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

[TRAMPER]

Back to camper stuff.

Finally got my awning installed. I've lost a lot of sleep about how to attach this to the composite camper. With the rear windows mounted so high I needed to elevate the awning a bit higher. I started building my own brackets but wasn't happy with how that was going then found some from The Bush Company that where (almost) exactly what I needed. I reinforced with an oversized ¼" aluminum plate on the outside and ¼" plastic plate on the inside both of which are Sikaflex "bonded" to the composite wall. Two of those and another attachment point at the rear of the camper that I forgot to take a picture of yesterday. It appears to be rock solid. Three months of Mexico driving and use will prove out if it really is. Once I get the camper re-mated with the truck in about a week I get to figure out the logistics of real world deployment of an awning that will be ~9' in the air. I may have to carry another ladder in the flatbed drawer just for that.

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Looks great!! Seems like a solid way to mount it to me. Providing the wall structure is strong I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Awning height is a real issue on some of these campers tall trucks, taller flatbed, and windows and doors to get above. My fear on an awning that high is it would never be used because it’s so high.

I went the other direction with mine, no windows and tracks so I can get an awning at normal height but i don’t even know if I’ll add one or not. My AluCab Khaya had one and we did use it sometimes but i can probably count on two hands how many times we really needed it and that was on a quick set up 270 awning.

I guess our travel style doesn’t really leave us sitting in one place long so an extended camp setup isn’t really useful to us.

I will say my previous camper had an ARB awning with the room attachment. We found that very useful on occasions. It was nice to be able to sit in it at night with friends, of course my camper was smaller back then.

I’ll more than likely just do a shower room on mine, outside toilet, outside shower stuff like that. If i decided I need an awning later I’ll just do it right over the top of the shower cube. Going to use it a bit before deciding.

 

[TRAMPER]

Got my awning installed yesterday as well. For now it’ll sit a few days until the correct solar panels come in. The wrong panels were sent last week, and I opened them two days ago to realize they were much smaller than ordered. However the correct panels are on the way now.

As it sits now with the awning installed.

I’d love to know about those rod holders. Is that the river quiver? I was thinking about doing a two banger but mounting it on the side of my camper rather than the top. Do you think they would work in that orientation?

 

[TX03RUBI]

Looks great!! Seems like a solid way to mount it to me. Providing the wall structure is strong I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Awning height is a real issue on some of these campers tall trucks, taller flatbed, and windows and doors to get above. My fear on an awning that high is it would never be used because it’s so high.

I went the other direction with mine, no windows and tracks so I can get an awning at normal height but i don’t even know if I’ll add one or not. My AluCab Khaya had one and we did use it sometimes but i can probably count on two hands how many times we really needed it and that was on a quick set up 270 awning.

I guess our travel style doesn’t really leave us sitting in one place long so an extended camp setup isn’t really useful to us.

I will say my previous camper had an ARB awning with the room attachment. We found that very useful on occasions. It was nice to be able to sit in it at night with friends, of course my camper was smaller back then.

I’ll more than likely just do a shower room on mine, outside toilet, outside shower stuff like that. If i decided I need an awning later I’ll just do it right over the top of the shower cube. Going to use it a bit before deciding.

I’m in Texas, and we camp a lot in the summer. The awning is invaluable for a getaway out of the hot sun. However when we head north it’s not used near as often. I’ve had a 270 awning on our RTT setup for quite some time, and it’s always the first thing setup when camping here in the south. However it’s only setup depending on weather once we hit some elevation.

 

[TX03RUBI]

I’d love to know about those rod holders. Is that the river quiver? I was thinking about doing a two banger but mounting it on the side of my camper rather than the top. Do you think they would work in that orientation?

These are the Thule versions of the older Denver Outfitters Rod Vault. I bought them on sale last year for anticipation of the camper, but they were just opened a couple of weeks ago. So I don’t really have a ton of feedback on them yet. I can say they feel like a decent option, but but no means theft proof. Just a quick opportunity deterrent, which is about all I can ask of them anyways. My main goal was to keep a 3, 4, 5, and 6 weight ready to go so we can fish some of the quick opportunities presented.

 

[PJPVI]

Looks great!! Seems like a solid way to mount it to me. Providing the wall structure is strong I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Awning height is a real issue on some of these campers tall trucks, taller flatbed, and windows and doors to get above. My fear on an awning that high is it would never be used because it’s so high.

