1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Gerard, that is a great use of space..
The 5 Stitches Garage.
- Thread starter taumac
- Start date
cbacres
Well-known member
So how about some updates, been almost a month!
Duker
Well-known member
So how about some updates, been almost a month!
Yeah... what he said.... you didn’t fall through the attic when installing the floor did you and impale yourself on a rafter?
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Strouty
Well-known member
I think a month out I would still be exhausted from those temps. I don’t go in the attic unless it is cold outside or absolutely necessary, my hat goes off to you for completing the job.
Cont.... The Sport Trac trailer wiring fiasco.
Been researching and researching and coming up empty finding to factory harness. I figured I was just gonna have to find where they ended and just extend them to back of the truck. I had a buddy find me some wiring diagrams and with some googling I had a plan in place.
Just recently my father bought a 2006 F150 4x4. He’s had a local place install his brake controller but his truck was factory wired already with the tow package. He said why don’t you let these guys look at it. I was on vacation this week so took a ride up. They wanted $425 which included a brake controller. They wanted to run a hot off the battery and brake controller (BC) from harness under dash to back of truck. I tried to tell him truck was half wired but that’s he they did it and didn’t want to mess with the factory wiring. I know there’s fuses in the fuse box under dash and fuses and relays under the hood. It would function but really not way I wanted it to be done.
So back to plan C D F.... I lost track by now. I took a day to trace the wires and can tell you that was fun. I sure some Ford engineers ears where ringing. Well I found the blue and orange wires I’ve been hunting all day.
So now I found them it was just a matter of running them to the back of the truck. I went to local parts store for supplies.
So I cut the wires from the harness added a **** connector, heat shrink and wire loom. Here’s how the splice look and back attached to the truck.
I ran the 2 wires in new wire loom right next factory loom to back of the truck. I got to back of the truck and merge the factory 4 pin and 2 from front into the new 7 pin.
I temporarily mounted plug and tied wiring up out of the way.
I say temporary because what I’m trying to do it replicate the Ford factory package. Ford drilled a hole and ran wiring through the hitch. So when I I cut out the factory 1 1/4” hitch to add 2” I gonna drill a hole and weld pipe in. When all said and done it will look like this. Sure the plug is different because I wanted a 7 and 4 combined in one plug with no adapters needed.
I now have the ability to use brakes on my trailer and charge my battery on the trailer. Speaking of brakes this pass week we finally got to test the brakes on the trailer. Well that went awful and instead of messing with rebuilding the factory brakes we decided it’s just better to install all new brake assemblies. We ended up installing Dexter 10” self adjusting brakes for $120. The original where non self adjusting.
Next few months I’ll be doing more upgrades to truck and trailer. It’s just a matter of money at this point. Replacing the A/C really set me back on doing many of these upgrades but I’ll get them done.
Been researching and researching and coming up empty finding to factory harness. I figured I was just gonna have to find where they ended and just extend them to back of the truck. I had a buddy find me some wiring diagrams and with some googling I had a plan in place.
Just recently my father bought a 2006 F150 4x4. He’s had a local place install his brake controller but his truck was factory wired already with the tow package. He said why don’t you let these guys look at it. I was on vacation this week so took a ride up. They wanted $425 which included a brake controller. They wanted to run a hot off the battery and brake controller (BC) from harness under dash to back of truck. I tried to tell him truck was half wired but that’s he they did it and didn’t want to mess with the factory wiring. I know there’s fuses in the fuse box under dash and fuses and relays under the hood. It would function but really not way I wanted it to be done.
So back to plan C D F.... I lost track by now. I took a day to trace the wires and can tell you that was fun. I sure some Ford engineers ears where ringing. Well I found the blue and orange wires I’ve been hunting all day.
So now I found them it was just a matter of running them to the back of the truck. I went to local parts store for supplies.
So I cut the wires from the harness added a **** connector, heat shrink and wire loom. Here’s how the splice look and back attached to the truck.
I ran the 2 wires in new wire loom right next factory loom to back of the truck. I got to back of the truck and merge the factory 4 pin and 2 from front into the new 7 pin.
I temporarily mounted plug and tied wiring up out of the way.
I say temporary because what I’m trying to do it replicate the Ford factory package. Ford drilled a hole and ran wiring through the hitch. So when I I cut out the factory 1 1/4” hitch to add 2” I gonna drill a hole and weld pipe in. When all said and done it will look like this. Sure the plug is different because I wanted a 7 and 4 combined in one plug with no adapters needed.
