Yes, I'm not a Jeep person (I have a 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness that I do a bit of soft over landing in) but I really enjoy watching and leaning from videos like this.
No, I can fill up propane everywhere and it will heat my camper, cook my food, and warm my shower for at least a week on a 20lbs tank. I didn't have to run my engine
Ever toured an RV graveyard? It drives one point home, just how common RV fires are. I know, car vs. RV, but the concept is the same. Nearly all RV fires seem to have started at the propane devices, hot water, RV heater, or 3 way refrigerators. Propane does carry a somewhat manageable risk.
I did it. Bought a 2kwh bluetti. 12 volt fridge, induction cook plate etc. it works for a long weekend. I bring my lil Honda suitcase generator for longer outings. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? I don't know. Probably not, but it is nice. Very convenient. wind is no longer an issue cooking and I always have cold beer.
I have a Jackery 1500 with an ARB 50 qt fridge/freezer. If you are driving/recharging every day its fine. But if you pull up and basecamp for four or five days. I have two portable solar panels capable of 300 watts/hr. This is where electricity can be a problem. Rain/fog/shade. Putting a charge back into your battery. The more juice you use.. I still use propane besides, that's not going to change. My portable solar panels have about 30 feet of cable. That way I can set them up and maximize them as conditions vary.
No propane for me. Goal zero, solar+ alternator charging. Induction stove top, fridge. Heater is connected to gas tank. No need for a generator, or propane. It is safer, and no need to refuel, etc. this is the way to go.
Sounds worth it to me. A small price to pay compared to a vehicle, campers, RVs, ATVs, and all of the camping gear and gas on which people spend their money.
I would get a Ecoflow or Bluetti power station that could output what you need and simply use the vehicle's inverter to charge the power station only when necessary. The newer EcoFlow and Bluetti power stations can charge much faster than your Goal Zero so they would make use of the Toyota's inverter output well.
This, powerstations have mppt controllers, inverters, USB etc, and they're portable - so when you can fast charge them from your car they are ideal... I'm running the ecoflow inverter charger with my power station, 800w to power the station and it also does reverse charging to the starter battery if needs... Reckon the days of dual batteries systems are limited, even for ICE vehicles...
If the loads are primarily AC it makes sense from my experience. A lot of times those units have very limited 12v amp output. A few builds I’ve worked on had air compressor, roof fan, starlink, fridge, and with a 15amp output we constantly had issues and they eventually built a 12v system. I’d say it really depends. Those are nice for sure and I had multiple units of each, but the 12v might be worth checking 😊
This is what I do in my 4xe JL, though I don’t need to run the engine to top off the Anker power station. When needed, I pull from the high voltage hybrid battery.
Yes! We did this for our Rivian R1S overlanding setup and its been flawless. Basically same setup as you, induction stove, electric fridge, and since the cars electric we can leave the AC on overnight if we have enough of a charge. AND no forgetting to get propane canisters
I've gone full electric with a 2400w battery generator, that is recharged on a 300w DC transformer unit in the back of my Jeep when the engine is running, and on 350watts of portable solar when in camp. I have a camping refrigerator two induction burners, and other camp things like DC electric blankets, etc. I have never been without electric power, or concerned about charge by conserving electric usage. In two years and about a dozen camping adventures, I'm happy without kerosene or propane. My electric battery generator doesn't take up any more room than a 20 lbs propane tank, but it does weigh 65 lbs. My high amp (40a) line to the back of the Jeep uses a marine 8/2 line to a 60 amp capable 6 button switch in the rear cargo compartment. That 6 button switch has 2 button capable of 30amps. One of those is the 30 amp 24v DC charger for my battery generator when the engine is running.
Love your videos, I usualy do no comment, just press the like lol. Anyways I would make a quick suggestion or something to look into, you could invest or buy an eco flow battery or another brand of 1200 watts and just recharge that battery when you drive so you do not need to turn on the truck and wake up everybody pretty sure that will power your fridge as well, I use a 750 watts and in 80 degrees high weather it last me 3 days for my cooler/fridge (55 gallons) for reference. In 110 degrees well it won't last as long but you have that plug and you can also use your 12 volts as well. Something to think about. Keep the videos coming 🙂.
My piece of advice would be to leave the electric power you have for stuff that really require electricity. Propane for cooking is the way to go. I think you'll agree with me in the long run...keep it simple and effective 😊
👊🏻 hybrid system keeps me warm and cool at night. It uses very little gas to recharge the battery to turn on the heater/ac! Thanks for doing this video. I always wanted to get an induction stove.
Brad, Two things. My wife's Grand Cherokee has the battery under the front seat, but there are still terminals under the hood. That LC may have terminals up front where you can get power for a winch and forward lights. The other thing is that I run my fridge via 12V from my Jackery 1000. I then charge the Jackery via 12V socket while I am running. You just need to remember to unplug from the 12V socket while you are parked for a long time. The Jackery will run the fridge a couple days if it needs to.
Bought our first Jeep in 2021 (a 4xe) and have learned so much from your videos; TY. No Flamables were our "build moto" and have overlanded the past 3 years with all things electric. Induction burners, 3600W solar battery (trickle charges during driving, outlet charge for the few days at a hotel & EV charging...fills it right up in a jiffy). On one trip we even took an oven-style air fryer :-) Best thing about induction is that in those cold windy altitudes, rain, or snow, cooking is still easy since there is no flames.
Brad, my 2 cents: get rid of all cigarette plugs. Go with 12v SAE connectors. Way more reliable. I modified my fridge, compressors cords with an SAE. Plus you can find an SAE connector female flush to your trim or to replace one of the cig connectors on the flush panel. I also used the counter part of the SAE to solder on the other end of the 1ft cig connector left over. This gives my the choice to use it as an extension and still be flexible with other people's vehicles if needed
Currently converting cig plugs to SAE, more options and smaller, the spring in the cig plugs is sometimes too strong causes them to unplug, take it out and cut a little bit of the spring off...if you still use them
I have that same dometic fridge. I brought it over to the LC250 from the time I had it in the trunk of a BMW M2 comp (very tight trunk opening). Anyways, I could barely fit it into the trunk closed, let alone open it normally when in place. I figured out that you can disassemble the hinge on the fridge lid, flip the spring steel around and reinsert it back into the cast hinge (storing the spring if you ever decide to reverse this mod). When you put the lid back on the fridge it still secures tightly but the lid can be removed when it's barely cracked open. Normally with the retaining spring in place you'd have to open the lid much further and use a decent amount of force to pop the lid off the base. The space I have has been working well for me in the trunk of the LC this way.
Hi Brad, I just want to affirm this video is really appreciated. I just bought the same trim and can relate to everything you presented. I will be following along with you on your journey building your LC. Definitely enjoyed "hanging" with you in your garage. Cheers from SF Bay!
Toyota has been running NiMH batteries in their hybrids for 30 years and they have them dialed. Not as compact as a Li-ion pack but rock solid to Land Cruiser standards.
I think Toyotas got the right plan when it comes to batteries. When they are damaged or fail, HV nimh batteries self discharge slowly enough that they don’t start fires like HV Lithium based batteries do.
I plan on using the best of both worlds: propane for cooking and heating, electric for AC and refrigerator. My situation is a little different, I have a 21 foot off-grid travel trailer so I have a lot more room for everything. I've added 2 X 220 watt solar panels to the existing 100 watt panel on the roof. The existing 100 watt panel charges the 100 amp/hour battery for lights, awning, and convenience outlets. One 220 watt panel charges a 1000 W Jackery Explorer dedicated to supply a 120 volt refrigerator and one 220 watt panel charges another 1000 W Jackery Explorer which is dedicated to running the AC. All can be supplemented by the 400w 120 volt outlet in the bed of my Power Wagon if needed.
Hey Brad, love the channel. At some point could you do a video tour of your garage. With your Gladiator, 392, JK, Regina’s jeep and now this Land Cruiser I’m curious to see how you organize your vehicles in your garage and driveway.
to your question about the battery: nickel metal hydrate batteries do have some advantages over lithium ion batteries they can be charged faster they can do a lot more cycles than a lithium battery and they perform significantly better at cold temperatures so they don’t have to be heated as much Li-ion . And they are by far less dangerous in case of a failure than lithium batteries. well lithium batteries can store more power at the same weight and can be discharged faster but I think in a vehicle like the land cruiser the advantages of the nickel metal hydrate battery are more important. sorry about the writing and the spelling but it’s like almost 3 o’clock in the morning over here in Germany and I’m too tired to correct all the errors but I do like your videos a lot ! So I had to answer!
