The Dumb Question Thread

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
Early morning stupid battery questions:

I'm considering a second battery setup and as a marker I'm going to start with an Optima Red Top as my cranking battery and an Optima Yellow Top as my second "device powering" battery. So here we go:

1. Are there AGM batteries other than Optima which are worth a look?
2. Can you mix and match e.g. a lead-acid cranking battery with an AGM second battery? If so is there an advantage to using an Optima Red (or other AGM cranking battery) vs traditional sealed lead-acid battery?
4. What the the best locations for a second battery in a G2 X?
5. Is there a kit or "easy way" to do this myself? Taylor Spaulding has at least 100 steps to perform the installation which is based on GeoXplorer's How To on TNX which is even more complicated and way too heavy for me. If that's how it is that's fine I just don't want to jump into something I can't finish.

Thank you!
There are lots of good brands of AGM battery, and what I’ve read about Optima on forums lately steered me away from them. AGM batteries at least a few months ago were in short supply. I had a hell of a time finding one.

I will say for AGM vs regular, if you’re going to do any off-roading you want AGM so your battery isn’t splashing and spilling out. If you get an AGM you should consider a battery maintainer (I use CTEK MXS 5.0) because the Xterra alternator doesn’t put out enough to fully recharge it.
 

westslope

Wheeling
Battteries: consider a deep cycle AGM battery with sufficient cranking amps (most do). The thicker battery walls will better resist the shaking and pounding they get on remote dirt/gravel roads and trails.
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Go for a big one. Make sure you camp where you are protected from the wind. Or bring along larger, longer stakes and extra guy ropes.

Forget about versatility.

Do you have experience as a hunter using wall tents in the bush? If not, count on going through a few BIG tents before you get it right. Prepare to spend money to get a good one.

Also budget more time to set everything up.

Good luck!

I was looking at bigger tents to start but once I measured out 13' or 16' it was huge for just me and my little dog. The four person was very cheap so if it doesn't work well I can upgrade. I love those Kodiak tents but they are expensive AND out of stock everywhere. I actually felt lucky to get the Coleman tent as so many brands are also out of stock. Thank your sir!
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
There are lots of good brands of AGM battery, and what I’ve read about Optima on forums lately steered me away from them. AGM batteries at least a few months ago were in short supply. I had a hell of a time finding one.

I will say for AGM vs regular, if you’re going to do any off-roading you want AGM so your battery isn’t splashing and spilling out. If you get an AGM you should consider a battery maintainer (I use CTEK MXS 5.0) because the Xterra alternator doesn’t put out enough to fully recharge it.
So I had no idea about a battery maintainer. I looked it up on Amazon and it's hard to tell if it's like, something you hook up to the battery when you need it to recharge it, or something that's hooked up all the time... or why my X can't do the charging work as I'd expect. Additionally if the alternator can't charge up the battery then how can it charge up a "maintainer" which would then charge the battery up? Sorry it's all new to me.
 

meisanerd

Need Bigger Tires
For tents, you mention not wanting to backpack it so not caring about packed size + weight, but here is another consideration in that. Most of my gear is backpack-level, not because I am doing that, but because if I take idiots with me that don't know how to pack, I have more room in the vehicle for everything.

And that comes from experience, I've had people show up for a weekend of camping that were riding in my car (when I was still running my Altima with a roof box), that showed up in their car with the trunk and back seat literally packed (you almost couldn't see out the back window), and I was already providing the tent, the firewood, the kitchen stuff, and pretty much everything else they needed except their clothes, sleeping bag, and air mattress...
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
For tents, you mention not wanting to backpack it so not caring about packed size + weight, but here is another consideration in that. Most of my gear is backpack-level, not because I am doing that, but because if I take idiots with me that don't know how to pack, I have more room in the vehicle for everything.

