Author Topic: The Focus is dead, long live the Jeep Liberty (Read 21332 times)

sleazy rider · « **Reply #50 on:** June 19, 2018, 01:03:04 PM »

Quote from: Cookie on June 19, 2018, 12:24:10 PM

Have you called Crutchfield yet?

Why? It's not my first go round with car audio by a long shot. The issue is someone's better idea wasn't. Going away from OEM standardized connectors causes headaches throughout the car audio industry and makes proper conversions nigh on frustrating.

Cookie · « **Reply #51 on:** June 19, 2018, 01:11:13 PM »

Quote from: sleazy rider on June 19, 2018, 01:03:04 PM

Quote from: Cookie on June 19, 2018, 12:24:10 PM
Have you called Crutchfield yet?

Why? It's not my first go round with car audio by a long shot. The issue is someone's better idea wasn't. Going away from OEM standardized connectors causes headaches throughout the car audio industry and makes proper conversions nigh on frustrating.

They sell connecters for virtually everything.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #52 on:** June 19, 2018, 01:44:33 PM »

UPS was here. The hitch is already installed. I swear that was easier than changing a tire. Literally, drop the spare, cleaned out the weld nuts in the frame and bolted it on in 15 minutes. It took longer to reinstall the spare tire.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #53 on:** June 19, 2018, 01:51:14 PM »

Quote from: Cookie on June 19, 2018, 01:11:13 PM

Quote from: sleazy rider on June 19, 2018, 01:03:04 PM
Quote from: Cookie on June 19, 2018, 12:24:10 PM
Have you called Crutchfield yet?

Why? It's not my first go round with car audio by a long shot. The issue is someone's better idea wasn't. Going away from OEM standardized connectors causes headaches throughout the car audio industry and makes proper conversions nigh on frustrating.

They sell connecters for virtually everything.

NO NO No nO!

I HATE adapters from plenty of personal experience. They loosen, they fail and they cause untold issues with sound quality. The antenna needs to plug directly into the radio, the wiring harness connectors are soldered and shrink tubed to insulate and it just works until I move it to the next vehicle. I don't cut the car wiring harness plug off and wire directly either because I put the OEM radios back in when the car/truck is sold. Do it right or leave it alone.

Cookie · « **Reply #54 on:** June 19, 2018, 02:02:20 PM »

FINE!

sleazy rider · « **Reply #55 on:** June 19, 2018, 02:02:57 PM »

Quote from: Cookie on June 19, 2018, 02:02:20 PM

FINE!

Cookie · « **Reply #56 on:** June 19, 2018, 02:06:58 PM »

sally

chornbe · « **Reply #57 on:** June 19, 2018, 02:14:36 PM »

I think this is more of a nancy moment than a sally moment. Maybe...?

coho · « **Reply #58 on:** June 19, 2018, 02:51:05 PM »

Quote from: chornbe on June 19, 2018, 02:14:36 PM

I think this is more of a nancy moment than a sally moment. Maybe...?

visitors can't see pics , please register or login

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Edit: Big Nancy was big.

Cookie · « **Reply #59 on:** June 19, 2018, 03:12:44 PM »

My ex is Nancy.

No thanks.

mxvet57 · « **Reply #60 on:** June 21, 2018, 02:46:54 PM »

Quote from: sleazy rider on June 19, 2018, 01:44:33 PM

UPS was here. The hitch is already installed. I swear that was easier than changing a tire. Literally, drop the spare, cleaned out the weld nuts in the frame and bolted it on in 15 minutes. It took longer to reinstall the spare tire.

Class 3? What is the towing capacity on that thing?

sleazy rider · « **Reply #61 on:** June 21, 2018, 03:08:06 PM »

350# tongue weight, 3500# towing. The DR is just 280#, so no stress!

tankhead · « **Reply #62 on:** June 22, 2018, 10:56:19 PM »

So funny to see this thread. My wife and I are planning on the Ram Promaster City Tradesman to haul inflatable kayaks, camping gear, and most importantly the mountain bikes with touring gear included so to tow the Alto Safari Condo 1713 in a few years. Selling the house, proceeds to be hidden, live off of my meager pension and take a year+ to explore the USA and Canada, and maybe Mexico and Central America. I have been researching non stop for a year now. Funny

sleazy rider · « **Reply #63 on:** June 23, 2018, 05:52:56 AM »

Keep an eye on Central America. Nicaragua is blowing up again with riots and bad juju. I'm hopefully about a year away from a grand tour of North America, I think. The van needs customization and the bank account needs restocking.

