Boogielander Build

[boogielander]

I started my photo session at 10PM, and took 750 photos in the span of 4 hours.







Then another session from 2AM-3AM



And made a video of what happens when 750 photos are stitched together:

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[boogielander]

So... I monitored the situation the next day and confirmed my findings:
Solar wasn't charging, despite the panels were fully exposed under the sun. The Renogy had to go - I wasn't about to deal with the warranty claim, and my goal was to get Redarc since day 1. The Renogy was my last resort option at the time of install, since it was the only unit that was in stock (Redarc was backordered and wouldn't arrive in time before I left for Alaska last year).

In addition, I discovered the breaker for my cab side circuit would trip randomly. Something was wrong with that one too.
Did some research, and it seemed like it was thermal trip and not tripped by shorts or wiring issue. Replaced the breaker as a result.

Then, after replacing the breaker, the issue was still present, though not as often. Checked my grounding and moved it around, and retorqued everything. As I was retorquing the Blue Sea distribution block with neg, I snapped one of the studs. It looked like the stud had a minor crack and that caused bad contact, and thus created enough heat to trip the breaker.

So, here's what I did:

• Replaced Renogy 50A DC-DC charger w/ MPPT with Redarc Alpha50 unit.
• Replaced both circuit breakers for the cab side power distribution block and the camper DC-DC charger
• Replaced the cab side power distribution block.
• Moved cab side grounding
• Retorque and checked everything.

All these were done right on Christmas Eve, as I had a big trip planned for right after Christmas. Took the truck on a test drive, and no issue.

 

[boogielander]

Day after Christmas, I set out for Gold Butte and Grand Canyon North.
But shortly after starting the truck, the breaker tripped again. I have zero idea what was going on, so pulled over to reset it and hoped for the best.
Then, I found out if I did the following things, the breaker wouldn't trip:

• Disable charging on the Victron 12/24-15 DC-DC charger at starting.
• Start the truck, let run for a while.
• Re-enable charging.

I also noticed my Victron's input voltage reading dropped from 14V at input to 12V at input with output enabled, and found that basically the tripping would only happen after the first start of the day. Well, either Victron unit's not working well, or I need to add an ANL/ MEGA fuse to mitigate this issue as the input rush create enough heat to trip the thermal breaker, especially when ambient temperature is low. But for now, I'll be manually enabling charging to offset the input rush for until when the temperature rises.





First day of the trip was a 6 hour drive to get through traffic and Vegas to get to Gold Butte, and to make the matter worse, we had a late start: supposed to start leave meet up spot at 10AM, but due to various reasons we didn't really leave until almost noon. Then, various refuels and waiting around happened, so 6 hour journey turned into almost 9 hours journey.


Second day's trip plan included some exploration around Gold Butte area before making our way down to Grand Canyon North. But, more delays happened.
Some of the guys woke up late and took a while to pack up, then some guys found some issues regarding loose bolts and stuff right as we were heading out. Well, 10AM wheels up turned into almost noon wheels up, and the exploration plan had to be scrapped.

But what a view though.

The only "exploration" that we did was the Cistern next to our campsite.

Basically an old dam built to hold water.

And water comes out here.
It was almost 1PM at this time, and being the master route planner I knew we got a long way to go for the day. I rushed everybody back to the trucks for the real "wheels up"

Found this interesting road sign on the way.

And the last time the truck was "clean" for the weekend.

 

[boogielander]

As we pushed east toward Arizona, the landscape began to reveal itself. With the storm passing, the clouds hung low and that got me worried.

After ~70 miles of high speed run and countless slick surfaces, mud and water pits, and slick clays, we arrived at the Mt. Trumbull Schoolhouse. Since I was there last year, I didn't really go around taking pictures - the truck's mostly the same exterior wise, and it was around 40s with windchill.
The guys insisted on having lunch here (it was around 230PM), even though the destination was only merely 24 miles away. okay, I guess.

Lunch ended up taking almost an hour. By 330PM, knowing that the last 10 miles of trail is a bumpy, slow paced drive, and the sun was setting, I rushed everyone back to their trucks to start driving again. We were running out of daylight to get to our destination!


This is when I regret not running MT. The only way for me to cross those mud pits and slick clays was to throw the truck in 4H and carry plenty of momentum, and even then I was sliding everywhere. On the other hand, those guys with MTs were going through the mud and clay with ease.

We got to the only bumpy section just as the sun dipped behind the cliffs.





I was surprised to find the whole area empty, but that's better because we got the whole place to ourselves.
The boys finally understood why I was rushing when they saw the view with golden sunlight shining on the cliffs.
My only reaction?
"I told you so."

No pictures were taken on the third day, as some of them left early in the AM to tackle Toquerville Falls near St. George, while the rest of us hung at camp and enjoy the view until 2PM, then we drove out, Boogielander style - I even managed to catch air a few more times on the way out!

Originally one of the guys and I planned to hit Hwy 50 to cross NV and go to Leslie Gulch, OR since I got the whole week off, but with more storms incoming and low temperature we decided to call that off. We stopped by Vegas for dinner, and I got home at 1AM.

 

[boogielander]

Monday 12/29 - Clean Up Day
On the way home from Vegas, my friends' trucks were slinging dried mud and I got mud attacked more than 5 times following different rigs. Yet, none of the mud fell off from my truck. I think that is because the suspension absorbed all the dips and surface imperfections, whereas other guys' rigs suspension are more firm and those vibrations shaked their mud loose. My poor windshield...

Anyways, this is what I had to work with:



I have no idea how these managed to stay on the truck through 75MPH driving for 4 hours, and sustained some serious crosswind as well but managed to break off without touching overnight.
Well, I broke off as many chucks as I could from the body, sliders, and wheel wells:

That is about 90lb of mud and clay that came off.

Dumped it in the yard.

And $20/ 30 minutes and one probably very pissed off carwash owner later, I got the exterior mostly cleaned up.
More chunks came off as I sprayed the wheel well and bumper area, but I still had the underside that I need to wash. I decided to call it quit here, since more storms are on the way and I decided I might as well go for a long drive and use rainwater to get rid of most of the mud before I breakout the attachments for chassis washing.