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RE: Truck camping on othe beach
For multi-day stays on the beach you will need the biggest holding tanks you can find. This will mean getting a camper on the larger end of the spectrum as the ones that will work on an F150 have tiny tanks. I would say go with an F350SRW as it will drive the same and is no bigger then an F250 but with increased load capacity.
Air down right before you leave the pavement onto the beach. It can take a few trips to learn what air pressures work for you in each situation. Don't be afraid to go lower then you would think given your load. It's safe as long as you drive slow, avoid sudden turns and air up IMMEDIATELY upon reaching pavement again. A quality air compressor is a must.
If you aren't planning on any mountain travel then a gasser will work ok.
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Steve_in_29
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05/19/13 02:35pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: What mistakes have you made that might help others...?
I had no idea how difficult it would be to add a second battery or run wiring for solar or find secure roof anchor points for the panels with the average camper. Worse than any boat or vehicle I have owned in this regard.
The way to find secure mounting points is to go up on roof when the morning dew is still present. It will outline all the roof framing and you can use a Sharpie to mark them.
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Steve_in_29
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05/19/13 09:15am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Best performing compressor fridge?
......Something just popped up in my feeble mind. For the popup crowd I have a question for you. When you have solar on your roof how do you get the cables from the roof to your controller? It would seem that this would be a problem with the soft sides and stiff cable. Just curious.
The wires aren't all that "stiff" since they don't need to be that big from panels to the controller, as the panels are delivering about 15-20A max depending on the panel setup. Mine are zip tied along the hinge so they are kept in position as top raises/lowers.
Perhaps you were confusing them with the cables from the batteries to the inverter, now those puppies are "STIFF". :)
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Steve_in_29
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05/17/13 06:33pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Simple Leveling Block Storage
Nice setup. I would suggest some type of cover for them though, to keep the sun from eating up the plastic.
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Steve_in_29
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05/12/13 11:50am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel & Eagle Cap 1160
Since you are going to be buying a new truck anyways, you should just step up to a 4500/5500. That way there are no "upgrades" needed at all.
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Steve_in_29
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05/12/13 11:46am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Best performing compressor fridge?
Steve:
I recall your extremely robust long-term trial running strictly solar to run your Tundra/Apex in searing 29 Palms. I think the Danfoss compressors are pretty well the norm across most (all ?) of the built-in compressor fridges in North America, today.
Yes, I did a test where I ran my Tundra fridge for over a year off just my solar panels and batteries with no problems. I had a remote thermometer with hi/lo temp recording and the fridge never left the safety zone for food, despite ambient temps that stayed over 100 degrees during the day for several months. Which is just normal conditions for us out here. :C
You mention the ARB portable...this reminds me of the extensive expedition fridge review in my Overland Journal (2 years ago, think?). This may also be the best option (no ripping out absorption, all the mess of installing new compressor). Just buy an ARB, back seat it, plug into 12V, done// Hmmmm?....
Personally I would recommend using (and do) an ARB portable as a backup rather then as my main unit. They are just too small to store the food you need and everything is stacked on top of everything else. They make a bigger version but it is too bulky for backseat use and still isn't large enough to function as your main fridge for long periods in my opinion.
We tend to use our ARB more as a freezer during trips, since the RV fridges have such small freezer sections.
We also use it on 4wheel runs in my Early Bronco as a replacement for an ice chest.
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Steve_in_29
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05/12/13 11:14am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Best performing compressor fridge?
Most of my camping has been in high temps out here in the desert (many times over 100 degrees) and the Tundra fridges in both my Outfitter's have been easily up to the task. With a low enough current draw that my solar easily keeps up. Since extreme high temps are the bane of fridge operation, I would imagine that any fridge which can cut it out here will work very well for anyone in more temperate climes.
I also have one of the portable compressor fridges from ARB and it has performed flawlessly as well for many years.
As I have mentioned before, these types of fridges (Tundra and NovaKool) are in widespread use among the marine and trucking industries so their longevity in harsh conditions is well proven.
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Steve_in_29
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05/11/13 02:26pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Anyone Install Lithium ion Batteries? Results?
