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

[Blade420Play🔪🏆]

This is the one I bought. Amazon: Bullshark Bond Black 3M Heavy Duty 1 Inch Double Sided Tape.

Awesome! Thanks

 

[Chadx]

I used VHB tape to install a rigid 180watt panel on my last camper. I used 8 brackets rather than 4 for extra piece of mind. Cleaned meticulously (washed then alcohol wipes). VHB taped all the brackets down. After, I covered each bracket with Sikaflex-221 to keep the water and UV away from the tape. I also put a small cable tether on it just to make sure that the panel wouldn't fly off and hurt anyone/anything when flying down the interstate. Never had any issues. I could grab onto the panel and pull on it HARD and the brackets would flex before the tape even thought of letting loose.
I've done my own solar panels on last two campers and the first one, I built and added my own battery monitor, solar controller, shunt, etc. It's really interesting stuff and once you dig into the basics, easy to understand and size your system and install.

Many brands of similar, but I used:
3M 5952 VHB Tape: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BU7038A?ref_=pe_386300_601707960_DDT_E_DDE_dt_1
Sika Sikaflex-221 polyurethane sealant/adhesive: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O9VFLRS?ref_=pe_386300_601707960_DDT_E_DDE_dt_1&th=1

​

 

[rwalk]

Also posted this in the OEV thread on Expo, but this thread seems a lot more active, so hoping to get some feedback here as well:

Anyone put a Trasharoo style bag on their rear molle? Preferably the smaller driver side panel.

I ordered a Napa version as it was cheaper and had great reviews - turns out its huge and will be tough to make work on that panel. Saw a non-camper related post about this model stating that it is a nice compact size. Seems like it could work well, but thought I'd get some ideas from others before I waste more money.

I understand the concerns about carrying trash on the outside of a vehicle with bears, critters, etc - for me, this would be used much more frequently for firewood, so also open to better options for carrying wood on the outside of the camper.

Separately, looking for storage bag ideas for the 3 step Little Giant. I measured the ladder out to be roughly 44x22x4, so seems like 48x24x6 or so would be the ideal bag. So far I've found that 48x24 is the standard size of a cornhole set bag and seems like a good solution, but again want to get some other ideas, especially something more durable and weatherproof for putting the ladder away wet and dirty.

 

[TRAMPER]

Also posted this in the OEV thread on Expo, but this thread seems a lot more active, so hoping to get some feedback here as well:

Anyone put a Trasharoo style bag on their rear molle? Preferably the smaller driver side panel.

I ordered a Napa version as it was cheaper and had great reviews - turns out its huge and will be tough to make work on that panel. Saw a non-camper related post about this model stating that it is a nice compact size. Seems like it could work well, but thought I'd get some ideas from others before I waste more money.

I understand the concerns about carrying trash on the outside of a vehicle with bears, critters, etc - for me, this would be used much more frequently for firewood, so also open to better options for carrying wood on the outside of the camper.

Separately, looking for storage bag ideas for the 3 step Little Giant. I measured the ladder out to be roughly 44x22x4, so seems like 48x24x6 or so would be the ideal bag. So far I've found that 48x24 is the standard size of a cornhole set bag and seems like a good solution, but again want to get some other ideas, especially something more durable and weatherproof for putting the ladder away wet and dirty.

By far the best one I've ever seen was over on the Expo Portal thread:

The Alu-Cab Khaya thread, share and ask

Rin started a Canopy Camper thread that’s pretty active, there is a fair amount of crossover with the Khaya, but it is distinct enough for its own thread. Share your experiences, ask questions. They aren’t widely dispersed in the US and I can’t be the only one in the US with a Khaya on a Ranger.

forum.expeditionportal.com

Post number 6 by Boltripper. He made it himself but it seems to be the perfect solution for what you're talking about. His is/was on the back of his Khaya which I think he's sold now. Maybe contact him for details?

My first though would be to put L-Track on your Molle panel, horizontally. That would allow you to use eye bolts and carbiner to mount pretty much any back that was the right size back there.

I was going to mention how silly an idea storing trash on the outside of your camper was (I honestly never understood it) but you covered that pretty well, and the firewood thing makes a lot more sense. I'll also say it's sad, but I've given up on fires, since about 2018 I haven't had a proper campfire, wow that is sad, but carrying a fire pit and propane has not only been infinitely easier and more space efficient compared to wood, my wife has grown to greatly prefer it because her hair doesn't smell like smoke for a week... I digress.