This picture may become reality next month in the back of mine.

I've located a full carpet kit for the rear 2/3s of it too. $160 ain't too shabby for a soft custom fit surface to kneel and walk on. The selling company has molded the backing to smooth out the ridges in the floor.

tankhead · « **Reply #64 on:** June 23, 2018, 08:23:17 AM »

Looks good

mxvet57 · « **Reply #65 on:** June 23, 2018, 10:28:45 AM »

Lot of room for such a little piece.

Virginian · « **Reply #66 on:** June 23, 2018, 10:01:21 PM »

Looking great!

Max Wedge · « **Reply #67 on:** June 25, 2018, 05:27:54 AM »

Did you make that kitchen or is that from a supplier? I see you built it like all the RV makers do and build the cabinets over the carpet, which makes it a pain if you ever want to replace the carpet. Just a thought.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #68 on:** June 25, 2018, 06:44:32 AM »

Quote from: Max Wedge on June 25, 2018, 05:27:54 AM

Did you make that kitchen or is that from a supplier? I see you built it like all the RV makers do and build the cabinets over the carpet, which makes it a pain if you ever want to replace the carpet. Just a thought.

I haven't done anything but research yet. I'm in the process of drawing up cardboard templates to build the two cabinet units for the rear. Someone on the TC forum did those and I'm stealing the idea because I like it. The passenger side lower section will be modified to fit a 12v/110v cube refrigerator and the right will skip the sink setup. They'll be set up for ease of removal to let me haul stuff with this mini box truck too. First thing being done will be the rear area's carpeting to soften up the walking areas.

chornbe · « **Reply #69 on:** June 25, 2018, 09:05:21 AM »

Just remember most people only do 2-d templates, and don't factor in how much head space they might be losing with cabinets and stuff in the 3rd dimension, and wonder why an area feels so claustrophobic when all done.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #70 on:** June 25, 2018, 03:48:55 PM »

It was a rockin' Christmas on Monday. All my new radio installation components showed up via USPS and the TC is now thumping. Rockford Fosgate Punch 5.25s in front and the old double din is now in the dash. I ended up replacing the whole antenna lead with the proper one and it's all good now. Excellent reception out here in the boondocks even. I now have the capability of adding rear speakers to the cargo area! Soon, real soon.

Max Wedge · « **Reply #71 on:** June 26, 2018, 05:14:07 AM »

Regarding radio reception, does anyone even listen to the radio anymore?

sleazy rider · « **Reply #72 on:** June 26, 2018, 05:21:47 AM »

Quote from: Max Wedge on June 26, 2018, 05:14:07 AM

Regarding radio reception, does anyone even listen to the radio anymore?

Personally, I hate fiddling with CDs, all my cassette tapes are dead and don't get me started on the track change click in the middle of a song with 8 tracks. Pandora is ok, IHeart radio is meh and they both have plenty of commercials in the free versions, so yeah, I do.

I *may* add a Sirius box to the mix, as that is the only service I've had and would continue to pay to use. It's great to ride/drive cross country and never search for music.

I also watch mostly broadcast TV. Call me a dinosaur?

jadziadax8 · « **Reply #73 on:** June 26, 2018, 06:45:14 AM »

Quote from: Max Wedge on June 26, 2018, 05:14:07 AM

Regarding radio reception, does anyone even listen to the radio anymore?

NPR (I know, you're all shocked.)

melville · « **Reply #74 on:** June 26, 2018, 06:51:41 AM »

Quote from: Max Wedge on June 26, 2018, 05:14:07 AM

Regarding radio reception, does anyone even listen to the radio anymore?

I have a great local station:

http://khum.com/player/

Otherwise to get the ballgame. In my old VWs, I could get the Giants game on the SF AM station all the way to just a bit north of Ukiah, where I could then pick up my local ballgame station, weakly, but improving all the way home. I always hoped for extra innings, as that's a 6 hour drive in a Kombi.

Max Wedge · « **Reply #75 on:** June 26, 2018, 10:20:10 AM »

Quote from: sleazy rider on June 26, 2018, 05:21:47 AM

It's great to ride/drive cross country and never search for music.

I also watch mostly broadcast TV. Call me a dinosaur?

Spotify. My kid pays for it and I jumped on his family plan. There are also podcasts (* ahem* The Pace) that come out occasionally.

