Alaskan Camper Build Up

[Carlyle]

Just back from a few days in the mountains to cool off.



Hanging baskets on slide tracks are complete:



Baskets slide back and forth above Engels for access from inside or out. Lock in place with turn knobs into the the T-Tracks. Handy spot for fruits, veggies and things that cluttered inside.


Tables all set up and in use:


Tool holder made from over the door clothes organizer with a little modification.

 

[garybo]

Could you supply me with your person's contact info who put on the spring bolt mounted flat bed? We're in CO and I think you and he are also in CO?
thanks, Gary

 

[Funrover]

I really like those tables. Now you have me thinking about another project I have.

 

[Carlyle]

Could you supply me with your person's contact info who put on the spring bolt mounted flat bed? We're in CO and I think you and he are also in CO?
thanks, Gary

Email sent!

 

[Carlyle]

After deciding my oem headlights pretty much sucked, i went to work on them.

I first figured out how to get to the headlights on this truck, a trick in itself. I put a set up 65 watt Super White Sylvania's in the high beam spot and a set of Kensun 35 watt HID conversions into the low beam slot. Before installing the HID's I did a little research and found that the Dodge vehicles need capacitors between the bulb and the ballast to avoid flickering/warning lights and so picked those up before I did the install this afternoon.


Truck's grill etc off and mounting the ballasts and capacitors with 20lb 3M mounting tape.
Click for video




Completing the install with a little home brew.




Everything put back together and working!


Click for video

 

[Carlyle]

I was tired of my Ram mounts constantly falling off on rough roads and hot/cold days and fixed the problem permanently. I took the console apart, pretty easy to figure out with some gentle tugging in the right places and some screws removed. I then installed the Ram diamond bases with ball into the console with bolts, lock nuts and a couple back ing plates I made out of scrap metal. Solid as a rock and my Ham radio and phone don't fall in my lap now. Thanks for the idea Scoutman!

Console apart:


All back together:


Close up of mount:


Off to Turquoise Lake and Leadville next week for a few days of fishing and cooling off at 10,000 feet.

 

[Jr_Explorer]

After deciding my oem headlights pretty much sucked, i went to work on them.

I first figured out how to get to the headlights on this truck, a trick in itself. I put a set up 65 watt Super White Sylvania's in the high beam spot and a set of Kensun 35 watt HID conversions into the low beam slot. Before installing the HID's I did a little research and found that the Dodge vehicles need capacitors between the bulb and the ballast to avoid flickering/warning lights and so picked those up before I did the install this afternoon.

Just curious... Are the low beam HID's DOT approved replacements?

 

[Carlyle]

Good question, and I'm not completely sure they are, though they are available as an option but not on a chassis cab. On the other hand, neither were the extra high watt Piaa's I ran for years in my last truck, or the high wattage driving lights. Don't blind other people, keep them turned down and don't be a jerk is my mo. If I get hassled on the road, I'll go back to the regular bulbs.

 

[Overland Hadley]

That is what I did with my RAM mounts....

A fun little project....

At some point in the near future I hope to get an iPad to use as my Chart-plotter. So I spent my fun time on the internet figuring a mounting solution. I wanted it to be a RAM mount, and after going though their mounting products I did not come up with the right non-drill mount. So it was time to get the basic parts and pull out the drill bits.

I have gotten pretty good at learning how to pull dash parts out, and this project meant pulling the storage cubby in front of the gear shift out.


The base mounts that were going in.

The base plates that I made from roof rack scrap.

Had to do a little Fein cutting to get the base plates to fit.

Put in two base balls, one for the iPad and one for the iPod.

The finished bases do not look too annoying when sitting empty.

Alright, I am now ready for a chart-plotter.

 

[Carlyle]

That is what I did with my RAM mounts....

Looks great, I guess great minds think alike!

Next project after I get back from camping is to put the fender flares extensions on. We're headed to WA and OR in Sept and would probably find a use for them on the rainy coast. Material is here, just need to cut it to size and pop rivet it on, sounds easy right?

 

[Carlyle]

New edition to the family!

 

[Carlyle]

Just got back from having my alignment re-checked, wanted everything gone over before I head to WA and Oregon next week. BTW, it's great to have lifetime alignments, found a shop in Colorado Springs that does this. One of my ball joints is already having play in it at 23k... Also, front differential seal is leaking. Not sure how Dodge is going to warranty this, but it seems extremely premature for this stout of a vehicle. I was going to change the differentials over to Amsoil shortly (tranny is done), but I'll wait until this is resolved.

 

[herm]

we saw you somewhere between Vail and springs this weekend. We were in a 1/2 ton with old school slide in. Great looking truck!

 

[Carlyle]

Thanks!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[chilliwak]

The truck is looking great as usual Carl. I also like the new addition to your family. Congrats on the new dog. Happy travels my friend.... Cheers, Chilli...