About My 2021 Travels

I dislike cold and winter.  Here is winter at home in pic above.

This summer of 2021 I’ve been asked by many friends, followers, and family if I went on my winter travels earlier this year during COVID pandemic.

Yes I did.  I didn’t write during my travels this year as I thought it was in poor taste to write about driving around the country while others stayed home with Government warnings of COVID-19.  Not to mention if I was to say how much fun I was having.

Ok. So, how did I come about leaving.  I was home alone as my wife had spent 9 months last year in San Diego watching our granddaughters, who were at home from school due to COVID and son and daughter-in-law had to work.  My wife came home for the holidays (2020) and was going back to San Diego in January for the same reason and there I was.  Had worked hard to get my new z2021 Tacoma truck and camper ready to go.  I was waiting to be vaccinated by the state and they kept changing when I could get my shot further out.  

Tic, Tic as time went by and I knew that if I didn’t go I probably would be waiting a long time, especially with up to 4 weeks between shots.  It was Friday February 5th in the AM.  I decided to just go.  I knew I only needed food, water and gas on my travels.  All of those were easy as food I carried over 2 weeks of it. Water I carried extra for 2 weeks.  Gas was at the pump and with mask and sanitizer I could do it!

I rushed all day and at 6 PM I drove south, seeing a break in the weather if I could just stay along the east coast.  Down I95 I went to the last rest area on the “Jersey” Turnpike where I slept for the night.

I woke up at 4 AM and drove past MD son’s house and finically stopped on the western side of Atlanta for the night.  Cold weather was pushing south and east so I needed to put lots of miles on to get ahead of it.  On I20 now I drove over the mountains of west GA and got some rain as slush.  Then I got through Birmingham before dawn.  On to the area of Big Water Texas for the night

The open highway brings me joy

I was talking to my good friend Susan who had her shot already as was scheduled for the second.  It was in the 70’s in TX while just north in OK where she lives it was below freezing.  This was the prelude of the biggest ice storm in memory in TX. 

Arizona near sunset - have to love the colors

This next drive was not planned and should not be attempted.  I drove from around Big Water TX to Ajo, AZ.  This is a 1100 mile drive in one day.  I’ve done over 1000 miles in a day before but it was not planned either.  I was planning to stop in Tucson but I was talking to another good friend Joanne and she was in Ajo and I plotted the extra time and distance and decided to meet here there as I was in communication with family in San Diego and they wanted me to try for my vaccine in San Diego on the afternoon of Tuesday the 9th.  AJo gave me a shorter drive on my 4th day.

Behind me, Susan got her second vaccine shot and got out of OK as it was freezing under her tires.  More behind is my friend Bryce who drove through TX during the ice event and I don’t know how he did it.  The carnage on the highway was great with so many cars and trucks off the road.

At my son’s in CA driveway surfing

I made it to San Diego by noon Tuesday.and went to get my shot at Petco Park, but they wouldn’t give it to me as I was not a resident.  My family was more upset than I was.  My son’s in-laws saw that CVS had shots and were only following Federal guidelines.  Yup, over 65 only and got my first shot in San Diego on 2/12

Boondocking on BLM land

Stayed for the weekend and headed to AZ to meet up socially distancing with friends.  My Travels then started.  Yes I would return to San Diego on March 12th for my second shot.

So this is how I started my travels fir the winter of 2021.  Looking back I shouldn’t have waited the month of January.  At home I had the same risk as on the road.  Getting food and gas.  I’m compulsive about wearing a mask and sanitizing my hands and things.  Sitting in the desert distanced from friends was better than the cold solitude of home.  

I ended up having a great time and made it home safely in May 1.  I will share some of my travels this year and things I’ve done to the camper/truck.  I do plan on traveling again in 2022.  

By the way there were plenty of others that were on the road this past winter.  Not as many as usual.  

Happy travels

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Ham Radio In FWC

I got my Ham Radio License a couple years ago, in part to stay in contact with friends on hikes, safety off-grid, and amusement. I was initially licensed as KC1KOV. 

PS. After testing up to the top of Hsm Radio levels, I was given a vanity call sign of WM1T.  I waned the change to designate I was operating at the Advanced level and shorten the phonics of the call sign, Whisky, Mike, One, Tango.  Much easier than Kilo Charlie One Kilo Charlie Victor.

My Vandweller friend Dan Cordray KD4PWP had recommended The Rafio in the picture above.  It’s a a Yaesu FT-891.  I was lucky enough to find one on sale from a Ham in a neighboring city and bought it.

There are a couple things you need to use the radio in addition to a license, and they are power and antenna

Above is my solution to power for my Ham Radio.  I added a bulkhead Anderson Power Pole connection to plug into.  This is connected to my solar charging battery system.

