Alaskan Camper Build Up

[Carlyle]

Wow, I was following this thread back in the beginning and took some time off. Pop onto it today and 3 hours of reading later I am caught up. I really liked the attention to detail on the original build, but I think you and the wife did the same thing on this one that you did on the last one. You sat down and used all of your experiences in a camper to design out whatever faults you had found along the way and incorporate all of the good things you had found in the past.

Maybe you should just call this one the phoenix as it is definitely born from the ashes

Thanks for reading my rambling ark teller, that is an excellent analogy. I hope this is our last "learning experience" on this scale.

Carl


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[Carlyle]

how can you see around it?

Yes, and you do get used to it quickly.


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[mpike]

Could you provide any more info or pics of the subframe springs? I didn't understand the guides to prevent back and forth/side to side movement.
How have the springs worked out? I recall you thinking of using something like skateboard cushions in the first build, but then you said the camper was mounted with rubber grommets (or washers)? I'm installing a fllatbed on my F250 and don't want to have a subframe ( to keep the cg lower).
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Carlyle]

Hi Mike,

Let me see if I can explain how it works with a few pictures.

The deck of the camper is mounted to the frame of the truck using springs that allow some up and down movement of the camper:

On the right side of the picture you have see the "sleeve" for lack of better term that keeps the flat bed from sliding from side to side. There is a flange on each side of the beam in three places on each beam of the bed:

Another shot of one side of the "sleeve":

On the rear of the flat bed it it bolted down on both sides to allow the bed to only flex from that point forward:

The camper itself is then bolted directly through the deck of the flat bed to another beam:

Hope this helps

Carl

 

[Carlyle]

Camper going through its paces by Lake George, Colorado this week:

 

[haven]

I like the Mad Max intimidation factor! If I were driving and you pulled up behind me, I'd bail out onto the shoulder and call 911!

Does the tire on the front reduce the airflow to the radiator? Looks like the engine/transmission should run a little hotter. Probably not a bad thing in Colorado, but possibly an issue in warmer areas.

 

[98dango]

love it man You did such a job thinking this out.

 

[zukrider]

Crap, i havent been back to this thread in a while! are you still in CO? gonna be near denver? Would love to hum.......i mean oogle your setup!

 

[mpike]

Thanks for the frame pictures. I understand better, if not completely.
It it looks like the subframe is steel?
The last pic, is that mounted to the side of the frame or to the rear?
I imagine those are valve springs?
What diameter are the bolts?
How large was the washer on the camper floor side?
I'm thinking of doing this with my Bigfoot 3000 9.6 basement (3000lbs).
You've given me a lot of good ideas.

 

[Carlyle]

I like the Mad Max intimidation factor! If I were driving and you pulled up behind me, I'd bail out onto the shoulder and call 911!


Does the tire on the front reduce the airflow to the radiator? Looks like the engine/transmission should run a little hotter. Probably not a bad thing in Colorado, but possibly an issue in warmer areas.

Thanks Haven! Gotta love that factor.


The tire sits far enough in front of the radiator that it still gets flow, outside temp sensor has to be moved though as it goes up when the engine fan turns on. Numbers on the dash seem to be good. Moving the tire in the future may be something I consider if a better option turns up.

 

[mpike]

I just read the TCM interview. I'm also an ER nurse (retired). I mostly worked 2-3 month stints in N. Cal and Hawaii and lived out of my VW camper travelling between Baja and Alaska. I did a winter ski bumming at Vail, another at Aspen, and a third at Alta.
I finally got married and have had to go bigger ( 9.6 Bigfoot 3000) to accomodate my wife.
We're in the BF because it was a steal ( but too big for our f250). As soon as the f250 dies, we'll probably get a proper rig to carry it, and hopefully go the Alaskan route.
I've enjoyed following your adventures,
Mike

 

[Carlyle]

Still in Colorado, and in Denver quite a bit as I work there. PM me and we can set up a meet some time.

 

[Carlyle]

Thanks for the frame pictures. I understand better, if not completely.
It it looks like the subframe is steel?

Yes, with the aluminum Ute deck attached to it


The last pic, is that mounted to the side of the frame or to the rear?

Side and back of the steel beams
I imagine those are valve springs?

Yup
What diameter are the bolts?

3/4" I believe

How large was the washer on the camper floor side?

2"
I'm thinking of doing this with my Bigfoot 3000 9.6 basement (3000lbs).
You've given me a lot of good ideas.

Thanks!

 

[Carlyle]

love it man You did such a job thinking this out.

Learn from our mistakes, I hope I've learned enough for now though. I know more about 12 volt systems than I ever thought I needed to. One good thing is that I only plug in to run the ac. The solar panels and 12 volt system are so efficient I'm usually fully charged by about 8 am!

 

[Carlyle]

I had a local upholstery guy make a few items for me this week, one of them being a tunnel/chunnel between the camper and the truck cab. Now the dogs can be a little more out of the way at times. We tried to buy one commercially, but after an exhaustive search it seems the company that used to make them is out of business.

In addition, we had reflective inserts made for each window that help with light and heat/cold depending on the time of year.

Roll up cover for DVD player, for some reason the illumination will not turn off unless unplugged and then you lose all your settings.