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

[jayPDX]

Not sure if you mentioned it - is that the OEV HBE?

Nope. It's shell built by Bison Overland. I don't think Drew over at Bison is going to do any more pop tops now though, looks like on his website he's only listing hardsides.

 

[PJPVI]

Nope. It's shell built by Bison Overland. I don't think Drew over at Bison is going to do any more pop tops now though, looks like on his website he's only listing hardsides.

Yes, it's a Bison and I think you are correct that he is only doing hard side units going forward. He has certainly struggled in settling on a business model and product. Perhaps with his new kit vendor he will make a go of it. Unfortunately he seems to have "figured it out" after he cancelled my hard side order and I switched to a pop top. I'm embracing the pop top though and plan to create many good memories in it!

 

[gmoon]

Anyone have their truck registered as a company/commercial vehicle? We have ours plated to a Montana LLC but because its been stationary and secure in my shop, I havent switch it over to commercial yet. Having commercial insurance on a few vans, the pricing has been RIDICULOUS.

Has anyone here with a permanently mounted camper (perhaps the tray/supertamps could count too) retitled as an RV? We do this with sprinters all the time and its very simple.

Also worried about my camper still given it has no VIN, etc. I have had progressive for years and they have been great but I think State Farm and AAA is out next step based on your comments above, which I thank you for!

@TRAMPER I actually have a little giant 4 step here.. with a spacer on the bottom it could work and is certainly cost effective but I dont LOVE it. My pup is getting old and I am really worried about her getting in and out 3-4 times a day for a 4-12 months coming up soon. I am going to check out OEV's dealer in Reno to check out their solution but the pricing is absurd. If we are to design a set solution, I will try to make it also work for the truck cab.

Looks like @Chris-DTA has had good success with his Torklift for him and the pup.. Maybe I got a weird unit, but the one I received was kind of "janky" and was heavy enough that my admittedly tiny spouse couldn't really lift it. The main killer was not being able to store it in the tray's rear pull-out drawer, which would mean it needs to live inside the camper.

I need to realize I cant have it all.....

 

[Chris-DTA]

Anyone have their truck registered as a company/commercial vehicle? We have ours plated to a Montana LLC but because its been stationary and secure in my shop, I havent switch it over to commercial yet. Having commercial insurance on a few vans, the pricing has been RIDICULOUS.

Has anyone here with a permanently mounted camper (perhaps the tray/supertamps could count too) retitled as an RV? We do this with sprinters all the time and its very simple.

Also worried about my camper still given it has no VIN, etc. I have had progressive for years and they have been great but I think State Farm and AAA is out next step based on your comments above, which I thank you for!

@TRAMPER I actually have a little giant 4 step here.. with a spacer on the bottom it could work and is certainly cost effective but I dont LOVE it. My pup is getting old and I am really worried about her getting in and out 3-4 times a day for a 4-12 months coming up soon. I am going to check out OEV's dealer in Reno to check out their solution but the pricing is absurd. If we are to design a set solution, I will try to make it also work for the truck cab.

Looks like @Chris-DTA has had good success with his Torklift for him and the pup.. Maybe I got a weird unit, but the one I received was kind of "janky" and was heavy enough that my admittedly tiny spouse couldn't really lift it. The main killer was not being able to store it in the tray's rear pull-out drawer, which would mean it needs to live inside the camper.

I need to realize I cant have it all.....

The Torklift stepladder is heavy. My guess would be that it is somewhere in the mid-30 lbs range. I have to store it inside the camper which is not a big deal for me, but yeah - for a woman or a smaller person that would be a big challenge.

Would love to learn more about how to retitle a vehicle and what is involved. Can you share from your experience or point to a good resource?

 

[gmoon]

@Chris-DTA sure thing. This blog post outlines the process. Note, this particular article and the (Form REG 256A) mentioned in the post is ONLY applicable the state of California. We have only used these for vans but again, I think there is something there.

Again, with the vans, the DMV pretty much just wants to do a visual inspection to confirm the van is no longer a plumbing, HVAC, or other commercial vehicle. In addition to the basic visual inspection, they will see it has water, power, bed, sometimes toilet. A random combination of those are required. With your traybed installation like mine, the camper should be explained as "permanently installed" and that should help the situation. Let me know how your process goes.