You’re quite right there but that is not the question in this case. The usage of lithium ion phosphate batteries is just starting and as far as I know only some Tesla models and a few from Byd and XPeng are using those right now. So probably they are quite expensive still. Toyota is more going into the direction of Feststoffbatterien (solid state batteries but I do not know if this is the proper English term for it) which would be a vast improvement since they would provide up to 700+ miles of range (compared to today’s Li-ion battery size) and could be charged within 10 minutes.
@@andi-ih3jj I feel like you're mixing up Lithium Ion vs Lithium Iron, they're not interchangeable. They both have different chemical differences and I wouldn't recommend Lithium Ion with anything vehicle wise. Solid state batteries though are in the early stages of research and development
@@husker_nation Ah now I get it, sorry You are talking about LiFePO4 used for solar purposes and in RVs and in model planes and cars. But only the cheap Tesla models and a few Chinese manufacturers as I stated above would use such a battery as traction battery. Tesla already announced it just do it for money saving purposes because lithium iron phosphate batteries do hold only about half or 2/3 of the energy a same size and weight lithium ion battery can hold. I know lithium ion are not the best choice but as far as I know at least 95% of all EV’s use those. This is the source of the somewhat over used fright of burning EV’s stems from. And this also contributes to the problems firefighters worldwide have with getting electric vehicles on fire not put out, sometimes for weeks rekindling. UPDATE I found another car with a lithium iron phosphate battery. it’s called Coda and was manufactured by Coda Automotive a US based start up but which has as far as I know long stopped existing. I don’t even know if they got to sell any cars they just did the research and designing and wanted to have the cars built in China then
I saw a video a couple of weeks ago about a chinese EV. They let you choose between Li-ion and LiFePO. The latter had less range, but it should be more durable and less dangerous. Talking about NiMH, they are underrated. LSD types are just great and last way longer than any lithium battery I ever used. The key is using a decent charger and not to try to squeeze every Ah out of the package and try to sell just bigger capacity. Those extra 20% of capacity makes cells very fragile and you will never recover the investment (that's why NiMH batteries from brands that are big in alkaline cell tend to be crap). I still use some white eneloops bought in 2009 (I know that because I wrote the date in the cell itself). They seem to last forever.
Super helpful video. I am still exploring how best to setup my new FE for camping/ overtrailing, and these helped answer some of my questions about practical application of that 2400w inverter. Oh…and Semper Fi brother!!!
I think there’s definitely more than three of us out there excited for this 2400 W inverter. When it was first announced on the new Tacoma’s, it was just kind of brushed off. I had to pause the video rewind to make sure they said 2400 and I instantly thought well time to bring my electric griddle and kettle camping.
The fan that you were hearing in the center console is the air conditioning to the cool box. If this is still on, it will prevent you from turning off the air conditioner completely which is still draining on your battery. Turn off the cool box and then turn off the air conditioning and then it is fully powered off. After you do this, there may not be as much drain on the battery and the vehicle may not start as often.
I’ve been using my 4xe as a 1,440 amp hour power station when camping. A few benefits of the 4xe; the big battery charges the 12v battery without turning on the gas engine, you can control the Hybrid/eSave/Charge modes explicitly, you can recharge the big battery by doing some trails, and several camp grounds have started adding charging at the entrances. Camping for 7 days only gets down to 50% power. But running charge for 30 minutes gets it back up to 95%. However I have a 5lb propane tank and use it for cooking. With electricity I power some fans, lights, recharging devices, and the fridge.
I went all electric last year and love it…. Mostly. I ended up buying a 8lb propane tank for the ammo can fireplace. Too many places don’t allow real campfires. Then I started using it for my camp oven and love it. So I really love having both and often I use both burners in cooking.
One note on safety- take the Yota outside when the engine's running. We just ordered a Hiker Trailer camper for some camping (not really planning to overland) and I'm looking at an induction set up and coffee pot, but will have propane as a back up. Planning to go with a 3,000 watt inverter and 3 or 4 100 amp hour lithium iron phosphate batteries. Enjoy your videos and adventures. Safe Travels and God Bless!
Heating coffee water in an electric hot pot on the tailgate table. Heating bagels or English muffins in a good toaster makes an early morning wake-up really work. We do have an induction cooktop when it's windy… or need a fast pot or skillet. Oh an instapot also is so handy!! We put the tiny 200ah Victron Energy lithium, solar charger under the driver side seat delete, BMS and Xantrex 2000w inverter. Upgraded the Altinator to 250 amp Monster Green!!! Out of site and always has a charge. I love having security of a smart dual AGM chassis battery system under the hood. Still have a propane stove for big meals, have a jetboil when needed. 12v heated mattress pad works for cooler nights. Snowmaster. Propane firepit. That's as hybrid as I'll go. There are ways to make it happen without Redarc $$$$ and size. Battery size and not incorporating a dc to dc charger saved space money and we get faster charging. Victron has an alternative to charge lithium faster at a lower $$ that DC-DC. Very pleased over 3 years of use. Agaveman
I also love projects like this, my fist overland project I tried the power station route but soon realized I was using more power to create a small amount of reserve to the battery pack, and switch to a second battery, lithium, and solar panels to recover power, this worked great to power my fridge and run my espresso machine as well as other electronics. And was always near 100% by 10am, I just left this on with the fridge running permanently. My second and third project were more of the same just larger scale for more electronics. I still feel like I should be able to charge directly from my high output alternator to a second battery (bypass the truck battery) for super fast charging and just run my truck for 20 minutes to top off the battery each day, it seems like this would be the simplest solution and most cost effective, still researching this for my FJ project.
Brad, I'm the same way when it comes to tackling an issue, work out many different possibilities then go with the one that works best. I also have that Goal Zero Yeti 1500, that thing is bulky but it can do a lot. I have is set in the back seat floor area, plugged into my fridge. It charges while I drive, but also have a plug that I use when it's parked. Looking forward to see how you do the build out.
Toyota battery is too small. Buy Ecoflow 800w alternator charger plus Delta Pro3 4000w power station. With my setup you can use Ice car with all electric goodies, inluding Ecoflow Wave 2 a/c and heater.
Hey Brad, I don’t think it is a question of fully committing to propane or electric, but it’s more of a balancing question. I don’t personally think its worth it to brew a pot of coffee and have the vehicle start up or shut down multiple times of the morning at camp especially if you are brewing multiple pots. I would probably keep that gas or use the Goal Zero for the electric brewer. As for induction heating, good idea, and I would keep a gas stove as a backup, (dinner would be awkward if you ran out of electricity halfway through). Electric methods will only get better as the technology and efficiency improves, but it is always a good idea to have a gas backup. Great video!
A modern 2kw battery station would solve his troubles, but it was to be able to take a fast charge from the Landcruiser. That goal zero does not. EcoFlow Delta 2 Max can charge at 1800 watts. Can easily brew a pot of coffee in a KCUP or run an induction stove.
@@TobyCostaRica 2 kilowatt battery would be plenty, but is uneconomical to most overlanders when cheaper alternatives exist. I never really cared for this solar battery trend unless its for electronics or for items that can ONLY rely on electricity. I agree with you, but I think my for personal use case and the weekend warrior that a budget solution would benefit more people that these dedicated stations
@@overlandtoshore I dunno man, Overlanding is the hobby of guys with disposable income. Yes you can do it on a budget, you can sleep on ground tents, etc. a 2kw station is around $1k but also has other functions for power outages, etc. I understand you can have a generator for much less, but for me. It’s another tool in the tool box. For example I much rather run a 2kw power station to keep my fridge powered vs a gas genny. Add some solar panels it can run almost indefinitely in silence.
Glad to see the mention of the Rivian, which allows truly full-electric overlanding. The camping mode is unobtrusive at night (no external lights) and in the morning (noiseless electric power for coffee and cooking). It has self-leveling, which is great for sleeping on (in an RTT) or in (with AC!). Comfort, performance and off-road capability are all good. Range is pretty good and range anxiety continues to diminish as EV charging network expands.
Thanks for the video. I've gone propane less in my new build and in the planning phases of full electric cooking. Good luck an I can't wait to see what you come up with. Cheers
ALU-CAB tilting slide is the best way to access the fridge with a drawer system to avoid hitting the LC rear hatch. Doing this makes it easier for my wife to gain access and see the inside of the fridge. I am looking forward to watching the build series.
for comparison for us, you need to use the gas version of the peculator coffee maker. I used a kettle and a Butane stove to heat water and that took about 8 min at full heat on the stove.
