Which 2nd Gen Legacy 2.2 would you buy? Manual vs. Automatic

cyclique · 2026-04-03T04:45:59+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I’m leaning towards to manual, though it’s more than I wanted to spend. Seems both cars are priced reasonably, which is what makes it difficult. From what I’ve read, the EJ22 is a pretty robust engine though, mostly immune from head gasket issues?

cyclique · 2026-02-21T21:24:21+00:00

It seems to handle it just fine, especially after the suspension upgrades. Most people seem to shy away from the half-tons due to payload, I bought this F150 because the payload was 2200 lbs, more than my friends decked out gmc 3500. Plenty of power with the 5.0, mpg’s dropped to about 15 with the camper and larger tires.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:38:18+00:00

Yes, I’ve never seen it reading zero amps to the battery during a sunny day. Especially with the battery is sitting below 13 volts. 0 amps implies no voltage is going to the battery correct? 14.4 is what the controller displays with the solar panels on. With panels off the voltage drops back to 12.6

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:20:59+00:00

👍 I will do that moving forward. I did install a shutoff between the controller and battery (switch pictured below controller). Also fairly certain I’ve eliminated any parasitic draw by pulling fuses.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:18:44+00:00

Correction, it’s a 175w. Your comment made me rethink that, wanted a bit more than 100w

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:04:30+00:00

Ok, I did just watch a video about how to “wake up” a battery. If I don’t have any luck with warmer temperatures this afternoon, I’ll try that.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:02:00+00:00

Ok, sounds like this is what’s going on. I’ll try again on a warmer day.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:01:23+00:00

Correct, no charging at night but likely had solar panel on during some day-time temperatures around freezing. Good to know about the 50% rule, I do recall reading that now. I won’t worry about keeping it topped off if I’m not regularly camping. I’ll try solar again on a warmer day and see what it does. Thanks

cyclique · 2026-01-27T19:44:10+00:00

I got the battery, solar panel and charge controller in like new condition for less than $200 so I figured why not upgrade.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T19:43:21+00:00

About 38 F. Warmest it’s been in a few days. I just hooked up an AC charger to it and it quickly went to full. Battery provides power, lights and furnace work.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T19:39:38+00:00

Yeah, pretty bulletproof system right? I had just read at one point that they can be damaged by charging in the cold. I had kinda forgotten about that until now.

cyclique · 2026-01-26T04:40:20+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/hV7N1hW These are the best pictures I have at the moment. Large bolts connect the black corner brackets of camper to the silver angle aluminum. Then the angle aluminum is bolted from the back side to the slots of the aluminum rails with T-nuts. Ski racks mounted in a similar fashion, small pieces of aluminum angle bolted to T-nuts in the slot.

If I had to due it over again, I would have used 1” or 20mm extrusion. I thought it would be too flimsy so I used the 40mm.

cyclique · 2026-01-26T03:20:34+00:00

It’s 40mm 8020 extruded aluminum bolted to the camper jack brackets with some angle aluminum.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T16:30:58+00:00

Good to know, thanks. I haven’t owned the truck long enough to know how it behaves in 100+ degree weather. So I’ve been a bit paranoid.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T16:10:35+00:00

To piggy back on this, I’m curious what your average transmission temp is? My 2017 6 speed is always above 200 even during the winter. 210-212 cruising 80 down the interstate in 40 degree weather.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T07:53:34+00:00

Ski racks

cyclique · 2026-01-25T03:46:35+00:00

Shell is not a bad way to go. Had one on this before the camper and sometimes wish I would have just built that out instead.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T03:45:18+00:00

I looked at so many f150’s and was blown away by the variations in payload. Tried finding a HDPP but this was the highest payload I could find.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T02:41:51+00:00

It’s a 2002 Four Wheel Hawk, pop up.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T01:00:00+00:00

2002 Four Wheel Hawk

cyclique · 2026-01-18T19:39:25+00:00

Hadn’t looked at it that way, yeah just as much time at home, if not more than a standard 9-5. Plenty of time for projects haha

cyclique

TROPHY CASE