Thanks for your honest review young fellah - it’s 18 months since we last communicated and I’ve just started permanently installing fridge, cupboards etc - you may find the Victron Bluetooth monitor may not have enough signal strength to pass through the aluminium shell of the canopy - like Bianca I’m also height challenged and carry a small plastic step for access into the slide out Engel fridge when I need to get to the bottom - also permanently wiring the whole setup (Avionics background) - Redarc, Lithium and Renogy monitor - I noticed your original cooking platform is a drawer system now so I’ll watch you changes with interest 👀
Love the videos mate, I did my own canopy fit out too and made my own led strips housed in aluminum extrusion.. available at most electrical wholesalers and then you can make strips whatever length works for you !
I went the victron 712. Put the guage in the cab somewhere you can see while driving. Then can use the bluetooth while at camp. Note the bluetooth only version has a small range.
Made it to then end! You could do some sort of drop-down or flip out version for the cooking area. It might drop the working surface down a significant amount. Food for thought!
@@explorebound it doesn’t unfortunately, but if you have it somewhere in the canopy where you go to most it’s really handy to just glance over to see what’s going on. It only cost $99 on Amazon. It’s been very accurate and easy to set up. Hopes this helps with your decision 👍🏼 Cheers
Hey, Just thought you might like to look at my 12v set up. I have wired my hardkorr lights through my isolation switches. Leave the hardkorr switch on and just turn on/off at my headboard. Hope this helps Out There Touring
Also have you considered talking to someone like Thunderfab who helped out Wild Touring. Yes he got it for free but their work looks really good in the canopy space in WA.
with the lights they still should be a positional on/off switch, if you leave the lights "on" you should be able to use your built in switches to turn them off and on 👍👍
Thanks mate will into that! The style I was looking at has both white and amber settings so thinking I'll probably have to run an additional set of wiring to run white amber off different switches.
@@explorebound might be worth using the hardkorr kit with the external dimmer, im using that dual led lighting kit in my ute at the moment and have mounted the external dimmers where my switches are 👍👍
You can buy thin neodymium magnets. Super glue in places along the strip and bingo. If you need can screw some washers in places to provide "metal" to magnetize onto.
have you considered a cantilever bench solution using your tray's rope rail? will obviously need to be light and strong, so perhaps some ally that you can then store in the canopy somewhere.
@@explorebound looks like you did a good job of that though. If it comes to it and there is a problem you could always remove the drawer box to do the repair
As for lights. I had the same led strip lights and the same thing happened. Have a look at hardcore lightingThey have there own switch. Can mount it anywhere. They have been on there for almost a year.
With regards to your battery and small space problem at the back. Why don't you just move that wide drawer forward in front of the battery and then your floor to roof area will be larger than by moving the battery and give you extra access to in behind the pantry. Also when you build something in place of those plastic tubs, make them come back to the wide drawer, thereby eliminating the drop gap between them and giving you more storage.
Mate get the hard korr 4 bar kit and cable tie them to ur canopy, no screws needed. Cant go wrong. Cut the cig plug off and run it to ur switch, u can still use the pin wheel dimmer. Cant go wrong with victron. Bincas height issues, she could hang from a door frame upside down, gain some height solution solved. Or just get some boots with goldfish in the heels for the height boost. Theres a solution to every problem 😉😂
Oh neat! I was under the impression that you had to get the monitor screen too - I'd prefer without to be honest and just use my phone so that works well. 🙂
For Bianca's height problem.... consider the clear view dropdown kitchen. Aside from that you seem to have your issues sorted with your own plans you've stated. Another great video guys 🍻
Would like to see a video on your future lighting for the canopy as I’m looking for a way to setup my canopy’s lighting. Use to have small led strip bars to a cigarette plug.
Hello, we are Acoucou Battery. We really like your outdoor life, and we found that you have tested the corresponding battery products before, we would like to inquire how do you think about LiFePO4 battery? Would you like to test our battery products and we look forward to hearing from you.
