2018 Ram 3500 Expedition Family Adventure Vehicle

[Kingsize24]

To answer a few of your questions. I plan to add a bit of rear protection. I have a rear sub bumper idea that I'm working on if I don't see anything from Bowen. I know that eventually he wants to put something out. But we will see how everything eventually plays out.

As far as the color. My truck was filthy at first and the bed was new and clean white. Now that both are clean together, I personally cannot tell the difference at all.

For a camper. We will be running a Hallmark Guanella Overland edition.

For now I need to finish my trailer, do a few things for organizing my tools into the bed, install my air compressor and tank in the bed. Etc. So I have plenty to do. This summer we will be running the trailer alone. With my kids sleeping in the Annex. And hopefully soon after summer we will hit Hallmark for an install before winter sets in. We are looking forward to it all.

 

[tacollie]

Truck looks good. Bowen build a solid product. Bowen powder coats their beds so they will never match a painted truck.

 

[BikePilot]

That bed is awesome and their shop is just down the hill from me. Cool stuff!

 

[Trestle]

Definitely need to add some rear end protection. Would be ashamed to see it damaged by somebody who thinks driving is secondary to their phone.

 

[Kingsize24]

Well we made some changes to the camper we want.

Instead of the side dinette Guanella Overland, we are getting the front Dinette Victor Overland, with the large 4 person dining area.

It will now also have the Dometic RTX2000 12v AC, Lithionics 630AH battery, and nearly 1100 Watts of solar, with plugs on both sides for my solar suitcase. The Overland comes with the Tern Overland dual pane acrylic windows. 34gal of water when you include the water heater, and plenty of rear storage on the rear wall for more.

We are picking wood and materials right now. And getting excited for this build.

 

[Trestle]

Had to look up what you were talking about. Interesting that they have upper cabinets that raise/lower with the roof. Should help quite a bit with organization.

 

[Kingsize24]

Had to look up what you were talking about. Interesting that they have upper cabinets that raise/lower with the roof. Should help quite a bit with organization.

Yes it will. Adds so much more storage. We had recently found the video below, and both of us loved this layout vs the Guanella side dinette, so decided to do it instead. Then we just added all our specific modifications. We are glad they brought this model back. Especially in the Overland Edition.

 

[Kingsize24]

Well, I think since I finally have some time to update this thread since we are on vacation I will.

I had a chance to do some organization on the bed. So I got that done a couple weeks back. Then I've been slowly trying to find a home for everything. It's taken some time. But I finally have things sorted. I also got my 50ft extention cord for my solar suitcase finished so I can use it on either the trailer or the camper when we get it.

I also have been working on the trailer to get it ready to take out for a run. And today, after packing up the food and fridge, we left for the Guadalupe River.

 

[Kingsize24]

It's been a beautiful first day here. We found a great campsite.

 

[Inline6]

Great stuff, clear containers for the win. Always good to see what is inside. I need to take that advice for my storage issues.

 

[Kingsize24]

We had a great time today exploring this area of Texas, we also went on a drive through safari that the boys both loved.

 

[Kingsize24]

This morning, early, we broke away from the Texas heat, to head to some cooler New Mexico Temps. We made it to Carlsbad NM, which is still hot, but we will be staying in Cloudcroft Tomorrow which will be in the 50s at night. Still, we had a fun drive. And some amazing sites already. Even stopped at the BLM headquarters for our NM patch.

 

[Kingsize24]

 

[Kingsize24]

Well since I'm up early drinking some coffee, I figured I'd update the thread. We left out of Carlsbad yesterday morning and headed to Sitting Bull falls. The water was amazing, and the boys and I couldn't help but stick our feet in the cold dip. We spent a while there sightseeing, we saw a peach tree somehow growing out of rock and actually bearing fruit. Some daredevil cows climbing the mountain like goats. Then we had a late breakfast, then headed for Cloudcroft.

 

[Kingsize24]

It's been an amazing and very cool stay here in the mountains on some BLM land. We found a nice camp, set up everything, and enjoyed some cornhole toss, some card games, then cooked a tortilla soup. The elevation here is right at 9000ft, and currently it is 54°F on my gauge. Was 73°F for the high yesterday. The wind was the only downer towards the end of the night, and instead of risking the awning and annex in the wind, the wife and I used our old tent. We are SURELY ready for our Hallmark Victor. Lol