Build: Ram 3500 and Aluminum/Composite Expedition Camper
- Thread starter TrailTestedMFG
- Start date
Nice build, keep up the great work.
As an FYI, I used the same label maker to label wires in my camper and truck. I just folded the label in half around the wire so it stuck out like a flag, most came unstuck within a few months, but luckily didn’t fall completely off.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
As an FYI, I used the same label maker to label wires in my camper and truck. I just folded the label in half around the wire so it stuck out like a flag, most came unstuck within a few months, but luckily didn’t fall completely off.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
2wheel-lee
New member
Looking good! I like what you have going on there. I happened to stumble on some of the videos while I was passing time on a camping trip in the desert over Thanksgiving week, and so it's nice to see the thread here.
TrailTestedMFG
Active member
Thank you all for the compliments and for following the build! We are having a ton of fun sharing it with others!
After a few close calls with a rickety step stool it was clear that we needed a better way to get in and out of the camper before we could keep working on the interior. Here's what we came up with.
Very happy with the product and it will make using the camper even more enjoyable. The idea behind the slide out porch was to give us a place to escape the mud, snow, dirt, etc and take shoes and jackets off before entering the camper. The door that conceals the stairs doubles as a quick step for when we just need to unload some groceries or grab something from inside. The slides are 300# units from Amazon and they are not going to cut it. They are probably strong enough to work, but the latch mechanism comes undone when weight is on them and that's no good. New 500# units from McMaster are on the way.
Next up, it's time to build some underbody boxes!
Waiting on hinges and latches for them. Plus (hopefully) we have another trick up our sleeve! These and the staircase box are going to get Raptor Liner.
Finally, episode 6 is up! Thanks again for following along!
After a few close calls with a rickety step stool it was clear that we needed a better way to get in and out of the camper before we could keep working on the interior. Here's what we came up with.
Very happy with the product and it will make using the camper even more enjoyable. The idea behind the slide out porch was to give us a place to escape the mud, snow, dirt, etc and take shoes and jackets off before entering the camper. The door that conceals the stairs doubles as a quick step for when we just need to unload some groceries or grab something from inside. The slides are 300# units from Amazon and they are not going to cut it. They are probably strong enough to work, but the latch mechanism comes undone when weight is on them and that's no good. New 500# units from McMaster are on the way.
Next up, it's time to build some underbody boxes!
Waiting on hinges and latches for them. Plus (hopefully) we have another trick up our sleeve! These and the staircase box are going to get Raptor Liner.
Finally, episode 6 is up! Thanks again for following along!
grindmonkey
Member
Great fabrication work. I watched the video last night and then immediately checked here to get more info.
The dual function step/box and ladder combo is next level. There are so many times that you would prefer one or the other so it is difficult to decide. Having a seamless integrated system looks great. Hope to hear your long term assessment of the system in a year or so to see which you used more or if you would opt for a different design/approach.
The dual function step/box and ladder combo is next level. There are so many times that you would prefer one or the other so it is difficult to decide. Having a seamless integrated system looks great. Hope to hear your long term assessment of the system in a year or so to see which you used more or if you would opt for a different design/approach.
TrailTestedMFG
Active member
Thanks!
Thank you! I have fallen out of our past campers a few times trying to hop in without the stairs (in too much of a hurry to be bothered to deploy them, I need to be reminded to SLOW DOWN). I think the flip down single step is going to be super handy.
The slide out landing is a bit elaborate, but we plan on using this quite a bit for snow skiing and I think having a dry clean spot to take off ski boots before heading inside is going to be a game changer! I constantly think about design improvements so I'll be sure to update this thread if there are any significant changes coming down the pipes.
I have done fabrication for a living in the past (building Jeeps and rock crawlers for a few years after college), not so much anymore. The 4x8 is only marginally more expensive than the 4x4 and vastly more capable. It does take up some serious real estate, but as you see it's totally do able with a 2 car garage. We can still park one car inside.
What's your plan for heat? Also a skier here and I am in the planning stages for camper build that will get lots of winter weekend ski use.
A thought on ski boots...putting them on and taking usually best done seated. Think about making the door on your unbody box that is just in front of the rear wheel double as a seat. XPS foam line the inside of the door so you have a nice warm spot to sit to put on boots.
ripper1600
Adventure Seeker
Your build is sick. Using a blank canvas gives a lot freedom.
TrailTestedMFG
Active member
We have a diesel furnace for air and a hydronic/electronic marine water heater for hot water.
The bench is a great idea and will likely be implemented! Thanks!
TrailTestedMFG
Active member
Episode 7 is up!
TrailTestedMFG
Active member
It's a Plasma table. ArcLight Dynamics 4x8 with a Hypertherm 65. Its a work horse and makes quickly fabricating quality stuff possible (and very fun!). It takes up significant real estate in the 2 car garage that we work out of, but totally worth it. Organization is the key!
In Episode 7 you ask for tips on emptying a toilet cassette. I cannot figure out how to comment on YouTube, so I will drop this here. The best place, by far, is a vault toilet, like at a rest area, campground, trailhead, etc. They are ubiquitous. We use our camper toilet much like a river groover in that we try to not urinate in it (to max the capacity). But, you want some liquid in there so it empties easier. When you are in a hurry, just dump it in a vault toilet, put the cap back on and move on. It will not be fully empty and "clean" but it will be ready for additional use. When you have time, and a nice vault toilet that is not nasty and does not have people waiting to use it, first dump the cassette, then pour some water in the cassette (.25. - .5 gal, or so), cap the cassette and swish it around. Then dump that. then put in more water with some soap (Dr. Bonners Lavender is the current favorite) swish that around (cap it first) and dump, then one more time adding water and a swish to rinse Gets it nice and clean and unsmelly. We have three old plastic orange juice bottles knocking around in the camper that we will fill with water and take over to the vault toilet when we are doing this. Makes the process smooth and fast.
Also use some sort of additive into the cassette to keep down odors. Happy Camper is widely recommended.
Also use some sort of additive into the cassette to keep down odors. Happy Camper is widely recommended.