Another DIY truck camper

ajmaudio

Adventurer
great work... curious how you did the rounded openings and drawer fronts... template and router? Was thinking the same template with different bushing offsets would work well myself....
 

Ducstrom

Well-known member
great work... curious how you did the rounded openings and drawer fronts... template and router? Was thinking the same template with different bushing offsets would work well myself....
That'd be a good way to go for sure. I just used a skill saw and a jig saw to cut them out. I tried to use as much of the wood as possible, this way I could use the piece I cut out as the door. And the wood grain matches too.
 

Ducstrom

Well-known member
Got some more work done on the camper, finished spraying the bottom half with raptor liner. And finishing up some odds and ends inside too. I've got to take some more pics of that soon.
Also installed aux switches in my truck. I can't remember where I saw it but there was a picture of switches from an older superduty installed in the dash bezel of the newer superduties. So kudos to whoever that person was, I copied you.
Not having the aux switches was one of the things that bugged me about the truck I got. I looked into adding them myself and it was just shy of $1000 for all the parts.
I picked up a new four switch panel, harness and relay box with relays for less than $100 on eBay.

Its a tight fit but it looks factory, and even dims with the rest of the dash lights.
 

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Ducstrom

Well-known member
Bunch more odds and ends done.
Bedliner on the bottom is done. Jack brackets, electrical outlets, door, and everything else that bolts to the outside is sealed. Put the flooring in. Just working on the folding dinette seats/bed now; it's almost there. Webasto is in, but needs fuel line, pump and intake and exhaust plumbing.
Going to drop the top, wheel it outside and put the garden hose to it this week. Also hoping to load it up and get it to the scales soon.
It won't be finished, but should be in a usable condition within a month.
 

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Ducstrom

Well-known member
Got to the scales.
She's a portly 1653lbs.
Should be right around 1700lbs finished, guessing about 2000lbs fully loaded with water, food, fuel, and a propane tank.
Definitely about 400-500lbs heavier than I was hoping, but still under my GVWR.
 

Ducstrom

Well-known member
First overnight done.
Drove about 80kms with it. Mix of highway and dirt road. Drives nice, squats the truck about 1.5", which puts it just a tad higher in the rear.
Does slightly load the front axle (by about 200lbs), kinda surprised by that considering no cab over.
Everything worked well, 8C overnight and no heater needed. No condensation anywhere except the door frame and window with 2 adults inside. Ill probably change it out with something a lot better in the future.
Boring, but no issues to report. As usual I completely forgot to take pictures until we were ready to roll out.
 

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Ducstrom

Well-known member
Had it out for a week this time at a friend's property. Took the camper off this time so it was easier to get in and out and we could use the truck as a truck while we were there.
Most everything worked well. Definitely need latches put on the drawers and cabinets, some opened while driving.
Had some condensation issues at night mostly the rv door but also a bit on the walls right under the arctic tern windows, rest of the walls and ceiling were fine.
Had the webasto blow a fuse on the last night there. Replaced the fuse and it blew again. Spent the rest of the night with no heat at -10c (that's 14F for those of you south of the border).
Did a bit of digging and found that the fuse is suppose to be a 15 amp fuse not the 10 amp that was in there. Will have to test with the larger fuse again
 

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Ducstrom

Well-known member
Was out again over the new year holiday. Similar temps to last time. Still just the condensation on the RV door and just under the windows.
I am going to rebuild the door and add a better window and insulation. Still need to add the latches on the cabinets. Heater worked well with the 15 amp fuse, no issues.
With the 1 agm battery onboard we can go just three days at -10c running the fridge and the heater before needing a recharge. This should be much better with the dual lithiums I am planning to add.
Anyway, in standard fashion, here's a photo in the dark of our set up. Ice fishing skimmer, tent and auger on the roof rack.
 

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ajmaudio

Adventurer
Was out again over the new year holiday. Similar temps to last time. Still just the condensation on the RV door and just under the windows.
I am going to rebuild the door and add a better window and insulation. Still need to add the latches on the cabinets. Heater worked well with the 15 amp fuse, no issues.
With the 1 agm battery onboard we can go just three days at -10c running the fridge and the heater before needing a recharge. This should be much better with the dual lithiums I am planning to add.
Anyway, in standard fashion, here's a photo in the dark of our set up. Ice fishing skimmer, tent and auger on the roof rack.

How far down are you drawing your AGM when doing this? Curious what your usage is...
 

Ducstrom

Well-known member
How far down are you drawing your AGM when doing this? Curious what your usage is...
We are definitely abusing the battery. We use about 30% per day/night. So with that in mind in 2 days we are drawing the battery below the recommended 50% to about 40%. Down to about 10% after 3 days. The webasto, and I believe the fridge also, have a low voltage cutoff at 10.5v.

I do have a 30amp DC to DC charger installed that is just waiting for me to connect it to the truck battery for charging when driving, which should help a bit. It's also wired for solar but no panels are installed yet. The biggest help is just going to be the larger lithium batteries when I get around to buying a set.

I don't want to get crazy with it but I would like to be able to last at least a week without a recharge.
 

ajmaudio

Adventurer
We are definitely abusing the battery. We use about 30% per day/night. So with that in mind in 2 days we are drawing the battery below the recommended 50% to about 40%. Down to about 10% after 3 days. The webasto, and I believe the fridge also, have a low voltage cutoff at 10.5v.

I do have a 30amp DC to DC charger installed that is just waiting for me to connect it to the truck battery for charging when driving, which should help a bit. It's also wired for solar but no panels are installed yet. The biggest help is just going to be the larger lithium batteries when I get around to buying a set.

I don't want to get crazy with it but I would like to be able to last at least a week without a recharge.
Thanks.. maybe I missed it... but what was size of your agm? 130ah ish?
 

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