And that comes from experience, I've had people show up for a weekend of camping that were riding in my car (when I was still running my Altima with a roof box), that showed up in their car with the trunk and back seat literally packed (you almost couldn't see out the back window), and I was already providing the tent, the firewood, the kitchen stuff, and pretty much everything else they needed except their clothes, sleeping bag, and air mattress...
Were they Americans? I thought most Canadians knew that all you need for the tundra is a toque and some poutine. :)
 

westslope

Wheeling
Were they Americans? I thought most Canadians knew that all you need for the tundra is a toque and some poutine. :)

Good one! Poutine. It not only sticks to your ribs, it could stick to everything else. Never tried it but it might work for patching a canoe. -hehe- True story. Me, the Anglo-Canadian I am, introduced poutine to my quebecoise wife. It was a nice break from the tofu sandwiches.

Sad news. It is no longer fashionable for Canadians to bend over. Crawling on the ground is for losers. Most Canadians are like Americans, they get a short distance away from a road and they get scared and nervous. Most prefer to "camp" with RVs, pull out a lawn chair and sit.

What is really sad and tragic are the horrible health outcomes of First Nations (FN) and an almost universal loss of backcountry bush skills. As a Gitsxan FN (Skeena River, north central BC) who grew up with foster white parents on Vancouver Island pointed out to me, a lot of us white guys are far more competent in the backcountry than FNs. Sad.

Incidentally, the Gitsxan are very cool, with a super cool history. Once the pandemic is behind us, I highly recommend the Hazelton area where they live on the mid-Skeena River.
 

westslope

Wheeling
For tents, you mention not wanting to backpack it so not caring about packed size + weight, but here is another consideration in that. Most of my gear is backpack-level, not because I am doing that, but because if I take idiots with me that don't know how to pack, I have more room in the vehicle for everything.

And that comes from experience, I've had people show up for a weekend of camping that were riding in my car (when I was still running my Altima with a roof box), that showed up in their car with the trunk and back seat literally packed (you almost couldn't see out the back window), and I was already providing the tent, the firewood, the kitchen stuff, and pretty much everything else they needed except their clothes, sleeping bag, and air mattress...
Good post. I have a friend like that. His bedding will take up half the space in the rear of the X. (!)

A 3-person tent is pure luxury if one is alone and yet it takes up very little space in the X, leaving lots of room for the Yeti cooler, the waders, boots and fly fishing equipment. If I am X-camping and the weather turns really nasty or I need a break, there is always a night or two in a motel or a cabin.

It is kinda sad the number of folks with expensive RVs who complain about being poor, or who use their RVs for a couple of seasons and then leave them parked for years and decades at a time while the asset constantly declines in value.

As for backpacking and canoe tripping, in terms of accessing the wilderness, nothing is better. Whether catching Golden Trout on dry flies in the Sierra Nevada of California, running white water in the Boreal forests of the Canadian Shield in Quebec, hiking into sheep and goat country in the Rocky mountains, or backpacking into the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho where the Basutho people live -- it is about as close to the Lord of Rings as you will ever get.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
So I had no idea about a battery maintainer. I looked it up on Amazon and it's hard to tell if it's like, something you hook up to the battery when you need it to recharge it, or something that's hooked up all the time... or why my X can't do the charging work as I'd expect. Additionally if the alternator can't charge up the battery then how can it charge up a "maintainer" which would then charge the battery up? Sorry it's all new to me.
A maintainer I typically just plug into the wall and hook to the battery once a month or so overnight. An AGM battery float charges in the range of 13.2-13.8 volts, which is what our alternators can do. It will keep it to about 80% charged. To fully charge an AGM to 100% you need 14.4-14.8 volts, which is why you need the maintainer. My numbers may not be exact (from memory), but that’s the general idea.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
A maintainer I typically just plug into the wall and hook to the battery once a month or so overnight. An AGM battery float charges in the range of 13.2-13.8 volts, which is what our alternators can do. It will keep it to about 80% charged. To fully charge an AGM to 100% you need 14.4-14.8 volts, which is why you need the maintainer. My numbers may not be exact (from memory), but that’s the general idea.
I was close.
91F041DC-F0CF-41F7-8B93-6E7C007778CC.jpeg
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
@1L19 I know this was a few questions ago, but you asked about tents. We own at least six tents, from a sub 3# ultralight one to a 60# Kodiak 9' x 8' and I like all of them for various scenarios, but if it's just a solo trip (or you have a small dog with you) then sleeping inside the Xterra is pretty great IMO.