Yer didn't like you polish job on pull out top, then wrapping it in contact adhesive like a school book? You may need to ask some questions on a forum before your plan of attack There are tradies out there that have great ideas. I watch most tubers and make up my own mind. One thing that I get a laugh at is people that follow other with stand up fridges and having the food n drinks fall out on arrival after long drives and those that have to top heavy their batteries to run a massive inverter just to have a microwave, coffee machine and induction cook top. That ain't camping. I'd rather conserve power, water n camp than being a Flog🤣🤣
you can use the renogy DC DC battery charger or get a century lithium 100ah that comes with BMS. it shows us how much our battery draws back in, all on an app on your phone!!!!!
Could you move the draw to front and keep the battery in its spot then have your full height storage up back? Same outcome without needing to move the battery
Definitely a possibility! The only issue is that it might make it a little hard to access the main wiring etc behind the front headboard but not the end of the world.
A couple of options for the LED lights, 1 is get better quality double sided tape from bunnings. 2 is silicone on some magnetic strip to the canopy and to the lights so it's not permanent. Also on the battery moving, my comments from your design video was to have the battery in rear centre area as it's a less utilised area. Thanks for the true side that not everything is perfect and can have flaws. Cheers 🍺
Get yourself some aluminium LED extrusion profile bud. Mount that up so you can still use the current switch setup and if a LED strip fails you take out the diffuser and replace. Hope that helps.
crazy... I'm in coral bay watching this for ideas on fitting out my hj75, just seen your fridge magnet hope you had a great time up here my 3rd season up here working now :)
Hi there. I feel you on you input. I'm going to change things on mine. As for the missus. Jump over and have a look at my pantry that I made. You will understand once you see it. Great job on your build. Exploring with a triton
Idea for lights. Keep cheaper strip lighting and use clear tube to run them in. Then use little round screw in clamps to fit them. Mate did similar back in day to make cheap under car glow lights on his daily.. he siloconed the ends to seal them
Buy a roll of permanent outdoor double sided tape and stick this to the led strip. This should hold the strips in place. I have used it plenty of times and never had a problem. Be sure to buy the foam outdoor double sided tape and not the clear double sided tape. 👍🏼
I ran into the same issue in the past with the strips. In my RSI, I stuck them on and then ran a bead of black silicone around the edges. 2 years strong and looks very clean.
Hardkorr camp lighting mate. I run them on my camper trailer and they come in a few different configurations and can be hard wired. They have a seperate dimmer switch and can even option with a dimmer switch/ remote setup.
With the light can use the spray contact adhesive to boost the stickyness. Thought about mounting the second battery and charger in the cab? Behind the back seats can work well and you can use it for power in the cab too
It doesn't matter how big or small your truck is you will always find that there are things what would not be to your liking guys. In our case the Iveco van is just a pleasure to drive, But than it's not an 4wd. Not that I would enjoy driving over 4wd tracks as our caravan was not build for that Keep up the great clips you guys are bringing out every week we really enjoy them. Thanks
Hey mate. I watched the build ages ago and thought it was great. I've just come across this one now! I notice you're using the slide in over centre latch on the canopy to hold it to the tray. How do you rate them? Do you use bolts at all or only them? I'm looking at them myself for my canopy, but am unsure if they're enough. Cheers, Jase.
Hey mate, yep the canopy is attached using those 4 latches and they've been great. Have thoroughly tested them over some pretty rough tracks during the past few years and they've been working great.
