Getting Tacoma 12V Power To Camper

In order to trade in my 2011 Tacoma, I needed to remove the camper wiring from the truck battery to the truck bed and reinstall it in my 2021 Tacoma.  Above are the parts I removed from my 2011.  Note the aluminum plate I had the components tied to.  This plate was mounted to the drivers side fender.  I used two bolt holes in the fender to hold the aluminum plate.

I was happy to find that someone else had figured a way to mount parts in the 2021 engine.  Above photo is a picture of the aluminum bracket that sits horizontally between the fuse box and the brake reservoir.

Photo of brackets new (right) and old (right)



Here is the photo of the new panel mount with a new 40 amp breaker to my isolator (prevents power from battery unless engine is supplying power). It has a nice clean look and uses mounting holes on fender and mounting screws for brake lines.

It’s tight space between the fuse box cover and brake reservoir.

My cable to the truck bed for the camper is in the picture above, showing a trolling motor weather connection.  I have 8 ga. copper wire, both red and black from the engine.  I chose this method to limit loss in chassis ground. 

The tolling motor connector required me to drill a hole in my new truck bed.  The cables are in a plastic loom from the engine down under the chassis to the back.  All secured with tie wraps.

It is a good setup and ready for camper mounting.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

I Like Having A Remote Starter

I asked the Toyota dealer about a remote starter with my new truck.  I was told they don’t put Toyota remote starters in vehicles as they don’t work well and they send people to installers in the area to have one put in.

Really???

I had a guy put a 2-way long distance remote starter in my 2011 Tacoma and I liked it other than it had a big fob to carry in my pocket.  I could open my truck across a parking lot though.  

So, I took delivery of my 2021 Tacoma and set about finding a remote starter I like.  

The Tacoma online forums indicated the N2 remote starter that is plug and play and I could install myself.  Amazon had similar units for lower prices, but N2 had the option of adding a distance remote at a later time.  Well, as you can see from the picture above I bought the N2.

To install you need to drop the lower plastic dash panel below the steering wheel.  Then remove the two halves of the steering column cover.. separate cables and plug in cables.  Also optionally cut one wire to splice into a cable to the controller.

(Above is the ODB2 “Y” cable end that plugs into the car plug.  The other end replaces the car connector that service people use.  The long end of the “Y” plugs into the controller.) 

(Above is a picture with the defective cable connector with corrosion on the emery board trying to fix it.)

I opened the dash and installed the remote starter and it didn’t work.  I talked to the owner of N2 and the support was great.  He sent out a new unit snd cables after we tried troubleshooting the one I was originally sent.

After some testing and a company technician saying the control box wasn’t seeing the signal from the ODB2 “Y” cable I found a tarnished pin, but emery file couldn’t solve the problem. (See pictures and comments above.)

As guessed the cable was bad and swapping it out solved the installation problem.  The RA label got the extra parts back for free.

This is a plug and play solution, but you can’t stop the truck from remote running with key FOB, or keep it from shutting the engine off when you open the door.

There is a solution to solve these two things !

(Above is the connector behind the left drivers kick plate.

If you cut the right wire and splice in a supplied wire that connects to the controller, you can then remotely shut truck off if running the 15 minute cycle by pressing the key FOB.

It also solves the issue of opening the door and having the engine shut off.  With the Eire splice, you get in the truck with engine running and put the key in and turn to on (2 clicks) and truck will continue to run and you can drive away.  A foot on the brake before turning key will shut off engine.

I’m happy with the remote starter and have not had the need to upgrade to a long distance starter.

N2 also sells an option to connect to the car to allow for using my iPhone to start truck and follow the truck’s status remotely.  I don’t have that need as of yet either.

FYI: H-Key is a key with a security chip in it.

The nicest feature of this install is you start the truck using the factory key FOB by pushing the lock button 3 times slowly.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Below are the sales comments.