Vulcanbill · « **Reply #76 on:** June 26, 2018, 10:35:17 AM »

Radio is all I have in the car. Truck as XM but Kim has the truck during the week. Not many electrons make it out our way. All those services and boxes and such are paperweights in my house.

PatM · « **Reply #77 on:** June 26, 2018, 10:42:28 AM »

I listen to a local talk radio early in the AM. Most of the time it's spotify, the free version, at home or xm-sirius in the car.
I would get rid of satelite radio in a minute if roaming cell data wasn't so expensive.

rgbeard · « **Reply #78 on:** June 26, 2018, 06:19:49 PM »

XM.

90% of the time it's on the Sinatra channel.

Andrew · « **Reply #79 on:** June 26, 2018, 08:45:18 PM »

Radio over air when in the diesel, rather lucky I get KPFA (Pacifica Radio) clear all the way to and from work.
On the bikes XM (23 the Grateful Dead)

At home only over the air or internet, no cable

chornbe · « **Reply #80 on:** June 27, 2018, 11:02:46 AM »

I just have my music on my phone. Streaming music makes zero sense to me, especially given so many of the places I ride have zero signal.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #81 on:** June 27, 2018, 12:42:58 PM »

Ahh, gotta love the rain. I went out to set up/route the head unit's GPS antenna and finish the subwoofer install about an hour ago. Got the radio back out of the dash, started running the sub wiring up to the head unit (everything else is done) and it started raining lightly. Shut the car door and pulled what I could up thru the dash, but I need to do some headstands to finish. Of course, it started pouring just as I laid down on the driver's floor.

Tossed everything in the passenger seat, shut the door and came inside. It shows no signs of letting up in the foreseeable future.

Well, the rain stopped. 15 minutes later, twin 10" subs are thumping away merrily.

sodapop6620 · « **Reply #82 on:** June 29, 2018, 12:55:44 PM »

Audiobooks from the library. Radio has way too many commercials and it seems every station runs the commercials at the same time.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #83 on:** July 06, 2018, 04:54:44 PM »

All the goodies arrived yesterday and I installed today. Sirius is nice to have again. Now I wish I wouldn't have sold my Zumo 665 with the XM antenna.

Not all upgrades are that.

HipGnosis · « **Reply #84 on:** July 06, 2018, 11:46:14 PM »

Quote from: sleazy rider on June 26, 2018, 05:21:47 AM

Quote from: Max Wedge on June 26, 2018, 05:14:07 AM
Regarding radio reception, does anyone even listen to the radio anymore?

Personally, I hate fiddling with CDs...

I listen to radio around town. With controls on the steering wheel, I don't have to take my eyes off the road to go to the next favorite station when ads get repetitive.
I don't like 'fiddling' with CDs either, so for out of town I've got a CD-R with like 150 MP3s (128 kb).

sleazy rider · « **Reply #85 on:** July 09, 2018, 06:18:55 AM »

Monday morning ramblings over coffee...

Spent Sunday evening looking at doggie friendly travel options to get the hell out of Michigan mid-August till early October.

ROADTRIP!!!

http://www.freecampsites.net is an excellent resource for cheap/free travel. Most of their listings are either free or under $10/night. I've got all the available military campgrounds loaded as POIs on the GPS and an app (C-RV Military) in my phone for them. "USFS & BLM CG" is another good cheap Army Corp of Engineers and USFS campsite phone resource. Allstays Camp and Tent is a cheap pay cell app with a ton of campgrounds listed and updated regularly.

No Freeways, No Deadlines Round Two?

I'm thinking Home to Wright Patterson AFB ($6/night, no electricity) in Dayton, OH for a couple/three nights, on to Fort Campbell, KY (same) for a couple more. From there, south to the Natchez Trace Parkway for a bit of flower sniffing and NPS stamp hunting. After stopping in Tupelo for an Elvis fix, I've located a nice town campground in Pontotoc, MS with electricity for $10 a night. Head west to the Mississippi River and south down the Blues Trail thru Clarksdale, Vicksburg and Natchez. The NPS has a fairly new National Historic Area celebrating the Mississippi Delta Blues Region, so the Passport Book will get another workout. Nothing is etched in stone.

A week on the Gulf Coast in Lake Charles, LA with side trips to fish and NPS Stamp hunt some smaller parks in Texas and New Orleans sounds great! https://www.cppj.net/services/parks-and-recreation/intracoastal-park will make a good base of operations. That county has a few cheap camping options. Meandering east will find me in Pensacola for another week at the P-cola Navy Base campground on an electric tent site for the Labor Day Weekend. Maybe Linda can fly in from wherever to visit.

