C4500 Ambulance Camper

[cjken]

 

[cjken]

I got this aluminum lift gate.
I think I am going to modify it and mount it on my truck. I plan to make it a rear deck/platform and tire carrier for the spare.
It’s a pretty beefy unit.

At the bottom is a pic that I poached of someone using the same unit as a rear deck.

 

[tmckenna13]

I got this aluminum lift gate.
I think I am going to modify it and mount it on my truck. I plan to make it a rear deck/platform and tire carrier for the spare.
It’s a pretty beefy unit.

At the bottom is a pic that I poached of someone using the same unit as a rear deck.

My truck came with a liftgate on it. What's your feelings on driving with it in the open and up position? I'm considering using it as a motorcycle and/or spare tire carrier.

 

[cjken]

My truck came with a liftgate on it. What's your feelings on driving with it in the open and up position? I'm considering using it as a motorcycle and/or spare tire carrier.

I’m no expert on lift gates, but I think if I were planning to run with it folded out I would shorten it quite a bit and would rig some bars in place of/or in addition to the chains to keep it from bouncing. I think that could be done safely, but there will be significant dynamic forces on it when driving.

 

[cjken]

Lights updated.

Working on lift.

 

[motorman]

Disco lights are cool

BUT

Been waiting for the lift project
I have always thought this is a very effective use of designs that exist in the world

Motorcycle
Spare
Back deck
And and and more

How did you attach to the inside?
Through the AL studs with bolts and plates for load distribution?

 

[cjken]

Yes, I’m very confident that it is solidly mounted.
I used 3/8 x 6 inch wide plates which I mounted to the outside of box allowing me to bolt through the structural elements of the box. The Alu box structure is reasonably thick walled and I spread the load with plates so as not to crush the box. I then used the stock holes in the lift gate and bolted through the plate and through the corner structure of the box. I could only use big washers on the inside of the corners, but the corners seem pretty robust themselves.
It’s going to be a while before I get the gate completely finished.
Work just got really busy for me.

 

[cjken]

Finallly mounted up a hitch receiver!!

 

[motorman]

Is that an air operated magnetic base drill?

Sure beats dropping a big honkin' drill on your face!

What are you going to drag around?

 

[cjken]

No just an electromagnet. The blue line that looks like pneumatic tubing is for Lube.
I used a strap as backup incase it lost power for some reason. Did not want that dropping on me!!

Not pulling much. I’ve got a boat and my Ambo trailer at the moment.

 

[cjken]

 

[baggio95]

Nice! That lift/deck for the rear is pretty awesome. Nice job on the led interior lights. I did a hitch receiver last year with a REDARC brake controller and it was one of the most practical things I've done. Tapping into the Upfitter harness for the brake controller and putting in the 7way was way easier than my Ram 3500.

How have Staz rims and the MPT81s been holding up for you? I'm still kicking over the singles for my RWD for snow here in CO and all the soft sand in Mex.

 

[cjken]

Thanks
Singles working out well
We have soft sand here as well. That’s the main reason I went wit a setup that I can air down.

I still need to wire up a brake controller.
I’ll look into the one that you mentioned.
I tore my ACL so I have not been getting much done lately.
Hopefully I’ll heal up quick and get back to working I. And using the truck.

 

[cjken]

Got the trailer wiring sorted out at the beginning of the summer.
Works well overall.
The MDT does seem to beat up the small camper trailer a bit.
When I tow camper with Jeep they kind of flow and move together. The larger truck seems to send all the shock of bumps through the camper.
No real complaints though.

 

[cjken]

Also went through the process of removing the factory rear AC and re doing the compressor, evap, dryer, condenser. Getting at the evaporator was a chore but it was worth it.