Man those things are pricy and I thought the $1000 my 4 Lifelines cost was expensive
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Steve_in_29
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05/11/13 01:41am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Gone to the Dark Side :-)
What were your reasons for giving up your TC, if you don't mind?
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Steve_in_29
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05/04/13 12:54pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Pop-up Window Screen Repair
Try a window screen repair kit from a hardware store. Just make sure you get the fabric and not metal mesh.
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Steve_in_29
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05/03/13 03:08pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: tire choices
I believe your wheels are 16 x 7 which means the 275's are probably as big as you can go. You want to keep the sidewalls as straight as possible.
Unlike in off-roading where the key to bead retention at lower tire pressures is to run a slightly narrower rim then the tire calls for, with the bulged sidewall applying pressure to keep bead seated, the same is not true in a load carrying application such as TCs where the key is to keep the sidewall as straight as possible to better support the weight and minimize heat buildup in the sidewall from flexing.
Think of it like trying to hold a weight over your head with your arms locked (straight sidewalls)and how much harder it is to support the same weight with your arms partially bent (bulged sidewalls).
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Steve_in_29
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05/01/13 10:00pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Refrig light
someone stole your batteriesNope, someone stole the bulb when they discovered their own light wouldn't come on anymore. LOL
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Steve_in_29
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05/01/13 09:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: TC in South America / Design choices
We are planning a south of the border trip in about two years, so to prep for it we are reading everything we run accross on the subject. Find your posts and your blog very informative. Nice to see someone talking the nuts and bolts, not just the scenery and food. Thanks!
How far south are you going? My wife and I went down into Baja with another couple that also owned an Outfitter several years ago. Our trip was no where near as long an adventure as Henrik's though.
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Steve_in_29
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05/01/13 09:44pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 07 ford cab clearance
well on my other truck i had a drop in liner i know that's a no-no but it probably added an inch or so to the bed floor and my 99 wasnt a crew cab, on my CC i have big stamped ribs and clearence lights on the top of the cab. at least those are the only difference i can see
there wasnt a whole lot of room on my 99 but it never hit the cab. the 07 is darn near touching after loading and im sure during travel it would hit the cab
It's not the 07 that's the problem as the cab height has remained the same from 1999 to 2013 on the Super Duty. You just got lucky with your 99, as the combo of cab style and drop-in liner snuck it in.
If you don't want to deal with adding a riser to the bed that you need to deal with separatlly, you can install some 2x4s to the bottom of your camper.
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Steve_in_29
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05/01/13 04:33pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: INSURANCE FOR TC ONLY
We have our TC, as well as vehicles, insured through Camping World (GMAC).
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Steve_in_29
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04/30/13 03:35pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Very basic question about wiring for solar
No you don't need to worry.
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Steve_in_29
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04/29/13 11:14pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Opinions of truck camper
While some campers offer the option of working with either a SB or LB, those that do have removable sidewings to accomplish that. Looking at the picture it is safe to say that camper will NOT work on your LB truck.
While you could physically load the camper on your truck, there would be 18" of open space at the front of your bed and the COG would be WAY too far rearward.
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Steve_in_29
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04/27/13 11:14pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Happijac
You might get a better response if you were more specific in your title.
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Steve_in_29
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04/27/13 10:17am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Pop-Up Campers
I have had 2 Outfitters, an 04 Apex8 and an 07 Apex9.5. Both were HEAVILY optioned/mod'ed and a few of the options/mods that Outfitter offers now were either my idea or developed to fit my requests during the build process.
Do a search for my posts on the subject and I would be happy to answer any questions.
Pretty much all of the newer, bathroom equip'ed, well optioned pop-ups are going to need a HD truck to carry them. It's just simple physics that you can't get a well appointed camper without adding weight and you can't stuff several thousand pounds of stuff into a truck built to carry 500lbs.
Outfitter does make several smaller (no bathroom/basement) models for lighter duty trucks though.
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Steve_in_29
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04/27/13 01:05am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Northstar 850SC
We had made up our minds to buy an 850 but then discovered Outfitter and went with them instead.
We liked the floorplan and features of the 850 and came this close () to buying. We actually went from the Northstar dealer to the Outfitter owner's house for a tour.
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Steve_in_29
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04/26/13 12:29am |
Truck Campers
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