Truck Campers Only, w/ an Overland & Off-roading theme

[PJPVI]

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I know I shit on RV parks a lot, tbf it’s mostly in jest, but…. Tonight is an RV park night, catching up on laundry, plugging into power, not leveling the truck!! I won’t lie, if it wasn’t for being surrounded by 5’er’s and Class A’s it wouldn’t be half bad hahaha.

I'm the same way. Every time I pass through Bakersfield (typically on my way to or from Baja) I stay at the River Run RV Park and visit my son who lives in Bakersfield. I'm always amused that even though there are often million dollar RV busses nearby, most people are pointing and gawking at the van. Time will tell if I get the same attention in the truck camper.

 

[Blade420Play🔪🏆]

I'm the same way. Every time I pass through Bakersfield (typically on my way to or from Baja) I stay at the River Run RV Park and visit my son who lives in Bakersfield. I'm always amused that even though there are often million dollar RV busses nearby, most people are pointing and gawking at the van. Time will tell if I get the same attention in the truck camper.
View attachment 136340

I like the vantruck will be cool too. Trips me out when I see a family of five or so pop out of a van of that size

 

[TRAMPER]

For anyone who geeks out on the small stuff…

First pic is the fuse block and breakers, i totally dig how they waterjet cut the words into the plate. Second pic is what’s behind the first plate. It folds down to show the guts behind it. I have 4 100Ah Battleborn batteries in mine. Two below this set of wires and two in the opposite side. I really like the attention to detail in this camper.

 

[TRAMPER]

I'm the same way. Every time I pass through Bakersfield (typically on my way to or from Baja) I stay at the River Run RV Park and visit my son who lives in Bakersfield. I'm always amused that even though there are often million dollar RV busses nearby, most people are pointing and gawking at the van. Time will tell if I get the same attention in the truck camper.
View attachment 136340

Oh that van is super cool!!!!!!! TBH a truck camper does better at every single thing…. Except you don’t have a pass through from the camper to the drivers seat. I still can’t get over how much people pay for vans. I have a tidy sum tied up in my truck and camper and it’s still 40-60k less than a lot of vans. I just don’t get it.

 

[TRAMPER]

Perfect! Thanks for that. We are doing at least two plates so we have the option to use the table wherever the need dictates.

If you install your own id do a thinner backer plate (I’d use 1/8” aluminum) and maybe 1/2” shorter bolts. If you were to mount a bunch of these Lagun mounts you lose some storage in that space. The backer plate and bolts poking through kill 1” of storage making an 11” deep cabinet only 10” which isn’t a lot but it’s close to a 10% loss in useable space there. I’m not sure where you would do another one, in addition to the two I have but the table can be anywhere in the two positions we have. I will reiterate we seem to prefer the optional one by the door to the standard placement. Though my wife feels she will prefer the standard spot to work from more. Time will tell.

 

[TRAMPER]

Yep. built by Bison Overland - was originally supposed to be a composite build, but after multiple delays, switched to aluminum just to get the thing done. Seems to be a very solid, overly built camper - some build quality issues, but nothing I haven't been able to sort out myself so far. Still a long way to go on it, as I only ordered it as a bare shell, so interior build out is on me to do, and just trying to find time in evenings/weekends to make progress on it.

I think that’s the second time I’ve heard in this thread that Bison is a little slow, and working through some build quality issues. They seem very robust however and as you said you’re doing all the finishing so that’s on you. Please keep us updated, I’d love to see more of those Bison’s information seems to be pretty limited right now.

 

[TRAMPER]

My retirement home. Host mammoth.

Man that is Mammoth alright!! Wow! I see your on a Dually, 350? Or something bigger? What’s your total weight rolling down the road with that beast??????

 

[Bmwm51]

Here is mine. Truck has a DBL Designs Single Rear Wheel Conversion. Tires are Continental MPT81 365/80R20. Truck camper is an Adventure 901SB. We love the setup and use it often.

 

[TRAMPER]

Here is mine. Truck has a DBL Designs Single Rear Wheel Conversion. Tires are Continental MPT81 365/80R20. Truck camper is an Adventure 901SB. We love the setup and use it often.

What an absolute beast!!! Nice.

 

[GeoffH]

Man that is Mammoth alright!! Wow! I see your on a Dually, 350? Or something bigger? What’s your total weight rolling down the road with that beast??????

What an absolute beast!!! Nice.

yes its a 350DRW. Camper is 4000lbs wet. 480Ah Lithium 3000w inverter 3x175w solar, 60lbs propane, 65 gallons water

 

[TRAMPER]

yes its a 350DRW. Camper is 4000lbs wet. 480Ah Lithium 3000w inverter 3x175w solar, 60lbs propane, 65 gallons water

So, it’s your camper and I’m not saying I don’t believe you but 4000lbs wet is WAY less than I would have guessed. Have you ever weighed on a CAT scale? I weighed my truck before I just put my camper on and I’m planning on weighing it at the next scale I see. Seems like they are always so much more than I think. Mine has an actual dry weight of 1617lbs I’m guessing it’s well over 2000 packed up. Only thing I won’t know is weight with water since I’m keeping it empty while it’s below freezing. But i am carrying the four reico jacks in the back seat which I won’t carry normally any they’re pretty heavy. Either way have fun with your retirement home!! Hope you’re somewhere warm now.