Great Video. With the starting battery located where it is you need to think about your drawer/storage build. You'll want access to replace the starting battery when it does.
Good video Brad. The idea of diching the propane is intriguing... Just some thoughts here. The battery in your Land Cruiser is 1.87 KWh, that's Kilowatt hours which is different from just KW or kilo watts... Basically, doing the math. What this means is your 800-watt coffee pot can run on that battery from fully charged for about 2 hours to the battery being nearly depleted. Your induction stove for only 1hour... Something like one of the larger power stations like Bluetti would give you better performance without having to run the Land Cruisers engine, and you can charge the Power station while you're driving... In my 4x4 overland truck/camper, I'm currently rocking a DIY 400 Ah or 5.2 KWh 12volt LIFEPO4 battery with 1kw pure sine inverter and a 400-watt solar bank on the roof. This power system takes up about the same space as your 12v refrigerator. I run a 12v refrigerator about the same size as yours year round along with a miriad of other loads like M18 battery chargers, ham radio, a heating system for the lithium batteries during freezing winter condition etc... I'm in Washington with less than desirable sunlight during the winter months and still have enough power with the limited driving I do taking up the slack charging the battery... I haven't tried running anything larger than your coffee pot because I'd have to upgrade my inverter... I do believe it would do it though. With proper conservation of coarse... I am going to be adding a 12 volt heat pump ( heating/AC ) to my rig soon... We'll see how my battery holds up to that... I'm going on 2 years now with this system...
If you use your Goal Zero, then you probably don't need to charge it but once every couple of days while camping meaning the car won't be running except long enough to charge it. That might be a good balance.
For the Dometic Fridge....Use the "ALU CAB" slide with tilt. I have this mounted to a sleep platform in my Toyota Sequoia that sits about 12" off the floor and it works great!
So if it were mine, I would go with a power bank, even your existing Yeti, as a buffer between the vehicle inverter, your appliances [especially the fridge], and your other non-vehicular accessories. It's important to keep your power sources separated as not doing so makes it far too easy to kill an engine battery when and were you least want it to happen. Why I'm suggesting the power bank is mainly you can negate all of the components of a traditional lifepo build. Yes, you can stash many, but you're going to need at least 100AH of lifepo to run it. Quite a few power banks that are big enough for the job you have at hand aren't much bigger than typical budget 100AH lifepos. Something decent like a Litime, for example. My Eco Delta max 2 certainly fits that description of size. And here's the hat trick that may answer all of your quiet needs. And thanks so much for making that effort! Anyway, with that 2400W OEM truck AC inverter and a suitably sized power bank that also supports some level of AC fast charging [Some Ecos and Ankers, and I believe your Yeti. Maybe?] you may rarely need to fire up the truck to run the inverter exclusively for camp use. And you may rarely need solar. But you'll still have the solar option if you want it as the power banks have that covered. Most, if not all of your charging needs for the bank could be met by driving. So a passive charging of sorts. Last bit in favor of the power bank. It's a tool. You have easily portable power, independent of the truck. That can come in handy out in the field. It has for me. FWIW, I myself use both a trad lifepo setup in my small trailer and power banks when I'm going smaller with my truck only. My truck OEM bed inverter is only 400W and the Eco keeps up pretty well, charging from that. If I need more, I've got 200W of portable panels. Appliances I use regularly with the Eco: 800w kettle, ~600W rice cooker, ~300W mini-waffle iron, 12V fridge. I just recently got an induction plate and have yet to use it afield, so I have no run/charge time claims there yet. In theory, a full charge should cover that for a couple days as long as the cooking times are reasonable. Laslty, and not trying to sound like a smartarse here, but my previous career was working in OEM and aftermarket automotive electrics, and I believe you should be safe to power your vehicular accessories [winch, lighting, compressors] directly from the power rail in the engine bay. That implies installing proper fusing and switching. HOWEVER... please be sure to confirm that the gauge and run of wire back to that battery, and the power taps in the engine bay, will accommodate your loads. And there's likely OEM fusing involved in that wire run, so be sure to factor that in as well. Best of luck and have fun!
Yep I've gone full lithium (other than diesel heater 😂) has been great so far, faster, no fuss, not weather impacted eg trying to cook in windy rainy conditions.. Still, nothing beats cooking over an open fire 🔥
For running things outside the vehicle there appears to be a grommet between the rear seats that's about 2" in diameter. If you pull up the front "storage compartment" down to the bare floorboard (2 nuts to remove and then some pop plastic trim clips) you'll see it right on the edge of the carpet. I believe it comes out just above the fuel tank next to some other wires. My plan is to mount a Garmin Powerswitch in the front storage tray of the trunk and run my front light power and radio antenna cable out of that grommet and up to the engine bay. Just food for thought, also trying to figure out how I'm setting up the 12v in this truck as we go.
I think the better use case for that inverter is to use a separate battery like a Bluetti or Ecoflow, and use the Land Cruiser inverter to fast charge those when appropriate.
Brad get a dc to dc converter. I use an Ecoflow system and I purchased their 800 watt converter. It tricks the solar generator into thinking it’s taking in solar. I have switched to electric cooking and love it.
Yeah... 3 people will be interested as over 2100 have liked it.... I found it interesting because I've loved induction since we put it in our house. So much faster, safer, and more convenient. I'll have to figure out a way to put it in my Jeep...
I have a Hardkorr battery box with a 120 amp lithium battery inside and a Redarc DC DC charger plug and play with Anderson plug. I have a single storage draw with a slide draw 30 litre fridge/freezer. The fridge runs for more than a week no problems. I use the battery for my ARB compressor with Anderson plug. The battery box has four 50 amp Anderson inlet outlets , one 80 amp , cigarette sockets and USB ports along with a monitor. If you take the red end of the Dometic cable you can get a lock in type of socket , I use an Engel style plug on my 40 litre fridge. MSA make great drop down fridge slides. I used one for many years in my 100 series but have gone to the slide draw fridge in my 300 series. Kickass make some great prewired power boxes.🇦🇺🍺
Nickel Hydride works much better in cold climates whereas LFP and Li Ion cannot charge below 32f. Tesla uses some of the energy to heat the batteries in sub freezing temps to correct this issue.
Your ideas sound very similar to what I've been working towards with an all electric 4Xe kitchen! I have an 1800w induction hotplate plus induction rated pots and pans to try, but no coffee pot yet. A 30qt fridge will plug into the 12v cig socket in the back, plus I have a 2300w Dabbsson power station to save the 4Xe 110v power box for backup, and a couple of 200w solar panels that will fit nicely on the hardtop without blocking the freedom panels! There will even be room for a 28" by 74" sleeping platform inside without removing any seating, which is my present project.
More than likely the rear usbc ports are dead when the truck is off, but you could probably switch some of those over to 12 volt outlets, they would just be keyed. No need for four or five USBC ports in the rear area that you plan on sleeping. I'm sure you could even take the driver side third row area USBC port and swap it to a 12-volt and wire it directly to the battery. Nice clean install using the factory hole
I have a Prius and installed a 100A LFP battery in Parallel with the 12v battery it keeps the refrigerator running all night without leaving the car on and probably make coffee in the morning. I have a 1500w inverter connected to the battery. Then I put my car in ready mote to recharge the battery .I also purchased a $15 dollar 1000W hot plate to cook my food at dollar general it will let you cook with any pan. If you just run a wire from your 12v battery to your goal zero battery pack to recharge it with your car is on you will have the same thing .
I'd like to see you go on an overnight trip with the electric Toyota and cook and camp with electric stuff and then go home and grab the Wagoneer and camp a night with all vintage Coleman equipment. After that, no more hybrid vehicles please.
Interesting analysis. I run electrical including fridge off the Lithium external as well as CPAP. I use propane and hybrid fuel for cooking and coffee which I drip into a growler for all day drinking and/or sharing. I like your coffee which I grind finer for drip and run through a stainless screen for expediency. The bottom of the coffee gets muddy, but fine for a large batch and swish/toss the end of it.
@@TrailRecon absolutely! When electricity is available it’s a no brainer. You can’t forget your lighter or have a bad valve and an empty tank. Also can be safer/cleaner and more compact.
But wait - where’s the coffee percolator and water boiling comparison times with propane??? I love nerding out over this stuff, but can’t believe you didn’t go for the propane comparison times. ☹️
If interested, I’ve done a full comparison for different water quantities, from different water temps to boiling comparing induction vs Jetboil. There are def some interesting things findings. Conclusion: I’ve switched to induction ;)
Technology Connections has an interesting video or two about gas vs. electric vs. induction in the context of home stoves. Gas loses because of all the heat energy lost to the air whereas the other two impart heat directly to the pot.
