Cabover Expo Build (Advice needed)

[Ryflyer11/11]

Hi all,

I am relatively new to the community and am looking for any advice I can get. That can either mean pointing me in the direction of helpful threads or contributing your own suggestions.

Here is my situation:

I am looking to build a rig to live out of as I do volunteer work in Tuscon for the next year. I plan on taking it to Baja after I finish my work in Tuscon. My budget is under 20k.

-I recently acquired an 8'6 2003 Lance 835 cabover and paid a little over 5,000 for it. The man had used it three times since he bought it new, so it is in excellent condition.
-I now need to find a 3/4 truck that can handle the camper and this is where your expertise comes in:

1) I am looking at Diesel vs. Gas engines from around 99-2003 either ford or dodge. I would also consider newer models if they could fit in the budget. I have heard about the wonders of the 7.3 and the dodge 5.9, but do not know anything about how to work on a diesel engine. Plus they command a high price up here in Montana. Any thoughts or suggestions about truck choice here? Gas vs. Diesel and general things to consider? I need to consider in my budget that I plan on installing solar panels on the lance and updating the suspension in the truck.

2) If anyone has lived off-grid in a Lance or otherwise has suggestions about cabover/truck setups, i would really appreciate it. I am a young man and am very inexperienced in this stuff.

Cheers and thanks!

Ryan

 

[Tugvi]

You will probably get a million different answers. While I love diesel I would go for gas if you are able to work on them. Diesel is easy but has a learning curve, more parts to replace for routine maintenance, and parts of more expensive. Plus if you have to have someone else do it not only will it be more expensive but most places only have one diesel mechanic and they are always back logged. When I need a part it is always easier to get a gas vs diesel part. If you're a junkyard type there are tones of the gas engines to savage from not so much on diesel. Most people hoard of sell 7.3 and 5.9 parts not junk them. As far as camper living it easy enough just takes a few weeks to build a routine around the new lifestyle. This is just my experience with having a gas and a diesel rig.

 

[zooroadbaja]

Itlll guzzle fuel but a v10 3v would be ideal could probably even find a 6.2 in your price point. if youre sticking to a 3/4 ton id look at gas for the payload that camper aint lite

 

[Ryflyer11/11]

Itlll guzzle fuel but a v10 3v would be ideal could probably even find a 6.2 in your price point. if youre sticking to a 3/4 ton id look at gas for the payload that camper aint lite

Yeah, the MPGs are part of the reason I am leaning towards a diesel. Driving from up north to Mexico on 10+/- MPG vs 20+/- MPG is a big difference. Perhaps it would make the 5-10k extra investment on the front end in a diesel worthwhile. But then there is the issue of maintenance. It would take me a minute to learn to wrench on a diesel.

 

[Ryflyer11/11]

2008 Ford F-350 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2008 Ford F-350, 4wd, flatbed, extended cab, V8 Gas Motor, Automatic Transmission, 163,000 Miles. Great work truck. Call or text 406- 4 three 8-Two 5 seven 4.

helena.craigslist.org

Heading to look at this tomorrow. It is a 5.4 Gasser with a flatbed.

 

[AbleGuy]

2008 Ford F-350 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2008 Ford F-350, 4wd, flatbed, extended cab, V8 Gas Motor, Automatic Transmission, 163,000 Miles. Great work truck. Call or text 406- 4 three 8-Two 5 seven 4.

helena.craigslist.org

Heading to look at this tomorrow. It is a 5.4 Gasser with a flatbed.

Good luck with your search. That looks like a nice set up.

Based on comments others have made here in other threads, you might want to consider that some have found the 5.4 a bit underpowered for carrying the weight and fighting the terrible aerodynamics of something like a big cabover camper. Driving it the flats, it might not matter much tho.

 

[IdaSHO]

You'd likely be wringing that 5.4's neck even on flats.