For the antenna I needed a way of getting the antenna outside and not leave the door cracked with the wire hanging out.  Above is a straight hole through the front wall of the camper.

On the opposite side I made a bulkhead connector for my antenna to tie into. As shown above.



Lastly I needed to mount my antenna.  I chose a stick antenna system where I have a magnet base mounted to my FWC roof.  (Picture above) This antenna system has a different stick to screw into the base based on the shortwave frequency band I am operating on.

I can switch to VHF and UHF using the same antenna bulkhead connected to an antenna to match those frequencies connected to my portable

On my travels this past winter, I checked nitro a number of shortwave contacts up around 500 miles away.  In case of emergency and no cell service this method can get a message out if needed.

I do not drive with that tall antenna mounted and I am only on VHF/UHF while driving. Usually monitoring 146.52.

This antenna will also mount to the top of my painters pole antenna mount, I built and covered under separate blog post to mount tv antenna.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Mounting IPad In My FWC

After mounting my IPad , shown above, I wondered what took me so long to do it.  To the right and rear is my TV/DVD player.

I mostly sleep on the lower bench, and often with the roof down for a bit of stealth or warmth.  The IPad is mounted within the length of my arm and tv has the remote. 

I wanted an adjustable mount and not specific to IPad.

I also wanted a ball mount system as they are highly secure and durable.

Of course I wanted a mount that would articulate for various viewing angles.

Yes, that’s Bob Wells and Suanne Carlson on the screen as I watch their YouTube video on NomadLand movie.

I decided on the mount above as it screws into the FWC cabinet for a secure mounting base and holds the IPad using 4 grips.

I don’t leave the IPad mounted while traveling as I spend much of my time on dirt roads that rock and shake everything, although normal driving would not be a problem leaving it mounted.

This mounting system is much more enjoyable than holding the IPad in my hands on my lap.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Upgrading Solar Charge Controller on FWC

My entry into solar on my Four Wheel Camper (FWC) included a LiFeP04 only Charge controller from Bioenno for my 50 Ah Bioenno battery (photo above)

This charge controller worked fine gor me for my last 3 years of my FWC travels, but technology got me to change.

When I worked with my friend Bryce on his hybrid RAV4 vandwelling design he wanted solar for his 100 Ah Renogy battery.  He also chose a 50 Ah multi chemistry charge controller from Renogy.  The charge controller he selected was designed no only to pull in solar to charge his battery, but it also had an input from the engine to charge from that too.  In fact it would split charge from both, deferring to solar if available.  

I liked this concept as I had a power connection from my Tacoma engine to the FWC but to not overcharge the battery I manually had to manually switch between solar Vs engine charging.

What better solution to have, than to have this done all automatically!

So, I decided to get the 30 Ah version of the 50 amp charge controller that Bryce got.  The model number for mine is DCC30S.(shown above)

It required wire routing changes and luckily I had enough space to put the Renogy charge controller where the Bioenno one was.

I also put labels on all the wires to and from and upgraded the Bioenno AC to DC charger to 15 amps from 10 amps for when charging from shore power. (Partially shown in bottom left of picture above)

There are 4 lights in the Renogy charge controller above.  From right to left;

- Blue - LiFeP04 chemistry charge

- Green - Battery is attached

- Red - solar power (blinking when maintaining battery)

- Red - engine charging

This charge controller change to include both functions has made a big difference in my 2021 travels. It also will make a big difference with simplicity of charging going forward.

I use an isolator between the engine and the FWC charging to protect my truck battery.  This charge controller is the same one from prior years and only sends power to the FWC once the engine battery is fully charged and this takes about a minute.

In theory I don’t need the separate isolator from the engine as the Renogy charge controller does this and also maintains the engine batter from solar once the FWC LiFeP04 battery is satisfied.  I don’t need this function and I keep my original design.

I’m thrilled with this upgrade and the ability to ignore the charging system.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

FWC Bunk Thermal Barrier

When driving across country I sleep with the roof down most of the time.  I do this for warmth and a sense of stealthiness.  

Out west in the winter I put the roof up and lay on my bench watching movies or TV and cold air rolls off the bunk and on my head and neck.

I’ve tried tilting the roof with the front over the bunk down and the back roof up, but still I get a cold draft.  Because I sleep in the bunk mostly, even with the top up the bunk space is only used for putting things there to get them out of my way.

I needed a solution to the cold draft, so this past fall (2020) I took a COVID mask trip to Joann Fabrics and bought some lightweight quilt material to make a bunk barrier. 

I sized the thermal barrier to tuck in the bottom of the bunk a few inches and wrap around on the outsides to make for a better fit

In trying to think of a way to hold the barrier up I thought of my friend David Swanson of Prius days who used rare earth magnets to hold curtains.

