RE: Its Official! The Wife and I Are Now Truck Campers!
Don't you just love the missionary zeal of a noob?
To be bona fide on this forum you must post pix.
No pix and it didn't happen.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: After the Expo!!!
DJ, (sorru I spelled it wrong on my post. I have another good friend who is a JD, so dyslexia is alive and well) I've known a lot of DJ's, but they were all working the sound systems.
Very nice work on the trails. I've never XTC-ed that area, only jeeps and Broncos. It's easy to get in over your head in a hurry. I've only broken a hardened axle shaft and a Dana 300 t. case there.
Nice to finally meet you and the rest of the motley crew of XTC-ers.8<)
I'll be talking to you about our next trip in September.
Take care,
regards, as always, jefe
Trip report, part two: Overland Expo 2013
The general purpose of the Expo is to equip, instruct, analyze, stretch, refine and inspire your own overlanding experience; whatever form that may take. What is overlanding? In the purest sense, it has to do with some kind of philanthropic discovery of a remote place. Alas, the halcyon days of discovery are almost gone. There are few places left that can be considered an overlanding experience. So, the current description of Overlanding is Adventure Travel. This certainly covers most of the folks who attended. There were two levels of participation: one was the high bucks/hands-on experience where you got to try out the winch on your loaned Land Rover, or try driving the obstacle course, either in the 'company' rig, a Rover, or your own rig. Mark Simonov drove both over the obstacle course which lifted a lot of wheels off the ground. He did loosen the rear tie-downs to keep from pulling his rig apart. For those that didn't need a lot of commercial engineering, the day pass was the way to go: Mucho barrato. There was a bewildering flow of information directed through an on-going Adventure film festival with far-flung venues; roundtable panel discussions with experts; seminars on a variety of subjects-Overlanding; Family (for kids) games and hunts; an art festival; cooking demonstrations; etc. Too many choices to see it all.
In addition, many 'camping' vehicle and accessory manufacturers were there hawking their wares. It's too late for me, but for many, there were things they could buy and use in a camping setting to defray any discomfort in adventure travel. XP Camper was there showing off their newest mid-sized camper. I live only a few miles from Mark in Nevada City but had never met him. Here are some of his products:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0550-1_zpsc8147b41.jpg
Mark is in the blue work shirt;
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0551_zps85b494fb.jpg
A group pic with owners attached.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0552_zpsec6d2467.jpg
I have no association with XP campers except I like the design. However, I am not about to delete my kids inheritance to get one. The other issue was the E-W bed, a no-no for older TC-er's.
This last one on the right, had two spare tires between the cab and the camper, which I thought was cool for long range, remote travel.
Queen Jean (now momski4x4 on the forum) and I walked all the exhibits and found very little we could use. The only thing we wanted was a fancy Overland T-shirt to mark our passage, but they only had a few in white; not what we were looking for. Olive green would be the color.
In general, the event was fairly well organized, considering almost all the staff were freebees and were, at first, totally overwhelmed by the sheer amount of querries from the maybe thousand people that were camped on the meadow.
Jeanie and I attended a lot of films and show-and-tells. We saw two on taking jeeps across the Sahara: some of THE most remote places you can still get to. Great. We attended a presentation on circumnavigating the U.S. with the presenteur having done it time after time, every which way for three decades in a converted transfer ambulance. (it's the real tall one)
It was windy almost the whole time, and you had to wonder what tolerance those living in those tiny nylon tents had to the constant buffeting. For those with a somewhat more substantial structure, there was no problem:except when sitting around the imaginary campfire. Rules is rules and we had none. Eventually the cold evening wind drove people into their mobile domicile.
I learned a few things in preparation for our circumnavigation of the U.S. We need an auxiliary fuel tank with dummy-proof changeover. Mark and Bryan convinced me to get at least 100 amps of Solar for an extended trip. That way, we could leave the Honda IE2K at home. There are lots of places to stealth camp around the U.S. Our presenteur noted how to find them. Nat Geo has a new e-map set with all the states in detail for much less $ than the state-by-state maps available in the past. What ever trip you are planning, someone has already done it and you can learn from their experience.
