There's a HENRY in The Shed .......................... !!!!!!!

[Drover]

The bracket is in the mail, well I have a tracking number but nothing else, so yesterday arvo I fit what I can and trim the skirt to get ready, well I get a good look at what the missing bracket will look like, a bit of bench work, 20 mins later I have a bracket made, so finish the whole thing.. When the proper one turns up I'll check which one is best but for now I'm happy.. The Ranger is set up, for now, something else is bound to get me inspired but later on ....

Went a nudge bar to scare off the Bump Park idiots at Woolies, place crawling with doderers, a nice ECB bull bar is just a lot of $$$$, don't do night or sunrise driving so Skippy not a problem and locally its horses so a bull bar make no difference .........

............... PS: not crooked, I wasn't square on when I took the pic.. I checked as a bit OCD with that stuff...

 

[Drover]

Here I was thinking either the smart battery BS had been shut down or they dropped the stupid idea with this model............ WRONG, its been showing 14 on my monitor because the battery, original, was knackered, 2 jump starts so a new one was quickly fitted, thankgoodness for these month long Black Friday sales, now the voltmeter will drop down to 12.5 until I burn some power, bugga, I Iike to park up with a fully charged battery not a 75% job ..... all for some dumb idea of saving some HP, idiotic.

 

[Boots in Action]

Well Ian, your pockets must be deep considering the money you are burning in quick time. Remember the old saying; If you can't afford a Dodge (Jeep Cherokee), dodge a Ford!!! Was your trusty and loved Jeep too expensive to rehabilitate??? Send me a PM if it is too painful.

 

[Drover]

I sold my boat to cover things, the Jeeps turbo had a fault which only showed itself when towing, 30kms and into limp mode, the fix after much testing which ended up being nearly a grand was a new turbo, easy enough job except you had to pull the motor out, so $2K for turbo but at 10 years old, 160K km so while pulling the motor out may as well replace all those things that are hard to get at, mounts, oil cooler, hoses so not much change out of $10,000 we worked out, labour being the killer then what would be next ????? so goodbye Jeep .... The Ford fitted the specs, basic model, no Tow Bar, a virtual clean skin with only a hard lid, CB and roof rails , so No Towing, minimal annoying bells and whistles, an easy decision really ............... The painfull part is looking at the list and tallying up what Ive spent on it but did it all in one hit instead of drib and drabs, mind you I did it all myself be double the price if it was workshopped... so that keeps me sane(ish)..................

 

[Drover]

The Tow Test has started, 350kms completed on a 30-33c day and I'm glad I removed the Thermo valve in the Tranny, the tranny temp before was throwing 100-120c on a 28c day now its in the 97-101c on a bluddy stinker of a day, far better temps, be interesting to see what it does on a cooler day.. Pretty sure I will add a set of coolers when we return and make it fully air cooled .... Miss the amazing grunt of the 3lt V6 and 8 speed box of the Jeep but this Ranger is nice to tow with .......

 

[Drover]

1400 kms covered and I would hate to see what the Transmission temps would have been in the 36c days when I was towing if I hadn't done the by pass modification,coolant got to 102c and tranny to 107c on one long drag and that was working gears and revs, nothing wrong with cooling system asit all dropped back to under 100c quickly but easy to see why some boxes cook .............. today was only in the low 20's so temps sitting down at mid 90's so much happier.... Fuel burn comparable to the Jeep and while I do miss the mighty V6 and 8 speeder on hills, I actually have to work and I can't drag past slow jobs now uphill, but its a very comfortable tow horse .............................. when I get home I will improve things so the temps should stay in a nice spot. .

 

[Drover]

Well the 3800km test run completed, nice fuel economy, ran well though I will need to upgrade the rear springs in due course ............. While in Canberra we did some Boxing Day special shopping at Kings, 110w fixed panel $49, 30lt drawer fridge $200 ?, gave it a mock up test and went really well and now that I'm home and its all fitted properly, used my old GEL battery from van that was okay and coupled with the ProStar controller with the panel on the roof racks its working way better than I expected ..... turn it on and in about 30 mins its down to 3c, even quicker if the panel is in the sun, once its at temp I can leave it in garage running all night and power draw is bugga all, so Im very happy.................. Its main job is for transporting stuff from ALDI 60kms away when we go for a restock instead of chilly bags with ice blocks..

Son had a 100a slim lithium and in a moment of stupidity I said Nah, I haven't got anything to charge it, what a numbskul, I should have just bought a Dc/DC or something, lifting the damn GEL onto the tail gate near killed me then I had to lift it up under the hard lid into it's box.... Stupid old person.....