I'd pack all the usual car camping gear with the option of leaving room to sleep in the van overnight. All the campsites are equipped with picnic tables and clean restrooms per their reviews.

I want my mountain bike for this trip too. Gotta figure out a pup hauling option on it. Maybe a rear luggage rack to mount the moto dog carrier with it's hard bottom? Need a few Tupperware totes to keep crap organized too.

I want an RV states visited map for the van to fill up.

Total cost for this two week pikey adventure is in the $600 neighborhood and I'm sure I'll lose some of the spare tire on my body in the process because I eat/snack less on the road.

September will find me in Florida for the entire month. A week/10 days at Cape Canaveral's military campground, two weeks with Linda visiting relatives and a long middle weekend in Key West on Duval Street. She'll fly out for work from Fort Myers afterwards and I'm headed back up the east coast thru the Hatteras Islands to Norfolk, VA and points unknown yet. Lots of cheap military camp options out there and they all have great facilities.

My new Garmin car GPS (Nuvi 65LM, 6" screen!!) is updated and ready. The van has several factory 12v power ports scattered throughout. I took the subwoofer/amp kit out yesterday because open floor space is good. The satellite radio is operational!

Time to find a carpet remnant and cover the metal cargo floor this week to stop the slip sliding of gear. The rear seats will stay in for this trip, but they'll fold up and out of the way nicely.

radon222 · « **Reply #86 on:** July 12, 2018, 12:08:22 PM »

oh man.. look at the money you could have saved

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/vw-rabbit-diesel-van-dwell/6640878208.html

sleazy rider · « **Reply #87 on:** July 12, 2018, 02:19:35 PM »

Quote from: radon222 on July 12, 2018, 12:08:22 PM

oh man.. look at the money you could have saved

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/vw-rabbit-diesel-van-dwell/6640878208.html

sleazy rider · « **Reply #88 on:** July 31, 2018, 07:31:12 AM »

I'm planning a long trip via OH, KY, TN, AR, LA, MS, AL and MS to south Florida to test out my ideas before proceeding. The link in my sig will be active for the road work and I'll be documenting the fun with pictures.

Departure is either the week before Labor Day or a couple days after it. Headed south lazily with my two K9 buds and a load of camping gear with free sites and military campgrounds as stopping points. I'll be on the road till mid-October or so with two weeks spent in south Florida. A few days visiting my kid in Boca after picking up the wife at Fort Lauderdale airport on September 20th, three days in Key West with her and then up to Naples to visit with her extended family.

I'm thinking about heading up the east coast as far as Norfolk, VA or maybe further before heading back to Michigan.

I haven't done a thing to the van yet except add good stereo equipment and remove the rear seats for space. I want to pick up a 1500w inverter and a deep cycle battery this week for 110v in the van. I also want to see how much space I have left over when loaded out with all the proper gear to live well on the move. My camping air pad will just fit length wise in the rear.

radon222 · « **Reply #89 on:** July 31, 2018, 08:18:52 AM »

I'm thinking about heading up the east coast as far as Norfolk, VA

If you do make it this far, give a shout. We have a bed and beer

sleazy rider · « **Reply #90 on:** August 02, 2018, 03:33:32 PM »

The new parts acquisition has commenced. Order placed for the bag awning and it should be here in about a week or so coming from South Chicago. Slate blue should go decently with the silver grey paint. The add a room with floor and screened windows should get ordered in either November of December at a cost of $320 plus shipping. That eliminates the need for hauling a tent and the associated gear.

http://www.rvawningsrus.com/Classic-Bag-Awning_p_8.html

sleazy rider · « **Reply #91 on:** August 07, 2018, 03:00:40 PM »

Awning arrived and installed. Sahhhh-weeeeeet! Sets up and comes down in less than 5 minutes. I may just do one on the passenger side too. Very convenient!

sleazy rider · « **Reply #92 on:** August 14, 2018, 11:34:44 AM »

Started the conversion to RV today. I said the heck with the utility cabinets and built a compartment to hold Tupperware bins with all my camp gear. The top will be finished as a bed for those nights I don't want to spend $$ on a campsite. The plan is to fold the rear seats forward and have a section of plywood fold forward with reinforced legs to fill the open space. It gives me over 70" of length to stretch out and still room for dogs to crash. I had all the 2x2 stock in the garage already, so it got pressed into service. The front of the box will be covered in plywood, the rear maybe. If I do cover it, I'd like it set up as a cabinet with doors that open. Top's getting 1/2" plywood for the bed base. I have some plywood here too, so no out of pocket this week.