I went the other direction with mine, no windows and tracks so I can get an awning at normal height but i don’t even know if I’ll add one or not. My AluCab Khaya had one and we did use it sometimes but i can probably count on two hands how many times we really needed it and that was on a quick set up 270 awning.

I guess our travel style doesn’t really leave us sitting in one place long so an extended camp setup isn’t really useful to us.

I will say my previous camper had an ARB awning with the room attachment. We found that very useful on occasions. It was nice to be able to sit in it at night with friends, of course my camper was smaller back then.

I’ll more than likely just do a shower room on mine, outside toilet, outside shower stuff like that. If i decided I need an awning later I’ll just do it right over the top of the shower cube. Going to use it a bit before deciding.

I used the Fiamma on my van all the time until it met its fate last year. It was fairly quick to deploy but the gutter mounts on the van simply were not adequate. Height on this one will be an issue for deployment and effectiveness. I guess I need to get some use under my belt to determine if those negatives diminishes its value to me too much. After the Fiamma died I bought a one of those stretchy quick deploy beach shade things before heading to Baja earlier this year and it worked really well for getting me out of the sun, but obviously nothing to keep some of the sun off of the van (and fridge that was just inside the side doors). (sorry, back to Baja again. I'm so excited to get back!)

 

[PJPVI]

Got my awning installed yesterday as well. For now it’ll sit a few days until the correct solar panels come in. The wrong panels were sent last week, and I opened them two days ago to realize they were much smaller than ordered. However the correct panels are on the way now.

As it sits now with the awning installed.

That is a great looking truck!

 

[Gunshotwoundshurt]

Didn't have time to read though 29 pages of posts.....

Who has the 7.3, and what type of MPG do you get with your Slide in Camper loaded. Interested more in those with a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox setup. Thinking about buying one soon.

 

[PJPVI]

Didn't have time to read though 29 pages of posts.....

Who has the 7.3, and what type of MPG do you get with your Slide in Camper loaded. Interested more in those with a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox setup. Thinking about buying one soon.

Not a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox, but on my way coming home from picking up my pop top Bison I was getting about 7 mpg doing 70-75mph into about a 25mph headwind for a couple days.

 

[TX03RUBI]

Didn't have time to read though 29 pages of posts.....

Who has the 7.3, and what type of MPG do you get with your Slide in Camper loaded. Interested more in those with a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox setup. Thinking about buying one soon.

I’ve got 33K miles on a 22’ 7.3 F250 with 2.5” level and 305s. However I’ve got maybe 100 miles with my camper, so I couldn’t really tell you there. Without camper I’m seeing 13.5-14 at 72-75mph, but I drop to 12.5 by 80. I don’t track it in town, but it’s not good.

 

[TRAMPER]

Didn't have time to read though 29 pages of posts.....

Who has the 7.3, and what type of MPG do you get with your Slide in Camper loaded. Interested more in those with a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox setup. Thinking about buying one soon.

11.3 MPG overall with my stock truck on 37’s.

10.7 MPG overall with camper installed.

My camper is a little over 1600lbs but is a pop up which really helps with aerodynamics. I’d expect about 2mpg less with your camper choice.

 

[TX03RUBI]

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11.3 MPG overall with my stock truck on 37’s.
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10.7 MPG overall with camper installed.

My camper is a little over 1600lbs but is a pop up which really helps with aerodynamics. I’d expect about 2mpg less with your camper choice.

FYI I gained about 1 mpg by the time I hit 5-6k miles. I started around 13.5-14 stock, and ended around 14.5-15 before I jumped to 305s.

 

[TRAMPER]

Didn't have time to read though 29 pages of posts.....

Who has the 7.3, and what type of MPG do you get with your Slide in Camper loaded. Interested more in those with a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox setup. Thinking about buying one soon.

Also WELCOME!!! That was your first post on this forum! Thanks for making it with us! Pop a picture of your truck up for us to see!

What are you looking for in a camper? Tons of great choices out there! I think the first page or two has a beautiful Cirus camper that might be of interest.

 

[TRAMPER]

FYI I gained about 1 mpg by the time I hit 5-6k miles. I started around 13.5-14 stock, and ended around 14.5-15 before I jumped to 305s.

