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Next up is VHF radio install. Getting power to the cab in these is very difficult in the SCV6, so I decided to go with a radio in Pelican Style Case and run the power off the cigarette lighter as that is 30 Amp circuit. This setup worked perfectly on a 10 hour drive.
Here is everything in the box
The GPS for my APRS this is the only thing that I am having trouble locating, at this point it is just going in cloth screen that covers the rear sunroof.
Everything out of the box
The radio head goes is attached to a cup holder mount for a cellphone, I screwed the back plate for the radio to cellphone.
Radio head in location, it can also go into the rear cup holder
Radio stays in the box and just sit behind the drivers seat, once I get the fan installed it can be closed and sit up right.
@The Deputy I would have rather got another D2 but they are tough to find here in decent shape. No rear locker LR4's are weird that way has a 2 speed transfer case all the terrain modes though or it would have been a no sale.
Managed without one on the d2 I will figure this beast out too.
@The Deputy I would have rather got another D2 but they are tough to find here in decent shape. No rear locker LR4's are weird that way has a 2 speed transfer case all the terrain modes though or it would have been a no sale.
Managed without one on the d2 I will figure this beast out too.
l'm sure you will. Guy down in Ohio drove his through stuff that my Dll struggled with. Their off-road-mode is pretty amazing. Sometimes, wish we would have bought a used one...instead of the new Trailblazer AWD.
Love those low-profile cots, too. Used them back in the day...while camping from a pedal bike. No cushions of course...lol.
All you guys being short enough to sleep in your vehicles! Drives me nuts!
I wouldn’t mind at all getting away from the roof top tent )not that I’ve had time in the last few years to do much of it) but reality is, not only do I not fit in the back of a vehicle to sleep, it actually is easier for me to climb down and up a ladder to a tent than it is to get up off the ground.
Ah well, it looks really cool. I might do a “lite” version of something like this (minus the sleeping in the vehicle) if I end up with a New Defender in the coming months/year.
@longtallsally I think the new defenders have a pretty long bed too, but I am not sure unless you are at or over 6 foot, then yea you need another option.
@longtallsally I think the new defenders have a pretty long bed too, but I am not sure unless you are at or over 6 foot, then yea you need another option.
Although a joke of a nickname my fraternity brothers gave to me many years ago, it is someone accurate as I’m 6’7”. So all you little people enjoy sleeping in your cars.
Although a joke of a nickname my fraternity brothers gave to me many years ago, it is someone accurate as I’m 6’7”. So all you little people enjoy sleeping in your cars.
Funny, l'm 6'4"...and rarely run into someone taller than me by considerable inches. But, when l do...it's weird to look up at someone while talking. My neck has a natural bend, downward, from compensating for shorter folks...lol.
I'm giving up on my Tempu RTT, awesome tent, it's just to difficult to mess with anymore. Aging fingers (arthritis), endless tucking from all sides, during rain, cold and wind. Looking at hardshell RTT's. Some of the new ones deploy/take-down in 30 seconds, with minimal tucking. And, some you can leave all of your bedding up there, pillow included. And, l'm only using one when my wife is along. Solo, inside.
Went of FB Market Place the other day, where l found my canvas RTT's 7 years ago (out of three to chose from)...and now, there were 45 canvas RTT's forsale in my area.
I said this would be slow But I finally have everything largely sorted out.
First up is communications,although I largely travel with a group these days I still like to get out on my own. In British Columbia once you are out of South westcorner, cell phone coverage is poor to nonexistent.
I carry two means of communication and tracking, a dual band VHF radio setup to use APRS, and a Garmin Inreach messenger. The radio APRS tracking is free but dependent on hitting a repeater that supports APRS and that can be iffy, the Garmin has a cost but works as long as the unit has a clear view of the sky. Both methods can send messages, but it can be limited and slow dependent on the connectivity.
The standard rule is if my truck is stopped in one for more than 6 hours during the day and I have not reached by any method, my wife reaches out to SAR. Note these are travel hours 9:00 Am to 4:00 Pm,either side of that the assumption is I am camped. I do reach out via the Inreach, if I get stopped for any reason that will be a while or once I make camp, just for her piece of mind.
First up APRS
The red dots are tracking points as I traveled, the radio simply sends when it has a connection and after a short time between each point. I run a 4 foot antenna up top of LR4 which gives me excellent range, the shorter 18 inch is far less effective for this.
The lookup is simply at Google APRS, type the in the callsign and date range and off you go.
You can get more detail by clicking on one of the red dots.
The Garmin in reach has similar functionality but as I go with the cheap plan each point has a cost so I limit it to every 30 minutes. The cost is not terrible 15 cents per point but it adds up fast if you are out for multiple days. The options range from 10 minutes to 4 hours.
On long solo trips well of the beaten path I go to 10 minute which runs about $9.00 a day, which keeps my wife happy., otherwise every 20 minutes, which works out to 4.50/day.
The Garmin map is better.
The Garman detail info is easier to use than the APRS as it show the location right in the point into, on the APRS it is in the upper right hand corner, so a little more complicated.
2015 LR4 Overland/Camping
