Atl-atl's Dodge Ram 2500 Regular Cab Long Bed "documentation" thread.

[Atl-atl]

So last week I got to work on the camper for a couple full days. I really started to make some progress once I got the new floors all sealed up and the interior painted. The paneling is 1/8" stuff I got from HD for $13 per 4x8' sheet, apparently its new. Looks really good, its a white/gray washed looking knotty pine. I liked it enough I decided to leave some of it exposed inside. Originally my plan was to use the fabric wall covering everywhere and put it over some basic 1/8" panel but I like the faux wood finish enough to keep some. I also managed to take apart the icebox door and replace the horrendous yellow plastic panel with matching fake wood paneling, I think it turned out really well. I replaced the two small sliding doors on the drivers side with matching paneling as well.

As for the fabric wall covering. I got an entire bolt of this super expensive woven fabric wall covering from a job site I was working on. It did not meet the QC demands of the owner and was going to get trashed. I kept it because I knew it would get used and it was perfect for this project. All it took was some 3M Super 77 and a little elbow grease. Also having a seamstress for a mom that taught me a few things over the years really helped! :sombrero: Trimming the panels to fit with a jigsaw was easier than expected, as was covering them. All I need now is a stapler powerful enough to staple the panels into the aluminum frame of the camper. I can't decide if I want to borrow one or spend $100 on a tool I might never use again. Ill probably just buy one hahaha.

I also installed the flooring. Its 12mm commercial grade laminate that was like $22 for a box of 15 square feet so I only needed two. Ive used this relatively 'cheap' stuff in some retail stores Ive built out and it has held up surprisingly well. I picked a color that is dark so it wouldn't look too dirty but had a slight gray tone over the brown that would look good with the rest of the interior.

Here it is with the newly painted bench seat/storage bottom installed.

Current view from 'upstairs' with the old upholstery cushions thrown in for the pictures.

I haven't decided if I want to paint the window trim white or black or leave it the goldish color it is currently.

There is still a ton of work to do but its getting so close now. Today I picked up some melamine board to build the counter and I got a stone slab contact for the counter top so I need to build a template for that this weekend. I also want to finish the panel trim around the upper bed area and decide about window trim color. My mom is working on finding some slightly more modern upholstery that is still plaid and 'outdoorsy' because I don't want to feel too fancy inside and I don't want to lose the warm feeling. Once I get the counter built I will figure out what to do about hooking up the heater and cook top. I also still have a bunch of exterior stuff to work on. Im quite glad the weather is still so nice in Denver!

 

[Bushcoat]

Looking great, what an update!!!

 

[08Silverado]

Great rig great pictures great wheelin places!!!

 

[Dr. Cornwallis]

Really cool rig man. I've Always wanted a regular cab cummins but I'm too afraid to do it, I always worry about needing extra room. I don't have a family yet but I will down the road so I think it's going to be a 4 door for me. Super cool truck and camper man, awesome job on the resto. I love the pine walls and the floor looks great. Did you ever think about doing butcher block for the counters?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Colorado_Outback]

Camper rebuild is looking sweet!

I feel your pain on the CO housing tag, the one on my 88 Mitchell is in similar shape. Its cool having a camper built in CO though!

 

[Atl-atl]

Looking great, what an update!!!

Thanks!

Great rig great pictures great wheelin places!!!

Thanks, yeah Colorado is second to none!

Really cool rig man. I've Always wanted a regular cab cummins but I'm too afraid to do it, I always worry about needing extra room. I don't have a family yet but I will down the road so I think it's going to be a 4 door for me. Super cool truck and camper man, awesome job on the resto. I love the pine walls and the floor looks great. Did you ever think about doing butcher block for the counters?

Thanks for the compliments. I like the 3rd gen regular cabs because there is a good amount of room behind the seats. The 4th gen trucks have almost no room behind the seats. I keep my hard hat, some tools, blankets, extra gloves and jacket etc. and there is still plenty of room for my dog to go back there and stretch out. I can also still tilt the seat back and have room to scoot it farther back and Im 6 feet tall.