 

[DRW]

Well the 3800km test run completed, nice fuel economy, ran well though I will need to upgrade the rear springs in due course ............. While in Canberra we did some Boxing Day special shopping at Kings, 110w fixed panel $49, 30lt drawer fridge $200 ?, gave it a mock up test and went really well and now that I'm home and its all fitted properly, used my old GEL battery from van that was okay and coupled with the ProStar controller with the panel on the roof racks its working way better than I expected ..... turn it on and in about 30 mins its down to 3c, even quicker if the panel is in the sun, once its at temp I can leave it in garage running all night and power draw is bugga all, so Im very happy.................. Its main job is for transporting stuff from ALDI 60kms away when we go for a restock instead of chilly bags with ice blocks..

Son had a 100a slim lithium and in a moment of stupidity I said Nah, I haven't got anything to charge it, what a numbskul, I should have just bought a Dc/DC or something, lifting the damn GEL onto the tail gate near killed me then I had to lift it up under the hard lid into it's box.... Stupid old person.....


View attachment 70169

I’m glad it’s working for you Ian, but it’s still not a Jeep sadly

 

[Hitting the road]

Well the 3800km test run completed, nice fuel economy, ran well though I will need to upgrade the rear springs in due course ............. While in Canberra we did some Boxing Day special shopping at Kings, 110w fixed panel $49, 30lt drawer fridge $200 ?, gave it a mock up test and went really well and now that I'm home and its all fitted properly, used my old GEL battery from van that was okay and coupled with the ProStar controller with the panel on the roof racks its working way better than I expected ..... turn it on and in about 30 mins its down to 3c, even quicker if the panel is in the sun, once its at temp I can leave it in garage running all night and power draw is bugga all, so Im very happy.................. Its main job is for transporting stuff from ALDI 60kms away when we go for a restock instead of chilly bags with ice blocks..

Son had a 100a slim lithium and in a moment of stupidity I said Nah, I haven't got anything to charge it, what a numbskul, I should have just bought a Dc/DC or something, lifting the damn GEL onto the tail gate near killed me then I had to lift it up under the hard lid into it's box.... Stupid old person.....


View attachment 70169

Mate has one of those Kings drawer type fridges in the back of his FJ Cruiser...had it for at least 4 years and hasn't given him a drama and works very well...

 

[Drover]

I’m glad it’s working for you Ian, but it’s still not a Jeep sadly

Dave, I do miss the Jeep the get up and go, the brilliant gear box and some of the bling I fear to say but in all honesty I do prefer the Ranger for towing, it may be a bit of a slug but easier to pack and actually see out of and is roomier I think but the seats, even just dumb handraulic jobs are way better than the park benches in the WK2, always wanted to rip them out and retro fit some from a WG, far more comfortable ...... Difference between German design and Italian I suppose ................................
The By Pass in the tranny does a good job at keeping ATF temps in a better area and soon I will fit a twin ATF cooler and get rid of the Heat exchanger for it, then tranny temps will be in a happier place all the time....... Not happy with ATF temps being in the high 90's or over 100 at all ...

Jeep for the town car or solo touring, it would be good for that as the Turbo wouldn't play up then...

 

[Hitting the road]

Dave, I do miss the Jeep the get up and go, the brilliant gear box and some of the bling I fear to say but in all honesty I do prefer the Ranger for towing, it may be a bit of a slug but easier to pack and actually see out of and is roomier I think but the seats, even just dumb handraulic jobs are way better than the park benches in the WK2, always wanted to rip them out and retro fit some from a WG, far more comfortable ...... Difference between German design and Italian I suppose ................................
The By Pass in the tranny does a good job at keeping ATF temps in a better area and soon I will fit a twin ATF cooler and get rid of the Heat exchanger for it, then tranny temps will be in a happier place all the time....... Not happy with ATF temps being in the high 90's or over 100 at all ...

Jeep for the town car or solo touring, it would be good for that as the Turbo wouldn't play up then...

I was reading a blog the other day, a fellow was having dramas with his Jeep going in to limp mode when towing, took it to a Dealer and they allegedly diagnosed a turbo actuator issue, they did an ECU update which apparently is supposed to fix the limp mode problem to do with the actuator?
This bloke was going to see if it fixes the problem when he next hooks his van on...be interesting if there is a follow up and whether or not the Dealer update sorted it out...

 

[Drover]

I wish that was the case with mine but sadly not ..... you could feel the vane arm grumbling when it should have moved smoothly...

 

[Drover]

3,000km till next service but Supercheap had Penrite 5W40 C3 oil on special so jumped in and got 10lts and an oil filter $124 instead of the $200 I could have paid, couldn't pass it up, special and a $10 credit .................... like keeping tabs on the Form Guide when you DiY Servicing.

