2019 F350 4x4 custom HPI flatbed/AT Atlas topper

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
I saw on another forum you were trading the F350 in for a Toyota Previa Minivan? True or nah?

Has to be Supercharged to spin these TSL Boggers :p :geek:;
images
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Finally an update...After lots of round and round (whether to keep my F350 RegCab CabChassis, sell it for a SuperCab (pickup or CabChassis) for dogs, scrap the entire thing and build another van, etc), making lots of pros/cons lists, trying to not be perfectionistic, as well as midnight hate mail from RAM5500 about putting dogs in an aluminum oven...finally made a decision.

Keeping my F350 RegCab CabChassis. It's short and sweet, factory 4.30 gears and rear e-locker. It's an XL but loaded with lots of XLT bits.

I bit the bullet and ordered a full-size AT Atlas topper from Brent and Aaron at OAT; https://oregonat.com/
AWESOME/helpful/knowledgeable guys, the PNW dealer for AT and others.
Will be doing some custom work to the topper, and truck, to create a custom pass-thru from truck cab to topper. This will provide quick access to either for us, as well as more climate control for the dogs.
Will need to insulate the service body a bit, to keep it comfortable inside the lower half. Probably V-Max, then perhaps Lizard Skin, then 3M Thinsulate.

I had been talking to Highway Products about a custom flatbed/boxes, but I've decided to not go full custom and instead go with one of their aluminum service bodies, with some custom changes; https://www.highwayproducts.com/c/truck-service-bodies/

Finally will get Carli/King susp now that they've released it for 6.2L gas applications. Cannot wait.

Once we run out the factory Goodyear Wrangler 33" a/t tires on Ford 18" wheels, we'll upgrade wheels/tires, use the factory 18s on true winter tires (Blizzak's or Hakkapelita's).
Had been vacillating on 35s vs 37s, and A/T vs M/T vs A/T-Hybrid. Going to go 37" General Grabber X3's(lots of people seem to love them, save for their weight). It's a full-size truck, it can easily handle 37s. GG's was an inspiration here as well (already have 5 of the same Method 701's as well); https://expeditionportal.com/featured-vehicle-goose-gears-overland-f-350/

scheel-mann's from the Transit will be one of the first components to go into the truck.

Hold tight...topper is about 30wks out, service body is about 16wks out. Some truck prep will be first, TRS LED headlights, then Buckstop front bumper/ComeUp winch. Then get the service body on, then topper on, then custom Buckstop rear bumper w/ swingouts.
Use the setup for some time and then figure out how we custom configure the interior. Run the factory 33's out, then upgrade the susp (based on accurate F/R axle weights), then add the wheels/37" tires.

Should be fun. Most important of all, been a loooong time coming finishing another build and putting it to good use.
 

phsycle

Adventurer
Atlas looks good. That’s super lightweight. Any concerns about durability at that weight? It says aluminum panels. Hoping it’s not too thin.
 

RAM5500 CAMPERTHING

OG Portal Member #183
Plan on a regear if going 35 or bigger.

If not, your tranny will be constantly hunting for gears and MPG will suffer noticeably

And before you say it, I don’t give 2 poops about what ________ says on the Internet and that’s it’s fine.. ?????
 

McCarthy

Is it riding season yet?
Plan on a regear if going 35 or bigger.

If not, your tranny will be constantly hunting for gears and MPG will suffer noticeably

And before you say it, I don’t give 2 poops about what ________ says on the Internet and that’s it’s fine.. ?????

Bear in mind being a cab and chassis he has 4.30's, not the 3.73's most of the pickups have.
 

RAM5500 CAMPERTHING

OG Portal Member #183
Bear in mind being a cab and chassis he has 4.30's, not the 3.73's most of the pickups have.

I’m aware...

37s + 4:30 = No Bueno, If it’s comes with 33s stock

Might be able to squeak by with 35s

All dependent of tranny gearing of course

My tundra came with 4:30s also.

Going from 32” to 35” the tranny consistently hunted for gear up hills the entire time and I lost 2.5mpg

Went to 5:29s and it shifted and drove like stock and I got 1.5mpg back
 
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IdaSHO

IDACAMPER
Pretty hard to compare a Tundra to a newer SuperDuty, especially trans related, let alone differences in motors and power delivery.

I'm rolling on 35's on my 2011 (6.2) with the factory 3:73s and it essentially never hunts, even in full auto.
I also didn't loose any MPG. There is more than enough gear left in the 6-speed.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Atlas looks good. That’s super lightweight. Any concerns about durability at that weight? It says aluminum panels. Hoping it’s not too thin.

Looks even better in person.
360lbs base is indeed light.
No concerns about durability. Mario and crew know what they're doing, at least IMO.
.060″ 5052 CNC formed aluminum (structure), Insulated aluminum composite panels.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Good choice!

I told some of my buddies (dog owners) about your oven idea, and they were not amused

?

