Customized hard-side camper examples

haven

Expedition Leader
Let's use this thread to collect examples of customized hard sided truck campers. Their owners started with commercially available truck chassis and campers, then modified them to significantly improve their capability for overland adventures.

These large campers trade ultimate off-road capability for lots of room, comfort and convenience. They are particularly useful for a traveling family. I'm including the heavy pop-up campers in this section, since they require a stout chassis.

I want to limit this section for vehicles that have customized chassis and/or campers. And I'd like to direct chat about the examples to their respective build threads.

Here's one example of a customized truck camper, designed for adventure travel:

Custom Ford F550 and Lance Camper
Forum member boblynch

boblynchcustom.jpg


Build Thread:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/23173-F550-Flatbed-Build

This build is custom in both truck and camper.

Project started Jan 2009, Completed July 2009
under-bed storage boxes added the following year

Truck:
2008 Ford F550 4x4 crew cab
176" wheelbase
6.4L Powerstroke diesel
4.88 gears, limited slip

Wheels:
Rickson 20" steel wheels
Continental MPT81 335/80R20

Camper:
Lance 830
custom 32" extension by xtrv.com to add bunk beds

Extras:
Torklift SuperHitch Magnum, modified as tire carrier
 

haven

Expedition Leader
Custom Dodge 5500 and flatbed Alaskan Camper
Forum member Carlyle

Carlylecustom.jpg


Build thread
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/9502-Alaskan-Camper-Build-Up/page31

Carlyle's first custom camper was destroyed in a fire.
The build for this second model starts on page 31 of the thread.

Project started Nov 2011, completed April 2012

Truck:
Dodge 5500 4x4 crew cab / chassis
197" wheelbase
Cummins 6.7L diesel, Aisin 6 speed automatic trans

Wheels:
Rickson 20" aluminum
Continental MPT81 275/80R20

Camper
Alaskan Camper custom pop-up, 14 ft long
custom steel flatbed

Extras:
Aluminess bumper
 

haven

Expedition Leader
Custom Dodge 5500 and flatbed Northstar camper
Forum member dtruzinski

dtruzinskicustom.jpg


Build thread
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-5500-Expedition-Camper-The-build-has-started

Project started Sept 2011, Completed May 2012

Truck:
2012 Dodge 5500 4x4 crew cab / chassis
Cummins 6.7L diesel, Aisin 6 speed auto
4.88 to 1 gears in the differentials

Wheels:
Rickson 20x9" super single two piece aluminum wheels
Continental MPT81 275/80R20

Camper:
Nortstar American Hero flatbed camper, 9' x 7'10"
Alum-Line flatbed 94" x 116"
RevTek leveling kit

Extras:
Warn 16.5 winch
Buckstop bumper
custom running boards
 

Carlyle

Explorer
Custom Dodge 5500 and flatbed Alaskan Camper
Forum member Carlyle

Carlylecustom.jpg


Build thread
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/9502-Alaskan-Camper-Build-Up/page31

Carlyle's first custom camper was destroyed in a fire.
The build for this second model starts on page 31 of the thread.

Project started Nov 2011, completed April 2012

Truck:
Dodge 5500 4x4 crew cab / chassis
197" wheelbase
Cummins 6.7L diesel, Aisin 6 speed automatic trans

Wheels:
Rickson 20" aluminum
Continental MPT81 275/80R20

Camper
Alaskan Camper custom pop-up, 14 ft long
custom steel flatbed

Extras:
Aluminess bumper


Hey I recognize that truck and camper! Let me know if you wan the rest of the "add ons" listed.

Carl
 

Ram5500

Observer
Would mine qualify for this thread?

2008 Dodge 5500 & Arctic Fox 992 S (currently)

Lots of custom fab to truck:
365/80R20 Continental MPT 81 tires on Stazworks double beadlocks
Fenders
Front axle forward 3"
Deck, etc...

Can't seem to get any pics to load right now though...
 
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incognito

Adventurer
mine is ready
2005 Dodge ram Dually Laramie with new engine new transmission reinforced suspension
9 ' utillity box cut to fit the camper lots of storage yeahhh
2003 Bigfoot 1500 9.5 with some goodies 250 watts solar , 230 Ah on 2 6V golf cart bateries, 600 watts converter and
a lot more
bye
Incognito
 

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Pest

Adventurer
mine is ready
2005 Dodge ram Dually Laramie with new engine new transmission reinforced suspension
9 ' utillity box cut to fit the camper lots of storage yeahhh
2003 Bigfoot 1500 9.5 with some goodies 2500 watts solar , 230 Ah on 2 6V golf cart bateries, 600 watts converter and
a lot more
a lot of pictures to*come
bye
Incognito

While that rig looks a little odd, I like it a lot. I assume you mean 250 watts of solar, though. :)

Is there still usable storage in the rear compartments of the bed that had to be modified? It looks like they don't open?

Also, any plan to convert to a SRW?
 

incognito

Adventurer
13L/100 km only the Dodge ram or 18 mpg hand calculated
with the camper 19L/ 100km or around 12 mpg

right 250 watts solar panels.
what do you mean odd? maybe pretty nice :cummins, service box, Bigfoot 1500 truck camper
i can open all compartments solved the problem of storage. with the service box i have lots of storage.for the first time i have more storage that i need with 2 kids, could carry a stroller, toys, 2 folding tables, 2 jacks, off-road recovery equipment , another stove, 2 golf cart batteries, wood, 4 folding chairs and much more.

looked into SRW conversion and it will set me back 6-7000$ . payed my michelin ltx at2 180 $ each which is a great price but still expensive. i have so much traction with the 4 rear tires and truck is very stable, no swing with the DRW . important fact -its a lot of weight around 4000 lbs , camper and the service boxé so i intend to keep it like this for now. the only SRW which i would do is a SRW but on 2 rear axles like Dodge t-rex 6x6 ( better weight repartition, better traction , etc).
cheers
incognito
 

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Regcabguy

Oil eater.
Custom Dodge 5500 and flatbed Northstar camper
Forum member dtruzinski

dtruzinskicustom.jpg


Build thread
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-5500-Expedition-Camper-The-build-has-started

Project started Sept 2011, Completed May 2012

Truck:
2012 Dodge 5500 4x4 crew cab / chassis
Cummins 6.7L diesel, Aisin 6 speed auto
4.88 to 1 gears in the differentials

Wheels:
Rickson 20x9" super single two piece aluminum wheels
Continental MPT81 275/80R20

Camper:
Nortstar American Hero flatbed camper, 9' x 7'10"
Alum-Line flatbed 94" x 116"
RevTek leveling kit

Extras:
Warn 16.5 winch
Buckstop bumper
custom running boards
Wowee! Very nice indeed!
 

Mundo4x4Casa

West slope, N. Ser. Nev.
Regcabguy,
Good to see you still in business. I thought you were outa here.
My trained eye tells me that the front and rear wheels are not the same width. Looks to me like the rear wheels are considerably wider than the fronts. It may be an illusion. If not, I think it's a smashing idea (since I have super singles rear only) and a lot more weight has been added to the rear than the front.
This truck and camper has had great execution. Come the Armageddon, this one will still be livable.
regards, as always, jefe
 

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