I'll leave you with some pix of interesting rigs not in our group.
The common thread here is outrageous one-off:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0555_zps97ff6503.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0554_zps04353a97.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0553_zps01048ee2.jpg
This was an F-550 w/Phoenix custom pop top, 18K pound winch, metal garage on the back with an electric lift to put the motor cycle therin on the ground. Dana 135 rearend.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0590_zps5e088897.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0589_zps0e950a60.jpg
Part three will be a fun run down the pasture showing many of our own truck camper examples.
Until then,
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Trip report, part one: 2013 Overland Expo and the TC flood
Dan,
It was great to see you there. With only 16 posts in 5 years, you are a candidate for the 'Seldom-Seen-Slim" award. I like that. All do and no talk.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Overland Expo 2013
Wolfman,
It was exceeding good to meet you and take a look at your molto capable rig. I see in my crystal ball a very hard-core trip in your future....maybe at the end of Sept.
We drove through Henderson yesteday on our 800 mile epoch drive home. Left 6AM (I'm sure you heard the Cummins Alarm Clack) and arrived home @ 10:30PM.
DadWolf's rig:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0592_zps3598edce.jpg
regards, as always, jefe
Trip report, part one: 2013 Overland Expo and the TC flood
The last folks are leaving the Mormon Lake Lodge property as I write this. It's difficult to call it a T.R. since we all went on a different trip together to get here. You may have to squint, but there are a LOT of Overlanders around Mormon Lake.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0600_zpse967f9e1.jpg
Going into the front portico:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0556_zpsb24fb6b7.jpg
What an interesting event!
And what a winner aggregation of TC people we have here! I use that term purposely as no two TC types had the same life's story or came from the same place.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0603_zpsa5230548.jpg
There was, literally something for everyone. Overlanding takes a lot of different means to accomplish its end. Besides TC's, there were:
Hiking Overlanders
Bicycle Overlanders
Motor Cycle overlanders
Tent camping Overlanders
RTT (roof-top-tent) Overlanders
Jeep/LandRover/LandCruiser/pickup truck/and a myriad of exotic machine Overlanders
Class AOverlanders
Class B Overlanders
Class C Overlanders
All manner of pintel pull trailer Overlanders, who on the whole, I thought were the most creative of the bunch.
and this year a cadre of class XTC Overlanders (that would be us)
You can't really say that one means is better than another since it depends on so many diverging factors, like where are you going to overland, what time of year/season, and what is your tolerance for pain. All of the presentations I attended pushed the edge of the envelope in this regard. Since the TC-er's were located at the far expanse of the Mormon Lake grounds Jean-my-queen and i hoofed it back and forth to the event venues.
I thought this an interesting height comparo between a small hardside (my Dodge on L.), a large pop up (Whazoo's GM in center) and a small pop up (JD's Ford on R.)
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0568_zps45abc7b7.jpg
Our Overlanding TC friend Steve (of SAB Consulting in G.B.) and Sally, bade a few of us TC types to attend this year, whether you had a hard-core rig or not. I'm not sure how many stalwarts from the TC Forum actually showed up, but there were a lot of TC's in attendance. For a change I took a lot of Beauty Contest pix of the TC's in attendance, so I will give you a link to my Photobucket page to view the lot of them.