I recently found this:

Large Camp Seatback Trash Tube

Hanging camp trash bag holder for any vehicle. Easily hang from seat back, table, molle panel, and more. Retention rings holds liner bag in place and full-length zipper makes for frustration-free removal WHEN you overstuff it. Available in two sizes.

radiusoutfitters.com

That along with this:

Lid for Trash Tubes

NOTE: You can order a Trash Tube + Lid together by clicking on the links below and selecting the "WITH LID" option from the drop-down: Large Trash Tube Small Trash Tube If you already own a Trash Tube and just need the lid, then this is the correct page to order the LID ONLY from. What's...

radiusoutfitters.com

I think would make the perfect inside trash container, at least in my camper that has a L-Track mount on the "kitchen" wall off to the side.

I'll look some more into smaller trash containers, this Blue Ridge one always looked good.

Tire Storage Bag | Limited Run

The Tire Storage Bag using that unused space on you tire. to store all that stuff you don't want in side the truck.

www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com

Check them out it seems like with a full Molle back it would mount easily to your campers panel.

Final option might be to forget about hanging something big and heavy off the back of your camper that can be easily stolen and just get a heavy duty tote bag and fill it with wood and put it in your camper or truck back seat. Might be easier and probably carry a heck of a lot more.

Large Gear Tote [Radius Outfitters]

A good bag is a key for living in a small area like a van. Without the ability to properly "unpack" your clothes as you would at home, an open-top bag like the Large Gear Tote is perfect. An open-top bag allows you to store your clothes and other gear while accessing it more easily than a...

owlvans.com

Ok, now I've got to check out stair carriers...

 

[TRAMPER]

Also posted this in the OEV thread on Expo, but this thread seems a lot more active, so hoping to get some feedback here as well:

Anyone put a Trasharoo style bag on their rear molle? Preferably the smaller driver side panel.

I ordered a Napa version as it was cheaper and had great reviews - turns out its huge and will be tough to make work on that panel. Saw a non-camper related post about this model stating that it is a nice compact size. Seems like it could work well, but thought I'd get some ideas from others before I waste more money.

I understand the concerns about carrying trash on the outside of a vehicle with bears, critters, etc - for me, this would be used much more frequently for firewood, so also open to better options for carrying wood on the outside of the camper.

Separately, looking for storage bag ideas for the 3 step Little Giant. I measured the ladder out to be roughly 44x22x4, so seems like 48x24x6 or so would be the ideal bag. So far I've found that 48x24 is the standard size of a cornhole set bag and seems like a good solution, but again want to get some other ideas, especially something more durable and weatherproof for putting the ladder away wet and dirty.

I did some googling, I think you solved it, those cornhole board bags look perfect, I looked for heavy duty, and weatherproof but nothing really came up, but i'm sure the one you looked at would be more than sufficient to try out.

Other option is a company like the above mentioned Blue Ridge Overland may make you a custom bag, and if you tell them the usage and explain the idea and how many people are using these ladders for camping it may be something they may want to add as a stocked item. Seems like there would definitely be some demand.

 

[TRAMPER]

Also posted this in the OEV thread on Expo, but this thread seems a lot more active, so hoping to get some feedback here as well:

Anyone put a Trasharoo style bag on their rear molle? Preferably the smaller driver side panel.

I ordered a Napa version as it was cheaper and had great reviews - turns out its huge and will be tough to make work on that panel. Saw a non-camper related post about this model stating that it is a nice compact size. Seems like it could work well, but thought I'd get some ideas from others before I waste more money.

I understand the concerns about carrying trash on the outside of a vehicle with bears, critters, etc - for me, this would be used much more frequently for firewood, so also open to better options for carrying wood on the outside of the camper.

Separately, looking for storage bag ideas for the 3 step Little Giant. I measured the ladder out to be roughly 44x22x4, so seems like 48x24x6 or so would be the ideal bag. So far I've found that 48x24 is the standard size of a cornhole set bag and seems like a good solution, but again want to get some other ideas, especially something more durable and weatherproof for putting the ladder away wet and dirty.

Finally, let's see some pics of this thing!!!!!

Need more OEV's over here!

 

[rwalk]

Thank you! That Blue Ridge bag seems like it would be great, especially with the webbing back - much better for mounting on a panel compared to the tire carrier buckle straps. I'll have to reach out to see if they're planning to restock soon.

You're probably right about adding L track for a more versatile mount - I considered something like that as well as making a backing panel to mount a bag to that would then mount to L track/molle nuts rather than trying to clip the tire carrier bag around the molle panel. Just trying to come up with the strongest system to avoid fabric/straps ripping when this bag is flopping on the back of the camper while driving down a trail or washboard road.