Dang, what a great idea.  I found some rare earth magnets at Joann Fabrics incased in plastic and used them by sewing them to the fabric and screwing them to the wooden roof brace in the ceiling or using industrial double sided tape to the magnets on the roof ribs.  (Don’t go to Joanne Fabric without looking for coupons.  The magnets are expensive and I got them 50% off.)

The other advantage of the thermal barrier is that when I’m heating my camper I don’t have to waste heat to warm the loft bunk.

Note that the material is not a heavy quilt and I lay it in the bunk when I close the roof.

I now have a good thermal barrier and I can put things up there when company comes over and they can’t see the mess.

The magnets make putting the thermal barrier up simple and fast.

Oh, although I usually get help from my wife in sewing I sized, cut, bound the edges with double binding tape, hand sewed the magnets on too.  I did need my wife’s help to give me instruction on using the sewing machine as she was away at the time.

Happy vandwelling.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Eliminating Moisture Under Foam Mattress

When I was Prius dwelling I had a Thermarest mattress under my sleeping bag.  I would notice moisture under the sleeping bag where my torso was laying when I got up in the morning.  The colder it got there was more dampness.  I would fold back the sleeping bag during the day to dry things out.

When I switched to the Four Wheel Camper (pick up camper) dwelling, I mostly slept on the passenger side bench seat.  This area is just a piece of plywood under me to the outside without insulation.  The above picture shows the bench with my sleeping bag on it.

Under the sleeping bag is 2” of foam mattress snd the colder it gets the more condensation collects on the bottom of the foam against the plywood.  On my previous years travels I would just flip the foam mattress to have it dry during the day. 

This year I found this moisture barrier for under mattresses in campers snd boats to eliminate moisture.

I bought one pieces 39” wide and 72” long and cut it to 25 “ wide to use as a moisture barrier under my bench/bed foam cushion.  I’ve tested it and there is no moisture in the AM and I’m pleased to allow air to circulate and keep the area dry.

I liked it enough that I decided to also put the moisture barrier under the mattress on the overhang bed.  I only needed to buy one more piece the same size, and with the leftover piece from cutting the size for the bench, it gives me a full size mattress underlay moisture barrier.

The camper upper bunk can be bigger but I use standard full size sheets and this is big enough for two side to side as long as no one is over 6’ tall.

The moisture barrier can be easily cut with heavy duty scissors.  It is 3/4” thick and the webbing that make for an open airflow is moderately stiff but can be compressed with fingers.  When laying in it with foam above, as I’m using, it does not compress.

When I get on the road to 2021 travels I will get to test this moisture barrier a lot more.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

New Tacoma - Rust on Rear Brake Drums

When I buy a new vehicle I don’t want to see rust!  In fact it is frustrating even if it is in a hidden part like the rear brake drums.  They paint all but where the wheel touches the drum?

So, when I jacked up the rear axle to put in airbag suspension I noticed the rear brake drums were rusted.

Above - is the drum as it came from factory with my masking tape on stud threads, ready for spray painting 



Here is the drum after I sprayed BBQ high temp paint on the drum before putting the wheels back on.

When I was underneath wiring the truck bed for camper power I noticed another thing that needs paint but it’s been to cold to paint that until it gets warmer.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Inside Tacoma - Where To Mount Things

I wanted a clean look for the things I have mounted Ted in the cab of my Tacoma.  I found it!

From left to right is my phone, dash camera, ham radio microphone (radio is in the center console front pocket), and my rear camper camera screen (right).

The rear camper camera screen last year (2011 Tacoma) was mounted on top of rear view mirror with heavy duty Velcro. This screen gives me rear view while driving to see behind me with camper mounted.  Unlike the rear backing camera that comes with the 2021 Tacoma that only comes on when in reverse, I can turn this on while driving to see what is behind me.  The camera is wireless powered from the camper.

When I don’t need the rear view camera screen it easily comes off the dash.  Note, there are different mounts available but I decided to make my own mount for the screen from available parts and parts from Amazon.

I decided to go with the Taco Garage DMM mounting system. It was reasonably cost effective, although you should buy the 1” ball mounts from DMM as the screw size used on the mount are not the standard 1/4-20”.

DMM ball mount with single stud.

I bought 3 1” ball studs to mount in the dash frame (4th ball came with phone mount for DMM) that is a do-it-yourself build with a YouTube with step by step directions.

https://youtu.be/6bbiNMzegIw

Here is my upper dash fram that I’m installing the modification to.  The red tabs is what holds this plastic frame to the dash.



The modification is basically a top black metal trim and the bar stock under with the mounting nuts.  The plastic is sandwiched between the two.

What I like about this modification is that I can remove all mounts and you don’t see the modification.



Above is the black trim piece of metal that fits perfectly into the gap between the plastic frame and the dash.



My first mount was my phone.  I also bought this mount from Taco Garage and it is secure. 