@@bwofficial1776 But propane has much more available energy. A gallon has 91,450btu, while 1kw of electricity has 3,412 btu. You can carry much more propane in the same amount of space. While less efficient, you can carry much more of it.
Wait till you start overlanding with an all electric EV. Now that’s a game changer. It’s totally quiet all the time. Think Cybertruck, or Rivian. You can sneak up on game during hunting, you can draw so much power from it in complete silence. Game changer
Think about this. A newer power station ecoflow bluetti etc can charge at 1500+ watts. So you could recharge them in about an hour off that 2400 watt plug. Dometic and others make sliding drawer refrigerators.
Great job, great knowledge and thoughts shared, fascinating to see the reality of how this system works. Actually a bit messy for camping as it’s sold.
I am all electric because my Rivian truck can power everything. Plus I love my air fryer… but It’s hard to beat the smell and sound of an old school lantern.
Make sense to me when the engine turns on. That is where the batteries I used for my "solar generator" build would want to be charged or turned off to prevent damage.
I like using E cook top with my travel trailer. its hooked up to solar & large lithium battery. On cold days, propane stove just not doing its job. But I still carry propane in case rainy days. Literally rainy days :)
Hi. Thanks for the excellent channel. Outdoors is not about how fast. In my point of view is how slow. Nothing is compared to slow cooking and coffee making.
something to think about/consider is the dependency on the inverter to create 120VAC and what's hanging off it. For myself, my platform is a 2014 XTERRA (eg not hybrid/electric), and the "house" current comes thanks to a EcoFlow Delta-2. that runs the frdige (12VDC) and a kettle/hotplate (120VAC) load. The other day in the garage the Ecoflow gaveup the ghost (it beeped angrily a few times and started putting out funky-smelling fumes). RMA/Warranty/yaddayadda in progress, but if I'd been on a trip; now what? I can still run the fridge because it is 12VDC, but all the workloads on "house current" are out of commission. So consider what's inside the inverter's blast radius when doing your planning.
I like the idea of all electric because I can see how much battery I have and I agree that I never know if I have enough propane. Only thing I would say is I still need propane if I want a camp fire a lot of times because of burn bans.
I have been experimenting with this route of electric camping gear on my 2024 4xe which came with a power box and upgraded IDCM that allows to use the entire 15kwh (94% electric range assuming you got to camp in e-save) of the HV battery. I have been able to run even a space heater earlier in spring and waiting for fall/winter to do a proper 2 day camp with only the HV battery. at 15kwh thats like carrying 5 of those largest 3kwh jackery generators.
My next one will be hybrid, either a 4Xe or that LC so I’m watching this with interest. For the freezer, I don’t know if you still have the Domestic drawer but this is what I would suggest. It’s small but considering you will use it with alone (which should be enough) or with the trailer (witch have a cave as a freezer) when you and Regina are travelling, I thing it would give you max flex.
Interesting the newer versions start the engine right away, we have a 2021 toyota hybrid and I love that it just starts in EV mode every time (unless it's really cold) and can run the A/c like that for a while.
Brad, you're going to have to make a list! Pro's/Con's. LOL We travel to CO a lot and High altitude is an issue with propane equipment, let alone factoring in colder weather, so have been looking into induction cooking etc. I too am an early riser and I try to keep it quiet, but that vehicle starting to get the inverter to work, deal breaker for me. Also, you'll end up being tagged like "The Guy who runs his Generator" at camp. lol.
Awesome video Brad, i look forward to the build out on the new Land Cruiser I have friends who use an induction cooker like yours and they love, they also still use propane 👍
Hey Brad...digging the Cruiser. Fun new tech stuff to follow and learn. I run a 1800 Bluetti and it's awesome performing. Think a combo two for might work well. The Bluetti is only 38 pounds with a small footprint. Recharge time is super fast too. Have fun engineering your rig. Looking forward to more Cruiser videos
Great video! If you are wanting to go overlanding and really use electric, the hybrid F150 with the 7.5kw system would be the way to go. THAT would be awesome to see you do.
I’ve recently put in the EcoFlow alternator charger. The only device I’m planning to swap out is my jetboil and maybe a percolator like that one the jetboil will be moved to hiking only duties. I’d still prefer to cook food over flames
Hi Brad. Greetings from Sweden! Driving Toyota RAV4:s for many years now, all of them with the 12V battery in the back, like your Land Cruiser, i have noticed that on all models i have had, has a 12V access point under the hood, meaning Toyota have already have drawn cables to this access point from the factory. I think the idea from Toyota is that this access point are there for when you are helping someone jump start their car. Might be worth checking out if your Land Cruiser has the same specs. Really enjoying your channel 😊 Regards Niklas.
I personally would tie into the starter motor positive lead, just don't use the starter when pulling something with the winch but the amperage should be similar for both winch and starter.
Congrats on the land cruiser. That would be my first choice if I traded my 2016 4runner trail in. But i really love my 4runnner, so that might not happen for a while yet 😊. Anyway, like you, I've invested a lot of time and money into developing my 4runnner to how i want it. She's decked out for overlandding, and yet she can still be my daily driver. So with regarding your new toy, let your imagination run wild. That's a beautiful rig you have, and judging the way you talk about her, you want to build her write and not just for overlandding. Like my 4runnner, these vehicles have so much potential. Good luck with her, and enjoy building her too how you want. I'm still having fun building mine.
Hi Always interesting to see what you are up to. I have followed some of the ups and downs with the newer cars over the last few years with all the electronics in cars now a days. One theme/topic I have seen might be worth a check by you as you plan the future with the new Landcruiser. Quite a few of the newer cars have sensitive components and programming with regards to the battery. I have seen several diagnostic videos chasing problems that ended with the battery. They had issues due to the drained battery. Causing unexplained items not working and damage when trying to use the car with less then optimal battery voltage. Might want to check with Toyota how sensitive the Landcruiser is with lower battery charges before trying to use the installed battery for more uses / draining then the engineers might have considered. Hate to see your new vehicle in the shop.... Enjoy and I look forward to what you come up with next
It's always a better day when there's a new trail recon video out
So glad you enjoy them, thank you!
Yes, I'm not a Jeep person (I have a 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness that I do a bit of soft over landing in) but I really enjoy watching and leaning from videos like this.
No, I can fill up propane everywhere and it will heat my camper, cook my food, and warm my shower for at least a week on a 20lbs tank. I didn't have to run my engine
Plus you don't lose storage to a battery that runs a hybrid vehicle.
@@GentleGiantFan And propane weighs a lot less than a hybrid battery does. No hybrid battery=higher payload capacity.
@@ThePioneerSpirit The marvels of simplicity just keep on coming. Totally agree.
Full 20lb propane tank 37lbs, Battle Born LiFePO 31lbs. That being said I use propane.
Ever toured an RV graveyard? It drives one point home, just how common RV fires are. I know, car vs. RV, but the concept is the same. Nearly all RV fires seem to have started at the propane devices, hot water, RV heater, or 3 way refrigerators. Propane does carry a somewhat manageable risk.
I did it. Bought a 2kwh bluetti. 12 volt fridge, induction cook plate etc. it works for a long weekend. I bring my lil Honda suitcase generator for longer outings. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? I don't know. Probably not, but it is nice. Very convenient. wind is no longer an issue cooking and I always have cold beer.
I have a Jackery 1500 with an ARB 50 qt fridge/freezer. If you are driving/recharging every day its fine.
But if you pull up and basecamp for four or five days. I have two portable solar panels capable of 300 watts/hr. This is where electricity can be a problem. Rain/fog/shade. Putting a charge back into your battery. The more juice you use.. I still use propane besides, that's not going to change. My portable solar panels have about 30 feet of cable. That way I can set them up and maximize them as conditions vary.
No propane for me. Goal zero, solar+ alternator charging. Induction stove top, fridge. Heater is connected to gas tank. No need for a generator, or propane. It is safer, and no need to refuel, etc. this is the way to go.
Sounds worth it to me.
A small price to pay compared to a vehicle, campers, RVs, ATVs, and all of the camping gear and gas on which people spend their money.
I would get a Ecoflow or Bluetti power station that could output what you need and simply use the vehicle's inverter to charge the power station only when necessary. The newer EcoFlow and Bluetti power stations can charge much faster than your Goal Zero so they would make use of the Toyota's inverter output well.