Dreading the insurance part..

 

[TRAMPER]

Anyone have their truck registered as a company/commercial vehicle? We have ours plated to a Montana LLC but because its been stationary and secure in my shop, I havent switch it over to commercial yet. Having commercial insurance on a few vans, the pricing has been RIDICULOUS.

Has anyone here with a permanently mounted camper (perhaps the tray/supertamps could count too) retitled as an RV? We do this with sprinters all the time and its very simple.

Also worried about my camper still given it has no VIN, etc. I have had progressive for years and they have been great but I think State Farm and AAA is out next step based on your comments above, which I thank you for!

@TRAMPER I actually have a little giant 4 step here.. with a spacer on the bottom it could work and is certainly cost effective but I dont LOVE it. My pup is getting old and I am really worried about her getting in and out 3-4 times a day for a 4-12 months coming up soon. I am going to check out OEV's dealer in Reno to check out their solution but the pricing is absurd. If we are to design a set solution, I will try to make it also work for the truck cab.

Looks like @Chris-DTA has had good success with his Torklift for him and the pup.. Maybe I got a weird unit, but the one I received was kind of "janky" and was heavy enough that my admittedly tiny spouse couldn't really lift it. The main killer was not being able to store it in the tray's rear pull-out drawer, which would mean it needs to live inside the camper.

I need to realize I cant have it all.....

My truck is registered Commercial but it’s more a function of GVWR in NY than being used for business purposes. Not effect on anything here.

@gmoon you’re a patient man. I would have bought the OEV steps a long time ago if I were you. I’m also shocked your camper isn’t serialized. I wonder if you could just engrave it with a number, like which number it was imported. When I bought my GFC they weren’t serialized (not sure if they are now or not) but when I ensured it I told my insurance agent it was #41 because it was the 41st one made. They didn’t seem to care….

 

[gmoon]

@TRAMPER finishing the interior, a crazy amount of travel, and an acquisition have pushed a lot of things back.. such as this step dilemma, date nights, and a lot more that is getting me in to trouble...

Oh, and we are are launching another company to do overland drawer systems for SUVs, trucks, etc.

Thank god I have no kids yet...

 

[PJPVI]

Just left AAA. I don't know the cost yet but he needs a SN for the camper shell just to give it an identification number (I had Bison create a SN on the final invoice even though it isn't stamped on the camper anywhere) and all the receipts to justify a declared value. I guess that's my homework for this morning. I'm afraid to actually know how much this beast has cost me.

 

[PJPVI]

Has anyone here with a permanently mounted camper (perhaps the tray/supertamps could count too) retitled as an RV? We do this with sprinters all the time and its very simple.

I have contemplated this as I know I'm going to have to do a little convincing to get a TIP (Temporary Import Permit) for the truck camper for Mexico. Technically, I won't qualify being over 7716 lbs and being registered commercial. I'll try at Mexicali when I enter and if that doesn't work it sounds like a few folks have been successful at the ferry terminal in La Paz before hopping a ferry to Mazatlan.

If it was registered as a RV (or Truck Camper in CA) it technically shouldn't be a problem to get the TIP.

Sorry, there I go down the Mexico rabbit hole again. Where's the Mexico travel thread?

 

[PJPVI]

To close out the insurance discussion on my side. I finished my "what did my camper actually cost" and it came in just shy of $70K. Only about $20k over what I originally thought it would be when I started thinking of this project a couple years ago. I provided all receipts to AAA and it will be $662 a year with $500 deductible. It doesn't shock me or make me happy. It just is what it is. That box is checked.

With the little bit of time I had left today I managed to do a hack job to fit my rotting Trasharoo on the back of the camper for 1 last trip before it completely disintegrates.

 

[TRAMPER]

To close out the insurance discussion on my side. I finished my "what did my camper actually cost" and it came in just shy of $70K. Only about $20k over what I originally thought it would be when I started thinking of this project a couple years ago. I provided all receipts to AAA and it will be $662 a year with $500 deductible. It doesn't shock me or make me happy. It just is what it is. That box is checked.

With the little bit of time I had left today I managed to do a hack job to fit my rotting Trasharoo on the back of the camper for 1 last trip before it completely disintegrates.