Top of the sleeping area is 20" from the floor, enough room and then some to get to the bins stored inside and still allow access to the jack compartment on the left side.

All subject to modification as it gets put into practice, of course.

There will be space for the thermoelectric cooler to sit at the right sliding door and be plugged in to the rear 12v outlet.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #93 on:** August 14, 2018, 11:53:12 AM »

Measure twice, cut once. Blue bin is cooking gear, gray is food bin. Room for one more with all the camping stuff. Tent will slide up the middle and keep stuff from rattling.

Vulcanbill · « **Reply #94 on:** August 14, 2018, 12:11:50 PM »

sleazy rider · « **Reply #95 on:** August 14, 2018, 02:52:58 PM »

Well, my plywood stash wasn't wide enough to do it properly, so off to the Depot for a full 1/2" sheet. Had the lumber guys lop it down to size. While I was there.....

I found a very nice nylon loop carpet remnant (7 sq. yds.) to cover everything. Even the right color, a darkish gray. It was marked at $24 and a screaming deal for me. Yeah, it got better. Went to ring it out and it came up at $16.23.

I forgot the three door hinges to mount the folding section, so after fitting the plywood that I could, I called it an afternoon.

The legs to support it will be made from 1/2" black pipe and pipe flanges under the panel. Easy on and off for the legs to store.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #96 on:** August 15, 2018, 03:09:23 PM »

Design change ongoing. I laid down on the platform as it sits and deemed it big enough for me and two small dogs. One of my wife's relatives does commercial sewing and she's agreed to make me a cushion to fit. Tomorrow, carpeting! It's pretty well flat again. I may end up with a roof fan eventually to suck air thru the RV windows in the sides.

Vulcanbill · « **Reply #97 on:** August 15, 2018, 03:59:49 PM »

Quote from: sleazy rider on August 15, 2018, 03:09:23 PM

Design change ongoing. I laid down on the platform as it sits and deemed it big enough for me and two small dogs. One of my wife's relatives does commercial sewing and she's agreed to make me a cushion to fit. Tomorrow, carpeting! It's pretty well flat again. I may end up with a roof fan eventually to suck air thru the RV windows in the sides.

I'd go to box store, get a 2" foam topper, cut it custom and have her sew a washable possibly waterproof liner and a cloth cover for it. We have that and it's come in handy a LOT. Dog didn't mean to puke on your bed but no matter.

Max Wedge · « **Reply #98 on:** August 16, 2018, 05:26:57 AM »

Quote from: sleazy rider on August 15, 2018, 03:09:23 PM

Design change ongoing. I laid down on the platform as it sits and deemed it big enough for me and two small dogs. One of my wife's relatives does commercial sewing and she's agreed to make me a cushion to fit. Tomorrow, carpeting! It's pretty well flat again. I may end up with a roof fan eventually to suck air thru the RV windows in the sides.

Fantstic Fan is in Imlay City. Hear the people there are nice-might cut you a deal. The go-to RV fan people.

I'm loving this build BTW-keep 'em coming.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #99 on:** August 16, 2018, 06:26:33 AM »

Quote from: Vulcanbill on August 15, 2018, 03:59:49 PM

Quote from: sleazy rider on August 15, 2018, 03:09:23 PM
Design change ongoing. I laid down on the platform as it sits and deemed it big enough for me and two small dogs. One of my wife's relatives does commercial sewing and she's agreed to make me a cushion to fit. Tomorrow, carpeting! It's pretty well flat again. I may end up with a roof fan eventually to suck air thru the RV windows in the sides.

I'd go to box store, get a 2" foam topper, cut it custom and have her sew a washable possibly waterproof liner and a cloth cover for it. We have that and it's come in handy a LOT. Dog didn't mean to puke on your bed but no matter.

I ran it by the young lady and she will wrap the foam in plastic sealed with Gorilla tape, use a nice soft grey fabric for the cover and install a zipper for removing the cover to wash it.

I'll be picking up the materials over the weekend and dropping them at her house directly after to get production started. I want 4" memory foam for comfort and durability! There's a nice slot in the body right where the platform stops to secure it in place as well.