I now have the ability to use brakes on my trailer and charge my battery on the trailer. Speaking of brakes this pass week we finally got to test the brakes on the trailer. Well that went awful and instead of messing with rebuilding the factory brakes we decided it’s just better to install all new brake assemblies. We ended up installing Dexter 10” self adjusting brakes for $120. The original where non self adjusting.
Next few months I’ll be doing more upgrades to truck and trailer. It’s just a matter of money at this point. Replacing the A/C really set me back on doing many of these upgrades but I’ll get them done.
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Last edited:
shortykorte
Well-known member
Very nice installation. Definitely like the idea of integrating connector into hitch.
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Grumblebum
Well-known member
Hi gerard, chasing loom cables is no fun, I want to add some better reverse lights to mine at some point and tie in to the trailer plug so the trailer has decent reverse lighting also.
Are the power cables pretty heavy gauge for charging the battery in the trailer? just wondering about the voltage drop going front to back or did I read it wrong.
cheers GB
Are the power cables pretty heavy gauge for charging the battery in the trailer? just wondering about the voltage drop going front to back or did I read it wrong.
cheers GB
Strouty
Well-known member
Looks like a clean installation, just think, if you lived up this way, you would be fighting to keep rust out of your face while you were under there figuring out the wiring. I have some vehicles that need work and I am dreading it due to the rust issues I will be encountering.
Hi gerard, chasing loom cables is no fun, I want to add some better reverse lights to mine at some point and tie in to the trailer plug so the trailer has decent reverse lighting also.
Are the power cables pretty heavy gauge for charging the battery in the trailer? just wondering about the voltage drop going front to back or did I read it wrong.
cheers GB
I fully understand that. This some of the looms.
I just copied the wires the factory used and those where 12 gauge wires. I had I led brake turn and reverse strip between tailgate and bumper. It had a tap in the left tail lamp to work the reverse lamps. I removed it because after years some of the leds stop working. My trailer doesn’t have reverse lamps but if I wanted to I would just tap that wire and run to hitch. Hooking some leds light to back bumper of trailer sounds like great idea. I have to add that to the list.
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Thanks, I had one years ago on my Expedition because I had a 7 pin but sometimes used a friends utility trailer. I didn’t have knowledge of a adapter so installed something like these. It worked great because I pulled other people’s trailers and never sure of their plugs.
I worked on a few vehicles they lived some of their lives in MA and NH. The rust was unbelievable on these vehicles for the age. I was under there other day and only rust was on the driveshaft and thought to myself I’m so glad I live in FL and don’t have to deal with rust issues other state do.
rixtrix1
Well-known member
It seems everything fails with the most extreme conditions to affect the repairs, but you took advantage and got the attic redone! Kudos!
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Wiring can be frustrating but kudos for taking your time and following the factory harness and adding in the correct gauge wiring. Hoping it will give you many miles of problem free use.
Re: My "Shop"
I dont see pictures of your shop. What am I doing wrong or where else can i see them? Thanks. Venice FL here.
I dont see pictures of your shop. What am I doing wrong or where else can i see them? Thanks. Venice FL here.
shortykorte
Well-known member
Ah, you need to attend one of Shorty’s Certified Safety Sessions.
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Well, it’s getting cold here in Florida and I think I know why.... I decided to.... PAINT!!! I had couple of tool trays that didn’t like the color so decided to change that.
Used full strengthen purple power, used blow gun to dry them off, then wipe down.
I also redid one that was already painted color but needed a respray. Here they all are repainted and drying in the sun.
The pattern came out great too.
Used full strengthen purple power, used blow gun to dry them off, then wipe down.
I also redid one that was already painted color but needed a respray. Here they all are repainted and drying in the sun.
The pattern came out great too.
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1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
You tool trays came out well Gerard.
jon72vega
Well-known member
OMG Hell hath frozen over!Well, it’s getting cold here in Florida and I think I know why.... I decided to.... PAINT!!! I had couple of tool trays that didn’t like the color so decided to change that.
Used full strengthen purple power, used blow gun to dry them off, then wipe down.
I also redid one that was already painted color but needed a respray. Here they all are repainted and drying in the sun.
The pattern came out great too.
Just kidding Gerard.
The trays look great!
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Tool trays look good Gerard. I wish I had your weather yet for painting. It's freezing here and I'm trying the heat the garage enough to still do a few painting projects myself.
Hey, maybe I can pack them up and send to you since you are in the mood and lay down such a good paint job.
Hey, maybe I can pack them up and send to you since you are in the mood and lay down such a good paint job.