View attachment 140092

Seems very reasonable to me.

 

[jayPDX]

I guess I do! And, yes, it is nearly perfectly level. My first drive back to my house and again back to the shed (my work shop) I still had the rear adjustable King shocks on full soft. It was REALLY soft with the camper on. Adjusted them to full firm setting and it is really nice now. I do get suspension "bucking" at slower speeds that I do not like and not sure what is causing it. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

I took a couple pics today of the awning deployed.

View attachment 139985View attachment 139986View attachment 139990

what's the round item in the flatbed, between the drawer and teh passenger side rear storage box?

 

[TRAMPER]

what's the round item in the flatbed, between the drawer and teh passenger side rear storage box?

I’m gonna take a stab and say diesel fuel tank for a heater?


Never mind just looked at the other picture. I bet it’s an air tank… diesel tank is on the drivers side.

 

[PJPVI]

what's the round item in the flatbed, between the drawer and teh passenger side rear storage box?

Diesel tank (~2.5 gallon) on back left of camper for heater. Four gallon air tank is visible when the drawer is opened on the right side with ARB twin compressor under the hood.

It's funny that I have so many energy sources on this. Diesel for the air heater, small propane tank for my grill (I cook on that nearly every night when on a trip), gas for the truck, and electric for induction cook top, water heater, and whatever else needs electric power.

 

[jayPDX]

Diesel tank (~2.5 gallon) on back left of camper for heater. Four gallon air tank is visible when the drawer is opened on the right side with ARB twin compressor under the hood.

It's funny that I have so many energy sources on this. Diesel for the air heater, small propane tank for my grill (I cook on that nearly every night when on a trip), gas for the truck, and electric for induction cook top, water heater, and whatever else needs electric power.

Awesome. Nice spot for the air tank - might copy that. Gonna have to find a spot for propane too. I'm going to use a gas heater, so at least won't need a diesel tank (will pull directly off of my truck tank).

 

[PJPVI]

Awesome. Nice spot for the air tank - might copy that. Gonna have to find a spot for propane too. I'm going to use a gas heater, so at least won't need a diesel tank (will pull directly off of my truck tank).

Thanks! I'm really happy with my air system layout on the truck. Similar but better layout than the van was.

My original thought was that I wanted to have the camper completely self sufficient from the truck as I had dreams of dropping it off the truck when I'm at that perfect spot for an extended period of time. Based on many factors with this camper I've abandoned that idea so if I was starting from scratch again I'd be looking at a gas heater fed from the truck as well.

 

[TRAMPER]

Can you all do me a favor?

Put a picture of your camper in the little box that shows who you are????

Hahahaha. I’m kidding don’t do that for me, but I keep trying to remember whether we are talking about a Supertramp, Bison, 50TEN, OEV, or something else lol.

There are so many cool campers on this thread.

 

[TRAMPER]

Thanks! I'm really happy with my air system layout on the truck. Similar but better layout than the van was.

My original thought was that I wanted to have the camper completely self sufficient from the truck as I had dreams of dropping it off the truck when I'm at that perfect spot for an extended period of time. Based on many factors with this camper I've abandoned that idea so if I was starting from scratch again I'd be looking at a gas heater fed from the truck as well.

Hahaha. Thank you!!! Now I will remember you have the badass pop top Bison!

 

[PJPVI]

Another question for all of you truck camper types. What are you carrying for a jack? I always carried a bottle jack and two jack stands in the van (I had a tool basement with a garage full of tools in the van) but I'd rather not carry all of that in the truck. I'm going to verify that the stock jack can lift the rear of the truck with the weight of the camper on. Just curious if you guys have thought about this and what, if anything, you have different from the stock jack.

 

[TRAMPER]

Another question for all of you truck camper types. What are you carrying for a jack? I always carried a bottle jack and two jack stands in the van (I had a tool basement with a garage full of tools in the van) but I'd rather not carry all of that in the truck. I'm going to verify that the stock jack can lift the rear of the truck with the weight of the camper on. Just curious if you guys have thought about this and what, if anything, you have different from the stock jack.

So currently I only have the stock jack in my truck, my plan however, before any trips start is a 4T hydraulic bottle jack with some attachment things to help it rest on the axle. I’ll see if I can find the stuff I’m talking about and post it it.