Camper rebuild is looking sweet!

I feel your pain on the CO housing tag, the one on my 88 Mitchell is in similar shape. Its cool having a camper built in CO though!

Thanks! I do like that its built in CO. I wish the company was still here so I could get the canvas replaced more easily.


I should have more updates this weekend. Girlfriend is going out of town and the weather is looking perfect. Hoping to have the camper back in the truck and nearly complete. :smiley_drive:

 

[Regcabguy]

Good looking rig. And I like the bumper trim

Ditto. Mercenary bumper on a budget.

 

[Atl-atl]

Ditto. Mercenary bumper on a budget.

Thanks, I wish I could justify $2500 for one of those Mercenary bumpers, they are by far the coolest Ive seen for the 3rd gens.

 

[Atl-atl]

Well I wanted to get more work done this weekend than I did but I wasn't completely lazy! Built the cabinetry except for the counter top. Ill make a template for that and get a custom top made soon. I built a ply top for now so I could locate the cooktop. Also I cut provisions for the thermostat and light switch, they are just hidden behind the paneling right now. I haven't decided if I want to keep the paneling there or go another route. For now I like it except for the vertical side that I didnt have the right scraps of paneling to keep it all horizontal.

I still have quite a few things to do but its approaching "punch list" status. Paint some trim pieces, weatherstrip the door, install new paneling on the door, cut blockoff plates for the old water fittings outside, re-seal the roof in some spots, build the new seat cushion and reupholster everything. The weather is about to turn here so I need to get at least the exterior work finished Monday and Tuesday.

The only two things that feel like they are "looming" are the wiring and the propane. The wiring is minimal but I can't make my mind up about running a battery in the camper or wiring the camper to the truck. My power needs are very minimal; one exterior light and the heater, thats it. As for the propane I really need help putting this back together. Id like to find a local guy that knows this stuff to help me out. Anyone in Colorado that can help with propane?

 

[Atl-atl]

So I meant to do a lot of work on the camper this weekend but it turned into spending an entire day rebuilding the door. I simply wanted to take it apart and recover the inside panel. This turned into rebuilding the whole door. The wood frame was rotten, not sure why it isn't aluminum like the rest of the camper, 1981 cost-cutting measures I guess. Oh well I had some pressure treated 2X that I ripped down to the very odd 1 5/16th" size the wood frame is made from. I recovered it with the same fabric wall covering as the rest of the camper and it turned out really well. Its getting hard to tell from the pictures but every little change/fix is making such a big difference to the "feel" of the inside of the camper. Its incredibly time consuming but Im very happy each time I run into a road block and decide to fix it the right way instead of skipping over it. I still need to silicone it so water doesn't get inside and the redo the weatherstrip, its close though.

 

[kayak15]

Hey. Checking in to see what you have been up to and if you have done anything else to the truck... I also wanted to ask since you are in Colorado, have you ever run the truck over Black Bear Pass or any of the other high country passes? My buddies and I are planning on heading to CO in 2018 on a multi-week trip and want to run Black Bear, but I'm nervous about riding my 1994 Dodge 2500 regular cab long bed down the pass.

Otherwise, hope all is well and that the snow is starting melt! Heading to Littleton in two weeks to hang with family for the weekend and hoping for some good weather. Last time we were there they had tornadoes and wicked hail storms!!

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Atl-atl]

Hey. Checking in to see what you have been up to and if you have done anything else to the truck... I also wanted to ask since you are in Colorado, have you ever run the truck over Black Bear Pass or any of the other high country passes? My buddies and I are planning on heading to CO in 2018 on a multi-week trip and want to run Black Bear, but I'm nervous about riding my 1994 Dodge 2500 regular cab long bed down the pass.