N2 Designs 2018-2021 Toyota Tundra Plug & Play Remote Start Kit (H-Key)

$349.00 Regular Price

$299.00

Details
NO DEALER ACTIVATION REQUIRED
99.9% Plug & Play (1 wire cut)
Printed color instructions included
Complete Kit - nothing else needed
Compatible with our Long Range Remote Kits
Compatible with our Smart Phone Module 
 
Requirements
2018 2019 2020 2021 Toyota Tundra (H-Key)
Key Start Ignition
Automatic Transmission ONLY 
 
Operation
To Start:  Press the lock button 3 times on factory key FOB
To Stop:  Press the lock button 3 more times while engine is on
Parking Lights will illuminate
Run Time is 15 minutes 
All doors, and hood must be closed
 
Special Notes
Vehicle will NOT shut off when a door is opened.
You will be able to get into the vehicle after a remote start, put the key into the ingition, turn the igition two clicks to ON position, tap the brake pedal, and now your key is in control and you can drive off!

Oh No! Will The Camper Fit On New Tacoma?

I did research if my Four Wheel Camper (FWC) Fleet Model will fit in my new Tacoma.  The width and length are identical from 2011 2nd Generation Tacoma to the 2021 3rd Generation Tacoma.

The problem is that the truck bed walls on the 2021 are 19” vertical and the 2011 is 18”

(Camper hold down bars above)

Normally I have about a 1/2” space between the bed rail and the camper that overhangs the sides, with the camper sitting on the 1/2” tie down bars (shown above)

I called FWC and asked and they said I could build up the bottom of the camper by 3/4” or get a rubber stall mat that is 3/4” thick and it also keeps the camper from sliding around.

(Stall mat (3/4”) cut to fit the truck bed)

I got the stall mat from Tractor supply for about $60.00, but it needed to be cut to meet the dimensions of the truck bed.  I used a paint pen to mark out the cuts and cut the rubber with a utility knife.

There is the finished product ready for the day I get to put the camper on for my 2021 Travels.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

The Decision To Replace The Tacoma

Above is my 2021 Tacoma in the foreground and my 2011 Tacoma in the background.

Although my 2011 Tacoma still ram well at 10 years old and 110,000 miles, I wanted to assure reliability as I travel to remote areas.

Although this is surface rust, it is a sign of what New England weather and road salt does.  You would never believe that I use spray paint each year to touch up the rust.  It got ahead of me.

It was September when I recognized that the end of model year sales were on at Toyota.  I then realized that COVID had disrupted the production of new trucks too.  I decided on a Toyota dealer, and when I went, there were no Tacoma’s in inventory that met my configuration requirements.  

The Tacoma I have is an extended cab (Access) and a 6’ bed.  There were many double cabs with short 5’ beds in area inventory but my camper is sized for a 6’ bed.

I decided to order the truck I wanted and it would be scheduled to come in at the end of October, being made in San Antonio, TX.

Buying a new truck is a lot of work, as I have significant small additions and modifications to suit my need.

I will address these modifications as well as ones for the camper as I wait for the COVID vaccine to be able to resume my travels for 2021.

I stopped at a boat ramp along the Connecticut River on the way home to check out my new truck.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Brent’s Travels 2021 - A Question

There I am!  This was April 2019 in Alabama with the SE GTG.  I’m in shorts and tee and in my element, enjoying my travels and being warmer in winter.

I left my friends in Utah this past spring and drove straight home to avoid the pandemic.  Little did I know that when I left I was still relatively safe wearing my homemade mask, compared to today with 3+ thousand die a day in the US and a mutated virus with the potential to make things worse.

Coming home a month early gave me the opportunity to work on many things at home and during the summer visiting my camp working there, but staying to myself, not to worry the locals.

As usual, at the end of August and the beginning of September, I started thinking of 2021 Travels.  I started sharing my time between housework and Camper/Truck changes, with all intent to leave January 3, 2021.  That was my date and my plan.

I bought a new Tacoma to replace my 10 year old Tacoma.  I also had to modify the Tacoma to accept the camper.

The camper got changes too.  I was ready for 1/3/21.  That was Monday and as the day passed I felt a sense of loss.  Loss of my love to travel.  I have traveled for the last 7 years.

To all my friends who have reached out to me, that was so nice of you as I enjoy your company and visits during my travels.

I’m home for now.  

Could I go? Yes, but with preexisting conditions and hospitals not able to cope with the virus, it is not a wise move.  Remember I tripped and fell last year and dislocated my shoulder and needed a hospital.  Hard to avoid the obvious that things happen.

What would get me to go?  If I was a days ride away, not 5, I could go and get home if needed.  Well, that doesn’t work.  If the virus was like it was this past Sumer I think a trip would be reasonable.  And the obvious one is if I could get the vaccine.

