ITTOG
Well-known member
You are brave. I can't wait to hear how that works out for you. Good luck.
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Colorado slide in camper build
- Thread starter Canlib
- Start date
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Andrew_S
Observer
Man I can't believe how fast you've been rolling on this! Unreal progress.
I have faith in the VHB for a solid seal. It's identical to glazing tape and thats what I used for my windows and no leaks at all. Can't see you have any issues.
How did you make out the speed controllers on the actuators?
I have faith in the VHB for a solid seal. It's identical to glazing tape and thats what I used for my windows and no leaks at all. Can't see you have any issues.
How did you make out the speed controllers on the actuators?
04Ram2500Hemi
Observer
I’ve got to subscribe to this build. It’s pretty dang interesting!
Thank you all for your encouragement.
I haven't installed the speed controllers yet but certainly see the need. The front actuators are lifting most of the load and move considerably slower. I got PWM controllers from Amazon and bench tested them and they do work. I went for the ones with LED displays so I have a digital reference. Complicated to wire since you can't reverse the input polarity. To make a single switch control all four involves two relays for each actuator.
I haven't installed the speed controllers yet but certainly see the need. The front actuators are lifting most of the load and move considerably slower. I got PWM controllers from Amazon and bench tested them and they do work. I went for the ones with LED displays so I have a digital reference. Complicated to wire since you can't reverse the input polarity. To make a single switch control all four involves two relays for each actuator.
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Deleted member 9101
Guest
Mid-size trucks have much smaller margin of error when it comes to payload. The frame in my F150 is also used in trucks rated to tow and haul thousands of pounds more than what mine is rated for and the axle is rated higher as well.... That's not the case for mid-sized trucks. There is no HD equivalent in the mid-sized truck realm in the US.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
I dig it... and great progress! I am well into my build, and still plugging away at it, happy to see others also DIY'ing it.
#builtnotbought
#builtnotbought
its also not just about payload, you have to pay attention to center of gravity. Notice how mid sized trucks are about as tall as full size but a little narrower. So it makes the side to side CG a little higher. Then you have to worry about front to back. The short wheelbase puts the rear axle very close to the front of the bed, its going to be hard to get the CG in front of the rear axle. Even my full size said no slide in campers in the manual. I made some changes to the camper to help distribute thee weight forward by removing the battery and charger, etc and mounting it under the hood of the truck. I also made sure that anything I carried was in front of the rear axle. There is some camper loading info available https://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/131/2004_LD_TruckCamperSnowplow.pdf
I've been moving along. The v wheel and guide track took forever to come then I was short of track and had to wait another forever. The joys of prototyping, you don't really know how it's going to work. The wait was worth it. The top section moves up and down smoothly and there is very little movement when it's up.
I also discovered I had undersized a wire on the actuators so they are moving closer to the same speed now. I will still use the pwms but there is less variation. I'm waiting to install the side panels until I've run it up and down a few more times.
The insulation is all fitted and I'm getting serious about the interior layout. Installed the Propex today.
I think the whole slide in discussion is a bit overblown. I've looked at a lot of 'bent frame' posts and it appears to me they happened at high speed on very rough roads. I'm not building a desert racer or trail runner. I will be mainly on highway or graded logging roads. I bought an ATV years ago so I could stop beating the pickup in order to go that last mile. That said, I appreciate your comments Eugene regarding the center of gravity. That was one of the reasons I wanted a pop up instead of a Kimbo style. Also, my Colorado is long box and the camper doesn't extend past the bumper. As well, I've been very thoughtful about keeping the balance point between the axles.
I also discovered I had undersized a wire on the actuators so they are moving closer to the same speed now. I will still use the pwms but there is less variation. I'm waiting to install the side panels until I've run it up and down a few more times.
The insulation is all fitted and I'm getting serious about the interior layout. Installed the Propex today.
I think the whole slide in discussion is a bit overblown. I've looked at a lot of 'bent frame' posts and it appears to me they happened at high speed on very rough roads. I'm not building a desert racer or trail runner. I will be mainly on highway or graded logging roads. I bought an ATV years ago so I could stop beating the pickup in order to go that last mile. That said, I appreciate your comments Eugene regarding the center of gravity. That was one of the reasons I wanted a pop up instead of a Kimbo style. Also, my Colorado is long box and the camper doesn't extend past the bumper. As well, I've been very thoughtful about keeping the balance point between the axles.
Not so much as bending the frame but removing weight from the front wheels affecting steering/handling. Do you have space in front of the wheel wells in the bed? Our camper had openings there to stash things so I made sure to also put any weight in there as well.
The other thing I was going to do was put a grey water tank under the truck bed, there was space between the gas tank and transfer case. Our camper only had a fresh water tank and nothing for waste water so we had to always carry a portable tank and sit it on the ground. I found this flat hose at Lowes and was planning to move the sink drain from the side to the front and snake the flat hose down between the bed and cab into the grey tank. Again keeping weight low and forward.
Also I was looking at a front hitch receiver so I could carry a bike rack or small cargo box there as well.
I've since sold our camper as I'm at the place where the wife and kids hate the backwards opening extended cab doors that I need to think about a different truck. Trying to decide between full and mid sized now.
The other thing I was going to do was put a grey water tank under the truck bed, there was space between the gas tank and transfer case. Our camper only had a fresh water tank and nothing for waste water so we had to always carry a portable tank and sit it on the ground. I found this flat hose at Lowes and was planning to move the sink drain from the side to the front and snake the flat hose down between the bed and cab into the grey tank. Again keeping weight low and forward.
Also I was looking at a front hitch receiver so I could carry a bike rack or small cargo box there as well.
I've since sold our camper as I'm at the place where the wife and kids hate the backwards opening extended cab doors that I need to think about a different truck. Trying to decide between full and mid sized now.
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