Custom Camper on F550 Cab Chassis Build.

[DiscoChicken]

After much research and napkin sketching I have begun the preliminary design of my family's future camper. It will be built on an F550 Cab/chassis 4X4 4 door. Nida-Core body w/ aluminum exo-skeleton (Similar to the Turtle Expedition). My wife and I have two daughters, 1 yr and 2 yr, so we need space for them. I like to cook in the camper, so I wanted a usable, counter-o-plenty kitchen. We often have the grands join us camping so I need a space for them to sleep. Finally, we want a dry bath with cassette toilet and tub for bathing the girls. Any feedback, suggestions, questions are welcomed. Thanks Disco

 

[cwsqbm]

Nice layout overall. I wouldn't bother with the tapered nose, at it'd make construction more difficult, take away strength from supporting the cabover, give up a little extra space, and not really help with the aerodynamics.

 

[doofyskier]

I'm just curious as to the reasons you are installing a sink in the bathroom. In my truck camper, the bathroom is pretty tight, hard to maneuver in, and I usually find myself brushing teeth/shaving in the kitchen sink or outside. Would you consider eliminating the bathroom sink to gain more living space in the main cabin area? it seems like its only about 5' away? I also would think that kitchen sink and bathroom sink and shower should all be on same side of truck to make the plumbing easier? Maybe not though. Just a thought.

 

[DiscoChicken]

@ cwsqbm: Thanks, I share the same view with the strength. That was a last minute change. I think I will go back to a straight wall.
@ doofyskier: If I shaved in the kitchen sink, my wife would hit me with a 2x4 in the back of the head. I do a lot of cooking in the camper and don't care for the idea of spitting tooth paste where I wash my food. Besides, my wife and two girls will need a little counter space for makeup and such I do like the idea of having the plumbing on the same side, but as much time as I spend in there cooking, I'd rather be able to see out of the window to the camp. The awning and therefor outside lounge area is on the passenger side of the RV. Then I could keep an eye on the kids. Thank you for the suggestions though. I have run the "no counter in the BR" by my wife and she said no way.

 

[Overland Hadley]

One suggestion I have would be to make the seating around the table in a U shape. At least make it so people can sit on three sides of the table, even if the two ends are bench perches.

Good luck! Keep us posted on the progress.

 

[DiscoChicken]

@ Overland Hadley: Our current Adventurer 86SBS truck camper has the u shaped dinette. My wife insisted on it. She loved it until we had a few people sit at it and eat. Our feet were all over each other. That dinette is only 68", but I don't think 4 more inches will make a huge difference. We had a Sofa/Bed like this in our Toyota Dolphin and loved it. It was great. We set up TV trays and ate on those. A couch also makes a better place for the family to gather and watch a movie if the weather turns ugly. A u shape dinette does offer more storage underneath though. We had a Lance camper with an L shaped dinette that worked nicely. I will play with these ideas in the layout tonight. Thanks so much.

 

[DiscoChicken]

I straitened the overcab wall as cwsqbm suggested. It allows for more storage cabinets and a place to put a stereo and control center for tank gauges and what not. I moved around the dinette, u shaped, L shaped... The couch seems to be the best option for us. It's an easy, plug and play, one less custom piece to build. Plus a dinette of any kind will take away that valuable 38" of floor space that could be utilized for a My Little Pony Ranch or Barbie Dream House on a rainy day. Floor space or play space in our current camper is at a premium and the girls love to play there. Hopefully we won't have bad weather, but I've spent 4 days in the rain this year with these kids and they almost sent me to the loony bin!

So.., here is the revised design. Not much difference.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Plus a dinette of any kind will take away that valuable 38" of floor space that could be utilized for a My Little Pony Ranch or Barbie Dream House on a rainy day. Floor space or play space in our current camper is at a premium and the girls love to play there.

Interesting. I was thinking there was a lot of "empty" floor space. But now that you have explained its use, it makes sense.

 

[graynomad]

If I shaved in the kitchen sink, my wife would hit me with a 2x4 in the back of the head.

Do what I did, grow a beard , problem solved.

I'm looking forwards to seeing more about this, it seems very similar to a build I'm about to start.

 

[DiscoChicken]

Back at designing my rig after too much time off. I've been looking at a few rigs. I am worried with an 550 that I will be too close to the GVWR fully loaded. After reading another build thread where the truck wasn't enough, I've started looking at the Durastar 4x4. I'm pretty sure the Durastar will bring my max height up several inches but I cannot find any bodybuilder info like I have found for the 550. I can't even find weight specs on the Duraster. Any help?

 

[ScottReb]

http://bodybuilder.navistar.com/General/Documents/Saleinfo/CT471dates/20140228/CT471/Series/DuraStar/Durastar_rraxle.pdf

Here you go. The D-star is a great platform. You can get a Cummins or their venerable DT 466. 2 great options and multiple transmissions as well. The frame heights are not much higher than the 5 series Ford/Dodges. Good luck.

 

[ScottReb]

Pg35 on the Charts and Chassis Diagram section. 4300 4x4

 

[Gemini]

Back at designing my rig after too much time off. I've been looking at a few rigs. I am worried with an 550 that I will be too close to the GVWR fully loaded. After reading another build thread where the truck wasn't enough, I've started looking at the Durastar 4x4. I'm pretty sure the Durastar will bring my max height up several inches but I cannot find any bodybuilder info like I have found for the 550. I can't even find weight specs on the Duraster. Any help?

There are a few of us on here using the International MDT platform, including my own humble start, so who am I to argue against your thought.

 

[DiscoChicken]

http://bodybuilder.navistar.com/General/Documents/Saleinfo/CT471dates/20140228/CT471/Series/DuraStar/Durastar_rraxle.pdf

Here you go. The D-star is a great platform. You can get a Cummins or their venerable DT 466. 2 great options and multiple transmissions as well. The frame heights are not much higher than the 5 series Ford/Dodges. Good luck.

Thanks, but that's just the rear axle. I can't seem to find anything else on there. This is what I'm looking for.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2015/2015_SD_F-Series_v1-1.pdf

 

[DiscoChicken]

I got home and looked again at this link, thinking I missed something earlier. I only see 37 pages on this link. PP 257-293. All dealing with the rear axle. I want to know frame to roof of cab height, frame width, wheel and tire placement... Hell, I can't even find how much the trucks GVWR is. Is it not available unless I go talk to a dealer?

I'd really like to see something like these...