BeefCake's build...a roll your own Earthroamerish family expo rig

[Ozrockrat]

Also need to figure out what to use for tail lights...suggestions welcome.

I would suggest just seeing what is available in LED’s at the local truck stop. Reasonably priced, spares are easy to come by and if the had crappy lifespan those guys would soon let them know. I personally like Trucklite brand but in reality you are paying for the name.

Also something that size you may want to put some LED clearance lights on the sides.

Then you could go whole hog and put some mud lights underneath. Not really needed in my opinion unless you live/camp in an area with pack rats (4 legged ones)

 

[shortbus4x4]

Definitely watch for low branches and trees. I've seen more than one RV do some nasty damage from clearance issues, and it wasn't the tree that was damaged.
Nice build. Hope to see it in action some day.

 

[shortbus4x4]

What Ozrocket said about lights. Look up the DOT rules for lights on trucks. I have a feeling you will need the front, rear, and side marker lights in red and amber.

 

[lostih]

What Ozrocket said about lights. Look up the DOT rules for lights on trucks. I have a feeling you will need the front, rear, and side marker lights in red and amber.

Good idea. Do you know if they apply to RV's as well? I have red marker lights for the rear that I'm putting on and the cab has lights on the roof...but I may well need more...

 

[lostih]

https://www.truck-lite.com/content/education/fmvss/rv

I think I'll be legal once I put the rear marker lights back on. I suppose they could not like that my front markers are on the cab roof instead of the camper roof...

 

[lostih]

First night in the camper

 

[java]

Awesome!!!

As to lights, your rear should be fine as is, and I just have cab lights, plus two markers in the upper front corners.

 

[lostih]

So after my first ride in the truck I concluded that the subframe mounts I was using allowed way to much movement. I think the problem was that the weight of the camper caused them to compress one side all the way and leave the other side without any preload. This cause the camper to sway and wobble quite a bit. To fix this I added some spacers between the camper cross members and the truck frame as well as a hard mount right behind the cab. I drove the truck quite a bit today and found this setup MUCH better. It drives pretty stinking good for what it is. You can feel the weight of the camper in corners etc, but it doesn't sway anymore and just drives down the road. I still have a tire balance issue in the front sometimes. I have 10oz of balance beads in them and may try some more.

I also worked on getting the battery isolator setup. I'm using the $50 method outlined elsewhere on expedition portal. I bought some 1 gauge 25' jumper cables, solenoid, circuit breakers, and quick disconnects off amazon. The 25' length is perfect for making it from the battery, down the frame rail and to the back of the truck. From there I'll have a quick disconnect that will normally run to the camper, but could switch to a removable winch or jumper cables if needed. These are the cables I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPTWBDH/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Spent the afternoon driving around picking up odds and ends to finish things up. Got the last couple trim pieces, shore power pigtail, etc. Feels good to be driving it around to get used to it. So far so good.

 

[Mattersnots]

Great idea on the cables. I've saved the link for future winch mount. Thank you.

 

[lostih]

Great idea on the cables. I've saved the link for future winch mount. Thank you.

No prob. Make sure that they’ll carry the current you need...they’d still be small for much of a winch.

 

[lostih]

Got the plumbing running and some final trim pieces on. Also got the bunk beds in. Getting close but not enough hours in the day to do everything

 

[B85]

Are the parents out the back or over the cab ? LOL

 

[Mattersnots]

I like how the bed has already been slept in even though the tools are still out. A work in progress that doesn't slow down the little ones.

 

[lostih]

Are the parents out the back or over the cab ? LOL

Parents are over the cab . Kiddos wanted the back until they realized we are going to bear country...now they want hard walls.

 

[lostih]

Finished up the cabinets and starting to load up. Took the truck to the scales...14,020 lbs total. That’s without water but with propane and kids. I’m guessing we’ll be 14,500 going down the road. Rear axle was 8360 so front must be just under 6k.

So I’m packing a tool kit...but what items (either tools or gear) do you guys not like to leave without?


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