Duker
Well-known member
OMG Hell hath frozen over!
Just kidding Gerard.
The trays look great!
I think I have entered another dimension.....
Who are you and what have you done with the real Gerard?
Ditto...on the trays... look Good!
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shortykorte
Well-known member
Gerard, can you ask the Mrs. what color paint she used on those tray. They look great!
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Tool trays look good Gerard. I wish I had your weather yet for painting. It's freezing here and I'm trying the heat the garage enough to still do a few painting projects myself.
Hey, maybe I can pack them up and send to you since you are in the mood and lay down such a good paint job.
Thanks Bob. I got better idea. Why don’t you pack stuff up and take road trip in 32 to Florida. Warm weather, good friends and trip to local FC Hooters.
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Well the good friends and even the Hooters sounds good but I know what your version of "warm" weather means. I lived in south Georgia for 10 years and it's cool up there in summer compared to Florida. I just can't handle the humidity along with the heat anymore.
But who knows what the future brings. If they keep raising the taxes up here I may have to move there and buy good air conditioning.
Bob
On this episode of the days of the 5 Stitches I actually solved I issue. LOL.
It’s been months since I changed garage around... or has it been only few days??? Well it’s felt like months... I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with this spot next to my HF60.
I’ve had my IKEA carts, welding cart, and every time I visited HF I almost came hame with a cart. If they had the cart in red I swear if would have been in my garage months ago. I even had thoughts of making a cool cart out of this.
After a lot of staring, thinking and more staring the light bulb went off. I actually owned the perfect cabinet I needed years ago. This cabinet predates the HF bench and is something I had before I even moved here and acquired during my dates of living in a single car garage.
This cabinet has a lot of history with me. It’s was one of my customers I delivered regularly and first time I saw it I just loved it. I told the lady here’s my cell and if ever ever decide to part with it CALL ME!!! Well, I never got a phone call but next time I went there I saw it in front yard turned over. I asked what happen and she said It had wasp nest in bottom and lady asked to kid to move it off porch. You want it she said and I said sure. I always liked it. So I loaded it up in truck and had it ever since. It was dark green until I painted.... yes painted it red. When I bought my original 44’s I moved it to my dads place where it’s lived in his garage for years until yesterday.
You can see it in some of my original pics when I joined the GJ.
Now it’s back at my house and I tested fitted in its home on the back wall.
After alittle clean up and alittle moving around.
Now that it’s here I realize cabinet is gonna need some work to get it back working along with a new paint job.
It’s been months since I changed garage around... or has it been only few days??? Well it’s felt like months... I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with this spot next to my HF60.
I’ve had my IKEA carts, welding cart, and every time I visited HF I almost came hame with a cart. If they had the cart in red I swear if would have been in my garage months ago. I even had thoughts of making a cool cart out of this.
After a lot of staring, thinking and more staring the light bulb went off. I actually owned the perfect cabinet I needed years ago. This cabinet predates the HF bench and is something I had before I even moved here and acquired during my dates of living in a single car garage.
This cabinet has a lot of history with me. It’s was one of my customers I delivered regularly and first time I saw it I just loved it. I told the lady here’s my cell and if ever ever decide to part with it CALL ME!!! Well, I never got a phone call but next time I went there I saw it in front yard turned over. I asked what happen and she said It had wasp nest in bottom and lady asked to kid to move it off porch. You want it she said and I said sure. I always liked it. So I loaded it up in truck and had it ever since. It was dark green until I painted.... yes painted it red. When I bought my original 44’s I moved it to my dads place where it’s lived in his garage for years until yesterday.
You can see it in some of my original pics when I joined the GJ.
Now it’s back at my house and I tested fitted in its home on the back wall.
After alittle clean up and alittle moving around.
Now that it’s here I realize cabinet is gonna need some work to get it back working along with a new paint job.
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shortykorte
Well-known member
Looks good. Since you’ll be painting red shortly, can I bring the SL down?
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Craptain
Well-known member
Sure. You did want a Rustoleum brush job, didn't you?
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rmalkow2
Well-known member
That new/old cabinet fits the spot for sure but maybe needs wheels? In addition to the aforementioned new paint job.
Nice that your solution could come right from within without having to buy a new cabinet.
Nice that your solution could come right from within without having to buy a new cabinet.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Gerard, I'm with Bob. With all the other wheeled storage units it looks out of place just sitting on the floor.
Strouty
Well-known member
Either wheels or a base to raise it up off the floor. When you bring a vehicle into the shop covered in snow and it melts, all the water and salt will damage the bottom of it.
