2022 RAM 5500 Composite "Super Camper"

[StenchRV]

So will a pee bottle be involved? Who is going to climb over who in the middle of the night?

The old guy that has to pee, at 3:30 AM like clock work, gets to sleep on the “easy out” side….ME. My bride does not have that issue

 

[ITTOG]

The old guy that has to pee, at 3:30 AM like clock work, gets to sleep on the “easy out” side….ME. My bride does not have that issue

They have medicine for that.

 

[Vance Vanz]

Craig,

Awesome work as usual.

I'm loving seeing all the finishing touches come to life.

You two have quite the little nest inside the camper. The outside is also looking sharp. Good on you for taking the time to match colors/powder coating colors on everything and selecting top notch products. All these details matter and it's looking AWESOME.

Thanks for posting all the pics, as well as the specifics of what might be considered the smaller more nuanced parts/details. ALL of this is so helpful as I will be right behind you in making my final smaller product/component/part/material decisions. Researching all of these smaller parts/components/etc. (hundreds of them) will be like death from a thousand cuts.

It sounds like you two are OFF on a trip out West. If you are anywhere near Boise, let me know. I'd love to see this thing in person.

In addition, tell your wife I would love to utilize her finishing skills when I arrive at that point in my build. Remind her the pay is SHIAAT and the hours are LONG, but it will be so rewarding in the end !

Travel safe and more importantly, have fun. You two have earned it.

 

[StenchRV]

Vance,

It feels GREAT to be on the road. Currently camped at a small grass strip fly-in.

The effort was TOTALLY worth it! Yours will be too!! So far our “nest” feels like home!

This, and a few other, online resources helped us TRY and dial in some choices. I decided before we started this project we were going to buy, build, quality products.
Hoping they would last and serve us well.
Yes we dipped into savings to do it but now we can enjoy and pay ourselves back.

There have some AWESOME people who helped along the way also. Good friends and new friends. The list is long!

You just missed my wife’s work days, she handed me her DIY BUILD retirement papers as we rolled out of the hanger.
She said the pay sucked and the hours were a bit much.

If we are anywhere near Boise, we plan on some extended time in ID, we will DEFINITELY look you up. Would love to see your build!

CHEERS!!

 

[StenchRV]

First 1000 miles down….A BUNCH more to go.

No major issues and things are working as designed, after a minor DC-DC reprogram. Welded on the truck before we left, disconnected EVERYTHING, and the DC controllers went to factory reset. EASY FIX!

The weather is darn near perfect in the U P!
First time here! Having fun after the Oshkosh Air Adventure Fly-in.


The AC works very well on this kind of power! We put north of 130 AMPS into the battery pack when we drive!

CHEERS!!

 

[180out]

So will a pee bottle be involved? Who is going to climb over who in the middle of the night?

oh... thats the best part!!!!.

 

[180out]

we just got home from a 7 western state tour. 22 days and 4800 miles. if your in western ID check out Silver City. great dirt road, long climb, real need old town that's still inhabited and a little FS camp ground in the back of town with 4 or 5 sites. we where the only ones there. when you leave the road drops you into south east OR. great Hot spring with good camping in Crane to wash of the dirt and chill for a bit. cheep groceries and fuel nearby in Burns. Enjoy the Box.

 

[StenchRV]

we just got home from a 7 western state tour. 22 days and 4800 miles. if your in western ID check out Silver City. great dirt road, long climb, real need old town that's still inhabited and a little FS camp ground in the back of town with 4 or 5 sites. we where the only ones there. when you leave the road drops you into south east OR. great Hot spring with good camping in Crane to wash of the dirt and chill for a bit. cheep groceries and fuel nearby in Burns. Enjoy the Box.

Thanks for the info! We will be working our way west over the next month, hopefully all the way to ID before the turn south in September.

CHEERS!!

 

[StenchRV]

Another 1000 miles under our belt. Rig is doing great. Did some 4 wheel drive forest off roading. Box moved around, as designed, but note to self…SLOW DOWN DUMMY!! Those sand whoop D doos were a bit much. Better on the way out. MUCH SLOWER!!







CHEERS from ND!!

 

[180out]

glad to see the smoke has cleared out. we were headed that way last month and it was bad. wild horse hot springs in the middle of Montana is a good stop over. funky little place with great hot water and wild life viewing. has a little dry campground. You are 7+ tons. slow down and enjoy the view. i remind myself of this regularly.

 

[trackhead]

How are those tires going down the highway? Loud? Not that it matters, but kinda curious what speeds you drive on interstate? 70mph?

 

[StenchRV]

How are those tires going down the highway? Loud? Not that it matters, but kinda curious what speeds you drive on interstate? 70mph?

YES the tires make noise, but not that bad to us. Good thing I guess is the truck is quite…LOL.

There is a “new” MPT 81 in the works, harder compound and SLIGHTLY wider. Designed more for the Overland crowd. I have it on good authority that once the 20,000 old stock MPT’S are sold the “new“ version will be released. Hoping ours make it until the “new” version is released.

The sweet spot for our motor seems to be about 1800 RPM for milage, reasonable boost control and transmission down shifting. We always run in Tow/haul and automatic exhaust brake.

We like the secondary roads at 58 MPH, 1800 RPM in 5th gear. When we do the interstate, not to be a roadblock, we travel at 68 MPH, 1800 RPM ISH, 6th gear. The tires are speed limited to 68 MPH.
We are not in that much of a hurry.

CHEERS!!

 

[180out]

YES the tires make noise, but not that bad to us. Good thing I guess is the truck is quite…LOL.

There is a “new” MPT 81 in the works, harder compound and SLIGHTLY wider. Designed more for the Overland crowd. I have it on good authority that once the 20,000 old stock MPT’S are sold the “new“ version will be released. Hoping ours make it until the “new” version is released.

The sweet spot for our motor seems to be about 1800 RPM for milage, reasonable boost control and transmission down shifting. We always run in Tow/haul and automatic exhaust brake.

We like the secondary roads at 58 MPH, 1800 RPM in 5th gear. When we do the interstate, not to be a roadblock, we travel at 68 MPH, 1800 RPM ISH, 6th gear. The tires are speed limited to 68 MPH.
We are not in that much of a hurry.

CHEERS!!

taking it easy is kind of the point right! we drive the Ford the same way and avoid the interstate at all cost. Keep cruising.

 

[trackhead]

No reason to be in a hurry and 65mph is plenty fast.

 

[StenchRV]

taking it easy is kind of the point right! we drive the Ford the same way and avoid the interstate at all cost. Keep cruising.

EXACTLY!