Id hold out for a 6.8 or 6.2
They are out there. And either is considerably more engine than the anemic 5.4

 

[HAF]

I switched from a 1016 Ram diesel to a 2019 F550 with V10. I have a cab over camper mounted to the chassis. My fuel mileage on the Ram was not much better than 12 MPG. My Ford with V10 is showing between 9 and 10 MPG (it has manual lock outs on front end). The biggest difference is in the mountains where the Ram does better. Flat landing, the diesel didn't give me much of a fuel mileage. I do have piece of mind with the gasser-no fussy emissions system. No check engine lights (unlike the Ram). Next truck with be the new F550 with gas engine and ten speed transmission. I have also had two Sprinters-one with V6 and one inline 4-both threw codes all the time. Also had two Chevy trucks with the Duramax-all had random check engine codes. The Ram would go into limp mode when cold out.

 

[beef tits]

I would avoid the 7.3, especially with a manual trans. Had one for three years with a Lance 815, there are too many design flaws right out of the factory. Had the transmission out 4 or 5 times in 30k miles due to stupid ******** like the clutch getting soaked with oil and the transmission cracking in half due to faulty driveshaft components. You can replace every seal on that motor and something will still leak. Topside leaks all go back to a hole cast into the block directly above the flywheel. Poor design. Down-time was considerable. Replaced the clutch and driveshaft with new parts twice in 3 years.

The autos have a bad rap but if rebuilt properly they seem to last. If I ever opted for a Ford again, which is very unlikely given my experience with them, I would go for the v10 and some bolt on modifications. Plenty of torque and though the MPGs aren't as good, the maintenance is wayyy less. The 7.3 will eat your wallet one way or another and they are obnoxiously loud no matter what. Oil changes are a messy pain in the butt, and expensive. Injectors? Don't get me started. You'll often be huffing nasty fumes starting it up on cold days.

People love these things for some reason, from my experience they are folks who just like fixing things all the time.

For what it is worth I ended up with a Tundra and a 4WC Grandby. Even loaded over GVWR it's way better to drive than my Ford ever was. Rides like a Camry in comparison. The 7.3 had gobs of top end power but who really needs to do 80-100MPH pulls with a truck camper? No one. Tundra does just fine cruising up I-70 in the fast lane. I haven't had a single problem with the Tundra which has been very nice compared to averaging $1k/month in repairs on my old Ford.

Oh and the weight of that Ford even unloaded was a real compromise in mud. Got that thing stuck plenty of times even with a locker, lift and KO2s. Invest in a good Warn winch if you buy one and plan to go off-road in wet conditions.

 

[Regcabguy]

I'd get a 2003-2007 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins. Aside from Ford's new 7.3 gasser all V-8's out there will gulp gas and hills will require downshifting and 4K+ rpm's. The Cummins is a true medium duty diesel. The auto's on diesels are the weak point and will require some beefing up. The NV5600 and the Mercedes G-56 manuals are strong and simpler for Mexico especially slow speed crawling up hills. The only difference between a 2500 and 3500 Ram is the springs.

 

[cobro92]

I'd get a 2003-2007 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins. Aside from Ford's new 7.3 gasser all V-8's out there will gulp gas and hills will require downshifting and 4K+ rpm's. The Cummins is a true medium duty diesel. The auto's on diesels are the weak point and will require some beefing up. The NV5600 and the Mercedes G-56 manuals are strong and simpler for Mexico especially slow speed crawling up hills. The only difference between a 2500 and 3500 Ram is the springs.

I agree it’s a good platform, but there aren’t really that many out there in good condition without a boatload of miles. You’d also have to pay a lot for one.

Depending on budget, another option could be a 5.9 Cummins swap into a 08-10 6.4 power stroke. There are a lot of vendors that sell the swap parts these days. Buy a cheap power stroke with a ton of miles, wait till it explodes, and then do the swap. Then you’ll easily have another 300k out of that Cummins. 08-10 power strokes are relatively cheap.


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[DirtWhiskey]

I would avoid the 7.3, especially with a manual trans. Had one for three years with a Lance 815, there are too many design flaws right out of the factory. Had the transmission out 4 or 5 times in 30k miles due to stupid ******** like the clutch getting soaked with oil and the transmission cracking in half due to faulty driveshaft components. You can replace every seal on that motor and something will still leak. Topside leaks all go back to a hole cast into the block directly above the flywheel. Poor design. Down-time was considerable. Replaced the clutch and driveshaft with new parts twice in 3 years.

