Safari Pacific MX2 Build

[schanusa]

just curious about the spare tire hanger....have you noticed any flex where the 2 tubes meet, or have you reinforced it any?

really is an awesome build....and like many others have said, alot of ideas for us to use

l8r, John

I'm sure there's a small amount of flex, but non that i've noticed. I can hang off the swing arm while open and just the trucks suspension gives. If I add more weight I'll probably reinforce.

Thanks!

 

[schanusa]

For gear storage we picked up four composite drawers from Adventure Trailers. All four are 24 inches deep and 20 inches wide. Three of them are 12 inches tall and one is 9 inches tall. The drawers were quick and easy to put together, similar to how ikea furniture works, and I was finished within an hour. Nice and lightweight as well. The bottom two drawers are placed 12 inches from the back of the bed. Atop those are the other two set overhanging 12 inches. By arranging the boxes in such a fashion it gives me a 40" x 12" x 12" area to place a water tank and extra room for something else. The bottom drawers are anchored to the bed with jack nuts. Then the upper boxes are fastened to the lower boxes. (More photos to come)

 

[schanusa]

Usually on electrical portions of my projects I go a bit overboard. I'll be doing the same on this occasion.
First I start with upgrading the stock battery terminals to military grade ones I got from Wil (Sierra Expeditions).

Then some heavy duty commercial grade terminal connectors are crimped on.

Special heat shrink tubing is added to help stop corrosion.

Onto the brains of the system, for this I'm using a National Luna power pack from Adventure Trailers.
For those that are not familiar with this unit I'll give you a quick synopsis. The National Luna power pack is smart battery management system
that automatically charges your second (camper) battery after your main (starting) battery is charged.

 

[schanusa]

The wire that comes with the kit is a large gauge and has plenty of insulation.

Now here's were I go overboard... And please DO NOT duplicate! I have training in electrical engineering and have worked as a commercial electrician. I open the panel, not you, on the power pack and connect two leads off the main battery terminals for my own power distribution box.

I drill appropriate holes and bolt on a plastic terminal box, but not before pulling the 8 gauge leads into the box.

After reassembling the power pack I begin mounting it inside the cab of the truck. For this I use jack nuts.

 

[schanusa]

Power pack mounted behind the driver seat.

On to the control wires, which is a multi conductor cable with 10 wires from the MX1's wiring.

I connect eight of the leads onto three switches. Since I'm reusing old parts I test the resistance with a meter.

After everything checks out ok I wrap the exposed ends in electrical tape.

 

[schanusa]

The wires have numbers printed on the insulation. I write down on paper what wire number connects what switch.

I then reinstall the switches in the dash panel.

Then I run the multi conductor underneath the carpeting to where my power distribution box is.

 

[schanusa]

Next I strip back the outer casing then clip in the Anderson plug to the power pack.

Worried about chafing the power leads I run them through two separate rubber grommets.

Underneath the cab I continue running the wires forward to the battery.

At the battery I cut off the excess and crimp on terminals.

 

[schanusa]

I use special shrink tubing again that has a inner sealant that melts and covers the outer edges of the shrink tubing.

A section of the wire is cut to insert a fuse box.

Back at the power box I crimp connectors onto the control wires then attach them to the terminal block. (Fuses to be added)

Next I run three wires to the two led dome lights. Two positives and one negative.

 

[schanusa]

Red LED connected.

All three positions on the dome light switch.

 

[koda6966]

I like.

 

[iceracer60]

wow, very in depth. awesome work!

 

[daniel3507]

that power pack is pretty cool. i love watching this build come together

 

[Lignite]

The first time I've noticed this. Really quite interesting and amazing; the truck and the lifestyle the truck reflects. I've always watched the expedition forum over at ttora just because its interesting, and wished us Ranger guys could play too. Well here it is, Nice!

 

[Shran]

Is that heat shrink tubing something a guy could potentially get locally? I have not seen that before. I have been looking for something like that for a couple projects.

 

[Flash Gordan]

Is that heat shrink tubing something a guy could potentially get locally? I have not seen that before. I have been looking for something like that for a couple projects.

Napa carries it. That's where the company I work for got it.