Thinking about adding a bedcap and carpet kit to the F-150. Installing a head unit/dvd player with a display screen in the bed, speakers front and rear (surround setup). Run it off a second battery under the truck in a waterproof container. To keep the battery charged use a solar panel system that I saw on TRUCKS! program on TV. Has a regulator to avoid overcharge.

Thought for camping would be a killer idea. Any thoughts, suggestions, improvements on the idea or on the setup.



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1999 F-150 4x4ORP,
FQR 5.4L at 38k
3.73LSD Toreador Red, Superchip,
Smitty built step side,
Sony ES CDX-M770
4x Pioneer TS-A6895

 

First off a solar panel wouldn't work at night.

Second I always wanted to do that.

Third, I'd go with better altenator before a solar panel.

Go w/ a bedrug, and small couch.

 

I'm assuming the solar panel would fully charge the battery during the day unless you park in the shade or garage during the day.

There would be an obvious runtime limit; but, how long can you run a DVD head unit with no additional amplifier, other than the built in one, and a display screen off a fully charged deep cycle battery? Would it be long enough for a movie or two? I guess I could install a battery meter to get the battery status.

Futon or pull out bed...?

 

Futon

Not sure how long a deep cycle battery would last without any amps. Most people use them when running multiple amps and they last a little while with alot of bass. My guess would be they would last at least one movie. I don't know though.

 

(Puts on best Grouchy Old Man voice)

"What part of CAMPING involves watching TV--D@MN KIDS! Stay home and watch the Matrix"

But seriously, you could probably get 8 or 12 hours of run time, depending on the drain your aduio amp pulls off the batery. Audio amp will be a bigger draw than dvd or other source units...

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My credentials? Yeah, they're right over there....

framed and hanging on the shade tree.

 

Hey -- BelayOn -- wish I was still a young kid. Thanks for the info. It was just an idea that came to me. I don't think I would ever spend the money to set it up.

I went camping over memorial day weekend. A guy brought a portable DVD player and played one movie a night. I was raised old-school camping. Through on a pack, hike for hours and hours,... sleep on a foam pad that's too thin. Repeat for 8 days.

Since this guy brought this player and we all crammed into a tent... just started me thinkin'.

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1999 F-150 4x4ORP,
FQR 5.4L at 38k
3.73LSD Toreador Red, Superchip,
Smitty built step side,
Sony ES CDX-M770
4x Pioneer TS-A6895