Guess I’ll see in Spring I’m right at exactly 5k with my truck parked for winter…. In fact I just scheduled my first “free” complimentary oil change with Ford for the first week of April.

 

[TRAMPER]

I’m in Texas, and we camp a lot in the summer. The awning is invaluable for a getaway out of the hot sun. However when we head north it’s not used near as often. I’ve had a 270 awning on our RTT setup for quite some time, and it’s always the first thing setup when camping here in the south. However it’s only setup depending on weather once we hit some elevation.

I used the Fiamma on my van all the time until it met its fate last year. It was fairly quick to deploy but the gutter mounts on the van simply were not adequate. Height on this one will be an issue for deployment and effectiveness. I guess I need to get some use under my belt to determine if those negatives diminishes its value to me too much. After the Fiamma died I bought a one of those stretchy quick deploy beach shade things before heading to Baja earlier this year and it worked really well for getting me out of the sun, but obviously nothing to keep some of the sun off of the van (and fridge that was just inside the side doors). (sorry, back to Baja again. I'm so excited to get back!)

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Ahahahahahaha. I completely forget sometimes not everyone lives in the gloomy northeast!

As we branch out into the SW you’re all correct I’ll probably find more need for an awning. Tbh it’s so rainy around here even when I put it out for rain protection it was a huge pain to put it back away wet, then dry it back out when I got home. Maybe I’m just soured to the idea due to the gloomy area I live in lol.

 

[TRAMPER]

These are the Thule versions of the older Denver Outfitters Rod Vault. I bought them on sale last year for anticipation of the camper, but they were just opened a couple of weeks ago. So I don’t really have a ton of feedback on them yet. I can say they feel like a decent option, but but no means theft proof. Just a quick opportunity deterrent, which is about all I can ask of them anyways. My main goal was to keep a 3, 4, 5, and 6 weight ready to go so we can fish some of the quick opportunities presented.

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, that’s part of my fear, advertising $1000’s of dollars of rods available for the taking.

I was thinking about doing the 2-banger (as I mentioned) in the Euro model. My thought for having them was just to use them moving from spot to spot not for any long term storage or transport. I fish solo most of the time and just sliding a rod in and moving down the road seems easy, but really is it something i really need? That’s rhetorical BTW.

Judging by your fly rod choices you’re a trout fisherman. If you ever visit the NE hit me up, I try and fish some of the really famous rivers at least a few times a year. The Delaware, the Beaverkill to name a few. I’m not saying I have any special insite or anything but I do have fun!

I guess worst case I can mount them on the side and sticker the hell out of them and look cool hahaha.

TBH fly fishing was a big reason I built this truck I have a dream of completing the Western Native Trout Initiative, which isn’t easy living in NY but I thought this camper would help to facilitate it.

 

[TX03RUBI]

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, that’s part of my fear, advertising $1000’s of dollars of rods available for the taking.

I was thinking about doing the 2-banger (as I mentioned) in the Euro model. My thought for having them was just to use them moving from spot to spot not for any long term storage or transport. I fish solo most of the time and just sliding a rod in and moving down the road seems easy, but really is it something i really need? That’s rhetorical BTW.

Judging by your fly rod choices you’re a trout fisherman. If you ever visit the NE hit me up, I try and fish some of the really famous rivers at least a few times a year. The Delaware, the Beaverkill to name a few. I’m not saying I have any special insite or anything but I do have fun!

I guess worst case I can mount them on the side and sticker the hell out of them and look cool hahaha.

TBH fly fishing was a big reason I built this truck I have a dream of completing the Western Native Trout Initiative, which isn’t easy living in NY but I thought this camper would help to facilitate it.

Yes sir trout has been my passion since I was a young boy 30 years ago. I just got into fly fishing about 17-18 years ago though. I travel a lot for both work and play though. Fortunately for me work takes me to some prime trout habit a few times a year, and being that I make my own schedule I always make sure I have time to play.

I recently picked up a Smithfly Big Shoals raft for some of my favorite waters. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time kayaking and canoeing rivers here in the south, and a decent amount of time kayaking some larger rivers in the NW. I’m a bit hesistant to put myself on larger waters there though. I need to do tons more research before I feel comfortable in the water im putting in on. Handling the boat isn’t the issue. I just don’t want to get on water I’m not comfortable with.

