Unusual Upgrades (Mods)

[Vegas Runner]

I would be interested in hearing about unusual future upgrades people are planning or at least thinking about. I have several mods I would like to make that are less than standard and I sure there are others who use their trucks for less common applications that require unusual mods.

Some of the ideas I have been thinking about are:
1.) Dual Battery with ability to switch between parallel and series (12V and 24V) - Applications: Welding, 24V Winch, other 24V loads
2.) Front Receiver Hitch - Applications: Trailer Jockeying, Portable Winch
3.) Capstan Winch - Moving Light Loads (Less than 1500 pounds) over long distances at relatively high speed
4.) Gun Rack - Applications: Fast Access to Long Guns
5.) Dual Spare Tire (2 spares) - Multiple spare capability in remote areas

[bulldog]

Those sound very interesting

1) I already did the dual batt, but only 12V. I dont think going to 24V will buy you that much as most of the things you want to drive are already 12V (winch, welding, etc). But you can probably look into marine switches to be able to do what you need.

2) That sound pretty good. I'm sure if you use an aftermarket bumper you can easily mod this in instead of a winch. Very good as it allows you to winch forward and backwards. Only problem is you have to carry the winch seperately.

3 and 4 will be very interesting to see. SO if you can't winch it you will shoot it?? :lol:

5) Yeah I definitely want to get a rear bumper with swingout carriers. I will go for one spare with hilift on one side and the other 3 gas/water cans. If designed properly you can make an interchangeable swingout for gas or second spare. James can probably point you to numerous of these on MUD and other places.

[Roams001]

3.0 Litre Turbo Diesel running on home brewed biodiesel

:banana:

maybe someday...

[Vegas Runner]

Those sound very interesting

1) I already did the dual batt, but only 12V. I dont think going to 24V will buy you that much as most of the things you want to drive are already 12V (winch, welding, etc). But you can probably look into marine switches to be able to do what you need.

2) That sound pretty good. I'm sure if you use an aftermarket bumper you can easily mod this in instead of a winch. Very good as it allows you to winch forward and backwards. Only problem is you have to carry the winch seperately.

3 and 4 will be very interesting to see. SO if you can't winch it you will shoot it?? :lol:

5) Yeah I definitely want to get a rear bumper with swingout carriers. I will go for one spare with hilift on one side and the other 3 gas/water cans. If designed properly you can make an interchangeable swingout for gas or second spare. James can probably point you to numerous of these on MUD and other places.

1) My father has an existing capstan winch that runs on 12V and 24V and I have plans to make one of my own so I would like the 24V output. Also most of the welders I have seen that dont run off an alternator use 24V. I have not seen a 12V welder, although I have not looked extensively. I am not sure if I would want a 12V unit even if I could find one. The big advantage of a 24V welder is the reduction in current draw. a 12V would draw twice the current of a 24V. 24V welders already draw numbers like 300A. Peak current draws could be much higher as welding is essentially a short circuit. One of the problems here is trying to find relays that can handle that kind of current. I am looking at relays designed for electric cars.

2.) Carrying the winch seperately is a nuisance however it has worked well in the past. One big advantage is you dont have to carry the extra weight when you dont have plans to winch. Also I do not want to give up the drum winch in the bumper to accomodate the receiver hitch. I want both : ) . In the past I have used the rear receiver hitch but that requires a long run of cable. Because the winch draws significant current it requires heavy cable and there are significant losses even so. I would much prefer to run it off a front receiver where cable lengths are much reduced.

3-4.) You have those backwards. Shoot first, then winch. A capstan winch is an excellent tool for retrieving big game carcasses over long distances. You can pay out one long rope and make a continuous pull. I have 400Yards of amsteel.

5.) This is a tough one because if I go to 33"-35" tires that means one has to go on the roof rack and one on a swing away carrier. I sometimes already have a lot of gear on my rack. I am trying to determine if it makes any sense to put two on a swing away?

[Vegas Runner]

My next project. Just got my capstan head off ebay. Now all I need to do is build a winch around it.


http://members.cox.net/egiandomenico1/Pictures/capstan.jpg

[my034runner]

My next project. Just got my capstan head off ebay. Now all I need to do is build a winch around it.


http://members.cox.net/egiandomenico1/Pictures/capstan.jpg


Man that thing is pretty big, how large will it be when done Ed?

[bulldog]

would love to see the finished product.

[Vegas Runner]

The capstan head is about 7.5" long by 6.5" wide at its widest point. I will use a 1HP DC motor and a gear reduction. The overall size may be 1.5' by 1' or so and weigh in at about 80 pounds.

[Leadfoot]

I wanted to do a spotlight connected to the A pillar, you know like police cruisers have, but I'm beginning to think its going to be very difficult. Has anyone seen these aftermarket on a truck?

[Vegas Runner]

would love to see the finished product.


Well I ended up finding a commercial product that fit the bill:

http://members.cox.net/egiandomenico1/Pictures/p374-AC.jpg

[bulldog]

Looks very interesting, keep us updated as you progress with the build.

[Vegas Runner]

Will do. Now I need to build a receiver mount. I am still waiting for my relays that I ordered from Italy. I should receive them in mid August. Slowly but surely.

[Vegas Runner]

Well I ended up finding a commercial product that fit the bill:

http://members.cox.net/egiandomenico1/Pictures/p374-AC.jpg


This one didnt work out as it is intermittant duty only. I have gone back to my original plan of designing and builing one myself. I have now purchased:

1.) The Capstan (ebay ~$50)
2.) 1HP 12VDC Permanent Magnet Electric Motor Continuos duty (ebay ~$110)
3.) 28:1 Speed Reducer (ebay ~$100)

Next steps:
Have an adapter made to fit my capstan to my speed reducer. The output shaft on my speed reducer is 3/4" the Capstan is 1 3/4" so I will have an adaper made. Easy task except it will require broaching for the keyways.

Design and build a hitch mount. Lots of welding.

[4run4fun]

I mashed my original muffler on the rocks. Rather than replacing it with aftermarket I preferred to stay oem. Found a local seller on ebay who was upgrading their exhaust and picked up the whole system for 17$!

I then went to work fabbing some rock protection for the new one. This is the result...

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/7343/img1505gy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This mod has been on my truck for something like 20k miles and has thoroughly done what it was made to do.

May be wierd, but it works!

[Mikestang]

Very cool. How is it held on? It's not apparent in that pict. I swear that we should just sheet-metal the whole bottom of these things and be done with it.

[expat]

Certainly looks nice.

I found when I went to the aftermarket muffler I was able to have it placed much higher under the floor pan and I have never touched the muffler since.

[4run4fun]

Very cool. How is it held on? It's not apparent in that pict. I swear that we should just sheet-metal the whole bottom of these things and be done with it.

I'm with ya on the sheet metal thing - LOL

I welded a tab on the front that would pinch around the rim of the muffler, as you can kinda see in this pic:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9168/img1491xq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then the back side clamps down like this:

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/8946/img1494dx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The design kinda makes it like a sled on rocks. It just pushes the muffler up and over!