This, powerstations have mppt controllers, inverters, USB etc, and they're portable - so when you can fast charge them from your car they are ideal...
I'm running the ecoflow inverter charger with my power station, 800w to power the station and it also does reverse charging to the starter battery if needs...
Reckon the days of dual batteries systems are limited, even for ICE vehicles...
💯. This is basically what I’m already doing in my GX460. It has a wimpy 2 prong inverter built in but still does the job to recharge.
If the loads are primarily AC it makes sense from my experience. A lot of times those units have very limited 12v amp output. A few builds I’ve worked on had air compressor, roof fan, starlink, fridge, and with a 15amp output we constantly had issues and they eventually built a 12v system. I’d say it really depends. Those are nice for sure and I had multiple units of each, but the 12v might be worth checking 😊
@@yayinternets I have a GX460 and I was wondering if I could run a portable battery pack. What size battery pack are you running?
This is what I do in my 4xe JL, though I don’t need to run the engine to top off the Anker power station. When needed, I pull from the high voltage hybrid battery.
Yes! We did this for our Rivian R1S overlanding setup and its been flawless. Basically same setup as you, induction stove, electric fridge, and since the cars electric we can leave the AC on overnight if we have enough of a charge. AND no forgetting to get propane canisters
I've gone full electric with a 2400w battery generator, that is recharged on a 300w DC transformer unit in the back of my Jeep when the engine is running, and on 350watts of portable solar when in camp. I have a camping refrigerator two induction burners, and other camp things like DC electric blankets, etc. I have never been without electric power, or concerned about charge by conserving electric usage.
In two years and about a dozen camping adventures, I'm happy without kerosene or propane. My electric battery generator doesn't take up any more room than a 20 lbs propane tank, but it does weigh 65 lbs.
My high amp (40a) line to the back of the Jeep uses a marine 8/2 line to a 60 amp capable 6 button switch in the rear cargo compartment. That 6 button switch has 2 button capable of 30amps. One of those is the 30 amp 24v DC charger for my battery generator when the engine is running.
Love your videos, I usualy do no comment, just press the like lol. Anyways I would make a quick suggestion or something to look into, you could invest or buy an eco flow battery or another brand of 1200 watts and just recharge that battery when you drive so you do not need to turn on the truck and wake up everybody pretty sure that will power your fridge as well, I use a 750 watts and in 80 degrees high weather it last me 3 days for my cooler/fridge (55 gallons) for reference. In 110 degrees well it won't last as long but you have that plug and you can also use your 12 volts as well. Something to think about. Keep the videos coming 🙂.
Should have watch the video all the way before commenting, the yeti would work lol.
My piece of advice would be to leave the electric power you have for stuff that really require electricity. Propane for cooking is the way to go. I think you'll agree with me in the long run...keep it simple and effective 😊
👊🏻 hybrid system keeps me warm and cool at night. It uses very little gas to recharge the battery to turn on the heater/ac! Thanks for doing this video. I always wanted to get an induction stove.
Brad I had a lot of fun hanging out with you in this video! Can't wait for more content!!
Brad, Two things. My wife's Grand Cherokee has the battery under the front seat, but there are still terminals under the hood. That LC may have terminals up front where you can get power for a winch and forward lights. The other thing is that I run my fridge via 12V from my Jackery 1000. I then charge the Jackery via 12V socket while I am running. You just need to remember to unplug from the 12V socket while you are parked for a long time. The Jackery will run the fridge a couple days if it needs to.
Bought our first Jeep in 2021 (a 4xe) and have learned so much from your videos; TY. No Flamables were our "build moto" and have overlanded the past 3 years with all things electric. Induction burners, 3600W solar battery (trickle charges during driving, outlet charge for the few days at a hotel & EV charging...fills it right up in a jiffy). On one trip we even took an oven-style air fryer :-) Best thing about induction is that in those cold windy altitudes, rain, or snow, cooking is still easy since there is no flames.
Brad, my 2 cents: get rid of all cigarette plugs. Go with 12v SAE connectors. Way more reliable. I modified my fridge, compressors cords with an SAE. Plus you can find an SAE connector female flush to your trim or to replace one of the cig connectors on the flush panel. I also used the counter part of the SAE to solder on the other end of the 1ft cig connector left over. This gives my the choice to use it as an extension and still be flexible with other people's vehicles if needed
Cigarette plug will also disconnect with vibrations and you won't notice it immediately. I can send pics on demand
Anderson plugs are good too. Especially for higher amperage items.
@@mikequinlan8701Anderson are better than SAE by far.
Currently converting cig plugs to SAE, more options and smaller, the spring in the cig plugs is sometimes too strong causes them to unplug, take it out and cut a little bit of the spring off...if you still use them
It’s always good to learn about all these options. In a SHTF good luck finding a propane refill…whereas the sun is always there.
I have that same dometic fridge. I brought it over to the LC250 from the time I had it in the trunk of a BMW M2 comp (very tight trunk opening). Anyways, I could barely fit it into the trunk closed, let alone open it normally when in place. I figured out that you can disassemble the hinge on the fridge lid, flip the spring steel around and reinsert it back into the cast hinge (storing the spring if you ever decide to reverse this mod). When you put the lid back on the fridge it still secures tightly but the lid can be removed when it's barely cracked open. Normally with the retaining spring in place you'd have to open the lid much further and use a decent amount of force to pop the lid off the base. The space I have has been working well for me in the trunk of the LC this way.
Hi Brad, I just want to affirm this video is really appreciated. I just bought the same trim and can relate to everything you presented. I will be following along with you on your journey building your LC. Definitely enjoyed "hanging" with you in your garage. Cheers from SF Bay!
Thanks for the demo on the induction cook top, this is something which has caught my interest recently for the reasons that you state. Big thumbs up!!
Be careful if you have a pacemaker
This video answered all of my questions about the new Landcruiser's inverter and battery. Thank you!
Toyota has been running NiMH batteries in their hybrids for 30 years and they have them dialed. Not as compact as a Li-ion pack but rock solid to Land Cruiser standards.
Yep, of someone has the hybrid battery tech dialed in is Toyota.
they also perform really good at very low temperatures, all the cab drivers here in Canada don't have any problems with them
@@99unclebob if can survive Canada cold, then it's certified.
I think Toyotas got the right plan when it comes to batteries. When they are damaged or fail, HV nimh batteries self discharge slowly enough that they don’t start fires like HV Lithium based batteries do.
I just got the LC 3 weeks ago and am a noob off-roader so these videos have been perfect for me. Keep em coming!
I plan on using the best of both worlds: propane for cooking and heating, electric for AC and refrigerator. My situation is a little different, I have a 21 foot off-grid travel trailer so I have a lot more room for everything. I've added 2 X 220 watt solar panels to the existing 100 watt panel on the roof. The existing 100 watt panel charges the 100 amp/hour battery for lights, awning, and convenience outlets. One 220 watt panel charges a 1000 W Jackery Explorer dedicated to supply a 120 volt refrigerator and one 220 watt panel charges another 1000 W Jackery Explorer which is dedicated to running the AC. All can be supplemented by the 400w 120 volt outlet in the bed of my Power Wagon if needed.
Hey Brad, love the channel. At some point could you do a video tour of your garage. With your Gladiator, 392, JK, Regina’s jeep and now this Land Cruiser I’m curious to see how you organize your vehicles in your garage and driveway.
to your question about the battery: nickel metal hydrate batteries do have some advantages over lithium ion batteries they can be charged faster they can do a lot more cycles than a lithium battery and they perform significantly better at cold temperatures so they don’t have to be heated as much Li-ion . And they are by far less dangerous in case of a failure than lithium batteries.
well lithium batteries can store more power at the same weight and can be discharged faster but I think in a vehicle like the land cruiser the advantages of the nickel metal hydrate battery are more important.
sorry about the writing and the spelling but it’s like almost 3 o’clock in the morning over here in Germany and I’m too tired to correct all the errors
but I do like your videos a lot ! So I had to answer!
There is a solid argument that Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) is better than Nickel Metal Hydrate
You’re quite right there but that is not the question in this case. The usage of lithium ion phosphate batteries is just starting and as far as I know only some Tesla models and a few from Byd and XPeng are using those right now. So probably they are quite expensive still.
Toyota is more going into the direction of Feststoffbatterien (solid state batteries but I do not know if this is the proper English term for it) which would be a vast improvement since they would provide up to 700+ miles of range (compared to today’s Li-ion battery size) and could be charged within 10 minutes.
