NevadaLover
Forking Icehole
Have you thought about putting the M1010 box on the flatbed on the Ram?
You could design and build a flatbed to mount and then unmount the box so you would have the best of both worlds!
Desert Turtle - M1010 Build
- Thread starter ExpoMike
- Start date
You could design and build a flatbed to mount and then unmount the box so you would have the best of both worlds!
ExpoMike
Well-known member
If the GVWR was 10K on the Ram, that might be doable but with it at 8800 lbs. it was going to be close to weight (or over) once the box was moved and built out. Add the weight of a flat bed and it would be well over GVWR. The M1010 truck is rated for 9400 lbs. GVWR. Add to that, putting the box frame on top of a flat bed, it would raise the overall height by another 6" or so. I am already just over 9' and really don't want much higher than that.
NevadaLover
Forking Icehole
Well, maybe it would be easier to regear and repower the chevy to keep it somewhat OEM, it wouldn't be hard and OEM GM parts are easy to get and service!
ExpoMike
Well-known member
That's the plan (outside of regearing). Just a lot more work, time and money.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Last couple weekends have been working to permanently installing the back wall frame and wall sheet. Drilled through the tubing so I could get my pneumatic rivet gun into the tube to rivet the wall to the box. I am using the same structural rivets I did for the roof raise. Also used Sikaflex 221 adhesive/sealant. The frame and sheet are not going anywhere. 
Got the door cutout and test fitted the Turn Overland Wildlands door. Fit perfectly. Still need to final install it but am going to do that after I spray the wall with some etching primer. Happy with how things are coming along and this should be the last of the major external mods to the box.
Got the door cutout and test fitted the Turn Overland Wildlands door. Fit perfectly. Still need to final install it but am going to do that after I spray the wall with some etching primer. Happy with how things are coming along and this should be the last of the major external mods to the box.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
I pulled these Hella Rallye 4000 lights off the Ram, when I removed the front guard off the truck to install the new headlights. I decided I wasn't putting it back on so the lights have been sitting on my garage floor. Tired of having to move them to get to things, I decided to just mount them onto the M1010. Ends up the Sheriff dept had cut out the cross bars in the two opening I put the lights in, so it made it easy to install. I will add the two cross bars above the lights, to help protect them.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Thanks! Yeah I had hoped the "easy button" with the Dodge swap but since that became much bigger issue than I wanted to deal with. Figured at this point just move forward on the CUCV and get this done.
zoomad75
K5 Camper guy
I've slept a couple of times since you shifted gears on the project. Moving forward with a regear or regear with drivetrain swap to what you had already picked up?Thanks! Yeah I had hoped the "easy button" with the Dodge swap but since that became much bigger issue than I wanted to deal with. Figured at this point just move forward on the CUCV and get this done.
I remember you had the 454 laying in wait but wanted to maintain mechanical simplicity by sticking with a carb.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Not going to regear, wasn't ever part of my plan. Likely will do 454 swap (since I have it), carb at first (just to get it running) and then switch over to TBI system (which is about a simple of EFI you can get). Likely start with the current TH400/NP208/Gear Vendor setup but likely at some point change over to a 4L80E/NP241.
Biggest thing right now is I need to get the box interior built out so I can get all of the stuff out of the garage. Can't even think of an engine swap as I can't even get to it in my garage. LOL
zoomad75
K5 Camper guy
Man I understand getting stuff out of the garage before moving to the next stage. I've moved to Denver to help out my Dad and all my personal stuff is in the garage where I could be working on my K5 out of the weather. My buddies want to take another trip in a couple of months and I've got to swap out the transmission, replace a broken fuel level sensor, and deal with some other upgrades while I'm at it. One of which is ditching my front leaf springs for softer riding versions. I'm waiting out the weather, hoping for no more snow so I can get this done.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Knocking off small things on a big list. Scuffed and etch primer the rear wall. Was hoping to get the door final installed with sealant but the weather didn't cooperate on Sunday. I ended up installing the six scene lights around the box, two rear and two on each side. Made a drilling template which sped up the process. I used Rivnuts so I can remove them if I ever needed to replace one. Had I used nuts on the inside, once the inner walls are up, I would not be able to access them. Lights are from SuperBrightLED.
Scuff and primed
Scene lights
Scuff and primed
Scene lights
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Minor progress. Adding L track to the top and bottom of the rear wall. This will allow me to build racks/mounts to hold items, like a set of steps I am modifying. This will allow me to change things easily if I need to and not worry about holes or old mounts in the rear wall. Installed Riv-Nuts and temporarily mounted the track. Will permanently install once I paint the wall.
Lots of Riv-Nuts installed
L Track mounted
Lots of Riv-Nuts installed
L Track mounted
RAM5500 CAMPERTHING
OG Portal Member #183
Great idea!