Oh, and since this thread is generally to help others out, did you do any suspension mods to the truck? Bags? Larger swat bar? Nothing like that to handle that monster?

 

[PJPVI]

For anyone who geeks out on the small stuff…

View attachment 136345
View attachment 136346
First pic is the fuse block and breakers, i totally dig how they waterjet cut the words into the plate. Second pic is what’s behind the first plate. It folds down to show the guts behind it. I have 4 100Ah Battleborn batteries in mine. Two below this set of wires and two in the opposite side. I really like the attention to detail in this camper.

After just having finished (at least 98% finished) my electrical build, I greatly appreciate this stuff. Organizing and routing all the components and wire in a camper build is a MUCH larger task than I had expected. So many hours working in tight spaces and doing my best to keep it all organized.

I remember when I visited SuperTramp campers a year ago and they told me the price for one of their campers I mentioned that it sounded really expensive to me. Now that I am nearing the end of my own build and I know how much labor goes into one of these I can say that the price they quoted then was actually a very fair price especially for the level of quality their product appears to be.

 

[TRAMPER]

 

[TRAMPER]

Spot for the night. Got to try the rear amber area light in the back tonight and we have the front window open and the rear fan cranking to air it out.

Actually had pretty bad condensation the last couple nights…. Which I guess is to be expected when you’re camping below freezing and running a heater when all the windows closed. Last night it really showed but we woke up to complete fog and probably 100% humidity at 36 degrees. We flipped the mattress and dried it out but it made me think a Froli is definitely in our future.

 

[TRAMPER]

After just having finished (at least 98% finished) my electrical build, I greatly appreciate this stuff. Organizing and routing all the components and wire in a camper build is a MUCH larger task than I had expected. So many hours working in tight spaces and doing my best to keep it all organized.

I remember when I visited SuperTramp campers a year ago and they told me the price for one of their campers I mentioned that it sounded really expensive to me. Now that I am nearing the end of my own build and I know how much labor goes into one of these I can say that the price they quoted then was actually a very fair price especially for the level of quality their product appears to be.

So…. Yes the ST is very very expensive…. No way around it. Talking to them, looking at the shop and methods they are using and looking at every other camper I could find I can say with confidence they are building there campers how they want regardless of price. If it’s the best it’s what they use without thought to cost. It’s kind of an interesting idea because obviously there’s a market for it. In fact when visiting the shop Kelsey told me they had an order for one headed straight to Dubai. I hope for their sake the economy stays good and there is always a market for these campers. It seems like they are investing heavy in there process and into the Megatron too. I wish them years of success, maybe it’s the Bear in me but I always worry about a market shift.

 

[TRAMPER]

Before.

and after….

Finally got a chance to jump on a CAT scale with the camper onboard. Looks like I have near 50/50 weight distribution now, which makes this basically a sports car now right? Either way I found it interesting, clearly an F250, especially gas, would be plenty to haul this camper around even in a heavy configuration like I got. Still no regrets on the bigger payload for me. You never know what the future holds.

Both weights were with two people on board and the gas tank 100% full. Only thing missing is there is no water in the tank on the camper but all four jacks are in the back seat.

 

[Chadx]

Great info. Remind me your pickup's max gross again? I think you saod your payload was over 4k. But what was gross? I'm looking forward to seeing max payload and max gross on my F250 Lariat. Think I'll have leeway, though will be a lot closer than you.

 

[TRAMPER]

11,499 GVWR Payload 4214lbs. Its stout.

Great info. Remind me your pickup's max gross again? I think you saod your payload was over 4k. But what was gross? I'm looking forward to seeing max payload and max gross on my F250 Lariat. Think I'll have leeway, though will be a lot closer than you.

 

[Chris-DTA]

View attachment 136439
Before.
View attachment 136440
and after….

Finally got a chance to jump on a CAT scale with the camper onboard. Looks like I have near 50/50 weight distribution now, which makes this basically a sports car now right? Either way I found it interesting, clearly an F250, especially gas, would be plenty to haul this camper around even in a heavy configuration like I got. Still no regrets on the bigger payload for me. You never know what the future holds.

Both weights were with two people on board and the gas tank 100% full. Only thing missing is there is no water in the tank on the camper but all four jacks are in the back seat.

Ha, I should do that too one day. Thanks for sharing. How is the camper doing?

 

[TRAMPER]

Ha, I should do that too one day. Thanks for sharing. How is the camper doing?

Yeah, I think it’s worth while just to know. The camper is amazing. We’re crashing in a buddies driveway in TN tonight!