Daniel, for the LED lights, go to your local electrical wholesaler or lighting shop and ask for aluminium LED diffuser chanel. It's an aluminium extrusion you can screw/rivet to your canopy with a clip-in plastic lid that will hold up the strip if it falls. You can still silicone the strip to the chanel without getting silicone all over your nice new canopy finish. No re-wiring needed, about $25 for a 3m length. I'm a sparky by trade and I've had this as my lighting solution in my canopy for over a year, best thing ever! Super easy and as a bonus the plastic diffuser cover makes the light from the strip look like a continuous light rather than lots of little dots. Way more professional finish. You can even paint the aluminium chanel black to match your canopy. Also, on eBay or Amazon you can get a touch dimmer for LED strip lights (about $15 - $20). I just put one in my canopy, can't recommend it enough! Super simple and great when you want a little light but not to be blinded! Thanks for all the tips you share with us for free👏 Keep it up!
In my tub, I run those same cheap eBay LED light strip's, what I also got from eBay was the aluminium channels to run them in. Couple that with some body double-sided tape from Bunnings, it has been holding up well. As for battery monitoring, like many have said, I run the Renogy 500amp Shunt with screen. It has been great, but it would be better with a Bluetooth app version for more convenience, so it's best to go down that route from the start if that's something you will use. Cheers again for the great content 👍
Thanks for the advice mate! Definitely going to be looking into that aluminium channel I reckon. As for the monitor, the Renogy sounds like really good value but for me I think bluetooth will be neccesary when it comes to sharing info on these vids (being able to record the phone screen etc)
That looks perfect actually, cheers for the suggestion! I was under the impression you had to get them with the small monitor display but even neater without!
I’ve added the Renogy 500a Battery Monitor into my setup, it’s cheap enough being $100 and it shows all those details and it looks nice. Just doesn’t have it on an app.
Thanks mate! I'm hearing a lot of positive things about the Renogy. The only drawback is bluetooth for me as it's something I'm really chasing so I can screen record analytics to share in these vids.
Thanks for your honest review young fellah - it’s 18 months since we last communicated and I’ve just started permanently installing fridge, cupboards etc - you may find the Victron Bluetooth monitor may not have enough signal strength to pass through the aluminium shell of the canopy - like Bianca I’m also height challenged and carry a small plastic step for access into the slide out Engel fridge when I need to get to the bottom - also permanently wiring the whole setup (Avionics background) - Redarc, Lithium and Renogy monitor - I noticed your original cooking platform is a drawer system now so I’ll watch you changes with interest 👀
I have Victron smart shunt with Bluetooth is perfect for camp info!! Use it all the time. Keep up the great work.
Love the videos mate, I did my own canopy fit out too and made my own led strips housed in aluminum extrusion.. available at most electrical wholesalers and then you can make strips whatever length works for you !
I went the victron 712. Put the guage in the cab somewhere you can see while driving. Then can use the bluetooth while at camp. Note the bluetooth only version has a small range.
Made it to then end! You could do some sort of drop-down or flip out version for the cooking area. It might drop the working surface down a significant amount. Food for thought!
You you relocate your aux battery to the cavity between the kitchen and drawer module, good use of that space
Ah there you go you suggested that haha, I wrote that out when you first pointed out that dead space
Haha we're on the same page! Cheers mate 🙂
You should get the renogy battery monitor. It’s been really good 👍🏼
Thanks mate - does your model have bluetooth?
@@explorebound it doesn’t unfortunately, but if you have it somewhere in the canopy where you go to most it’s really handy to just glance over to see what’s going on. It only cost $99 on Amazon. It’s been very accurate and easy to set up. Hopes this helps with your decision 👍🏼 Cheers
Don't go blue tooth
Go wired display
If you haven’t done anything with the lighting yet Try the HardKorr strip light kit, I find them to be a good product, 3 way lighting and dimmable
Hey,
Just thought you might like to look at my 12v set up. I have wired my hardkorr lights through my isolation switches. Leave the hardkorr switch on and just turn on/off at my headboard.