No worries about wind and weather, rocky ground, or tent staking / guying. You have to be somewhat discliplined in what you bring with you and cannot fill your rig with gear, but for solo trips I really prefer sleeping inside there. One of those action packer totes, 25" x 78" sleeping pad, sleeping bag, done.
 

westslope

Wheeling
What in the ever loving ufck!? Is your wife of the "bark and nut" persuasion? At least if it's in a sandwich you can overload the bread with some Coleman's Mustard to get by.. smh. o_O

No. I was the one of the "bark and nut" persuasion who was eating Tofu sandwiches. In retrospect, the mayonnaise I put on the bread had more nutritional value than the Tofu. At the time, I was still eating a little meat, more fish and lots of dairy. Liver once every 3 or 4 weeks. The wife put up with the liver during the seduction phase and then backed away from it a few years later.

These days, I prefer turkey sandwiches and in particular Pacific salmon sandwiches, mostly Sockeye salmon, typically canned, sometimes pickled.

Oddly enough, I have evolved from eating Alfalfa sprouts to Spinach leaves even though our ability to absorb nutrients from Spinach is limited. Thin slices of red onion make up for it.
 

BEEFY

I Smile when Gasoline Can Freeze
Good post. I have a friend like that. His bedding will take up half the space in the rear of the X. (!)

A 3-person tent is pure luxury if one is alone and yet it takes up very little space in the X, leaving lots of room for the Yeti cooler, the waders, boots and fly fishing equipment. If I am X-camping and the weather turns really nasty or I need a break, there is always a night or two in a motel or a cabin.

It is kinda sad the number of folks with expensive RVs who complain about being poor, or who use their RVs for a couple of seasons and then leave them parked for years and decades at a time while the asset constantly declines in value.

As for backpacking and canoe tripping, in terms of accessing the wilderness, nothing is better. Whether catching Golden Trout on dry flies in the Sierra Nevada of California, running white water in the Boreal forests of the Canadian Shield in Quebec, hiking into sheep and goat country in the Rocky mountains, or backpacking into the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho where the Basutho people live -- it is about as close to the Lord of Rings as you will ever get.
In the first summer of of my sons life he had over 30 nights in a tent ranging from forest service site in the center of BC to the beach in Tofino and deep into the mountains near Terrace. It is a 4 person Marmot tent that is now getting close to 15 years old and we still use it. It is the go to when we are out on canoe / kayak trips or deep into the bush multi day trips. We also have a rtt on a trailer but the ground tent is still quicker to set up and pack up. The rtt is ok if you are staying in 1 place for a number of days, but still not fully sold on the rtts. We now also have a camperised ambulance that was mainly built for winter ski hill use but will see lots of fsr use especially if the weather is not the greatest.
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
If you don’t mind, what was the nutritional value from the mayo?

In the first summer of of my sons life he had over 30 nights in a tent ranging from forest service site in the center of BC to the beach in Tofino and deep into the mountains near Terrace. It is a 4 person Marmot tent that is now getting close to 15 years old and we still use it. It is the go to when we are out on canoe / kayak trips or deep into the bush multi day trips. We also have a rtt on a trailer but the ground tent is still quicker to set up and pack up. The rtt is ok if you are staying in 1 place for a number of days, but still not fully sold on the rtts. We now also have a camperised ambulance that was mainly built for winter ski hill use but will see lots of fsr use especially if the weather is not the greatest.