Would give new meaning to hot dog, but keeping the dogs in the aluminum tunnel box/kennel idea wasn't such a horrible idea. Remember, we're up here in the PNW with cooler weather, not down where you are in HawTacoville where you see much higher ambient temps. And I was going to insulate it for them, fans, etc...same thing I'll do now with the service body.

Plan on a regear if going 35 or bigger.

If not, your tranny will be constantly hunting for gears and MPG will suffer noticeably

And before you say it, I don’t give 2 poops about what ________ says on the Internet and that’s it’s fine.. ?????

37s + 4:30 = No Bueno, If it’s comes with 33s stock

Might be able to squeak by with 35s

All dependent of tranny gearing of course

My tundra came with 4:30s also.

Going from 32” to 35” the tranny consistently hunted for gear up hills the entire time and I lost 2.5mpg

Went to 5:29s and it shifted and drove like stock and I got 1.5mpg back

Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?

6R140 TORQSHIFT RATIOS
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
R
3.974 : 1​
2.318 : 1​
1.516 : 1​
1.149 : 1​
0.858 : 1​
0.674 : 1​
3.12 : 1​


Simpler but fun to look at; https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto...wing/maneuvers/gear-ratio-tire-size-chart.htm


I've run the numbers a few times, and marinated on them; https://tiresize.com/gear-ratio-calculator/

#1
Upgrading to 35s;
Stock Tire Size
275/70 R18

New Tire Size
35/12.5 R17

Stock Gear Ratio 4.30 : 1

Calculate
=
Effective Gear Ratio 4.07 : 1
New Ratio Needed 4.54 : 1

#2
Upgrading to 37s;
Stock Tire Size
275/70 R18

New Tire Size
37/12.5 R17

Stock Gear Ratio 4.30 : 1

Calculate
=
Effective Gear Ratio 3.85 : 1
New Ratio Needed 4.8 : 1

So...going to 35s would get me a bit more MPG at the expense of some power. I'd be ok with that.
Going another step further with 37s would put me closer to an effective 3.73 ratio, than if I kept 33s with my 4.30 = even better MPG, less power(I'm ok with, this isn't a coal roller).

Am I mistaken?

PS--what are you running in your RAMthing? 7.17s? ;)
 

RAM5500 CAMPERTHING

OG Portal Member #183
So...going to 35s would get me a bit more MPG at the expense of some power. I'd be ok with that.
Going another step further with 37s would put me closer to an effective 3.73 ratio, than if I kept 33s with my 4.30 = even better MPG, less power(I'm ok with, this isn't a coal roller).

Am I mistaken?

PS--what are you running in your RAMthing? 7.17s? ;)

Yes, that’s not really how any of that works in real life... ?

Me personally, I ordered my truck with 4.89s to put the cummins at the 1750ish-RPM MPG sweet spot with 40” tires and I’m right at 1750ish at 65mph and I was averaging 17mpgs before camper build started.

With the stock tires, in dually form, I was running almost 2100rpm at 65 and averaging 11-12ish mpg

Shooting for at least 13ish After everything its said, done and loaded up.

People will argue all day long “I have _____ and it’s works fine” and that’s the nature of the intrawebs.

If you want maximum MPG, it has to be geared for the trucks RPM sweet spot for long hauls.

On paper your logic might work.

However, In real life if the tranny is constantly hunting for gears, you’re going to use a ton more fuel.
 

rruff

Explorer
My tundra came with 4:30s also.
Going from 32” to 35” the tranny consistently hunted for gear up hills the entire time and I lost 2.5mpg
Went to 5:29s and it shifted and drove like stock and I got 1.5mpg back

I'm guessing that was with a load? My Tundra with 35" ATs gets as good MPG as it did with the stock 32" street tires, and drives fine at high altitude and hills.

Ya, I'll probably be really wanting a regear with the camper though. Cost for the regear on your Tundra?

EDIT: BTW you can just select the gear you want ("S" auto mode) if the transmission is hunting. No problem cruising in 5th rather than 6th.
Also, the gear ratios in the transmission will be different for a Ford vs anything else. If they are geared lower they can have a higher final gear.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Yes, that’s not really how any of that works in real life... ?

Me personally, I ordered my truck with 4.89s to put the cummins at the 1750ish-RPM MPG sweet spot with 40” tires and I’m right at 1750ish at 65mph and I was averaging 17mpgs before camper build started.

With the stock tires, in dually form, I was running almost 2100rpm at 65 and averaging 11-12ish mpg

Shooting for at least 13ish After everything its said, done and loaded up.

People will argue all day long “I have _____ and it’s works fine” and that’s the nature of the intrawebs.

If you want maximum MPG, it has to be geared for the trucks RPM sweet spot for long hauls.

On paper your logic might work.

However, In real life if the tranny is constantly hunting for gears, you’re going to use a ton more fuel.

Show me your mathmagician to calculate that you'd be running at 1750ish RPM "sweet jelly spot" with 4.89s and 40"s. Pics or it didn't happen. ;)
 

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