@@andi-ih3jj I feel like you're mixing up Lithium Ion vs Lithium Iron, they're not interchangeable. They both have different chemical differences and I wouldn't recommend Lithium Ion with anything vehicle wise. Solid state batteries though are in the early stages of research and development
@@husker_nation Ah now I get it, sorry
You are talking about LiFePO4 used for solar purposes and in RVs and in model planes and cars. But only the cheap Tesla models and a few Chinese manufacturers as I stated above would use such a battery as traction battery. Tesla already announced it just do it for money saving purposes because lithium iron phosphate batteries do hold only about half or 2/3 of the energy a same size and weight lithium ion battery can hold. I know lithium ion are not the best choice but as far as I know at least 95% of all EV’s use those. This is the source of the somewhat over used fright of burning EV’s stems from. And this also contributes to the problems firefighters worldwide have with getting electric vehicles on fire not put out, sometimes for weeks rekindling.
UPDATE I found another car with a lithium iron phosphate battery. it’s called Coda and was manufactured by Coda Automotive a US based start up but which has as far as I know long stopped existing. I don’t even know if they got to sell any cars they just did the research and designing and wanted to have the cars built in China then
I saw a video a couple of weeks ago about a chinese EV. They let you choose between Li-ion and LiFePO. The latter had less range, but it should be more durable and less dangerous.
Talking about NiMH, they are underrated. LSD types are just great and last way longer than any lithium battery I ever used. The key is using a decent charger and not to try to squeeze every Ah out of the package and try to sell just bigger capacity. Those extra 20% of capacity makes cells very fragile and you will never recover the investment (that's why NiMH batteries from brands that are big in alkaline cell tend to be crap).
I still use some white eneloops bought in 2009 (I know that because I wrote the date in the cell itself). They seem to last forever.
Super helpful video. I am still exploring how best to setup my new FE for camping/ overtrailing, and these helped answer some of my questions about practical application of that 2400w inverter. Oh…and Semper Fi brother!!!
I think there’s definitely more than three of us out there excited for this 2400 W inverter. When it was first announced on the new Tacoma’s, it was just kind of brushed off. I had to pause the video rewind to make sure they said 2400 and I instantly thought well time to bring my electric griddle and kettle camping.
The fan that you were hearing in the center console is the air conditioning to the cool box. If this is still on, it will prevent you from turning off the air conditioner completely which is still draining on your battery. Turn off the cool box and then turn off the air conditioning and then it is fully powered off. After you do this, there may not be as much drain on the battery and the vehicle may not start as often.
I’ve been using my 4xe as a 1,440 amp hour power station when camping. A few benefits of the 4xe; the big battery charges the 12v battery without turning on the gas engine, you can control the Hybrid/eSave/Charge modes explicitly, you can recharge the big battery by doing some trails, and several camp grounds have started adding charging at the entrances.
Camping for 7 days only gets down to 50% power. But running charge for 30 minutes gets it back up to 95%.
However I have a 5lb propane tank and use it for cooking. With electricity I power some fans, lights, recharging devices, and the fridge.
One more thought - being able to use AC instead of 12v or propane lets you avoid the “overland tax” - super cheap appliances etc.
The best thing about toyotas hybrid system is if you happen to be camping in a hot area, you can run the AC while you sleep in the rig.
I went all electric last year and love it…. Mostly. I ended up buying a 8lb propane tank for the ammo can fireplace. Too many places don’t allow real campfires. Then I started using it for my camp oven and love it. So I really love having both and often I use both burners in cooking.
One note on safety- take the Yota outside when the engine's running. We just ordered a Hiker Trailer camper for some camping (not really planning to overland) and I'm looking at an induction set up and coffee pot, but will have propane as a back up. Planning to go with a 3,000 watt inverter and 3 or 4 100 amp hour lithium iron phosphate batteries. Enjoy your videos and adventures. Safe Travels and God Bless!
Heating coffee water in an electric hot pot on the tailgate table. Heating bagels or English muffins in a good toaster makes an early morning wake-up really work. We do have an induction cooktop when it's windy… or need a fast pot or skillet. Oh an instapot also is so handy!! We put the tiny 200ah Victron Energy lithium, solar charger under the driver side seat delete, BMS and Xantrex 2000w inverter. Upgraded the Altinator to 250 amp Monster Green!!! Out of site and always has a charge. I love having security of a smart dual AGM chassis battery system under the hood. Still have a propane stove for big meals, have a jetboil when needed. 12v heated mattress pad works for cooler nights. Snowmaster. Propane firepit. That's as hybrid as I'll go. There are ways to make it happen without Redarc $$$$ and size. Battery size and not incorporating a dc to dc charger saved space money and we get faster charging. Victron has an alternative to charge lithium faster at a lower $$ that DC-DC.
Very pleased over 3 years of use.
Agaveman
I also love projects like this, my fist overland project I tried the power station route but soon realized I was using more power to create a small amount of reserve to the battery pack, and switch to a second battery, lithium, and solar panels to recover power, this worked great to power my fridge and run my espresso machine as well as other electronics. And was always near 100% by 10am, I just left this on with the fridge running permanently.
My second and third project were more of the same just larger scale for more electronics.
I still feel like I should be able to charge directly from my high output alternator to a second battery (bypass the truck battery) for super fast charging and just run my truck for 20 minutes to top off the battery each day, it seems like this would be the simplest solution and most cost effective, still researching this for my FJ project.
Brad, I'm the same way when it comes to tackling an issue, work out many different possibilities then go with the one that works best. I also have that Goal Zero Yeti 1500, that thing is bulky but it can do a lot. I have is set in the back seat floor area, plugged into my fridge. It charges while I drive, but also have a plug that I use when it's parked. Looking forward to see how you do the build out.
Brad building out his vehicles.
The addiction is real. ;-)
And its fun to watch.
I’m genuinely excited about this build!
Toyota battery is too small. Buy Ecoflow 800w alternator charger plus Delta Pro3 4000w power station. With my setup you can use Ice car with all electric goodies, inluding Ecoflow Wave 2 a/c and heater.
Battery capacity is kWh (kilowatt-hour), not kW…. Important distinction
Great point. kW is a measure of power output, kWh is a measure of energy. Huge difference.
Hey Brad, I don’t think it is a question of fully committing to propane or electric, but it’s more of a balancing question. I don’t personally think its worth it to brew a pot of coffee and have the vehicle start up or shut down multiple times of the morning at camp especially if you are brewing multiple pots. I would probably keep that gas or use the Goal Zero for the electric brewer. As for induction heating, good idea, and I would keep a gas stove as a backup, (dinner would be awkward if you ran out of electricity halfway through). Electric methods will only get better as the technology and efficiency improves, but it is always a good idea to have a gas backup. Great video!
A modern 2kw battery station would solve his troubles, but it was to be able to take a fast charge from the Landcruiser. That goal zero does not. EcoFlow Delta 2 Max can charge at 1800 watts. Can easily brew a pot of coffee in a KCUP or run an induction stove.
@@TobyCostaRica 2 kilowatt battery would be plenty, but is uneconomical to most overlanders when cheaper alternatives exist. I never really cared for this solar battery trend unless its for electronics or for items that can ONLY rely on electricity. I agree with you, but I think my for personal use case and the weekend warrior that a budget solution would benefit more people that these dedicated stations
@@overlandtoshore I dunno man, Overlanding is the hobby of guys with disposable income. Yes you can do it on a budget, you can sleep on ground tents, etc. a 2kw station is around $1k but also has other functions for power outages, etc. I understand you can have a generator for much less, but for me. It’s another tool in the tool box. For example I much rather run a 2kw power station to keep my fridge powered vs a gas genny. Add some solar panels it can run almost indefinitely in silence.
I’ll stick to my white gas stove
Glad to see the mention of the Rivian, which allows truly full-electric overlanding. The camping mode is unobtrusive at night (no external lights) and in the morning (noiseless electric power for coffee and cooking). It has self-leveling, which is great for sleeping on (in an RTT) or in (with AC!). Comfort, performance and off-road capability are all good. Range is pretty good and range anxiety continues to diminish as EV charging network expands.
Thanks for the video. I've gone propane less in my new build and in the planning phases of full electric cooking. Good luck an I can't wait to see what you come up with. Cheers
ALU-CAB tilting slide is the best way to access the fridge with a drawer system to avoid hitting the LC rear hatch. Doing this makes it easier for my wife to gain access and see the inside of the fridge. I am looking forward to watching the build series.
for comparison for us, you need to use the gas version of the peculator coffee maker. I used a kettle and a Butane stove to heat water and that took about 8 min at full heat on the stove.