Agreed on the cornhole bag, after an exhaustive search it seems to be the best option without spending the money on custom. I'm sure it'll hold up just fine as well, and could be replaced multiple times for the cost of any high end bag.

I'll have to get the pictures my girlfriend took when we picked up the truck and camper a few weeks ago, this is the only one I have. Camper is currently off the truck while I tear the truck apart for a bunch of mods (lighting, winch, etc).

I-17 was shut down just north of Phoenix due to an accident, so checked out maps and found an alternate route on some dirt to bypass the closure. Drove across the median to backtrack to the nearest exit and tested out the Tremor! Instantly worth the very expensive investment

This is my first foray into a truck camper, spent the last few years camping in the bed of my F-150 with an ARE shell, decked drawer system and tri-fold mattress, so looking forward to moving up in the world! I considered a Supertramp, had reached out to the one used unit that was for sale a couple months ago, as well as considering buying a February build slot off somebody, but after consideration decided that I couldn't justify an extra $30k for the Supertramp at this point in time, as much as I love everything about them.

 

[Chadx]

You're probably right about adding L track for a more versatile mount - I considered something like that as well as making a backing panel to mount a bag to that would then mount to L track/molle nuts rather than trying to clip the tire carrier bag around the molle panel.

Besides the L track options, buried somewhere in our huge OEV CAMP-X thread on Exp Portal is the guy that made up a bunch of adapters for use with the OEV molle, that allow you to bolt in mounts to the OEV molle. Might be an option.

 

[Chadx]

...
I'll also say it's sad, but I've given up on fires, since about 2018 I haven't had a proper campfire, wow that is sad, but carrying a fire pit and propane has not only been infinitely easier and more space efficient compared to wood, my wife has grown to greatly prefer it because her hair doesn't smell like smoke for a week... I digress.
...

We rarely make a fire. Beside my not enjoying the smoke, it eliminates the need to ensure it is thoroughly out before bed (necessary in the dry areas we frequent to prevent forest fires). Many don't do an adequate job of putting out a fire because if you do, it uses either vast amounts of water and a shovel and stir until coals are cool to the touch, or shovel in sand and then clean out the fire pit afterwards. We all too often pull into dispersed camping spots with hot coals in a fire ring and no one has been there for a day plus.

Not building a fire is in contrast to the fact that I love to build fires and like watching a fire. But, we are early to bed and early to rise and so in the summer, by the time it's dark, we are long asleep. Ha. And we've probably had a pretty active day so by the time we clean up and eat, odds are that we'll have only an hour or less to sit around and relax before bed. When we do build one, it's a little dink of a fire burning small, quick-burning wood to keep it hot which eliminates smoke and also eliminates the issue of cooling a huge pile of hot embers when done.

 

[rwalk]

Besides the L track options, buried somewhere in our huge OEV CAMP-X thread on Exp Portal is the guy that made up a bunch of adapters for use with the OEV molle, that allow you to bolt in mounts to the OEV molle. Might be an option.

I did purchase an assortment of the OEV molle nuts off of him, just need to find the best way to utilize them! Although I do wish they were tapped for larger bolts than M6 - seems silly to be limited to such small hardware. I may modify a few myself if I decide to use them for a task like this.

 

[TRAMPER]

We rarely make a fire. Beside my not enjoying the smoke, it eliminates the need to ensure it is thoroughly out before bed (necessary in the dry areas we frequent to prevent forest fires). Many don't do an adequate job of putting out a fire because if you do, it uses either vast amounts of water and a shovel and stir until coals are cool to the touch, or shovel in sand and then clean out the fire pit afterwards. We all too often pull into dispersed camping spots with hot coals in a fire ring and no one has been there for a day plus.

Not building a fire is in contrast to the fact that I love to build fires and like watching a fire. But, we are early to bed and early to rise and so in the summer, by the time it's dark, we are long asleep. Ha. And we've probably had a pretty active day so by the time we clean up and eat, odds are that we'll have only an hour or less to sit around and relax before bed. When we do build one, it's a little dink of a fire burning small, quick-burning wood to keep it hot which eliminates smoke and also eliminates the issue of cooling a huge pile of hot embers when done.

Same here…. We got out of the habit of making fires after camping in a few places that it wasn’t allowed and it seemingly simplifies a lot to do when camping and as you said speeds things up and saves tons of water. I do miss the crackling of a real wood fire but I’m not sure we will go back anytime soon. Too many burn bans and even without one too much risk when your in the back country.

 

[Dos Hijas Ranch]

Yeah @Dos Hijas Ranch if I remember right. I pinged him a while back for some pics but I don’t think he ever posted them up. It happens we all get busy.

