Tiller

Don: Thank you for this post! I'm in the process of doing this and you're work has helped me greatly. I did just want to confirm on thing on the F-Z1 Fuse block. If I'm wiring some thing to the fuse block I don't necessarily have to run a wire from ground side right? If I have a grounding spot on the frame near what I'm mounting I can use that instead. Then I only have to wire the hot side from the F-Z1 Fuse block to an on/off switch (if desired) and the hot side of the device. Like you did I eventually want to send some power from the rear fuse box to the headliner in the front. But I can ground any devices in the header liner to the closest grounding screw. No need to go all the way back the F-Z1 fuse block. Right? Thanks! Tiller

jrm222 - check his first page.. he talks about the batteries under the floor there. Chong: would it be possible to fix that remote start timing system to a temperature sensor as well? I'd be interested in having that as a back up for my car when I have the dog with me. We are extremely careful in monitoring our dogs in the vehicles when at training or searches, but it would be a nice back up system to have the car auto start with the AC on full during the summer. Either once every hour on a timer or when the temp sensor hits 100F. Tiller

There is a build on here where a guy cut out the side window panel and installed a Lexan window. You can get lexan in different thicknesses and different shading. A rear window could probably either be replaced with lexan, or maybe a second "window" of lexan could be bolted on the inside. Here's the link for the build: Here's a pic from a locksmith that adds lexan to the inside for extra protection.

Not sure about Texas where he is. In some states, heavy tinting of glass is illegal. In PA 70% of visible light must pass through. It's no longer a requirement for state vehicle inspection but you can be pulled over and cited for it if an officer sees you driving a heavily tinted vehicle with PA license plates. It allows a traffic stop simply for the tinting. I believe the rational for this is that police officers need to see into the vehicle for their safety. There are some exceptions for rear windows and rear side windows but these exceptions are for mostly commercial vehicles and some off road vehicles. No exceptions for normal cars. The exceptions are based on whether it is truck frame or not. Not sure if the TC LWB model fits that definition or not. http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BMV/BMV Fact Sheets/fs-sun.pdf Tiller

Nice mods! I suspect you saw my thread already. I use mine for hauling my dog as well. I think we have pretty similar TC's. i was thinking about removing the center bucket seat floor bracket but was worried about how the carpet would lay once I took it out. Tying to keep it mostly stock for resale some day. I didn't realize how much space there appears under the floor in the front. Looks like quite a bit there. Check out the mat I used. I find it nice for the dog. Too firm for me to sleep on but I'll be taking an inflatable air mattress with me next trip out. Tiller

I got the lift gate. I like the rain protection when it's open. But the door is not exactly light. Some smaller women may find it very difficult to pull it down. But if your wife isn't it driving it much, that might not be a big deal. The two side doors give a lot of access. Tiller

Haven't been back in a awhile. Sorry. But pretty much what Don said above. The third row bucket seats are easy as can be. I took out one second row seat. No pins like Don had. Just the bolts again. Tiller

Yes. not police. I'm not sure I could catch a bicyclist let alone a fleeing criminal! If I was in a more rural area this wouldn't even work well for me. But most of the parks and areas we'd be called into usually setup up operations on or very near paved road and parking lots. Like in the state parks. Once there, if needed, we'd be transported in by 4x4's, ranger vehicles, ATV's, etc. The TC would stay in the staging areas. Only very rarely do I need to go down dirt roads. I'm looking primarily for the lights to be used when we are training and don't have the advantage of all the generators and lighting equipment available to county departments and fire departments supporting a major incident. At actual searches we usually have more than enough lighting provided in the command and staging areas. It's only on small searches, or in the first few hours we'd have to rely on our own equipment. My TC is really meant to be an equipment hauler and a kennel on wheels more than anything else. If I was in a more rural area where we had a lot of bad dirt roads, flooded roads, etc, I would have to have gone with a big truck, or something like a blazer, explorer, range rover, etc.. that would be decked out for off road with higher ground clearance. A FOB for controlling the light might be cool. But mainly so I could hang it by the rear hatch door so I could control it when I'm working out the back of the car. Most of the ones I've seen with the remote control FOB also have a mounted dash control as well.

