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2021 RAM 3500 Tradesman | AEV Prospector | FWC Grandby

Just a thought for you on solar, another flat place on the truck is the hood, possibly a smaller or flex panel could be setup there, or make a light weight retractable panels that sit under the fixed panels. there's a lot of options if you cannot simply fit enough "flat" mounted.
 
Just a thought for you on solar, another flat place on the truck is the hood, possibly a smaller or flex panel could be setup there, or make a light weight retractable panels that sit under the fixed panels. there's a lot of options if you cannot simply fit enough "flat" mounted.

Thank you for your suggestions. My goal is to install at least two 325 watt panels up top and possibly a third. We will see how that balances against my use although I am guessing I will be fine. Nothing on the hood for me - visibility is poor enough and I need to see where I am placing my wheels on the trail. Compared to my previous Jeeps this is like driving a school bus through the forest, lol.
 
Purchased the tools necessary to install my Mopar heavy duty splash guards since the Mopar kit includes polyoxymethylene (POM) rivets as part of the installation. The Mopar directions also specify a 1/4" drill bit as being necessary.

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Thank you for your suggestions. My goal is to install at least two 325 watt panels up top and possibly a third. We will see how that balances against my use although I am guessing I will be fine. Nothing on the hood for me - visibility is poor enough and I need to see where I am placing my wheels on the trail. Compared to my previous Jeeps this is like driving a school bus through the forest, lol.

It might be a good idea to keep at least one panel mobile. I kept my small system mobile in my Jeep. I like to park in the shade if possible and run my panels out to the sunshine.
 
Purchased the tools necessary to install my Mopar heavy duty splash guards since the Mopar kit includes polyoxymethylene (POM) rivets as part of the installation. The Mopar directions also specify a 1/4" drill bit as being necessary.

View attachment 17589

View attachment 17590
Sadly I found the plastic rivets that come with the harbor freight kit are easier to use than the ones that come with the kit...
 
Purchased the tools necessary to install my Mopar heavy duty splash guards since the Mopar kit includes polyoxymethylene (POM) rivets as part of the installation. The Mopar directions also specify a 1/4" drill bit as being necessary.

View attachment 17589

View attachment 17590
After having a few break off i would recommend using some stainless screws to secure them i went with 5/16 stainless hex head screws
 
It might be a good idea to keep at least one panel mobile. I kept my small system mobile in my Jeep. I like to park in the shade if possible and run my panels out to the sunshine.
I agree,
There are times where a portable would be nice, like parking in the shade and moving the panel to the sun. Im planning on a 200W portable for my RV for this exact reason.
 
Rode up on a scale today - it was a local government scale so I am not certain if it was calibrated or not.

My weight was 6,600 pounds and that included me in the truck (200) plus tools (75) and right at 1/4 tank of gasoline in my 32 gallon tank. My GVWR is 11,000 and payload is 4,529 so my curb weight should be 6,471. Taking my measured weight of 6,600 subtract myself (-200) and the tools (-75) and add the missing 24 gallons of gasoline (+150) and we are at 6,475. Darn, that worked out quite nice!

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Wow @DevilDodge, that is a sweet built but too rich for me. I just could not justify the tens-of-thousands-of-additional dollars for the tray bed and flatbed FWC. My goal was to gain as much interior living space for the least amount of money while still providing reasonable performance off road. Cool find though and thanks for sharing!
 
Wow @DevilDodge, that is a sweet built but too rich for me. I just could not justify the tens-of-thousands-of-additional dollars for the tray bed and flatbed FWC. My goal was to gain as much interior living space for the least amount of money while still providing reasonable performance off road. Cool find though and thanks for sharing!
It was funny. Cause as he started the build...he seemed just like your build. And then all the sudden one day it was done...bam...just like that. Then I came here and didnt see your updates. Then I saw your update today and realized it wasnt you.

Full size overlanders on the Facebook. I got tired of all the coil springs making Powerwagon have low payload talk and started into the darkside. The worst part was making a Facebook account...but then I found some cool groups to learn from.
 
This will protect the positive and negative 6 AWG Ancor marine grade tinned battery cable running from under the hood, under the cab, and up into the bed.

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OK, decided to purchase a Diode Dynamics 30" LED light bar (flood) for the front AEV bumper and a pair of SS3 LED pods (sport/combo) for the rear AEV bumper. I opted for the flood light bar up front since I will have the OEM projector LEDs and a paid of SS3 LED pods (max/SAE fog). I may call Diode Dynamics tomorrow and change my 30" bar to a combo...

dd combo.jpg

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I had a 24" bar on my last truck and currently have a 20" bar on my SXS. Both are the flood/spot combo. These put out much better lighting at almost 180deg field of view.
 
Wow. Diode Dynamics have amazing service to back up their fine products. I received an email this morning stating my order had already shipped so I called and they are shipping me the 30" combo along with a return shipping label for the 30" flood that has already been packed and shipped. All of this at zero cost to me which I kinda feel bad about since this is my error. I would have been happy to pay the additional shipping fees.

Here is the flood/driving combo:
dd5032_ss30_white_combo.jpg
 
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