Hope this helps
Out There Touring
Also have you considered talking to someone like Thunderfab who helped out Wild Touring. Yes he got it for free but their work looks really good in the canopy space in WA.
with the lights they still should be a positional on/off switch, if you leave the lights "on" you should be able to use your built in switches to turn them off and on 👍👍
Thanks mate will into that! The style I was looking at has both white and amber settings so thinking I'll probably have to run an additional set of wiring to run white amber off different switches.
@@explorebound Hardkorr lighting mate
@@explorebound might be worth using the hardkorr kit with the external dimmer, im using that dual led lighting kit in my ute at the moment and have mounted the external dimmers where my switches are 👍👍
@@explorebound
Hi,
Just letting you know an awesome cook up being released tomorrow afternoon.
You need to try this
Cheers
Out There Touring
You can buy thin neodymium magnets. Super glue in places along the strip and bingo. If you need can screw some washers in places to provide "metal" to magnetize onto.
have you considered a cantilever bench solution using your tray's rope rail? will obviously need to be light and strong, so perhaps some ally that you can then store in the canopy somewhere.
On the right hand side of the canopy, why not just move that drawer box towards the front? Your dead space can add to the full height section
Could do! My only concern there is that it might make accessing the main canopy wiring behind the front headboard a little hard to access.
@@explorebound looks like you did a good job of that though. If it comes to it and there is a problem you could always remove the drawer box to do the repair
As for lights. I had the same led strip lights and the same thing happened. Have a look at hardcore lightingThey have there own switch. Can mount it anywhere. They have been on there for almost a year.
With regards to your battery and small space problem at the back. Why don't you just move that wide drawer forward in front of the battery and then your floor to roof area will be larger than by moving the battery and give you extra access to in behind the pantry.
Also when you build something in place of those plastic tubs, make them come back to the wide drawer, thereby eliminating the drop gap between them and giving you more storage.
I got the renogy for $95, works great.
With the strip lights, the supplied tape is below average. Use 3M VHB tape (from Bunnings) next time 👍
What are your thoughts on the dmax so far?
Mate get the hard korr 4 bar kit and cable tie them to ur canopy, no screws needed. Cant go wrong. Cut the cig plug off and run it to ur switch, u can still use the pin wheel dimmer.
Cant go wrong with victron.
Bincas height issues, she could hang from a door frame upside down, gain some height solution solved. Or just get some boots with goldfish in the heels for the height boost. Theres a solution to every problem 😉😂
Haha I'll pass those solutions on to Bianca! 😂
If you haven't found lights yet give safier a call they have everything you could ever won't in power and solar and lighting
Victron current shunt, can get IP rated, wireless (bluetooth) or one with a screen and bluetooth, can msg me if you want anymore info
Yeah I have Victron Bluetooth shunt on my set up.
Cheers
Out There Touring
Oh neat! I was under the impression that you had to get the monitor screen too - I'd prefer without to be honest and just use my phone so that works well. 🙂
@@explorebound nah no need if you dont want it, ill take some photos of mine and send you them on instagram 👌
Are you the guy from anaconda?
For Bianca's height problem.... consider the clear view dropdown kitchen.
Aside from that you seem to have your issues sorted with your own plans you've stated.
Another great video guys 🍻
before you remove the adhesive tape from the light strip, heat the backing up with a heat gun. Increases the stickiness dramatically
Please do a detailed install video on the battery monitor with shunt....there’s nothing on TH-cam explaining a step by step....wire by wire install
Hi Joseph.
Just read yr comment. Have a look at my video 12v set up
Cheers
Out There Touring
Will do mate!
Have literally never had that LED lighting strips stick to anything lol
Would like to see a video on your future lighting for the canopy as I’m looking for a way to setup my canopy’s lighting. Use to have small led strip bars to a cigarette plug.
I'll do an episode on the lighting upgrade 🙂
Still a good setup. Just a few teething issues to sort!
You should get the 500A Battery Monitor with Shunt from Renogy. So cheap and works really well!