Nice! He looks comfortable in the back there! Tiller

Dog liked it a lot I think. In my matrix she pretty much only saw the sky! Maybe the tops of trees and the occasional trucker. Always seemed to have her head up looking out the window when I looked back! Yes, I think I'm going to look into an air mattress probably. Lots of storage space underneath for it so not a problem. Tiller

So I drove from PA to Mobile, AL this past weekend for three day seminar and our re-certification. 2200 miles for the total trip. No problems with the TC. I heard complaints of the bucket seats but I didn't find it bad. Drove about 12 hrs straight on the return trip. Pic is of the TC all loaded up just before leaving. Had a lot of my gear under the floor. Slept in the back on the way down. The mat was waaaayyyyy to hard! Going to have to find another mat for under the sleeping bag next time. Otherwise I liked the mat I have. It proved to be pretty durable.

If the opportunity arises... Headed for Mobile, Alabama for a 3-day training seminar. Leaving tomorrow, (Wednesday) for it. 15 hrs. each way. Should be a good shake down and evaluation of what I've done so far.

First day of training with the matting installed. Just before loading up. The first muddy footprints of the day. End of day.. but easy to clean off now.

This is the folding panel over the seat. If desired, the original framework could be easily modified under the platform to provide this folding panel over both seats but I had chosen to remove one seat and leave just one behind. Final install Added in the dog crate. The matting is rolled up behind the seat. The panel then folds up on itself. And then folds back again behind the seat. Seat up in place. The matting, because of its design, rolls up nicely behind the seat. Still some storage area available on top and all underside storage still available.

Had relatively warm weather, (for this time of year), this weekend and was able to install the matting. Underlayment installed. Used a double-sided rug tape to hold this down. The underlayment has an acoustic barrier to it. Meadow testing out a scrap piece of the matting. Seems to approve. Installed. The step section still needs to be trimmed off yet in this pic. The dog crate will be on the right. The left side will be available for sleeping bag or equipment.

Thanks Fifty and G B L!

I have two rear (3rd row), leather bucket seats and seat belts for sale from a new Titanium TC. See ad in the classifieds. You might have suitable mounting holes for them, I have no clue. But the I provided the measurements of the mounting a holes. It could be you just need make an adapter plate to attach them down to any existing mounting holes you have. Link to ad:

Got some more time to work on the TC yesterday and today. Completed the final panel that goes over the driver's side second row bucket seat. The panel will fold back up on itself so the seat back can be raised upright. Now I should be able to lay out a sleeping bag on the drivers side. Hopefully the rubber matting will go down next weekend.

Maybe this thread might be of help.

Saw at the Home Depot something that might work for you Laura. 3M has the removable adhesive hooks that use no screws. They are meant to eventually be removed. The hooks would easily hold curtain style hooks or even shower curtain rings could be used. They have clear ones that would be practically invisible. The curtains could be easily removed and stowed away. They come in various sizes.

I have the same thermos. :-)

Fifty: Glad you have a sense of humor!! I was worried you might take it the wrong way!

Thank you all for the comments. Will be going back to the drawing board and doing more research. I know you were kidding fifty. no k-cups in my neck of the woods! If this was just for me, the french press might be just fine. This is more for a team of people training out in the woods. k-cups give a variety for folks. Plus they can bring their own!!

I've been doing some research and I think what I want to do will work but was hoping that maybe some people might "check my work" before I blow up my TC! I want to be able to power this k-cup machine from Oxx. http://www.ustoolandfastener.com/oxx-coffeeboxx-jobsite-coffee-maker-green-cbk250g/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAhs3DBRDmu-rVkuif0N8BEiQAWuUJr3pMnp36cVlZfR5U8N4vHfyx_y8lZC1L8I_TrH6Ji4YaAtXK8P8HAQ It's specs says it pulls 1450 watts. I'm figuring this is only when it is actually brewing. At 120V AC this is 12.08 Amps. I plan on using the spare 30 amp circuit in the rear power box to hook in a 2000 watt inverter. http://www.theinverterstore.com/2000-watt-pure-sine-inverter-12-volt.html The calculations I found seem to indicate that the 2000 Watt inverter will produce 16.7 AMP AC and if run constantly draw 184 AMPs per hour from the battery. That's about 3 Amps/minute. But since this is only going to be running during a 60-70 second brewing cycle, the amp draw should only be 3 Amps DC/minute. I think I can see maybe 10-15 cups brewed. Roughly 15 minutes of actual use or 45 Amp/DC draw. Provided I only run the inverter/coffee maker and nothing else I think this will work. Will probably do most of the brewing with the vehicle running. But I think the battery should be ok even if it isn't. Suggestions? Confirmations? Thanks! Tiller

What' a guy with a Philly handle doing in CT?? Welcome!