http://s194.photobucket.com/user/jefe4x4/library/?sort=3&page=1
The ever effervescent Steve and Sally came the farthest, flying from England to Denver to pick up their faux TC before trekking to Arizona:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0546_zpsbbf8f5e4.jpg
This was the first time Jeanie and I got to meet many of the 'famous' or is that 'infamous' charaters on the TC forum. Rumor had it that the incomparable Whazoo was going to make a cameo appearance and sure enough he and Lynn rolled in on Friday afternoon. It was just so great to put names with faces and rigs. The stealth champion of the event was Brian Appleby who is on the road full-time now and arrived a couple days before the event to get our area nailed down and pink ribboned out. He has plenty of wallerin room in his rig:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0549_zps6747fd2b.jpg
Jeanie and I left Nevada City late Wednesday morning for an 800 mile drive and Thursday afternoon arrival at Mormon Lake Lodge. We stopped for the evening in the middle of the Nevada desert south of Goldfield: It was not far off of Hwy. 95 but could be in the middle of the Moroccan desert: Lonely comes to mind. We never saw anyone.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0537_zps579cbaa8.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0538_zps4a2248e4.jpg
I've never posted a pic of our cuisine-du-camp which invariably starts with jefe's fav, tacos-de-Queen:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0543_zps55b62e72.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0540_zps673b9798.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0541_zpsb0199711.jpg
I'm not going to list all the names of our people who attended for fear of leaving someone out. However, these were more than the usual suspects. Here are a few random people pix. first, JD, who needs a new lower back but in true Semper Fi style will not complain of the pain:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0572_zpsdd740faf.jpg
Brian, Sally, Steve, and JD at sundown on Thursday:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0544_zps3c06f5fb.jpg
Friday night campers gathering after supper on Friday: This is about half of the TC group:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0565_zps6859d84b.jpg
A medium time, a long time, and a brand-spanking-new Truck Camper owner:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0562_zps2a0de9ed.jpg
Virgil and Maria from Martinez, CA They came with their Jeep on a trailer.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0563_zpse5b714d4.jpg
Everyone here had a unique story to tell. We went round robin and introduced ourselves. It was instant band of brothers and sisters.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0561_zps263d4b7d.jpg
And finally the one-and-only Whazoo in his patented pose; (no, i didn't say he was a poseur) who has had some major hard part replacement of late:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN0558_zpsd7460ebe.jpg
So with people pix out of the way, I will close, since I now realize this report will need to be in more than one part. Some coming highlights will be;
what i learned
TC rig voyeur-ing in spades
Different strokes
regards, as always, jefe
Gen. charging TC batts and using boonie AC power?
For many years I have used our Honda EU2000 generator to a 2A/10A/55A charger to charge the truck batteries, one at a time. I usually just charge the Camper battery as it goes down the fastest over 3 or 4 days of continuous boondocking. It takes about 3 hours and I usually just use the lowest amperage as newer batteries don't like a quick charge any more. This whole process seems awfully antiquated (albeit cheap) when I read about all the new gizmos available. When using AC items like hair dryer (not me, paleface, it's for the Queen), or coffee pot, or Margarita blender I just plug ea. appliance directly into the generator. What is to preclude me from plugging the TC main umbelical into the generator? It has better, filtered power than my Pacific Gas and Electric (PG@E) house current or any campground does. There are a lot of Electrical Gurus on this forum, so speak up, any of you with authority on the subject. I have the usual 3 batteries: Two under the hood and one with the TC, all the same size, group 27, 12V, starting batteries (not deep cycle) with a #6 power wire connecting front to rear. I do have he little cord supplied with my EU2K for direct-to-battery connections, but I don't like the looks of it.
So, to the querrie:
What's new in this arena? Is there anything quick and dirty that I can glom on to?
I did do a search both here and on Google, and am more confused than ever, which doesn't take much.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Which Spring Enhancement for Ram 3500 hd DRW crewcab longbed
I have had very good luck by doubling up the secondary springs (the ones above the main pack) and adding Stable Loads so all that weight bearing prowess will come into play sooner. I have had 5000 pounds of crushed rock in the bed and there was very little compression of the suspension and the truck was well under control. You are on the right track.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: 3rd trip and have one more planned
lap,
Considering the lack of responses to your post, I would counsel it never happened as there is no image evidence. 8<) We need pix.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Limits?
With a truck camper you get a 'feel' of how wide, how tall, and how long your rig really is. You learn to bob-and-weave around things that might tear at your siding and develop an eye about your own clearance. To mitigate the size/clearance problem I bought one of the narrowest, least tall, and lightest hard side campers i could find for a short bed truck. We have been some interesting places with Minum. Of course, everything, and I do mean everything in a truck camper set up is a compromise. With our smaller footprint and height clearance comes smaller tanks. The way you save on weight is with lighter materials and smaller tanks and appliances. Plus, leaving a lot of heavy, useless stuff at home; not pressing down on your suspension.
