Gladiator Expedition Rigs

[Mules]

Just a bit of fine tuning before I glue the top sheet with resin.

I'm thinking about running and bending some aluminum 1" X 0.125" aluminum down the long seam lines (another thing on the long list of projects). It would hide the seam and provide a rigid attachment point for a roof rack or other items. It might also look better, breaking up the large bland surface.

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[Mac Attack]

Just a bit of fine tuning before I glue the top sheet with resin.

I'm thinking about running and bending some aluminum 1" X 0.125" aluminum down the long seam lines (another thing on the long list of projects). It would hide the seam and provide a rigid attachment point for a roof rack or other items. It might also look better, breaking up the large bland surface.

Would that be advisable if you want to put a solar panel on later?

 

[Mules]

Would that be advisable if you want to put a solar panel on later?

Good catch! I thought I would have enough room to fit two thin panels side by side, but I won't. Looks like thin Panels are 21" wide and I'll only have about 40" between the rails. I wonder if there are some 18" wide 200 watt panels. Back to the internet...

Do you think 175 to 200 watt would be a good size?

 

[Free2roam]

Just a bit of fine tuning before I glue the top sheet with resin.

I'm thinking about running and bending some aluminum 1" X 0.125" aluminum down the long seam lines (another thing on the long list of projects). It would hide the seam and provide a rigid attachment point for a roof rack or other items. It might also look better, breaking up the large bland surface.

If you had any gap between the seams I was thinking about aluminum T-bar. It could go in the seam then be glued or riveted in then sealed as you go.

 

[Mules]

If you had any gap between the seams I was thinking about aluminum T-bar. It could go in the seam then be glued or riveted in then sealed as you go.

Good idea. I'll have to do some shopping to see what's available at the hardware store. I'll have to find another solar panel(s) to make sure I have enough room for them later.

 

[booneja]

The front slope would be a good location for a sun roof.

Not a sun roof.....escape hatch, lol

 

[rharr]

Here is some t-bar type stuff, it's used for tile flooring but don't see why it couldn't work for your seams. Maybe pick up 12" of the stuff to see if you can make it work.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Schlute...l-T-Shaped-Tile-Edging-Trim-T9-25AE/202609112

Check your local flooring stores for scraps.

 

[Mules]

It would be great to have a pickup size "Camper In a Box". I could convert back to my pickup bed in a few minutes with a system like this.

 

[Mac Attack]

Good catch! I thought I would have enough room to fit two thin panels side by side, but I won't. Looks like thin Panels are 21" wide and I'll only have about 40" between the rails. I wonder if there are some 18" wide 200 watt panels. Back to the internet...

Do you think 175 to 200 watt would be a good size?

I probably like you, "mo is betta" in my book. But, I would probably approach the electrical system in a vehicle like I would in a house: what's the draw, and what's the input....and make sure everything in between can handle the load. But am sure there are allot of experts in this forum that can provide much better guidance.

 

[Mules]

Electrical Option thoughts:

First of all I like the idea of a portable Jackery, that I could take out of the truck and use like my gas generator. Nice backup for short term power outages at the house.

1) My ideal electrical setup is a Jackery 1500 (or 2000!) with 200 watts of Solar cells (Renogy Solar, 8 hr. charge time). The Jackery would be ideal with 400 watts solar, which would charge it in 4 hours (sunny day), but I haven't found a 400 watt system that will fit on the roof. The reason I would need such a large system is because I would prefer not to use propane. I need 1500 W running capacity to run a microwave. It could also run an induction top and my fridge. Cost about $2,500 (ouch)

2) Forgo my lofty dreams of the all electric setup, and go with a propane stove. I could drop down to a 500WH to 1000 WH system to power the fridge, or even a dual battery system under the hood of the Gladiator. Cost about $1,000 to $1,500.

There are some pretty cool Redarc built in systems out there, or I could even build my own with Lithium batteries and an inverter. There are a lot of options to check out before I get to the electrical system.

 

[Mules]

Here's a nice chart showing charge times and run times. One potential downside is that the Jackery's Lithium batteries may only last 500 cycles. The newer Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries coming out now can last 3,000 cycles. For camping, 500 cycles might last me forever, but if you wanted to use it daily, the Jackery may only last a couple years.

 

[rharr]

You probably know this, but heat generation using electricity is the most inefficient use of electricity. Save the jackery to power gadgets and use a fuel source to generate heat.

Cowboys survived outdoors without battery packs.....

 

[DanW]

Here's a nice chart showing charge times and run times. One potential downside is that the Jackery's Lithium batteries may only last 500 cycles. The newer Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries coming out now can last 3,000 cycles. For camping, 500 cycles might last me forever, but if you wanted to use it daily, the Jackery may only last a couple years.

The 500 cycles on a Jackery is the lifespan for a full 100% charge. So it will still be useful after 500 cycles. So it may have another 500 cycles where its able to charge to 90% or so. (That's not the actual figure. I don't know what it is). But the 500 cycle life doesn't mean it is useless and done then. It'll go much longer than that, just with lessening capacity as the cycles pile up. It woudn't surprise me if it lasted, say, 1500 cycles at 85% or better. So I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the 500 cycles life when you see what it really means.

I've got a small Jackery 240 that I've had for almost 2 years and I don't know how many cycles it has, but it still gets to 100% and is performing perfectly. I run my Jeep refrigerators and charge my drones with it, among other things.

 

[Mules]

You probably know this, but heat generation using electricity is the most inefficient use of electricity. Save the jackery to power gadgets and use a fuel source to generate heat.

Cowboys survived outdoors without battery packs.....

Cowboys... Nice one. While camping, I prefer cooking on a wood fire. Steaks, brats, hotdogs and s'mores have no business inside the camper.

You bring up a point I was worried about. The battery can handle the microwave, induction cook top, and all my gadgets, but not heating the camper. Looks like I'll have to use fossil fuels anyway. I've left my truck running overnight before for heat, but not very efficient.

 

[Mules]

On second thought, electric heat is expensive, but might not be out of the question. It's really a question about insulation and size of the camper. A 50 watt to 100 watt electric blanket is practical and a Jackery 1000 would run a 50 watt blanket 20 hours. Even a Lasko 200 watt heater could last 10 hours on a Jackery 2000. Those numbers are running full on, and could last a lot longer on a thermostat. Don't need the fridge on in the winter to save power.

Remember Tesla cars have electric heat also.

The van camper threads are a great source for heating small camper spaces.

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