New Build - 6*12 Offroad Toy Hauler

[Karebru]

Any news from ONC yet?
We had been looking forward to Halloween weekend at Highlands Hammock SP ever since we went last year. Ian went right over Sebring and our reservations got canceled.
I'm at the inland side of Lee County. The damage Ian did to our coastal and near coastal communities is stagering. I know several people who lost everything. I almost feel guilty for only losing a few trees and not having power for a couple weeks.
Nicole is just about to the Gulf coast now, then on it's way north. The yard is under water again.
Good riddance!

[flboy]

No word yet. I will be calling tomorrow. Sorry to hear about your mess on the West coast. It is bad I know.

We did well and didn't even lose power this time..Ian took most of the dead branches and etc., so Nicole did not make such a mess. It was a minimal CAT 1, so no wind damage or etc. this time.

Take care. Will post when I know more about ONF.

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[flboy]

Ocala NF and Osceola NF are temporarily closed due to the storms.

Should start opening back up soon. They just need a few days to check out the roads and etc. for fallen trees and etc..

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[flboy]

The ONF did re-open after the Forest Service had a chance to clear roads of fallen trees. I spent 4 days camping this week and made a video of updates to the CTC after the initial build.

https://youtu.be/ndlO1K5NtkI

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Don, ain't enough superlatives ....

Good to see The GSD security devise is still working properly.

hank

[flboy]

Thanks Hank. Yes, Lexus won't let me leave without her. Great sidekick and makes sure anything and everyone knows she is there and watching out for me. If I let her know all is okay, she will then proceed to lick them to death and roll over for a belly rub.

Hope you have an outstanding Thanksgiving. Take care.

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[flboy]

Back in the driveway. Loading up for another 4 day adventure to Ocala National Forest. Prime time camping season in Florida right now!



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[Staryder61]

Enjoy it while you can....

[flboy]

I am loaded up for another 4 day camping trip. I finally added the external SAE connector and the 10A MPPT Controller for the portable solar panels.. The connector it is on the left side above the door hinge. It blends in with the black diamond plate. The MPPT controller is facing out on the right side of the appliance stack. I put a remote panel inside as well.















Also tested the diesel furnace since we will have mornings in the high 30's and low 40's which is cold for Florida. The diesel furnace has not been used since I was out West last winter, but it fired right up.



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[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

You keep adding electrons to the CTC and pretty soon ya won't have room for
yerself or Lexi in there. chucklin' Looks good from here, knowin' that if you are
satisfied it must be as close to 'perfect' as it can be.

hank

[bdosborn]

I finally added the external SAE connector and the 10A MPPT Controller for the portable solar panels..

That's on my to-do list as well. Who's portable panel are you using?
Bruce

[flboy]

Hi Hank...oh yes.. gotta stop this build someday. Like I said, you are never finished with a CTC. Lol!

Bruce, they are just standard 100W Renogy Panels.. I made some tilt stands with small diameter PVC. I have a sleeve with padding and a handle that I bought and they both go into it for storage and handling. I soldered up a Y connector that renders the panels in a series configuration when I plug them in together. Just using a 10A Epever MPPT controller in 24V mode.The auxiliary panels are needed here since many times I am camped under an Oak Hammock and need to use the auxiliary panels.

When I am in good sun, I have 620W of solar total and it cranks. However, in full sun Really don't need the 200W auxiliary to keep up since the LiFePo4 charge at near 100% rate until full.





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[bdosborn]

That's the irony of solar power; the best camping spots are in the shade. But you never realize it till you put panels on your roof.
Bruce

[flboy]

Living the dream! Fun trip.



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[flboy]

Getting ready for some more off grid solo camping and I am improving the security system for the CTC. Lexus is fine when I am outside during the day, but at night I wanted a perimeter alarm to warn me of man size animals approaching. The following is the video on how I did that.

https://youtu.be/YRDyO0pbfY4


Next, I wanted something to allow me to see my truck from inside the CTC when hitched up and put on a spotlight if needed. This would be needed in Rest Areas or Truck stops where the perimeter alarm would be a nuisance. Since I have no front window, I thought I'd just use a wireless camera I can view through a phone app. Also wanted to be able to throw on a light and I didn't want to have the camera and light permanently mounted up front. Following are a Few pics of what I fabricated out of an etrac tire mount and some one inch steel tubing I had. It is a portable light bar where I mounted the camera and light. Making a video for that as well. Will post it later. I still need to wire up a 4 pin marine connector and wire the CTC accordingly, but I'm still waiting on a few parts to arrive.














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