Your situational examples are very helpful especially since they are based on actual experience rather than a "how to" someone is passing along. You have an ambulance? No way you can call that shiat and not give up a picture. Lets see it!
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
If you don’t mind, what was the nutritional value from the mayo?
You can look up just about anything on CalorieKing including mayonnaise. Been using it as a part of my weight loss plans since September. My weight loss really picked up once I started logging my food and realizing how high the calories can go in some foods.

I use nutritionIx as well (including mayonnaise) and it includes recipes but it only lets you measure in 1 unit, lets say tbsp, rather than several like the calorieking where I can enter values in grams, ounces, full units (potato, onion, etc).

CalorieKing
mayo1.jpg

nutritionix
mayo2.jpg
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Well done 1L19.

Perhaps it goes without saying but most folks on a serious diet should avoid eating Mayonnaise. I try not to think about the contents too much. Sure is tasty though!
Mayo is even worse than ranch which is horrible in itself. I mean it's delicious (except on pizza you ufking heathens!) but if you are trying to cut calories it's like your kryptonite.
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Eggs and fat. Salt too. I never add salt to food and basically get most of the sodium intake from prepared foods.

I think ranch on pizza (you get a pass for dominos) is the same as to adding extra salt to food. The more salt you add the less you can taste what's underneath. So it doesn't matter if it's ranch or salt... why spend 30 bucks on a the best NY style pie in town and then drown it in ranch dressing? Why not keep the thirty bucks, smear ranch on a piece of cardboard and have a shot glass of salt. Experience should be about the same. :p

Ben.. owner of Pizza Supreme Being - Pepperoni cups baby!
14th and O street, Sactown
ben psb.jpg
 

kirk

Butterfly King
Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Allen, Texas
Eggs and fat. Salt too. I never add salt to food and basically get most of the sodium intake from prepared foods.
I eat more salt than most humans, I'm sure. Its my primary vice. When people give me the warnings about salt (as they love to do, and have my entire life) I think of this:

118484330_3202358989848742_7502777362704450321_n.jpg
 

kirk

Butterfly King
Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Allen, Texas
Also, good thinking on the Mayo. I cut most all of my ranch consumption out, but didnt even think of my delicious Hellmanns. Mmmm
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Also, good thinking on the Mayo. I cut most all of my ranch consumption out, but didnt even think of my delicious Hellmanns. Mmmm
Man I haven't heard the name Hellmanns since like... 1997. Grew up with it but as soon as you cross the Rockies it's "Best Foods". Looks exactly the same, even the label and colors just the name difference. Anyway we were raised on Miracle Whip :)
 
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meisanerd

Need Bigger Tires
I eat more salt than most humans, I'm sure. Its my primary vice. When people give me the warnings about salt (as they love to do, and have my entire life) I think of this:

View attachment 17662
So, kinda funny, but my doctor has actually told me I needed more salt in my diet. Since my wife has about a bazillion allergies we basically cook all of our food from fresh, real ingredients, which meant that the salt intake without adding was extremely low, so I have to add it to my food. It's almost like different people have different needs, and most things are actually fine in moderation...

It was quite entertaining to walk out of his office with a "prescription" of "eat more potato chips".
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Again with the sliders....

My requirements are to have some strong, quality sliders that can also act as a step for my short lady and shorter mom. So I'm looking at both the White Knuckle and Shrockworks products and I have a few questions. Assuming that both are very strong, high quality and would perform well in the field I would like to know the following:

Will either of these options work as a step to enter and exit the vehicle? One better than the other? It just seems like they don't "stick out" very far. I'm sure that great off roading but today it's "step" research.

Outer round tube angle.. straight out or angled up? What does angle up give you? Does that make it harder to use as a step?

Thank you!
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
First. Give John at White Knuckle your money.

Second. Yes. They can be used as a step.

When you call John to order your sliders you can ask for the angle to be reduced a few degrees to make a better step.

The standard angle still makes a good step, but it's not a "step rail."

The advantage of the angle is in wheeling. When the sliders land on stuff it makes it easier for the truck to slide off due to the angle.