The phone mount came with one ball mount with center stud.

If you buy the 1” ball mount any 1” ball camps can be purchased from places like Amazon.  

I disliked the phone mount I had in my older Tacoma as it covered the vent.  It also gets my phone up higher when running google maps.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Outside the Tacoma Upgrades

My 2011 Tacoma had these modifications and I looked forward to include them on my new 2021.

The bug/stone deflector kept the hood and windshield in great condition and well worth adding it to my new Tacoma.

I learned about rain guards and their advantage during my Prius travel years.  The ability to vent heat out of the cab and  when raining.  I enjoy this modification.

A step up from my 2011 Tacoma’s steel rims to alloy is such a nice change that came with my SR5 model.  The steel rims rusted and were replaced once only to have them rust again.  

My modification is the locking lug nut set to reduce the risk of wheel theft.

The SR5 Tacoma comes with blind spot notification in the mirror with a flashing symbol, but I still like seeing what is there so I added conveyed mirrors on both sides.

A handy feature of these is also seeing parking space lines.  The side mirrors loose the parking lines as you back to them.  With the curved mirror you can track the white lines as you back up.

Yes I have a rear backing camera that I can align to but I still enjoy seeing what is along the sides as I back.  It comes from years of backing my vehicles as a firefighter so I could drive out to calls quicker.



Mud flaps are not a nice to have in my eyes and I think they should come with trucks.  So I installed aftermarket front and back.

Ok a bit of bling.  It’s not in my personality generally to add such things but I bought these very nice black aluminum TACOMA inlays. 



I don’t feel you can have enough braking or turning visibility.  Having almost being rear ended by a tractor trailer truck last year, I added the strip light that gives braking and turn signals.

A deletion modification!

That’s right.  The Tacoma comes mow with a plastic air dam below the bumper.  I see it as useless and it is possible that when there are high curbs that your tires stop on, when you back up the dam can catch and pull, scrape and even dislodge.  I don’t need or want that problem out west catching it on a rock.  

Also if you get stuck in sand it makes it real hard to get the tow strap on the loop hole.  So, it’s removed and boxed away.

I do not notice and difference in MPG

That’s the tour of the changes on the outside for now

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Installing Firestone Airbags On New Tacoma

Installing the FWC Camper on the Tacoma, near the weight limit, you should consider heavier springs or airbag system.  I had Firestone airbags I installed on my 2011 Tavoma and liked them so well, that I ordered the same ones for my new Tacoma

Above is the Firestone airbag on my 2011 Tavoma.  They worked great for my 3 years of FWC Camper travels.

Yes, I do the install myself.  It’s not that bad to do in my garage.  A floor jack and jack stands, revive the wheels and follow the directions.  You will need hand dexterity with the bracket on the inside frame rail.  Also the right size ratchet and sockets and wrenches make the job easier.

Above is the assembled airbag.  This one has a heat shield so it goes on the side where the exhaust pipe passes.

You need to cut the rubber bumper off as it goes dead center in axle.  

The bottom of the airbag system clamps around the spring pack.  The top mounts to this metal bracket built onto the Tacoma frame.on both sides. The large bolt head in the center of the frame holds the inside bracket with 4 bolts and nuts holding it to the airbag assembly.

There is the airbag mounted next to the exhaust pipe with heat shield facing the pipe.

Drive the truck a few hundred miles and then go back and check the nuts for tightness.

On both sides on the bumper I have an air fill valve. The fill stems are like what you put air in on a tire.  You can see one fill on the lower bumper drivers side.  It is a piece of angle aluminum that I cut and drilled a hole to mount to the bottom of the bumper with a hole in the center for the sir valve.  The Firestone instructions indicate that the valves sound be mounted through the bumper on either side of the license plate.  I don’t like this method as it compromises the bumper and do not want rust to start.

I mounted the air valves this way on my 2011 Tavoma and had no problem.

Red airline tubing is run from each airbag to each valve on the rear.  I was asked about using a wye to have one bag fill for both and equal pressure to both bags.  I don’t recommend both bags tied together as the weight of the camper is not ewlqualized side to side so I can set the bag pressure to match the weight distribution.

You can get an air compressor to mount under the truck and gages to mount in the cab of the truck with a switch to increase pressure to both airbags at the same time, but I just fill the bags from the rear as I have to carry an air compressor to refill tires if I air down in sand.

FYI: It is recommended to keep 5-10 lbs of air in the bags with no weight in the bed of the truck and I often run 50 lbs in the road to equal the ride with the camper on.  One thing I do is measure the height of the truck bed before I started the install so I can measure the height of the bed to level the load with air in the bags with the camper on.

Leveling the load also ensures breaking of the truck is leveled to ensure better weight distribution.  Also, when you hit bumps the springs don’t get stressed.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com