Otherwise, hope all is well and that the snow is starting melt! Heading to Littleton in two weeks to hang with family for the weekend and hoping for some good weather. Last time we were there they had tornadoes and wicked hail storms!!

Thanks,
Kevin

Where do I even begin! I sold the camper (and have regretted it ever since) but its an awesome story where a guy that races bikes in Dakar and owns a motorcycle aftermarket parts company bought the camper for a guy that works for him and gave it to him as a gift! So cool of him, makes me realize there are still good people on Earth. I still have the truck, I have made a few changes but mostly preventative maintenance with a little mod here and there. Powerstop brakes all around and Bilstein 5160f/5100r, programmer and some other stuff. Ill post up a longer reply about it but Ive been so busy I haven't updated this thread in forever. Ive switched jobs twice, my fiancé graduated with her pharmD and got a residency in Chicago! Were moving on Thursday so naturally I went out and bought another camper today hahaha. There is absolutely nothing available in Chicago so I had to get something before I left. I absolutely stole this camper, the guy I bought it from and his family were so nice. Im grateful for the amazing deal they gave me. Its a 1983 (Lance) Four Seasons, no idea what model it is, hopefully I can do some research and find out. It has been narrowed by a previous owner and was done very well. It must have been stored indoors because its practically showroom new. Im just amazed that people keep things this nice for 30+ years.

As for wheeling Blackbear, don't do it in a full-size. Ive run it in both directions in a TJ and it is sketchy beyond your imagination. Even JKU's have a tough time with the switchbacks. People regularly roll off the trail, some with better outcomes than others. Its not a difficulty thing, its a size thing. I would never, ever, ever even consider it in a full-size. Mother nature is trying to reclaim the mountain side and she is winning compared to the lack of funding to maintain the road. There are so many other great and safe trails to drive it just does not make sense to attempt something like Blackbear in a full-size truck.

Shameless pic of the new camper right when I pulled into the driveway this evening!

 

[Atl-atl]

Here are some pictures of the new camper. I can't believe the incredible deal I got. The jacks alone are worth what I paid for the whole thing! I hate to say I stole it, but for $600...I stole it. I had emailed the guy about it 45 minutes after the ad was listed. He told me it sold within 20 minutes. I told him to let me know if the sale falls through. Through some act of nature it did and I got an email from him a week later. I immediately went and picked it up. When we were loading it into my truck another guy pulled up with a trailer asking if it sold! Close one.

Its a 1985 Four Seasons. I don't know what model it is but it does still have the serial tag on it so that might help. It was narrowed by a previous owner who did a very good job, it almost looks factory. They actually narrowed both sides 3 inches instead of doing just one side. This is really nice because my old Hawk used to sit about five inches farther out over the drivers side. It has no leaks, no mold or nastiness anywhere, everything works, guy even gave me a propane tank and 3 nearly new looking Titan jacks with it. It definitely spent the vast majority of its life in a garage or some kind of nicer storage facility.

It has an icebox, 3 burner stove, furnace, sink, water tank, carbon monoxide and propane gas detectors etc. I likely won't use the sink and water tank but since the cabinetry is in such good shape its all staying put for now. The table spins so you can almost treat the bench as a dinette which is good because I really like dinettes and can probably get away without any reconfiguring which makes me really happy. There is only one minor issue I have found so far. The plastic windows have shrunk so much that the velcro doesn't line up anymore. Haven't figured out how I will fix this yet but Im sure there is a solution somewhere on this site! Ill have to take care of that before I camp in case it rains. It is wired for shore power but the plug looks like it is not compatible with todays electrical connections. I compared it to my buddys sunlite and its a totally different plug.