None of this 'off-road' travel is a free ride, however. Here is the list of stuff that went south while trying to negotiate routes that were slightly too narrow for passage:
1. Top bathroom small vent smashed by passing branch. replaced.
1a. Half of the aluminum luggage rack railing torn off. Sealed the holes and capped off the end that was left.
2. Fridge side vent torn off.
3. Side flood light ripped off.
4. Fridge roof top cap ripped completely off by a passing Joshua Tree. Replaced recently.
5. L. frnt. clearance light smashed, twice.
6. Large dent in the R. frnt. of the cabover from a passing unmovable tree.
7. Stove exhaust vent has been nibbled away by passing flora. Now also has a pivoting tab to keep it down in place.
8. many long, deep scratch marks on both sides of the camper.
9. Installed a latch on the water jug compartment floor-level near the rear door. Those six heavy 1 gal. jugs refused to stay put over undulating terra.
10. installed an improved freezer compartment latch after the orig. part broke.
11. Have not replaced the broken frnt window due to speeding AK truckers on gravel roads.
12. Replaced ladder on rr. after backing into a gigantic tree in Glacier N.P.
To wrap it up, you will soon find how far you can go. It's a period of adjustment we all go through.
I just hope nobody here winds up with my old Lance when I'm gone. Heaven help you.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: New Lance, Refused Delivery; Your Opinions Please
I'm afraid Miles is right about not using a lawyer. The only one who wins when you engage counsel is counsel. Tact may work here as he said. However, Miles is wrong about your 'trailer'. It's a truck camper.
I have a '98 Lance and while the roof looks a little different I do have a slight dip in the roof. Only about 1/4" however. (6.5mm for you Canadians) My camper has been subjected to the most snow load I've ever seen pictures of and still, only 6.5mm deflection. Did the stucture when you actually crawled on the roof seem spongy or broken? My stucture up there seems very sturdy even after sitting (mostly) outside in the weather for lo these 15 years.
I can see going either way with this one. If you accept the rig and keep after them until they fix it to your specs, it's, for them like being pecked to death by ducks. My wife is the grand master at keeping after re******s and the shirk bros. Not a good way to go. That would require sustained effort on your part. The more I read about folks woes with NEW campers the luckier I feel with my used Lance.
1. I decided to get a light weight camper.
2. The same day, I looked in the Recycler (in my L.A. daze)
3. Found a 3 yr. old Lance, went over to see it and bought it, cash: $6500. In a few hours it was all over.
4. A few days later I put the truck tie downs and wiring plug on and went to Orange Co. and picked it up from the former owner's storage lot.
5. It looked like it was used two or three times. The battery was dead. I think he left the thermostat on and the heater came on in the winter.
6. We have slept 200 to 240 nights in the thing on the road somewhere.
7. No regrets; no surprises.
8. As I said: LUCKY.
Oh, the snow load?: wet, heavy Sierra Cement:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/DSCN1842.jpg
There might be literally a ton of snow on this truck camper.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: '90 Chevy 1/2 Ton 305 V8
mkirsch,
aka: Matt,
I like the way you think. You have an ocean of experience that shows in very fine way: no offending remarks to the unwashed; just some helpful hand holding.
Having been on here almost 10 years I see the same queries asked over and over, with the same cadre of efficient, helpful, experienced people answering those same questions, over and over, helping the Alpha neubies get over that bumpy road in one piece.
I'm more than a little sad that I won't be able to meet all you fine people in my lifetime.
jefe
RE: TC in South America / Design choices
Yeah, Henrik,
The folks at Expo should have hired you to do a presentation. I'm hoping that the people that do the talks scheduled are as impressive as you are. Besides, we're just signed up for the presentations, basically, as we don't need a class on winching your Land Rover out of the mud.
RE: TC in South America / Design choices
Henrik,
Do put a presentation together. Are you going to be at the Expo in Flag in a couple weeks?