Agreed 👍
Like a couple people have said. Look into getting ally channel/diffuser for the led. Still be cheaper than buying pre done rigid lights
Hello, we are Acoucou Battery. We really like your outdoor life, and we found that you have tested the corresponding battery products before, we would like to inquire how do you think about LiFePO4 battery? Would you like to test our battery products and we look forward to hearing from you.
Yer didn't like you polish job on pull out top, then wrapping it in contact adhesive like a school book? You may need to ask some questions on a forum before your plan of attack
There are tradies out there that have great ideas. I watch most tubers and make up my own mind. One thing that I get a laugh at is people that follow other with stand up fridges and having the food n drinks fall out on arrival after long drives and those that have to top heavy their batteries to run a massive inverter just to have a microwave, coffee machine and induction cook top. That ain't camping. I'd rather conserve power, water n camp than being a Flog🤣🤣
you can use the renogy DC DC battery charger or get a century lithium 100ah that comes with BMS. it shows us how much our battery draws back in, all on an app on your phone!!!!!
Could you move the draw to front and keep the battery in its spot then have your full height storage up back? Same outcome without needing to move the battery
Definitely a possibility! The only issue is that it might make it a little hard to access the main wiring etc behind the front headboard but not the end of the world.
@@explorebound maybe you could make the draw on an easy or quick release system?
Bianca needs a fold away step 🐨🌻😆💖
Haha we have one for her! Only way she can really use the bench 🤣
Check out the Hardkorr light strip's.
If you got a spare Raspberri Pi kicking around you can install venus os on it and connect the victron shunt straight to it with any screen.
Stick the led to aluminium strips then screw that to your canopy I did that and screwed metal clips to them so they clipped on poles
Try good quality Velcro strips for the LED lights.
Buy some outdoor double sided tape. I found it works way better than the crap supplied
A couple of options for the LED lights, 1 is get better quality double sided tape from bunnings. 2 is silicone on some magnetic strip to the canopy and to the lights so it's not permanent. Also on the battery moving, my comments from your design video was to have the battery in rear centre area as it's a less utilised area. Thanks for the true side that not everything is perfect and can have flaws. Cheers 🍺
3m silicone tape to canopy then stick led strips on
I run the hardkor led light kit it has a seperate switch panel really rate it give it a look!!!
Get yourself some aluminium LED extrusion profile bud. Mount that up so you can still use the current switch setup and if a LED strip fails you take out the diffuser and replace.
Hope that helps.
Thanks mate, I hadn't seen that stuff before - great solution!
Maybe put aux battery in engine bay, free up a good amount of space.
Lithium doesn't cope well with heat
@@outdoors5352 these batteries are warranted to be under the bonet
you talk like your reading out dot points
crazy... I'm in coral bay watching this for ideas on fitting out my hj75, just seen your fridge magnet hope you had a great time up here my 3rd season up here working now :)
We sure did! We've been up there a few times now and love it, one of our favourite spots. 🏖️
Good video. Looking forward to the upgrades.
Hi there. I feel you on you input. I'm going to change things on mine. As for the missus. Jump over and have a look at my pantry that I made. You will understand once you see it. Great job on your build.
Exploring with a triton
Idea for lights.
Keep cheaper strip lighting and use clear tube to run them in.
Then use little round screw in clamps to fit them.
Mate did similar back in day to make cheap under car glow lights on his daily.. he siloconed the ends to seal them
Buy a roll of permanent outdoor double sided tape and stick this to the led strip. This should hold the strips in place. I have used it plenty of times and never had a problem. Be sure to buy the foam outdoor double sided tape and not the clear double sided tape. 👍🏼
I ran into the same issue in the past with the strips. In my RSI, I stuck them on and then ran a bead of black silicone around the edges. 2 years strong and looks very clean.
Hardkorr camp lighting mate. I run them on my camper trailer and they come in a few different configurations and can be hard wired. They have a seperate dimmer switch and can even option with a dimmer switch/ remote setup.