Future short list plans are;

- thorough cleaning
- get a house battery
- wire up an isolator setup for the truck
- replace the interior lights with LED fixtures
- figure out a fix for the plastic windows
- new window coverings
- reseal a few spots on the exterior

Future long list plans are;

- solar
- fan
- awning
- reupholster
- nicer flooring and possibly some other interior updates
- maybe a fridge
- some kind of "cold weather pack"

 

[Atl-atl]

Since Ive totally neglected this thread over the last eight months I figure Ill post a few updates from winter/spring. I got my hands on a full powerstop brake kit, Bilstein 5160s and a Bully Dog programmer. Talk about some huge differences. Its quite nice to have my speedometer at the correct spot and know what gas mileage Im actually getting. Its also nice to have some actual throttle response. I can't wait to throw the 93 octane tune on it now that Im in Chicago where theres better gas than Denver.


Note #1. Since MTB is OK around these parts Ill post this! It was really warm in Denver for the last few weeks and I wound up spending some of the truck budget on another bike! The front range trails have been dry and empty so Ive been riding when in town instead of working on the truck. I managed to get my hands on a pretty rare Gary Fisher Ferrous. True Temper OX Platinum, King headset, DT Swiss wheels, XTR SS cranks etc. Those of you in the know will know what this means. For the rest of you its just another mountain bike.

Note #2. I found out yesterday(a couple months ago at this point) that I will be moving to Chicago this June. My fiancé was chosen for a residency at a hospital in Chicago so we will be moving there after she graduates this May. I grew up in Chicago and have been trying to live in Colorado permanently since 2000. This will be the 7th time I have moved between Colorado and Illinois. Im getting quite sick of the back and forth and will truly miss Colorado but I make the best of everything so :beer: I just sold my R32 two weeks ago and it will be really hard for me to keep the truck and not buy a Porsche or some other ridiculous car in a futile attempt to make up for leaving the mountains. I figure spending time/money on the truck will force me to keep it...maybe.



On to the truck.

I had much bigger plans for this weekend but as usual things don't pan out. Wah waaah...sorry. I got talked out of a particular front bumper/winch that I was going to snag simply due to how good of a deal I can get. Apparently its quite ugly and does not follow the high clearance goals I have for the truck. Back to the drawing board there, I need to find someone to make something custom for me. What I did wind up with is a set of Bilstein shocks, Powerstop brakes(which Ive had for a while as you probably know) and a programmer to fix a few things with the truck.

Today I got around to installing the Bilsteins. 5160s in the front and 5100s in the rear. The fronts are slightly longer than the shocks I pulled off the truck which is good because more droop. The crappy white body shocks I pulled off actually turned out to be Rancho 5000's which are halfway decent. Ill probably clean them up and throw them on CL tomorrow. Also changed my oil because my local oreillys has Rotella T6 on sale for $13 a gallon which I couldn't pass up.

During installation

These pictures are dusk-time and make the truck look like it has a lot of rust. Its actually very minimal but I plan on cleaning it up a little. Id also like to ditch the spacers for some new coils but Im having a very hard time finding a coil that will net me 3" of lift. Apparently nobody mods regular cab gasser 3rd Gen Dodge 3/4 ton trucks.

Shocks final resting place.

Tomorrow Im hopefully going to get the brakes and the programmer installed. It just snowed a ******tload here so it will be hard to not ski/ride and make myself work on the truck. I can't wait to finally have an accurate speedometer and get rid of the TPMS light though. Oh also, Ive been shopping for new campers.

 

[Colorado_Outback]

Note #1. Since MTB is OK around these parts Ill post this! It was really warm in Denver for the last few weeks and I wound up spending some of the truck budget on another bike! The front range trails have been dry and empty so Ive been riding when in town instead of working on the truck. I managed to get my hands on a pretty rare Gary Fisher Ferrous. True Temper OX Platinum, King headset, DT Swiss wheels, XTR SS cranks etc. Those of you in the know will know what this means. For the rest of you its just another mountain bike.

Looks like he shorted you a couple gears on the back... JK

That's a hell of a deal on that camper, it looks really clean for its age. Looking forward to seeing more.