The autos have a bad rap but if rebuilt properly they seem to last. If I ever opted for a Ford again, which is very unlikely given my experience with them, I would go for the v10 and some bolt on modifications. Plenty of torque and though the MPGs aren't as good, the maintenance is wayyy less. The 7.3 will eat your wallet one way or another and they are obnoxiously loud no matter what. Oil changes are a messy pain in the butt, and expensive. Injectors? Don't get me started. You'll often be huffing nasty fumes starting it up on cold days.

People love these things for some reason, from my experience they are folks who just like fixing things all the time.

For what it is worth I ended up with a Tundra and a 4WC Grandby. Even loaded over GVWR it's way better to drive than my Ford ever was. Rides like a Camry in comparison. The 7.3 had gobs of top end power but who really needs to do 80-100MPH pulls with a truck camper? No one. Tundra does just fine cruising up I-70 in the fast lane. I haven't had a single problem with the Tundra which has been very nice compared to averaging $1k/month in repairs on my old Ford.

Oh and the weight of that Ford even unloaded was a real compromise in mud. Got that thing stuck plenty of times even with a locker, lift and KO2s. Invest in a good Warn winch if you buy one and plan to go off-road in wet conditions.

You, my friend got yourself a LEMON or just a truck in an unfortunate stage of its life cycle. It happens. I had a 5.9 that spewed and burned oil nonstop. I've had four 7.3s, 3/4 of a million miles total and just went running back to the platform. Again.

 

[bigeyedfish]

I would avoid the 7.3, especially with a manual trans. Had one for three years with a Lance 815, there are too many design flaws right out of the factory. Had the transmission out 4 or 5 times in 30k miles due to stupid ******** like the clutch getting soaked with oil and the transmission cracking in half due to faulty driveshaft components. You can replace every seal on that motor and something will still leak. Topside leaks all go back to a hole cast into the block directly above the flywheel. Poor design. Down-time was considerable. Replaced the clutch and driveshaft with new parts twice in 3 years.

The autos have a bad rap but if rebuilt properly they seem to last. If I ever opted for a Ford again, which is very unlikely given my experience with them, I would go for the v10 and some bolt on modifications. Plenty of torque and though the MPGs aren't as good, the maintenance is wayyy less. The 7.3 will eat your wallet one way or another and they are obnoxiously loud no matter what. Oil changes are a messy pain in the butt, and expensive. Injectors? Don't get me started. You'll often be huffing nasty fumes starting it up on cold days.

People love these things for some reason, from my experience they are folks who just like fixing things all the time.

For what it is worth I ended up with a Tundra and a 4WC Grandby. Even loaded over GVWR it's way better to drive than my Ford ever was. Rides like a Camry in comparison. The 7.3 had gobs of top end power but who really needs to do 80-100MPH pulls with a truck camper? No one. Tundra does just fine cruising up I-70 in the fast lane. I haven't had a single problem with the Tundra which has been very nice compared to averaging $1k/month in repairs on my old Ford.

Oh and the weight of that Ford even unloaded was a real compromise in mud. Got that thing stuck plenty of times even with a locker, lift and KO2s. Invest in a good Warn winch if you buy one and plan to go off-road in wet conditions.

Our 7.3 was in an 1995 F-350 work truck with a dump bed and a ZF5 transmission. We bought it with 150k miles on it, and it had been beat on since day one. Sure it leaked oil and was loud, but it was super reliable and pretty easy to work on when needed. We swapped the dual mass flywheel for a single mass. Roll over noise was annoying, but it had a way lighter clutch which is nice when you're making short trips around the farm. It sounds like you just had a bad example.

I can't argue with your point about ride quality, but the super duties are way better than the OBS.

 

[beef tits]

Horrible design flaws do not make a car a lemon, they make if a ************ car.

 

[beef tits]

I've had four 7.3s, 3/4 of a million miles total and just went running back to the platform. Again.

so less than 200k miles each? Not impressed.