Chalet Arrow into a Off Road Arrow - Page 3

Runt · 07-04-2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks Bob
I'm pretty happy with it too. Jay did a very good job. I'm amazed at how wheels the spring pack and OEM FJ shocks work on the wash board roads. Cross ditches etc are no problem. I have not had to take it any where extreme yet i.e. rock crawling or any thing that hard on it. Best part is my little girls love it. My two year old said "Daddy its just like a tree fort now". Bob do you know much about solar systems? ......this is the next mod. I have been reading alot and leaning towards a simple 65 to 85 Watt panel mounted between the skylights and the front bubble window. A battery moniter etc as well. I really only need one to help the battery power the fan for the 20,000 btu furnace, run a lap top (work related) and the 20" LCD screen. I will be mounting it on a swivel arm for dual screen on the computer.....really its going to end up haveing Dora the Explorer on it only.

Runt · 08-05-2009, 10:05 PM

Hello
I updated some pix and made the addition of a 2 " reciever. Also added some interior pix from this weekend’s trip to “Frank Lake” ..........it pulls great with a FJ Cruiser . Keep in mind I have 4.56 gears, some minor engine mods, lockers (for off road) and 33’s so the gearing is quite torque compared to stock. With the wife’s aluminum boat, 15 hp four stroke (182 lbs) and gear it suffers in fuel economy (arounf 16 mpg)...however with my canoe and Kayak’s it gets the same economy as with no trailer.....18 to 20 mpg. 20 if I drive very....very conservatively (no greater than 100 km/h ....my norm.). I have added some new pix to give you a idea of how it usually rolls.....lots & lots of gear loaded inside & of course the girls bikes the wifes and my little dirt jumping bike on the reciver (no North Shore Rack Yet

). I always forget to ask the wife to snap pix of rough roads (usually she closes her eyes).......I took it through the mud bogs at Quesnel after the event was over to see what it could do (had buddys ford on 40's to pull me out) and I actually made it (yes I competed and was about low end in the street class). He timed me and it was over 1 min & 40 sec. ....lol....but I made it. This was mud up to the top of the tires for about 150 meters. The trailer seems to be holding up well so far......a few screws rattling out to worry about as mentioned by another member. I used some silicone and and tightened them up and they have been tight. I have beat this thing hard so far and no problems ! .....seems to bridge tha gap between the uber cool off raod trailers (like Adventurer & Sherpa) and the big camper style pickup units. I really need a solar panel set up though, and help with figureing it all out. I actually killed all three batteries this last weekend....thank goodness for the Canadian Tire Eliminator battery pack we use for the boat fish finder.

**skersfan** · 08-06-2009, 03:43 PM

You will need a 120 watt solar panel and 15 amp solar controller( I would us a Morningstar). The solar panel could be mounted on your boat rack it appears. I have looked at doing it with mine for years, just never do.

Buy two or three highend solar batteries and run the conroller near the front table so you can always see your battery charge/life. I would use 10 gauge wire fromt he panel to the controller, controller to load and to batteries.

Do not buy Marine batteries, do not be thrifty on this side. Never run them all the way down. The morningstar will shut the system off when they go below 11.7 volts.

Run a wire from the vehicle for a slow trickle charge from the battery when driving. Always disconect the traielr from the truck for overnight or long setup camping. You should have a switch that shuts off the solar when not in use.

Hope that helps.

Runt · 08-07-2009, 08:09 PM

Hey Bob
Yup that does help. I have been rather undecided about the solar panel set up. Part of me thinks to go with the flexible blanket style solar panels.......but the thrifty side says one single panel. But where to mount it with out breaking it. Originally I was going to put a mast hole mounted on each side to put the solar panel on a swiveling pole so to speek so it could be rotated in any direction to catch the suns rays. Originally the solar panel was to be mounted in a slide in braket between the boat racks, but I chickened out on that idea the first time I loaded the boat and went overt some rough terrain due to the rack flex. I think it might pull the panel frame apart....idunno much about solar panels. Questions asked in recent P.M's were ground clearence, which equals 29" at the lowaest point and more undercarriage pix attached.

**skersfan** · 08-07-2009, 09:45 PM

Just make a angle iron or box tubing frame for it. They are tough as long as they do not move around. I have them on towers in the mountains where we have winds in excess of 100 mph.

I was going to run it between the two roof vents and mount it via a bracket like you have for the boat, except directly to the front roof sides. I was going to mount mine permanently and just park which ever way I had to, to get the sun.

They will pick up a lot even if not set up exactly.

Sunwize still makes panels I believe, so does BP and Seimons.

I may be able to get you a good price on them let me know if you are interested.

I am not to excited about he foldable ones, I would most likely drive off and leave it.

I think you have my number if not PM me and I will try to get pricing for you if you want.

Runt · 08-08-2009, 11:49 AM

Ohh …ok box frame…..duh light just came on. That is a good idea…..really good idea. I’m thinking I can make a cradle for it on the rack and make some sort of tray for it to slide into under the coach for when its not in use. Ya I hear ya about the blanket units. I was more worried about some one walking off with it, then me leaving it behind. Thanks for the help Bob.