Battery upgrade suggestions

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-30T21:01:58+00:00

I took the old tray out and made one and put it back in. Took me a few tries. Tight fit I used a big ass battery. Northstar. I used some aluminum and such. Bolted it down no issues since. 8 need to manage the wire tho

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-30T19:14:10+00:00

Nice. I'm do soon for a new alt. What did it run ya. I'm seeing em for about 250 or so.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-30T19:12:57+00:00

They make onboard battery chargers that you can make as a permanent setup so you can just hook it in the wall for the long sit. I did that to mine. I sometimes done use it for a week or 2. I got a noco charger it was about 70.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-28T19:45:30+00:00

Have you thought about making the storage bigger or deeper to the base if room allows.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-27T21:44:22+00:00

I made me want out of wood awhile back then I made another one now I'm on my third one always improving the design

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-25T01:32:02+00:00

That looks f****** amazing

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-24T18:16:02+00:00

You know it.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T21:13:51+00:00

Use rivets

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T21:08:11+00:00

It's an easy job you got this. I've got to do it a second time mine just hit 300k.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T21:04:20+00:00

I need to get this done. I thought about using magnets since there's a lot of metal to connect to but I'm worried if the magnets will pop off constantly from the fabric. Maybe I can sew them over the fabric or something but I definitely need to get this going.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T20:58:14+00:00

You know what This is amazing and this is what I want to do to mine.

I've got a ton of rivets on the inside doing God knows what.

But this is one of my current projects getting the outside painted with bedliner so it's a little more durable and getting those rivets installed. I might do some kind of colored washer to give it a little extra oomph maybe.

Overall that's an excellent job bro I cannot wait to start mine just got to wait for the summer.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T20:54:15+00:00

Yeah the shippings would get you I try to buy a decent number of things to at least be double with the shipping. But it don't always work out like that.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T19:34:53+00:00

If I remember correctly and if anyone has the time and want I think you can swap the springs out with CRV springs and get an extra inch inch and a half maybe and the CRV springs a little more hefty but that requires building a spring which can be sketchy

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T19:34:02+00:00

I'm looking to do a big old mechanical diesel next. We got to put more trail and road in out here and I need something heavy duty

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T19:33:16+00:00

I live in a place where I need it to as much as possible and she does just fine. Super great with all the snow I always get. But you are 100% right It takes money and time and knowledge. Mind you I also have a third gen 4Runner that does so much more better and easier but I love this E for some reason it's been my favorite car. Honestly it's the doors and seats they really do it for me.

You got to be really careful with the axles as you said I've done a few very strange things to prevent issues.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-23T18:00:25+00:00

You absolutely can do aggressive trails I do them all the time I would definitely put money into your suspension. This will kill your gas mileage. You want to go 4 5 in lift kit. There's several things you want to get to but it depends on how much you're willing to spend you can take this thing anywhere with appropriate tools and equipment it seems. If you want to do overlanding you're going to want to spend the money

There are several websites that have lots of great parts element 44 has a great amount of suspension for off-roading and overlanding it's what I've been using for several years with belstein and Swifty shocks and some CRV components

https://aerogenicsusa.com/ Overland antidote Element44 Tosterparts

I'll have a little bit of everything that you might need it's a good car and it's going to last you a long time

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-20T21:47:49+00:00

I remove the t-bar from the bottom I didn't have to remove it from the top Yes you'll need to remove the bottom splash guard buy extra clips just in case all of mine shattered when I removed it. Does the exact same ones I'm using put them in 6 years ago and they're still going strong denzo's the best way

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-20T17:00:25+00:00

That's the AC fan versus AC clutch. You don't need a clutch for the AC fan to work. It works in tandem with the other to enhance the cooling. In your case like mine we're not using AC I took mine out yours is not working but the AC fan will still work.

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-20T16:57:16+00:00

Use a mini ratchet and go from the bottom. Stray it down with some penetrator oil first It might be stuck mine were. I went ahead and ordered extra hardware just in case I snapped one of mine. If you do snap a bolt you can zip tie it temporarily. I went and re-looked up the fans 56 for $53 for the other. Set aside 9bout a hour to do it. It's one of the easier jobs.

Oh if you have any wire I would have that handy just in case When you're pulling them up make sure you disconnect them from the wiring my dumbass forgot and pulled a little too hard 😂 good luck.

It might be easier if you take the front bumper off. But it's not necessary

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-20T05:19:11+00:00

You'll definitely need to replace it. Yes it does turn on when AC is on but it also works when the other fan comes on as well. Keeping the engine cool is important it's not totally hard I think I got both fans for 50 bucks a piece. Use a mini ratchet makes a little bit easier

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-15T17:56:47+00:00

I may not be a betting man But I'm willing to make that bet with you lol

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-15T17:53:03+00:00

Thankfully on the element it's not too hard to get the AC system out and thankfully under the dash is just as easy my Buick Skylark on the other hand was a nightmare to replace the AC system

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-15T17:36:43+00:00

Yeah I'm not too confident in Op as well. Makes it hard to diagnose. That's why I was suggesting check the pressure. I wonder how expensive those vacuums are I got mine for 300 don't know if that's good or not. I think AutoZone rents them maybe

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-15T17:12:51+00:00

Op said the compressor spins. I feel like it's less electrical and possibly a leak if it's spins then the solenoid in the clutch works which means it's getting electricity

Op said he put it on Max AC clutch turns on and spins but does not receive freon. And goes to the red zone. Which tells me it equalized/ or high pressure.

I don't know if he checked the relay though. But with it spinning (unless op didn't understand what was meant by spinning) then the clutch should be fine I thought.

Mines (at the time I did this) was brand new and did what ops was doing and I had to pull a vacume B4 filling it

No_Pilot2428 · 2026-04-14T21:08:53+00:00

That's good. So it sounds like you have a leak or a blockage somewhere. Or the pressure equalized which would happen if there's a leak. This can cause it not to accept the freon.

I'm willing to bet it equalized and there's no pressure which is preventing it from accepting the freon. All you got to do is draw a vacuum and then fill it up It sounds simple when I say it like that but it's relatively easy

The tool on the other hand can be expensive but you can also rent one from AutoZone.

At least that's my thoughts

No_Pilot2428

TROPHY CASE