 

[DRW]

3,000km till next service but Supercheap had Penrite 5W40 C3 oil on special so jumped in and got 10lts and an oil filter $124 instead of the $200 I could have paid, couldn't pass it up, special and a $10 credit .................... like keeping tabs on the Form Guide when you DiY Servicing.

Supercheap auto, I’ve heard this name somewhere?

 

[Drover]

The new fridge in back works a treat but the old GEL battery can struggle after a few days in shed without charge to fire up the fridge in morning unless I park in driveway when I turn it on to get some help from Sol ..................

I could have just used my 5 amp Ctek mains charger but it means it has to plugged in and mounted near the power point, it does have an anderson plug though my idea was dig around in shed and pull out one of the old house panels I got awhile back, then its just unplug Ute panel and plug in house panel, 190w 36v or something, the reg in Henry is the old PWM from van which is a great bit pf gear and it will take up to 90v or some such unlike most which will have a 24 or maybe 36v, side of my garage gets sun most of day so could see no sense in being an old fart on a ladder so knocked up a frame and slung the panel beside the fence, it works far better than expected, pic shows it in shadow at 1559, its still pushing out 2.2a of charge, very surprised.... I ran the battery down earlier to see how things went ... Now a big Day Glow flag to hang from lead so I see it and unplug before I drive off ..................... its bound to happen...

Funny that a 190w 36v panel shunts 5.4a while my 100w Kings panel will push about the same @18v ...................

 

[Boots in Action]

The new fridge in back works a treat but the old GEL battery can struggle after a few days in shed without charge to fire up the fridge in morning unless I park in driveway when I turn it on to get some help from Sol ..................

I could have just used my 5 amp Ctek mains charger but it means it has to plugged in and mounted near the power point, it does have an anderson plug though my idea was dig around in shed and pull out one of the old house panels I got awhile back, then its just unplug Ute panel and plug in house panel, 190w 36v or something, the reg in Henry is the old PWM from van which is a great bit pf gear and it will take up to 90v or some such unlike most which will have a 24 or maybe 36v, side of my garage gets sun most of day so could see no sense in being an old fart on a ladder so knocked up a frame and slung the panel beside the fence, it works far better than expected, pic shows it in shadow at 1559, its still pushing out 2.2a of charge, very surprised.... I ran the battery down earlier to see how things went ... Now a big Day Glow flag to hang from lead so I see it and unplug before I drive off ..................... its bound to happen...

Funny that a 190w 36v panel shunts 5.4a while my 100w Kings panel will push about the same @18v ...................

It's all about WATTS Ian. 5.4 amps at 36 volts amounts to approx 194 watts, while 5.4 amps at 18 volts amounts to only half the total output of approx 97 watts. That really shows how much a proper MPPT controller can make use of that higher voltage compared to a PWM controller.....if you use a MPPT controller!!! 194 watts can be converted to approx 10 amps at 18 volts or better still over 13 AMPS at 14 volts which is a good charging voltage. Disregarding any losses in both cases. Have you got an old MPPT controller?

 

[Drover]

It's all about WATTS Ian. 5.4 amps at 36 volts amounts to approx 194 watts, while 5.4 amps at 18 volts amounts to only half the total output of approx 97 watts. That really shows how much a proper MPPT controller can make use of that higher voltage compared to a PWM controller.....if you use a MPPT controller!!! 194 watts can be converted to approx 10 amps at 18 volts or better still over 13 AMPS at 14 volts which is a good charging voltage. Disregarding any losses in both cases. Have you got an old MPPT controller?

Thats why I prefer parrellel on van, short runs so no need for extra volts, I'll take the Amps ..............................

Using the old ProStar unit which is certainly better than some of the cheapy MPPT controllers, early days to really see how well this set up works but I had it on the shed panel and it did push out good power, in both cases its basically just keeping the battery topped up so is perfect for the job ... Cost so far has been nil as reusing cable and andersons ........................
The Epever in van does show the advantage of a MPPT as it will push some nice power at 15v , certainly good early morning and late evening .... looking forward to later today to see how it goes with full sun on it was pushing .4 at 0630 so signs good.
I have an old TPM 1230 unit as well but I fear it would fry if I plugged in a house panel, need to scrounge another controller for the shed now, something that will handle up to 48v at least, time to wander the garage sales I suppose.....................
Side fence runs practically East/West didn't want to climb on roof thankfully, why tempt fate.

 

[Hitting the road]

Good to hear your new tug is meeting expectations...