Dodge Ram 5500 motorhome

[Healeyjet]

Thanks guys and yes Loonwheeler I agree on the batteries staying put for now. If there is a weight concern down the road we will move all three.
Our weight distribution when we left ITB was front right around 6000 lbs and the rear right around 10,700 lbs so weight wise we should be OK once we fill the fresh water tank etc.
I tried not to watch over the shoulders at ITB too much but it is tough when you aren't building it yourself. I wanted to be involved in all decisions, which from ITB's point of view, probably isn't how they do things. I mentioned that the air box needed to be accessible and had they asked if the grey tank could go all of the way around the air box I would have told then at the time no and saved ITB, myself and our suspension guy a lot of hassle that we are now dealing with.
This process has been compared to having a baby (ladies not the pain part before anyone beats me up too bad) just in the fact that a lot of the painful memories of construction delays etc will disappear when we begin to use it.
Adam, Annie has had to remind me many times that this is to be a fun process, one which I will probably never do again, and thus to enjoy it and quit stressing out about small things. LOL, easier said than done as my personality is to wake up at 2AM and obsess about small details.

Ward

 

[loonwheeler]

Adam, Annie has had to remind me many times that this is to be a fun process, one which I will probably never do again, and thus to enjoy it and quit stressing out about small things. LOL, easier said than done as my personality is to wake up at 2AM and obsess about small details.

Ha! You must be an engineer... :agree:

 

[mk216v]

Ha! You must be an engineer... :agree:

Or just a get-'er-done-right type of guy. Many of those who aren't engineers.

 

[Healeyjet]

Back at ITB this morning for some more work. Moving the air suspension box and getting some other systems dialed in. Should be around for a few days as we have to order some small parts and it is just easier to be here if any decisions need to be made.
Kelderman made new front shock mounts so those went in last week. Now the shocks have some travel so the suspension can actually be set properly now. King sent new lower bushings for the rear shocks but again they are the wrong size so another set was ordered. Once we build new brackets for the air control box it can be moved and the air system can finally be dialed in which should take place next week.
I am not an engineer so I guess I am just a get-'er done right type of guy, LOL. Or just OCD one of the two,.

Ward

 

[vincevs]

Ward,
Photos are ready and should be in your inbox!

 

[Healeyjet]

Thanks Vince. If I figure out how to share the Dropbox photos and video here I will do that.
ITB did a very nice photo shoot and video on Wednesday before I left. The photographer and I went out south of Lethbridge AB and spent an hour video'ing and photographing the camper. It looks wild to see it from above via the drone footage.
Ward

 

[Healeyjet]

Here is the video ITB had made of our ITB Cruiser this week. They were nice enough to forward it to me. I hope it is OK for me to post it here and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

 

[adam88]

Here is the video ITB had made of our ITB Cruiser this week. They were nice enough to forward it to me. I hope it is OK for me to post it here and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Awesome. Oh, I am sure it is "okay" for you to post it... more than okay... it sounds like ITB is wanting to get into the RV business more now that they have a taste of it. Their work is fantastic. Looks amazing and high end. The microwave/fridge really stand out.

Mind telling me the make and model #'s for the fridge and microwave?

 

[Healeyjet]

Microwave - http://www.panasonic.com/ca/consumer/home-appliances/combination-ovens/nn-cf781.html

Fridge - http://www.vfamerica.com/eng/seasteel-dp2600ix.html


I believe these are the microwave and fridge model numbers.

BTW, the Outback step-up transformer for the Wolf cooktop works perfect. We boiled water in about 2.5 minutes from cold. I will do a more "scientific" test in the next week or so.

Ward

 

[Hobietim]

Awesomeness!

 

[Healeyjet]

A quick question for the mechanically inclined.
Our truck has two fuel tanks. A standard rear 43.3G (197L) and an optional 18.3G (83L). Our Oasis diesel fired heater draws from the rear tank. The tube to draw fuel out of the rear tank stops at about the 1/4 full mark of the rear tank so the heater wont run the truck dry. The Dodge Ram has a fuel transfer pump that automatically transfers fuel from the optional tank to the main tank which happens when the rear tank is just around 1/4 full. Do you see the potential problem already? When we stop for the night with just over a 1/4 tank of fuel in the main tank, (the optional tank can be totally full), the transfer pump only works when the truck is running so we seem to be running out of fuel to fire the heater. I haven't found a way yet to "force" the system to transfer fuel from the optional tank to the main tank. I am wondering if I can just add a transfer pump to move fuel from the optional tank to the main tank by flipping a switch?
Mike, I know you are adding a transfer pump to your Ford Uhaul build but haven't got them installed yet and you did all of the research on pumps so what will you be using? Will adding a manual operated transfer pump mess with the factory Dodge system? Is there usually connections already on all fuel tanks to draw from? I know there are connections on the main tank.

Hopefully I am being clear. If not fire away with the questions and I will try to answer them.

Thanks in advance
Ward

 

[Jeep]

Ward, what if you just ran the pick up for the Oasis into the aux tank? It's also much closer to the heater which is generally a good thing.

 

[IdaSHO]

Oh I hate those auto transfer setups.

Can be a royal pain when fueling, as you sometimes have to wait for things to level off in order to actually get a full fill up.

Do you have a fuel tank switch? Or does the motor only draw from the primary tank?

 

[Healeyjet]

Mark, that was my first thought as well. I just need to find out if there are pickups in the aux tank.
At this point it only draws from the main tank and the transfer is automatic.
Ward

 

[IdaSHO]

So the aux tank is a true aux tank.

Like Mark, Id advise tapping into the aux tank for the furnace.