Flatbed and composite panel build on Dodge 2500
- Thread starter Jeep
- Start date
I fooled the experienced! I LOVE the look of the HEMTT, but wouldn't want to try and get 75MPH out of one!
That is a no mile M939A2 chassis with a brand new HEMTT cab, quick rebuild on the steering box to bring the input in from the front and you have a killer 5 ton cab forward 6x6, crank the pump on the 8.3 and this thing is a blast to drive. I tried a pile of different ideas including mounting the radiator on the side by the engine and running a hydraulic fan motor for cooling which would have worked, so I could have modified the cab to put a row of 4 Recaro's across the front for the family as I like everybody in the cab, BUT I couldn't see spending the amount of time required to accomplish the end result as I had to completely rebuild a multi year business plan....thanks to $25 Saudi oil and a newly elected socialist government which pretty much gutted the western Canadian economy. Enough politics, I'm sure that broke a forum rule somewhere. I was going to put 2 spares on a custom roll cage that went behind the cab, and a full blown expedition cabin on the back with a garage to haul our bikes, and a stadium roof. I'd like to build another one in the future, right now we are busy finishing off our product line and having a blast working with some really awesome people, and that's what it's all about!
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
********... well played sir. Funny how ya can skip over obvious details (like an extra pair of wheels up front!) When you just glance at something. No sleep doesn't help either.
If you want to haul more people, next time look for a HET!
akmedic77
Member
75 MPH is possible. Don't asks me how I know...they are amazing rigs.
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VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
Just read this entire thread end to end. I am a big fan of the composite panel builds, really pretty amazing stuff you can do with them and the custom extrusions and full build kits are fantastic. It is something I would love to work with some day... good thing I live in Victoria and am friends with Andreas. heh
Beautiful camper Mark, I really like the attention to detail and the crazy good design and fab skills. When and if I ever decide to attempt something like this, I will be sure to look up LITE industries and Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles.
:coffeedrink:
Beautiful camper Mark, I really like the attention to detail and the crazy good design and fab skills. When and if I ever decide to attempt something like this, I will be sure to look up LITE industries and Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles.
:coffeedrink:
Overland Explorer
Supporting Sponsor
It's been snowing in Alberta...We had these for rental units a few years ago; what a trip it was to pass people 50' away on the highway while doing 70 in 3 feet of snow !
Overland Explorer
Supporting Sponsor
Staying busy !
damontlarsen
New member
Mark,
Thanks for taking the time to show me around your shop yesterday. As beautiful as your work looks online, it was remarkably more impressive in person!
-Dave
Thanks for taking the time to show me around your shop yesterday. As beautiful as your work looks online, it was remarkably more impressive in person!
-Dave
Overland Explorer
Supporting Sponsor
Easter Bump !
Ramdough
Adventurer
It took me a while..... I had read through the F-700 thread and then this one. Took me all weekend.
I have to say this is an awesome build and I am very impressed with the quality.
I hope your new product lines take off.
I did have a few questions that I did not find answers to in the build threads.
What is the two part urethane that provided the impressive strengths you quoted?
What rating is the plate heat exchanger you are using and what kind of thermostat valve are you using?
Do you have any regrets on selecting the diesel cook top? I have heard mostly negatives about those, just wondering how you feel about them.
Were you putting a wood grate in your shower or what are you using for traction?
Did you ever insulate your extrusions on the inside of the camper or leave them exposed?
Sorry about the quantity of questions. I just am very impressed and know that all of these details probably have a well thought out answer.
Again, I love the build. I imagine you will have a lot of success with your products.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have to say this is an awesome build and I am very impressed with the quality.
I hope your new product lines take off.
I did have a few questions that I did not find answers to in the build threads.
What is the two part urethane that provided the impressive strengths you quoted?
What rating is the plate heat exchanger you are using and what kind of thermostat valve are you using?
Do you have any regrets on selecting the diesel cook top? I have heard mostly negatives about those, just wondering how you feel about them.
Were you putting a wood grate in your shower or what are you using for traction?
Did you ever insulate your extrusions on the inside of the camper or leave them exposed?
Sorry about the quantity of questions. I just am very impressed and know that all of these details probably have a well thought out answer.
Again, I love the build. I imagine you will have a lot of success with your products.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks guys,
The 5500 is a fast attack brush truck - fire fighting. Looks and works great, I will dig up a pic in the next day or two.
Ram dough,
We worked closely with application engineers from Sika, LocTite/Terosen who were immensely helpful, and a few others that didn't cut the mustard. The 2 part component products were based on Sika 7000 series urethanes, and some Terosen products as well. Some of the products tested were custom blends, that had some unbelievable results, others were over the counter. Some of the methacrylates tested didn't work our construction techniques, but for a few components we adjusted manufacturing to accommodate them, by far the most impressive bonding agents but with a very specific application. With the amount of R&D invested into adhesives and the knowledge attained pertaining to their application in our products makes that largely proprietary information, so I can't really give a part number out. And our manufacturing techniques and components are different from some other methods which really made the testing critical, and we have even made extrusions differently to capitalize on what we learned. So the best advice is to test what works in the method you intend on using the product.
