes to the truck, so I figured it was time to get a build thread started.

First:

This is the truck, totally stock, the night I picked it up:






Then, I removed the flame decals and the truck looked like this:






Today, I installed a rack (BackRack open rack with 31 inch toolbox mount). The rack holds 2 Diamond NR770HB antennas for use with my radios:







Radios:

I'm currently running a Kenwood TM-D710G dual band FM / APRS radio and a Motorola XPR 5550 UHF DMR radio.

I'll update this thread with pictures of how the radios are installed inside the truck.

[LagunaH1]

Time for an update:

Installed a tool box. Got the bed Rhino Lined by Rhino Liner of Orange County. They did good work and were super helpful.


Inside the toolbox lives my 100 Amp-Hour battery which drives my radios. The battery is isolated from the rest of the truck using a West Mountain Radio PwrGate PG40s. This is a pretty neat device which only connects the battery to it's charging source (which in my setup is the trucks main battery) when the incoming voltage is high enough, which it only is when the alternator is running. The PG40S also limits the amount of charge current provided to the battery, in my setup I have set it for 10 amps. This limits the current draw on the trucks electrical system (good thing) and it prevents overcharging the battery (also a good thing)

The connection between main and aux batteries is 2 gauge cable to prevent voltage drop and is protected using 60 amp maxi fuses, located right by the power source (main bat)



The battery is held down to the hardwood base plate using a ratchet strap. The base plate is in turn bolted to the tool box floor.

Here's how the truck sits as of today:



Next up on the list:

ARB air compressor to air tires up.
Rocker panel protection
Install HF HAM radio (just need to figure out where to put it......)

[Colibri]

It's coming along really nicely, keep those pics coming sir. Nice work!

[LagunaH1]

Yesterday I got my ARB compressor installed and wired in. I still need to clean up the wiring a little but everything works beautifully. The compressor handily creates 90 PSI and does a real nice job inflating my tires.

Pictures to follow.

[olyelr]

Cant wait to see how you went about this. This is on my list of to-do items.

[LagunaH1]

The compressor gets its main power from the 2 gauge cable I have run from the truck's main battery. (this is the same connection I use for my HAM radios and the accessory battery) The compressor comes with a complete wiring harness which supports a couple of different setups, such as air lockers, but I am not using the connections for that. The only connections I use are:

-Main power
-Compressor main switch
-Ignition sense, connected to one of the cigarette lighter outputs in the truck

This way, the compressor can only run when the ignition is on or in "acc" mode, and when the compressor's main switch is on. The compressor has it's own internal control circuits to make this happen. I located the main switch next to the compressor in the tool box.

I wired it this way because the compressor can draw upwards of 50 amps. That being the case, I don't want to put that kind of load on either battery and only run it when the engine is turning the alternator.

The compressor itself sits on a piece of read oak hardwood (I love working with oak, it's easy to cut and modify and it's super strong) which spans across the toolbox above the accessory battery. (Pictures to come)

[LagunaH1]

Another quick update:

Yesterday I replaced the Kenwood dual band dual receive radio with my ICOM IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF radio. -This way I can add a mobile HF antenna and have mobile HF capabilities so I can reach out and talk to someone regardless of whether there are any repeaters in range.

[TruckerZoom]

awesome looking truck. do you have new additions to it?