With the light can use the spray contact adhesive to boost the stickyness. Thought about mounting the second battery and charger in the cab? Behind the back seats can work well and you can use it for power in the cab too
Renogy 500Amp Shunt. $99 + Postage and i'm happy with mine for the last 2 years. :-)
For kitchen height look at the videos put out by Innovan when the were building slide on campers.
It doesn't matter how big or small your truck is you will always find that there are things what would not be to your liking guys. In our case the Iveco van is just a pleasure to drive, But than it's not an 4wd. Not that I would enjoy driving over 4wd tracks as our caravan was not build for that Keep up the great clips you guys are bringing out every week we really enjoy them. Thanks
I can verify the Victron battery monitor. I have just the Bluetooth one with no screen and love it. So much data to be had.
Try look at the hardcore strip lights has a main switch panel for each side and has a dimmer too and are also yellow or white they are pretty good.
Hey mate. I watched the build ages ago and thought it was great. I've just come across this one now!
I notice you're using the slide in over centre latch on the canopy to hold it to the tray. How do you rate them? Do you use bolts at all or only them? I'm looking at them myself for my canopy, but am unsure if they're enough.
Cheers,
Jase.
Hey mate, yep the canopy is attached using those 4 latches and they've been great. Have thoroughly tested them over some pretty rough tracks during the past few years and they've been working great.
@explorebound Thanks for the reply! That makes me feel good about wanting to use them. Thanks and keep up the awesome videos!
I run a renogy battery monitor and have had no issues.
Daniel, for the LED lights, go to your local electrical wholesaler or lighting shop and ask for aluminium LED diffuser chanel. It's an aluminium extrusion you can screw/rivet to your canopy with a clip-in plastic lid that will hold up the strip if it falls. You can still silicone the strip to the chanel without getting silicone all over your nice new canopy finish. No re-wiring needed, about $25 for a 3m length.
I'm a sparky by trade and I've had this as my lighting solution in my canopy for over a year, best thing ever! Super easy and as a bonus the plastic diffuser cover makes the light from the strip look like a continuous light rather than lots of little dots. Way more professional finish. You can even paint the aluminium chanel black to match your canopy.
Also, on eBay or Amazon you can get a touch dimmer for LED strip lights (about $15 - $20). I just put one in my canopy, can't recommend it enough! Super simple and great when you want a little light but not to be blinded!
Thanks for all the tips you share with us for free👏 Keep it up!
Thanks mate that's a great thought about the diffuser channel, I hadn't heard of that stuff before but looks ideal! 👍
In my tub, I run those same cheap eBay LED light strip's, what I also got from eBay was the aluminium channels to run them in. Couple that with some body double-sided tape from Bunnings, it has been holding up well.
As for battery monitoring, like many have said, I run the Renogy 500amp Shunt with screen. It has been great, but it would be better with a Bluetooth app version for more convenience, so it's best to go down that route from the start if that's something you will use.
Cheers again for the great content 👍
Thanks for the advice mate! Definitely going to be looking into that aluminium channel I reckon. As for the monitor, the Renogy sounds like really good value but for me I think bluetooth will be neccesary when it comes to sharing info on these vids (being able to record the phone screen etc)
Hi get your self a Victron 500amp shunt as it’s bluetooth and are fantastic
That looks perfect actually, cheers for the suggestion! I was under the impression you had to get them with the small monitor display but even neater without!
I’ve added the Renogy 500a Battery Monitor into my setup, it’s cheap enough being $100 and it shows all those details and it looks nice. Just doesn’t have it on an app.
Thanks mate! I'm hearing a lot of positive things about the Renogy. The only drawback is bluetooth for me as it's something I'm really chasing so I can screen record analytics to share in these vids.
@@explorebound Yeah correct. If you didn’t need bluetooth, I’d give this one a go. See what’s out there and that best suits you :)