So i still haven't had time to grab pics on these but it dawned on me that yall are probably discussing sumos for the rear. I only put them on the front. I just ordered the front ones for an F250. As for the rear, I cant see what would be different between rear springs for a SRW Lariat F350 and our Tremors. Aren't they more or less the same back there?

 

[TRAMPER]

So i still haven't had time to grab pics on these but it dawned on me that yall are probably discussing sumos for the rear. I only put them on the front. I just ordered the front ones for an F250. As for the rear, I cant see what would be different between rear springs for a SRW Lariat F350 and our Tremors. Aren't they more or less the same back there?

Front would be GREAT!!

I actually don’t think the Tremors are the same as a standard truck. I think that gave a large block for added lift. Rears would be great too if anyone has them!

 

[TRAMPER]

I did purchase an assortment of the OEV molle nuts off of him, just need to find the best way to utilize them! Although I do wish they were tapped for larger bolts than M6 - seems silly to be limited to such small hardware. I may modify a few myself if I decide to use them for a task like this.

This is grabbed off the expo thread. Seems like L-track would be a good way to spread the load over a much larger area/ more bolts for something heavy like wood.

 

[TRAMPER]

We rarely make a fire. Beside my not enjoying the smoke, it eliminates the need to ensure it is thoroughly out before bed (necessary in the dry areas we frequent to prevent forest fires). Many don't do an adequate job of putting out a fire because if you do, it uses either vast amounts of water and a shovel and stir until coals are cool to the touch, or shovel in sand and then clean out the fire pit afterwards. We all too often pull into dispersed camping spots with hot coals in a fire ring and no one has been there for a day plus.

Not building a fire is in contrast to the fact that I love to build fires and like watching a fire. But, we are early to bed and early to rise and so in the summer, by the time it's dark, we are long asleep. Ha. And we've probably had a pretty active day so by the time we clean up and eat, odds are that we'll have only an hour or less to sit around and relax before bed. When we do build one, it's a little dink of a fire burning small, quick-burning wood to keep it hot which eliminates smoke and also eliminates the issue of cooling a huge pile of hot embers when done.

I did purchase an assortment of the OEV molle nuts off of him, just need to find the best way to utilize them! Although I do wish they were tapped for larger bolts than M6 - seems silly to be limited to such small hardware. I may modify a few myself if I decide to use them for a task like this.

I just read basically that entire OEV thread over in Expo. Idk why stuff like this just fascinates me.

Anyway I was looking at your campers and brainstorming. Looks like some super interesting ideas over there for the OEV stuff.

Anyway @rwalk after talking about your little giant steps your other option would be to set those aside and use them around the house and switch to something like the Easy Hitch Step that I detailed a few pages back.

I was originally going to use a little giant at the recommendation of lots of people and even the Supertramp builders but after researching and think I just didn’t want to carry bulky dirty steps around.

I ordered these for my camper/ Tremor. They fold up small are super stable and you don’t need to carry them.

I had to add the 4th step to mine which aside from cost has no real negatives. I don’t think the OEV has the same basement so you might not need them.

Anyway just a thought for a different path. Unless I end up towing or crawling with my camper I can’t see these ever coming off.

 

[Dos Hijas Ranch]

Front would be GREAT!!

I actually don’t think the Tremors are the same as a standard truck. I think that gave a large block for added lift. Rears would be great too if anyone has them!

I apologize for them being sideways. When I upload them they turn sideways.

Good to know on the rear blocks. Didn't realize that.

 

[TRAMPER]

View attachment 137430View attachment 137431
I apologize for them being sideways. When I upload them they turn sideways.

Good to know on the rear blocks. Didn't realize that.

Fixed. No problem thank you sooooo much!!!

 

[TRAMPER]

View attachment 137430View attachment 137431
I apologize for them being sideways. When I upload them they turn sideways.

Good to know on the rear blocks. Didn't realize that.

So those are much more compressed than I would have guessed. In your estimation from new what percent compressed are they? I think with Sumo’s you’re supposed to stay less than 50%, maybe?

Zooming in perhaps not. They’re just resting with the first section compressed? Idk? Either way they look great and that’s exactly what I wanted to see!!

 

[TRAMPER]

For anyone curious about the rear blocks, at least on a 2023 F350 (YESSSSS I know they’re all the same) here’s a few pics of mine I took while trying to figure out if Sumos would work.

 

[Dos Hijas Ranch]

They are more or less resting. They make the ride incredible with the bumper and I had them on for about 2 weeks before I had the bumper installed and it was hardly noticeable. You won't regret it. Great addition.