The plate exchanger is a 40 plate unit, 3"x 12" x 4", I can't remember the number but it's over the counter stuff. I'm at home after a looooong weekend overhauling the acreage after a long winter. The tempering valve is from Whale, the best one I have found yet.
I have not had any issues with the Wallas cook top, it's the XC Duo, designed for vehicles, altitude stuff taken care of. It's finicky to prime if you run out of diesel, but other than that no issues. Takes a few minutes to warm up, and a few to cool down, normal for diesel stuff. That said, most of our personal cooking is done outside with propane, cook top and barbecue, we have enough electrical to make coffee and toast with good old power sucking AC appliances. I'm building a new unit for myself this winter and it will have a diesel cook top, and a propane outdoor kitchen, with a decent AC system.
Teak floor grate for traction.
We are going to insulate the one extrusion in the overhead. It's the top 45 in the overhead, it sweats a little when cool out. It will get a simple cover to create a thermal break.
No prob with the questions, takes me a little longer to answer them lately, sorry for that!
The 5500 is a fast attack brush truck - fire fighting. Looks and works great, I will dig up a pic in the next day or two.
Ram dough,
We worked closely with application engineers from Sika, LocTite/Terosen who were immensely helpful, and a few others that didn't cut the mustard. The 2 part component products were based on Sika 7000 series urethanes, and some Terosen products as well. Some of the products tested were custom blends, that had some unbelievable results, others were over the counter. Some of the methacrylates tested didn't work our construction techniques, but for a few components we adjusted manufacturing to accommodate them, by far the most impressive bonding agents but with a very specific application. With the amount of R&D invested into adhesives and the knowledge attained pertaining to their application in our products makes that largely proprietary information, so I can't really give a part number out. And our manufacturing techniques and components are different from some other methods which really made the testing critical, and we have even made extrusions differently to capitalize on what we learned. So the best advice is to test what works in the method you intend on using the product.
The plate exchanger is a 40 plate unit, 3"x 12" x 4", I can't remember the number but it's over the counter stuff. I'm at home after a looooong weekend overhauling the acreage after a long winter. The tempering valve is from Whale, the best one I have found yet.
I have not had any issues with the Wallas cook top, it's the XC Duo, designed for vehicles, altitude stuff taken care of. It's finicky to prime if you run out of diesel, but other than that no issues. Takes a few minutes to warm up, and a few to cool down, normal for diesel stuff. That said, most of our personal cooking is done outside with propane, cook top and barbecue, we have enough electrical to make coffee and toast with good old power sucking AC appliances. I'm building a new unit for myself this winter and it will have a diesel cook top, and a propane outdoor kitchen, with a decent AC system.
Teak floor grate for traction.
We are going to insulate the one extrusion in the overhead. It's the top 45 in the overhead, it sweats a little when cool out. It will get a simple cover to create a thermal break.
No prob with the questions, takes me a little longer to answer them lately, sorry for that!
Hi Mark,
I have too busy building everyone else's trucks. Hoping to get some time to work on my T-300 Camper some more. I picked up an extra 150 gallon fuel tank and a locker rear axle.
Since you work with these composite panels a lot can you answer a couple concerns. I was worried about the sun fading the glass panels and wondered if the aluminum backed panels painted white or tan would
resist the sun better. At 8300 feet of altitude at my shop and home the sun is brutal on my Lance camper. we have to buff and wax it at least every other year.
I was also wondering about putting my two slides in the left wall. Should I have the panels built with aluminum framing that goes from the roof to the floor to support them?
The company that builds the panels in Denver said it's tough to anchor things like cabinets to the glass panels but no problem with the aluminum.
I would like the roof to have a slight crown so the snow dosen't sit there and melt and try to find a leak. we often get 2-3 feet of snow in one storm up here.
I have too busy building everyone else's trucks. Hoping to get some time to work on my T-300 Camper some more. I picked up an extra 150 gallon fuel tank and a locker rear axle.
Since you work with these composite panels a lot can you answer a couple concerns. I was worried about the sun fading the glass panels and wondered if the aluminum backed panels painted white or tan would
resist the sun better. At 8300 feet of altitude at my shop and home the sun is brutal on my Lance camper. we have to buff and wax it at least every other year.
I was also wondering about putting my two slides in the left wall. Should I have the panels built with aluminum framing that goes from the roof to the floor to support them?
The company that builds the panels in Denver said it's tough to anchor things like cabinets to the glass panels but no problem with the aluminum.
I would like the roof to have a slight crown so the snow dosen't sit there and melt and try to find a leak. we often get 2-3 feet of snow in one storm up here.
Good FRP like Crane Gold or Lamilux, has a pretty good UV rating, so does a good paint job though. When we use aluminum we have it powder coated, I have a couple trailers built that way and they are holding up really well so there's another option. I think as long as you are using a premium product, well, can't do much better than that. As for the aluminum framing, that's the way we would set up a wall for a slide or structural fixture, it's common practise to a degree. Is Kerr doing your panels? If so they are pretty good at figuring structure out.