F-550/ Okanagan 117DBL Build Thread

[AZyucca]

I'm interested. I'm in the process of putting together a similar rig, F550, CM Flatbed and AF865. Really like those Tru-dually wheels and MPT91 tires. I'll be watching how that wheel/ tire combo work out. I've learned the only mod my 2026 will need is a F350 swaybar, so I plan on that wheel/ tire setup on down the road. Like your TC mods as well.

 

[ITTOG]

I'm interested. I'm in the process of putting together a similar rig, F550, CM Flatbed and AF865. Really like those Tru-dually wheels and MPT91 tires. I'll be watching how that wheel/ tire combo work out. I've learned the only mod my 2026 will need is a F350 swaybar, so I plan on that wheel/ tire setup on down the road. Like your TC mods as well.

What is it about the F350 swaybar? Does the F550 just not have an option for one?

 

[n0arp]

What is it about the F350 swaybar? Does the F550 just not have an option for one?

I bought a F-350 swaybar off Ebay and just swapped mine out. The F-550 sway bar is the same diameter and roughly the same weight, but is fully "U" shaped, where the F-350 swaybar has a bend that makes it narrower toward the front of the vehicle. That bend gives at least an extra 2" of clearance for the tires on either side. With the F-550 bar, the tires are into the sway bar on tight turns. With the F-350 bar, they're not even close. I haven't noticed any differences in handling.

 

[n0arp]

I'm interested. I'm in the process of putting together a similar rig, F550, CM Flatbed and AF865. Really like those Tru-dually wheels and MPT91 tires. I'll be watching how that wheel/ tire combo work out. I've learned the only mod my 2026 will need is a F350 swaybar, so I plan on that wheel/ tire setup on down the road. Like your TC mods as well.

So far I'm really liking them. The traction is much better on both wet roads (so much rain recently) and deep mud (clay slop) -- the two conditions (aside from dry asphalt) I've been in so far. No real handling differences vs the 19.5s and the tire noise is pretty minimal (though I always run M/Ts, on everything... so my baseline for tire noise could be different than yours).

 

[n0arp]

A couple other things -- cheap Apple Carplay capable radio from Amazon and a Wolfbox G930 dashcam/mirror. Have both backup and rearview cameras working.

 

[FAW3]

You’re getting it done. Nice build.

 

[AZyucca]

So far I'm really liking them. The traction is much better on both wet roads (so much rain recently) and deep mud (clay slop) -- the two conditions (aside from dry asphalt) I've been in so far. No real handling differences vs the 19.5s and the tire noise is pretty minimal (though I always run M/Ts, on everything... so my baseline for tire noise could be different than yours).

Thanks for the feedback. Our tolerance for tire noise is probably very similar as I've run BFG M/T or A/T ( and currently Mickey Thompson Baja Boss 35's on my Jeep) on all my 4x4 rigs for years. This new F550 with the whiny oem highway tires bugs me more than the howl of off road tires!

 

[n0arp]

Thanks for the feedback. Our tolerance for tire noise is probably very similar as I've run BFG M/T or A/T ( and currently Mickey Thompson Baja Boss 35's on my Jeep) on all my 4x4 rigs for years. This new F550 with the whiny oem highway tires bugs me more than the howl of off road tires!

These are slightly quieter than the Toyo Open Country MT 40x13.5s I have on my Jeep with about 15K on them.

 

[Andrew_S]

Great build, love the base layout of that camper. I may have missed it, what's the total vehicle length with camper?

 

[n0arp]

Great build, love the base layout of that camper. I may have missed it, what's the total vehicle length with camper?

Thanks. The total length (with the rear slide in) is right at 24' from the front license plate to the rear camper tail lights. The mini-split sticks out another 18", for a total of 25'6" if you count the AC unit. The rear slide is 20" deep, so with the slide out, a hair over 27'.

Flatbed height is 46" loaded. Factory height of the camper w/o A/C (brochure height) is 102". The solar rack is 8.75" high total, by the time you have the 7" risers + two pieces of 1/8" angle + 1.4" panel + any gaps in the framing. The stall mat I have it sitting on is 0.75". My measurements are right on - about 13'2" (that all adds up to 13'1.5") hanging a tape off the roof and eyeballing the edge (forgot to take a straight edge up with me).

 

[n0arp]

Not sure the total length with this, but... got the braking system converted from Demco Air Force One to Demco Stay In Play Duo using a controller I won in an Ebay auction for around $200. Test drive went great.