There will be lots of presentations similar (but not as extensive) to your trip during those three days.
The bottom line is "run whatcha brung". I have been a hard-core off-roader and rock crawler since 1965 when I did my first SOA (springs-over-axle) on a 1949 Willys ute wagon. We slept in that wagon for many years as our 'RV'. That was also the first year we toured Baja California when just south of Ensenada the pavement ended; and ended big-time. Man, was it primitive. Pemex had just doubled the price of diesel fuel to $.16 a gallon. Yes, it WAS $.08 a gallon just before we got there.
I would have no fear of running an older diesel/ TC south of the border with a smaller hardside truck camper, because I can work on it and know the yeahs and the nays of older rigs. The 10 foot elevation of the TC is lower than most of the loads on Japanese and German over-the-dirt-road trucks you see prevalent in Mexico and S. A. Same with the width. The trucks are wider than just about anything you could take down there. I only saw one parking arcade on your blog that would stop my rig.
It was interesting to see that you used 4WD so little. I think you were there at a good time of year or waited till the mud dried. I have been in Baja Sur during a Chibasco, and even with 4WD we were sweating it, so to speak, crossing all those rain swollen arroyos.
I'm just so impressed with the way you thought out the trip; nit picked every little detail, and researched all the destinations with as little experience in doing so that you had available. Here is a pic of our 1970 Toyota L.C. FJ55 in 1976 in the doldrums of Baja's Vizciano Desert ( singularly the most remote place I have ever been) where the springs on our jeep trailer let go and we decided to take the axle off and lay the hulk on the Tomba Burro and tongue on the roof driving with the doors open all the way back, 150 miles to Guerro Negro to get it fixed:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z240/jefe4x4/jefe15_jpg.jpg
regards, as always, jefe
RE: California Fire
When I see my own model Lance and my own model white Dodge pickup burning to the ground, I get the shivers.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Where are all the Truck Campers ?
I see a lot of them here on the West Coast. Of course, you tend to see more of what 'you' are driving on the road. Besides Lance being in CA; instant proximity; my guess is there is a very long 'camper season' here with a whole lot of natural features and beautiful places to visit any time of year, that are perfect for a TC
The N.P.'s have an old 20 or 22' limit in many of their camp grounds. That lets out,
1. Moho's
2. 5-er's
3. most Class C's
4. leaving small class B's and Truck Campers as the RV of choice that will fit and work without hookups.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: Modding an F-350 up or an F-550 down for TC
Just Jeff, just Jeff here too.
What is the registration difference between a 350 and a 550? In CA the 550 must gulp down a larger share of the state's tax burden.
Otherwise, I would opt for the kind of rig you noted as your first choice on your pin page. I was happy to see the mug of my own measly rig on there too. You are used to a lot more 'wallerin room' in your present RV. It's always a shock when people move 'down;' to the space of an even large truck camper. If you're going this route, get used to it. One good thing about the F-550 is it comes stock with 4.88's. You can then install taller/larger off-road type tires without having to regear the pigs. Plus, it seems they finally have an engine that won't self-destruct. Remember, after about 2006, domestic diesels are verboten to use Mexican fuel, if you are going to Mexico ever.
I saw a used Dodge 5500 C and C recently and it had all the good stuff, IMHO. MB 6 speed manual, HD transfer case, stiff frame, 650 pound feet of torque. With the legendary Cummins, a great platform for what you are trying to do.
It's never too early to devise your dream rig. Good luck on your quest.
regards, as always, jefe
RE: TC in South America / Design choices
K and H,
What a fine travelog you have done! I have read a lot of Sud Amerika trip reports, but none have the width and breadth of yours. Kudos. Even in retirement, I would find it difficult to slow down and smell the flowers for as long a time as you have. Congratulations!
I especially like the methodical, sweeping way you prepared and executed your excursion into terra ingognita. While I would have made different decisions regarding the truck and camper, based on my own experience and capabilities, I do have respect for your excellent outcome.
You are true overlanders of the first water (crossing).
The rest of us are true poseurs.
regards, as always, jefe