 

[TRAMPER]

Yes sir trout has been my passion since I was a young boy 30 years ago. I just got into fly fishing about 17-18 years ago though. I travel a lot for both work and play though. Fortunately for me work takes me to some prime trout habit a few times a year, and being that I make my own schedule I always make sure I have time to play.

I recently picked up a Smithfly Big Shoals raft for some of my favorite waters. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time kayaking and canoeing rivers here in the south, and a decent amount of time kayaking some larger rivers in the NW. I’m a bit hesistant to put myself on larger waters there though. I need to do tons more research before I feel comfortable in the water im putting in on. Handling the boat isn’t the issue. I just don’t want to get on water I’m not comfortable with.

Same!!!! I’m 44 now, I learned to fly fish from what I would consider an expert. A guy with family roots into Orvis back 60 or more years. He made me cast over and over in his backyard until he felt I was worthy of the River. Pretty much A River Runs Through It style. Than he took me to fish the Farmington (which happened to run through my home town). I caught more fish than I can remember on classic bamboo rods that were probably worth more than the first few cars I owned.

Anyway I lost the bug during college, and while my career was in my focus but have recently come back to it. I still talk to him, he’s in his late 70’s now, and send him pictures of beautiful trout I catch with think you notes for the time he spent with me. I have picked it back up in a big way in the last few years but still don’t get out as much as I wish I could.

This is a truck camper thread but…. I caught all these while using my previous truck camper’s so I don’t feel bad. My tastes tend to be only wild fish and when I can NATIVE fish. All fish or great but there’s just something about a wild native fish that seems right to me.

Just a small spattering from this season and TBH the only notable fish is that 20”+ cutty. I live near some insane Brown and Steehead rivers but I’ve been gravitating toward solitude rather than big fish lately. If I want a 15lb steelhead or a 20lb brown they are within an hours drive. Just not my jam lately.

 

[TX03RUBI]

Same!!!! I’m 44 now, I learned to fly fish from what I would consider an expert. A guy with roots into Orvis back 60 or more years. He made me cast over and over in his backyard until he felt I was worthy of the River. Pretty much A River Runs Through It style. Than he took me to fish the Farmington (which happened to run through my home town). I caught more fish than I can remember on classic bamboo rods that were probably worth more than the first few cars I owned.

Anyway I lost the bug during college, and while my career was in my focus but have recently come back to it. I still talk to him, he’s in his late 70’s now, and send him pictures of beautiful trout I catch with think you notes for the time he spent with me. I have picked it back up in a big way in the last few years but still don’t get out as much as I wish I could.

This is a truck camper thread but…. I caught all these while using my previous truck camper’s so I don’t feel bad. My tastes tend to be only wild fish and when I can NATIVE fish. All fish or great but there’s just something about a wild native fish that seems right to me.

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Just a small spattering from this season and TBH the only notable fish is that 20”+ cutty. I live near some insane Brown and Steehead rivers but I’ve been gravitating toward solitude rather than big fish lately. If I want a 15lb steelhead or a 20lb brown they are within an hours drive. Just not my jam lately.

I’ll take a 12-14” Cutty in solitude all day over a monster steelhead. Unfortunately the last 3-4 years have made that harder and harder to do!

 

[Chris-DTA]

Not a Northern Lite or Arctic Fox, but on my way coming home from picking up my pop top Bison I was getting about 7 mpg doing 70-75mph into about a 25mph headwind for a couple days.

I have a slide-in camper on a flatbed. Just came back from about ~1,000 mile road trip. Averaged 9.3 MPG - but mostly at an elevation of above 4,000 ft. Here at sea-level it is closer to 8 MPG. I usually do not go faster than 70 mph, but also do a lot of off-roading.

 

[Chris-DTA]

Came back from my road trip driving up the US-395 yesterday. Did some off-roading on my way up to Bristlecone Pine Forest. Came to this really steep section of the trail with a very short top before the hill would drop down again. Got a bit nervous because when I slowly climbed up you do not see anything where you are going. At a 14% incline all you see is the sky. I chickened out and did not do the drop down on the other side, but reversed and did a 20-point U-turn . The picture does not do justice how scary (or cool) this looked in real life.