I don’t see the virus subsiding anytime soon.  It is possible that by early February I could get the vaccine and get the second dose by the beginning of March.  Wait a week and head out and stay in the road into May.

I have considered not going to southwest now and heading to FL, as it’s only 2 day drive home.  Every time I think I have a plan then there is something else.  Now the more contagious mutated virus that is spreading around the country.  

So here I am at home in MA with my dislike of winter.

I will start sharing things I’ve done this summer to make my travels, whenever they start better for 2021.

Stay well and safe all.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Blarney Canyon Hike

Above is my AllTrails App screen capture for my hike into Blarney Canyon

The Blarney Canyon is adjacent to the Leprechaun Canyon, I previously reviewed.  It is south of Hanksville, UT with parking just off UT95, so any vehicle can get to this and Leprechaun Canyon.

You are probably thinking that most of my hikes in this area look the same.  Tis true, but each hike is that different.

The slot canyons also get narrow as you have seen.  Yes, Blarney Canyon turns out to be a slot canyon.

Above is Susan, not posing for a picture, is maneuvering through the tight section of the slot.

And in front of you is 6-7 ft high on the right and 5-6 ft on the left.  Susan showed me up and transgressing the left side.  I was still favoring my right shoulder from my fall and dislocation and didn’t want yo slip.

Susan went ahead out of sight to check what was ahead and she came back and I was half way up the right side with toes and fingers holding on.  

Susan held my hiking pole for me to grab and I got enough leverage to pull myself up with my left arm. (Good arm)

Note: we take work gloves on these hikes for better gripping and in case we slide.

I leaped frog Susan and found a way out of this crack to get her picture ahead of her.

This was not an easy rise out of the slot as it looks in the picture.  I actually had my backpack off in the slot as it was too narrow to have on.  At the end where the crack surfaces, it’s a 7’ rise with tough footholds.  I decided to lay my backpack in the crack below and tie a rope on it and step on my bag to get up where Susan is coming out of.  Susan also used the pack the same way.  I lifted the bag with para cord I had tied on to use on rest of hike.

We went right and left after coming out of the crack and met a couple coming down the trail / slot.  We followed where they came from and found this rackfall in the slot.  We turned around as we found out that they had climbing ropes and equipment to get through this.  I did not bring my minimal canyoneering equipment to want to try it.

Therefore, our hike back was secured to be the way we came.  This is not a bad thing since you can choose to turn around where you wish if you don’t think you can get back if you go further.  Safety First!

If you come from the top down and slid down some rock surfaces and had to turn around, you may have a problem getting back if you can’t climb where you slid.  Note that hiking alone in a slot canyon requires extra care not to put yourself at risk.

Before hiking partners I used to hike solo many places on long hikes.  Things can happen and having a partner is a wonderful thing.

I had to lower my backpack into the crack of the slot to step on it going back through the crack.

Happy hiking.

Brent

Leprechaun Canyon Hike

After Joanne, Susan and I toured The Little aegypt area we headed over for a hike of Leprechaun Canyon.

It’s what we didn’t know, that caught us by surprise.

We were guessing as we started the hike if the small protruding rock formations were what gave the canyon it’s name of Leprechaun Canyon.

They were on both sides for our hike further into the canyon.

Our first surprise was that the canyon became a skot canyon.

There is a bit of an elevation change where the water carved the slot.

But then was the big surprise.  We were in a deep slot. Very deep.  Long and narrow.

Here is a look up to the top of the slot.  It was windy and sand was being blown through the slot crack down on us.



Above Susan wondered under these large rocks wedges in the slot, but leaving enough room tobstill walk under it.

Above is a tunnel trope section.  Susan and i are on the slot floor and the crack of midday sun is shining through the crack way up above shining a line on the ground.

This is the thinnest deepest slot I’ve been in.  This was during social isolation because of the Coronavirus and others were also out hiking this trail.  At spots that were wide enough I would put myself in a corner.  We were lucky that we didn’t run into anyone in the tunnel.  I had made my mask to wear but wasn’t yet diligent about having it on in advance.  Shortly after this wearing a mask became a must.

Slot canyons are fun but as you will see in another slot hike some basic equipment is helpful.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com