Great Video. With the starting battery located where it is you need to think about your drawer/storage build. You'll want access to replace the starting battery when it does.
Good video Brad.
The idea of diching the propane is intriguing...
Just some thoughts here.
The battery in your Land Cruiser is 1.87 KWh, that's Kilowatt hours which is different from just KW or kilo watts...
Basically, doing the math. What this means is your 800-watt coffee pot can run on that battery from fully charged for about 2 hours to the battery being nearly depleted.
Your induction stove for only 1hour...
Something like one of the larger power stations like Bluetti would give you better performance without having to run the Land Cruisers engine, and you can charge the Power station while you're driving...
In my 4x4 overland truck/camper, I'm currently rocking a DIY 400 Ah or 5.2 KWh 12volt LIFEPO4 battery with 1kw pure sine inverter and a 400-watt solar bank on the roof.
This power system takes up about the same space as your 12v refrigerator. I run a 12v refrigerator about the same size as yours year round along with a miriad of other loads like M18 battery chargers, ham radio, a heating system for the lithium batteries during freezing winter condition etc...
I'm in Washington with less than desirable sunlight during the winter months and still have enough power with the limited driving I do taking up the slack charging the battery...
I haven't tried running anything larger than your coffee pot because I'd have to upgrade my inverter... I do believe it would do it though. With proper conservation of coarse...
I am going to be adding a 12 volt heat pump ( heating/AC ) to my rig soon... We'll see how my battery holds up to that...
I'm going on 2 years now with this system...
If you use your Goal Zero, then you probably don't need to charge it but once every couple of days while camping meaning the car won't be running except long enough to charge it. That might be a good balance.
Love it cant wait to see the storage build and the bumper and winch.
For the Dometic Fridge....Use the "ALU CAB" slide with tilt. I have this mounted to a sleep platform in my Toyota Sequoia that sits about 12" off the floor and it works great!
Excited to see what you do with the Land cruiser. It is on my short list of next rig to get in the spring.
I‘d keep that propane for cooking and heating😂
So if it were mine, I would go with a power bank, even your existing Yeti, as a buffer between the vehicle inverter, your appliances [especially the fridge], and your other non-vehicular accessories. It's important to keep your power sources separated as not doing so makes it far too easy to kill an engine battery when and were you least want it to happen. Why I'm suggesting the power bank is mainly you can negate all of the components of a traditional lifepo build. Yes, you can stash many, but you're going to need at least 100AH of lifepo to run it. Quite a few power banks that are big enough for the job you have at hand aren't much bigger than typical budget 100AH lifepos. Something decent like a Litime, for example. My Eco Delta max 2 certainly fits that description of size.
And here's the hat trick that may answer all of your quiet needs. And thanks so much for making that effort! Anyway, with that 2400W OEM truck AC inverter and a suitably sized power bank that also supports some level of AC fast charging [Some Ecos and Ankers, and I believe your Yeti. Maybe?] you may rarely need to fire up the truck to run the inverter exclusively for camp use. And you may rarely need solar. But you'll still have the solar option if you want it as the power banks have that covered. Most, if not all of your charging needs for the bank could be met by driving. So a passive charging of sorts.
Last bit in favor of the power bank. It's a tool. You have easily portable power, independent of the truck. That can come in handy out in the field. It has for me.
FWIW, I myself use both a trad lifepo setup in my small trailer and power banks when I'm going smaller with my truck only. My truck OEM bed inverter is only 400W and the Eco keeps up pretty well, charging from that. If I need more, I've got 200W of portable panels. Appliances I use regularly with the Eco: 800w kettle, ~600W rice cooker, ~300W mini-waffle iron, 12V fridge. I just recently got an induction plate and have yet to use it afield, so I have no run/charge time claims there yet. In theory, a full charge should cover that for a couple days as long as the cooking times are reasonable.
Laslty, and not trying to sound like a smartarse here, but my previous career was working in OEM and aftermarket automotive electrics, and I believe you should be safe to power your vehicular accessories [winch, lighting, compressors] directly from the power rail in the engine bay. That implies installing proper fusing and switching. HOWEVER... please be sure to confirm that the gauge and run of wire back to that battery, and the power taps in the engine bay, will accommodate your loads. And there's likely OEM fusing involved in that wire run, so be sure to factor that in as well.
Best of luck and have fun!
This is really useful info. Thanks! Not sure I’m ready to give up my Jetboil/Aeropress but….😊
Yep I've gone full lithium (other than diesel heater 😂) has been great so far, faster, no fuss, not weather impacted eg trying to cook in windy rainy conditions.. Still, nothing beats cooking over an open fire 🔥
For running things outside the vehicle there appears to be a grommet between the rear seats that's about 2" in diameter. If you pull up the front "storage compartment" down to the bare floorboard (2 nuts to remove and then some pop plastic trim clips) you'll see it right on the edge of the carpet. I believe it comes out just above the fuel tank next to some other wires. My plan is to mount a Garmin Powerswitch in the front storage tray of the trunk and run my front light power and radio antenna cable out of that grommet and up to the engine bay. Just food for thought, also trying to figure out how I'm setting up the 12v in this truck as we go.
I think the better use case for that inverter is to use a separate battery like a Bluetti or Ecoflow, and use the Land Cruiser inverter to fast charge those when appropriate.
Great info! We may not like the new age of batteries and cars, but still need to adapt!
Brad get a dc to dc converter. I use an Ecoflow system and I purchased their 800 watt converter. It tricks the solar generator into thinking it’s taking in solar. I have switched to electric cooking and love it.
Why does he need that when his vehicle has a built in charger that will do 3x that.
Love it! Can't wait to see you explore this more.
Awesome and outstanding as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Yeah... 3 people will be interested as over 2100 have liked it.... I found it interesting because I've loved induction since we put it in our house. So much faster, safer, and more convenient. I'll have to figure out a way to put it in my Jeep...
I have a Hardkorr battery box with a 120 amp lithium battery inside and a Redarc DC DC charger plug and play with Anderson plug. I have a single storage draw with a slide draw 30 litre fridge/freezer. The fridge runs for more than a week no problems. I use the battery for my ARB compressor with Anderson plug.
The battery box has four 50 amp Anderson inlet outlets , one 80 amp , cigarette sockets and USB ports along with a monitor. If you take the red end of the Dometic cable you can get a lock in type of socket , I use an Engel style plug on my 40 litre fridge. MSA make great drop down fridge slides.
I used one for many years in my 100 series but have gone to the slide draw fridge in my 300 series.
Kickass make some great prewired power boxes.🇦🇺🍺
Nickel Hydride works much better in cold climates whereas LFP and Li Ion cannot charge below 32f. Tesla uses some of the energy to heat the batteries in sub freezing temps to correct this issue.
Your ideas sound very similar to what I've been working towards with an all electric 4Xe kitchen! I have an 1800w induction hotplate plus induction rated pots and pans to try, but no coffee pot yet. A 30qt fridge will plug into the 12v cig socket in the back, plus I have a 2300w Dabbsson power station to save the 4Xe 110v power box for backup, and a couple of 200w solar panels that will fit nicely on the hardtop without blocking the freedom panels! There will even be room for a 28" by 74" sleeping platform inside without removing any seating, which is my present project.
More than likely the rear usbc ports are dead when the truck is off, but you could probably switch some of those over to 12 volt outlets, they would just be keyed. No need for four or five USBC ports in the rear area that you plan on sleeping. I'm sure you could even take the driver side third row area USBC port and swap it to a 12-volt and wire it directly to the battery. Nice clean install using the factory hole
Thanks for the overview!
Semper Fi!
I have a Prius and installed a 100A LFP battery in Parallel with the 12v battery it keeps the refrigerator running all night without leaving the car on and probably make coffee in the morning. I have a 1500w inverter connected to the battery. Then I put my car in ready mote to recharge the battery .I also purchased a $15 dollar 1000W hot plate to cook my food at dollar general it will let you cook with any pan. If you just run a wire from your 12v battery to your goal zero battery pack to recharge it with your car is on you will have the same thing .
Most fascinating video in awhile. Lol. Love to see you try some things Brad!
I loved your comments about enjoying where /how you will place your electric accessories. What you did not touch on is what I fear. Component COST!
I'd like to see you go on an overnight trip with the electric Toyota and cook and camp with electric stuff and then go home and grab the Wagoneer and camp a night with all vintage Coleman equipment. After that, no more hybrid vehicles please.
