After two portable power station failures on remote trails cost me hundreds of dollars and nearly ruined trips, I built a permanent 200Ah LiFePO4 electrical system for my Jeep Gladiator. This video shows the complete installation and results from a 7-day off-grid test through Colorado and Utah.
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⚡ SYSTEM COMPONENTS & SPECS
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Save 10% with discount code TTRK10
• 200Ah LiFePO4 Battery with self-heating (sub-freezing operation)
https://www.litime.com/products/12v-200ah-plus-self-heating
• 30A DC-DC charger (charges while driving)
https://www.litime.com/products/litime-12v-40a-dc-dc-battery-charger
• 2000W inverter (pure sine wave)
https://www.litime.com/products/litime-2000-watt-12v-pure-sine-wave-inverter
• Battery monitor with Bluetooth
https://amzn.to/3LEVzet
Total system provides reliable power for 12v fridge, Starlink, laptops, camera gear, and lighting for extended off-grid trips.
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📍 VIDEO TIMESTAMPS
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0:00 – Why I ditched portable power stations
0:45 – Complete system component overview
2:15 – Battery mounting and installation location
4:30 – DC-DC charger wiring and setup
6:45 – Inverter installation and safety considerations
8:20 – Battery monitor configuration
9:45 – 7-day off-grid testing results (Colorado/Utah)
11:00 – Final thoughts and system performance
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🎯 SUPPORT TRAIL TRAVELER ON PATREON
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Get GPS coordinates from this 7-day Colorado and Utah trip, behind-the-scenes electrical system troubleshooting footage, and exclusive gear comparison charts:
👉 https://patreon.com/trailtraveler
✅ Trail Supporter ($3/mo): GPS files + early access to videos
✅ Gear Insider ($10/mo): Behind-the-scenes content + monthly live Q&A
Join the community of serious overlanders who want the unfiltered truth about gear and builds.
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🔧 WHY THIS SYSTEM WORKS
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Portable power stations failed me twice on remote trails. Limited capacity, proprietary charging systems, and reliability issues made them a poor investment for serious overlanding.
This permanent 200Ah LiFePO4 system provides:
✓ Charges automatically while driving (30A DC-DC charger)
✓ Self-heating for sub-freezing operation
✓ 2000W inverter for high-draw devices
✓ Real-time monitoring via Bluetooth
✓ Expandable for solar panels
✓ Proven through 7 days off-grid in Colorado and Utah
The system ran Travocka fridge, Starlink Mini, laptop, camera batteries, and LED lighting continuously without issues.
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📊 REAL-WORLD TESTING DATA
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7-day trip through Colorado and Utah trails testing system under real overlanding conditions. System performed flawlessly running multiple high-draw devices simultaneously. Battery self-heating activated properly in cold morning temperatures. DC-DC charging kept battery topped off during daily driving.
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💬 QUESTIONS I’LL ANSWER
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Drop your questions in the comments:
• What portable power stations failed and why?
• How much did the complete system cost?
• Did it work?
I read every comment and reply with honest answers based on real-world testing.
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📱 CONNECT WITH TRAIL TRAVELER
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Patreon (GPS files, exclusive content): https://patreon.com/trailtraveler
Instagram: @trailtraveler
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Trail Traveler provides honest overlanding and off-road gear reviews for Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 4×4 enthusiasts. We test equipment on real trails across the Western US and share what actually works versus marketing hype.
#jeepgladiator #overlanding #lifepo4 #jeeplife #offroadpower #gladiator #jeepwrangler #overland #dualbattery #jeepbuild
Kerry is the creator and host of the TrailTraveler YouTube Channel. He and his wife, Kateryna, create all of the content and do all of the videos on the channel.