C5500 TopKick 4x4 Crew Cab Build

NeverEnough

Adventurer
That has got to be the largest amount of clamps I have ever seen at one time in my life.

What is that, 35?

You were saying about the clamps?

1216520586_vXbCR-M.jpg


It may not look like it now, but that's my camper body.
 

NeverEnough

Adventurer
The other night I was at the grocery store in the frozen food aisle. I looked up and saw this sign:
1219755020_uhPHz-M.jpg

It reminded me of the importance of measuring twice! The big sheet for the main camper body turned out perfectly square. Today we laid out the joints and started assembling the camper box.
1219847251_pkH5m-M.jpg


1219755496_9py3E-M.jpg


By tomorrow afternoon the main shell will be assembled.
 
Last edited:

LukeH

Adventurer
Man you really don’t know what you’re talking about!
What a load of rubbish!
Everyone knows that the best trailer and camper materials out there are wood, steel with an aluminum skin. All riveted together.
Hell how are you going to repair that POS out on the trail? I can weld up plywood panels with two batteries and a cigarette out in the boonies in half the time it takes you to say lightweight epoxy sandwich panel!
And while we’re talking about lightweight, the first puff of wind and you’ll be off to join Dorothy in her quest to return home. You need to weld some good old American iron in there to hold it all down!
Yeah and wats rong wit’ VEGTABLES? They good **** ya!!
OKOKOK don’t hit reply yet! I’m kidding!
I just couldn’t think of an original way to say what all the others have said. My daily grind involves designing bits of satellite, I get to play with some pretty exotic stuff so fancy new technology is my daily bread.
Nevertheless I’m impressed; really you are doing a great, great job. Your planning, problem prevention and general workmanship are impeccable.
Your workshop appears to only just be big enough for you work and you’ve managed to fit it all in, cleanly and elegantly.
I probably wouldn’t have chosen that base vehicle but then again we have access to other platforms over in Europe.
There I’m subscribed now.
Thank you so much for inviting us into your workshop, your life and even your mind on this build; it’s a real pleasure to see such good work progressing.
Keep it up, and in those exhausted can’t face another clamp moments think of all the encouragement we can bring you through this forum.
Thanks again
Luke
 

NeverEnough

Adventurer
Thanks, Luke. You job sounds just slightly more stimulating than mine! And I seriously considered bringing in a truck from overseas. But for this build and how the rig will be used, the C5500 meets the spec. If I ever do a true overland machine for worldwide travel, it will be on a different truck and be considerably more nimble and petite.

So we met the goal of getting the main shell shaped in less than a week of shop time! :wings:

1220498441_aicf6-M.jpg


The goal for next week is to get the internal structure and cabover in place.
 

Ford Prefect

Expedition Leader
1220498441_aicf6-M.jpg


The goal for next week is to get the internal structure and cabover in place.

So, on the right, why did you make the roof have that low channel the entire length of the vehicle? Room for the AC units?

;) :wings:

Just kidding, of course.

WOW that is coming right along! Color me jealous!

Thanks again for keeping us up to date on how things are going for you.

Take care

Brian
 

NeverEnough

Adventurer
So, on the right, why did you make the roof have that low channel the entire length of the vehicle? Room for the AC units?

Actually, I've decided to mount a cherry picker/crane boom on the top. Why not? It could come in handy when it comes time to paint the house this summer...
 

jesusgatos

Explorer
...and for loading/unloading that pallet of dirtbikes too. haha. Great idea. Going to do the same thing on top of mah deuce. Was planning on building something simple. What are you going to use?
 

NeverEnough

Adventurer
I was kidding about the cherry picker, but I actually kicked the idea around for a roof-top hoist early on. When your roof is 12ft off the ground, it's not very practical cargo space without a method for getting stuff up and down. And 12ft is already REALLY tall, which means exposing cargo to tree branches and other overhead obstacles. These thoughts contributed to my decision to build a matching trailer.

But if I ever had to get a couple of kayaks, sailboard, etc. up there, it would be a pain. My 185lb. spare winches down from behind the rear axle, so I don't have to worry about that up on the roof. And my rear cargo deck will be able to get about 5ft. off the ground, which only leaves 7ft. to throw something on the roof. I'm guessing there's already been a few clever innovations in this group for getting bulky or heavy items on and off the roof.
 

pods8

Explorer
And 12ft is already REALLY tall, which means exposing cargo to tree branches and other overhead obstacles.

Above 12' I'd really start worrying about the random low overpass too (which you could include in your obstacles category). That would not be fun to hit one of those...
 

Forum statistics

Threads
188,476
Messages
2,905,641
Members
230,428
Latest member
jacob_lashell
Top