Awesome video as always Brad. What brand of percolator do you use on the trail?
Interesting analysis. I run electrical including fridge off the Lithium external as well as CPAP. I use propane and hybrid fuel for cooking and coffee which I drip into a growler for all day drinking and/or sharing. I like your coffee which I grind finer for drip and run through a stainless screen for expediency. The bottom of the coffee gets muddy, but fine for a large batch and swish/toss the end of it.
Very useful video! Most of my camping is done at the racetrack where I can get power. Switching to full electricity makes so much sense for me.
Glad it was helpful, I think there is some real practicality in going with electric vs. propane.
@@TrailRecon absolutely! When electricity is available it’s a no brainer. You can’t forget your lighter or have a bad valve and an empty tank. Also can be safer/cleaner and more compact.
But wait - where’s the coffee percolator and water boiling comparison times with propane??? I love nerding out over this stuff, but can’t believe you didn’t go for the propane comparison times. ☹️
If interested, I’ve done a full comparison for different water quantities, from different water temps to boiling comparing induction vs Jetboil. There are def some interesting things findings. Conclusion: I’ve switched to induction ;)
Technology Connections has an interesting video or two about gas vs. electric vs. induction in the context of home stoves. Gas loses because of all the heat energy lost to the air whereas the other two impart heat directly to the pot.
@@bwofficial1776 But propane has much more available energy. A gallon has 91,450btu, while 1kw of electricity has 3,412 btu. You can carry much more propane in the same amount of space. While less efficient, you can carry much more of it.
Wait till you start overlanding with an all electric EV. Now that’s a game changer. It’s totally quiet all the time. Think Cybertruck, or Rivian. You can sneak up on game during hunting, you can draw so much power from it in complete silence. Game changer
Think about this. A newer power station ecoflow bluetti etc can charge at 1500+ watts. So you could recharge them in about an hour off that 2400 watt plug. Dometic and others make sliding drawer refrigerators.
Great job, great knowledge and thoughts shared, fascinating to see the reality of how this system works. Actually a bit messy for camping as it’s sold.
I am all electric because my Rivian truck can power everything. Plus I love my air fryer… but It’s hard to beat the smell and sound of an old school lantern.
Make sense to me when the engine turns on. That is where the batteries I used for my "solar generator" build would want to be charged or turned off to prevent damage.
I like using E cook top with my travel trailer. its hooked up to solar & large lithium battery. On cold days, propane stove just not doing its job. But I still carry propane in case rainy days. Literally rainy days :)
Hi. Thanks for the excellent channel. Outdoors is not about how fast. In my point of view is how slow. Nothing is compared to slow cooking and coffee making.
something to think about/consider is the dependency on the inverter to create 120VAC and what's hanging off it. For myself, my platform is a 2014 XTERRA (eg not hybrid/electric), and the "house" current comes thanks to a EcoFlow Delta-2. that runs the frdige (12VDC) and a kettle/hotplate (120VAC) load. The other day in the garage the Ecoflow gaveup the ghost (it beeped angrily a few times and started putting out funky-smelling fumes). RMA/Warranty/yaddayadda in progress, but if I'd been on a trip; now what? I can still run the fridge because it is 12VDC, but all the workloads on "house current" are out of commission. So consider what's inside the inverter's blast radius when doing your planning.
I like the idea of all electric because I can see how much battery I have and I agree that I never know if I have enough propane. Only thing I would say is I still need propane if I want a camp fire a lot of times because of burn bans.
I have been experimenting with this route of electric camping gear on my 2024 4xe which came with a power box and upgraded IDCM that allows to use the entire 15kwh (94% electric range assuming you got to camp in e-save) of the HV battery. I have been able to run even a space heater earlier in spring and waiting for fall/winter to do a proper 2 day camp with only the HV battery. at 15kwh thats like carrying 5 of those largest 3kwh jackery generators.
You should take the refrigerator apart and use the components to build a custom fridge for your space.
My next one will be hybrid, either a 4Xe or that LC so I’m watching this with interest. For the freezer, I don’t know if you still have the Domestic drawer but this is what I would suggest. It’s small but considering you will use it with alone (which should be enough) or with the trailer (witch have a cave as a freezer) when you and Regina are travelling, I thing it would give you max flex.
Interesting the newer versions start the engine right away, we have a 2021 toyota hybrid and I love that it just starts in EV mode every time (unless it's really cold) and can run the A/c like that for a while.
Brad, you're going to have to make a list! Pro's/Con's. LOL We travel to CO a lot and High altitude is an issue with propane equipment, let alone factoring in colder weather, so have been looking into induction cooking etc. I too am an early riser and I try to keep it quiet, but that vehicle starting to get the inverter to work, deal breaker for me. Also, you'll end up being tagged like "The Guy who runs his Generator" at camp. lol.
Use both. Ecoflow and Propane and save the space on the back of the LC. No need to play the vehicle on/off game.
Awesome video Brad, i look forward to the build out on the new Land Cruiser I have friends who use an induction cooker like yours and they love, they also still use propane 👍
Hey Brad...digging the Cruiser. Fun new tech stuff to follow and learn. I run a 1800 Bluetti and it's awesome performing. Think a combo two for might work well. The Bluetti is only 38 pounds with a small footprint. Recharge time is super fast too. Have fun engineering your rig. Looking forward to more Cruiser videos
I can’t imagine all the starting, stopping, and short running of the engine is good for longevity. Interesting video!
dont all new engines stop at stop lights now?
Most people aren't using a vehicle in that way every day of the year.
And, engines are made to start, run and stop, a lot.
I didn't think I would enjoy water boiling so much. It's the thought that counts.
If you have the rear view mirror with the camera, use slide out trays to mount your frig. so you not restrict you rear view
Great video! If you are wanting to go overlanding and really use electric, the hybrid F150 with the 7.5kw system would be the way to go. THAT would be awesome to see you do.
That's the setup I run. The F150 Powerboost is the greatest overland setup ever!
@@bobstevens5974 do you have an XLT? My biggest issue with it is the low payload number. What is your payload capacity?
Agree; the onboard power on my Raptor blows Toyota out of the water … at least one in the Land Cruiser.
@bobstevens5974 sir, what trim level is your F150 and what's the payload of it?
Lariat 502a package 1400 lbs payload.
I’ve recently put in the EcoFlow alternator charger. The only device I’m planning to swap out is my jetboil and maybe a percolator like that one the jetboil will be moved to hiking only duties. I’d still prefer to cook food over flames
Hi Brad.
Greetings from Sweden!
Driving Toyota RAV4:s for many years now, all of them with the 12V battery in the back, like your Land Cruiser, i have noticed that on all models i have had, has a 12V access point under the hood, meaning Toyota have already have drawn cables to this access point from the factory. I think the idea from Toyota is that this access point are there for when you are helping someone jump start their car. Might be worth checking out if your Land Cruiser has the same specs. Really enjoying your channel 😊 Regards Niklas.
I personally would tie into the starter motor positive lead, just don't use the starter when pulling something with the winch but the amperage should be similar for both winch and starter.
Doing all of that for percolated coffee. If you're happy; I'm happy for you. ☕
Congrats on the land cruiser. That would be my first choice if I traded my 2016 4runner trail in. But i really love my 4runnner, so that might not happen for a while yet 😊. Anyway, like you, I've invested a lot of time and money into developing my 4runnner to how i want it. She's decked out for overlandding, and yet she can still be my daily driver. So with regarding your new toy, let your imagination run wild. That's a beautiful rig you have, and judging the way you talk about her, you want to build her write and not just for overlandding. Like my 4runnner, these vehicles have so much potential. Good luck with her, and enjoy building her too how you want. I'm still having fun building mine.
I would never trade this for my 2024 4Runner with KDSS, better for my overland needs.
Hi Always interesting to see what you are up to. I have followed some of the ups and downs with the newer cars over the last few years with all the electronics in cars now a days. One theme/topic I have seen might be worth a check by you as you plan the future with the new Landcruiser. Quite a few of the newer cars have sensitive components and programming with regards to the battery. I have seen several diagnostic videos chasing problems that ended with the battery. They had issues due to the drained battery. Causing unexplained items not working and damage when trying to use the car with less then optimal battery voltage. Might want to check with Toyota how sensitive the Landcruiser is with lower battery charges before trying to use the installed battery for more uses / draining then the engineers might have considered. Hate to see your new vehicle in the shop.... Enjoy and I look forward to what you come up with next