Call John. Order your sliders.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Oh. And if you're even contemplating a body lift, just do it and order the sliders to accommodate. It sucks ass to buy sliders, then two years later decide to do a body lift and now your sliders don't hug the body anymore. And then you have to do it again.
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Oh. And if you're even contemplating a body lift, just do it and order the sliders to accommodate. It sucks ass to buy sliders, then two years later decide to do a body lift and now your sliders don't hug the body anymore. And then you have to do it again.
I hear you man. I have no plans to get a lift as that comes with a bunch more expenses to bring the rest of the vehicle up to "lift" level. That's kind of how I got into this mess. I wanted a step but I'm like why put on some crappy step when I should just get sliders and they'll act as a step. Next it's... well now you have the sliders you need a custom bumper, with a winch, and the suspension to hold it up, and the body lift, and the 33" tires. So yes the sliders cross the line but if it's dual purpose I'll probably just do it. If I jump headfirst into wheeling land later and I have to pull the sliders then I'll just have to pay for it I guess. Thank you for the solid info as always.
 

Brunnie

Bumpers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Colorado Springs
I hear you man. I have no plans to get a lift as that comes with a bunch more expenses to bring the rest of the vehicle up to "lift" level. That's kind of how I got into this mess. I wanted a step but I'm like why put on some crappy step when I should just get sliders and they'll act as a step. Next it's... well now you have the sliders you need a custom bumper, with a winch, and the suspension to hold it up, and the body lift, and the 33" tires. So yes the sliders cross the line but if it's dual purpose I'll probably just do it. If I jump headfirst into wheeling land later and I have to pull the sliders then I'll just have to pay for it I guess. Thank you for the solid info as always.
I don't see a mess at all except the one that you are creating for yourself.

I've had a small lift for 2 years now, and am just now getting sliders. I have no intention of a winch, bumper (although a rear tire carrier one might be nice) and no intention of 33 or 35 inch tires. I do not need to keep up with the Jones's.

Do I appreciate how some mods look?? You bet. Do I drool some?? Eh, once in a while. do I think long and hard about any mod? OH DEFINITELY!!!
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
I don't see a mess at all except the one that you are creating for yourself.

I've had a small lift for 2 years now, and am just now getting sliders. I have no intention of a winch, bumper (although a rear tire carrier one might be nice) and no intention of 33 or 35 inch tires. I do not need to keep up with the Jones's.

Do I appreciate how some mods look?? You bet. Do I drool some?? Eh, once in a while. do I think long and hard about any mod? OH DEFINITELY!!!
Are you a therapist?
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Tonight's dumb question is about breaker bars.

I have a big list of X tools from posts here and there. I rank the tools 1-3 with one being the most important and most common and three being rare. A one might be a set of vise grips while a three (for me) might be a hi-lift jack. So here is the question... how should I rank a breaker bar?

Most of the pictures I see show it used on lug nuts and being that it's so long I couldn't imagine much use for it in any kind of closed quarters. However I don't really know as I've never used one. As far as lug nuts I've always carried a piece of pipe that I put over the handle of the tire iron (thanks pop!).
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Sounds like you're doing more of a poor man's breaker bar. All it is is square drive for a socket (or equiv) with a long-ish (18"+) handle. You're doing essentially the same thing with putting a pipe over your tire iron.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Tonight's dumb question is about breaker bars.

I have a big list of X tools from posts here and there. I rank the tools 1-3 with one being the most important and most common and three being rare. A one might be a set of vise grips while a three (for me) might be a hi-lift jack. So here is the question... how should I rank a breaker bar?

Most of the pictures I see show it used on lug nuts and being that it's so long I couldn't imagine much use for it in any kind of closed quarters. However I don't really know as I've never used one. As far as lug nuts I've always carried a piece of pipe that I put over the handle of the tire iron (thanks pop!).
I carry a 1/2 breaker bar for things like CV nuts and other driveline and suspension repair but my background is more wheeler than tourer so YMMV.
 
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