Isuzu npr 4wd

[gator70]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion...

The connection from truck frame to composite habitat in most engineering depends too much on what stress level the floor core will delaminate. The habitat is 3500lbs plus or minus and is connected by floor panel to truck frame. The habitat is somewhat top heavy, with heights 7.5 feet from the floor. With recent designs that use a full roof of solar panels and A/C units the weight on the roof increases. Adding to the top heavy nature.

More than opinion.

Large truck campers with less weight and possible less height are connected to corner edges 20-25 inches higher up on the unit, not depending on "the floor as the only connection method". And the higher up the connection is the better it is for the weight and sway.

My engineering (completely custom)

The floor cannot delaminate under any stress due to the engineering I used. The floor is engineering so that it is over 5 inch's thick with a composite panel sandwiched between frames internal and external to the habitat including a internal subfloor. (one advantage is a insurance against water leaks and accidental destruction of a wood floor)

 

[gator70]

Internal layout and compromise. The list of what we want for a three week BLM land stay is long. Keeping the total height of the rig and total length of the rig to a minimum is the goal. A cab over rig design like this has a turning radius of a MB sprinter 170. Unlike all those Ram 5500 and Ford 550 platforms.

The disadvantage is the cab height is higher.

 

[rruff]

One was with the composite material in a sandwich construction with marine plywood in the core.
The common one was tubes inside the core of the composite panel for attachment points.

It is highly likely the core material will separate in high stress situations.

FUD Show me your work.

BTW how is yours attached?

 

[rruff]

Large truck campers with less weight and possible less height are connected to corner edges 20-25 inches higher up on the unit, not depending on "the floor as the only connection method". And the higher up the connection is the better it is for the weight and sway.

Only on slide-ins and they only do it because they have to. There is no floor attachment at all; the only thing keeping the camper on is those 4 turnbuckles.

The connection from truck frame to composite habitat in most engineering depends too much on what stress level the floor core will delaminate.

That 3500 lbs you mentioned is almost always pointed down; resting on the bed. TC uses 1/4" fiberglass tubing in the core, with a steel insert, so you'd need to rip that tubing apart. If King Kong picked the rig up by the habitat and shook it, I'm pretty sure that mounting would hold. At any rate it's a hell of a lot more secure connection than a slide in has.

 

[rruff]

Internal layout and compromise. The list of what we want for a three week BLM land stay is long. Keeping the total height of the rig and total length of the rig to a minimum is the goal. A cab over rig design like this has a turning radius of a MB sprinter 170. Unlike all those Ram 5500 and Ford 550 platforms. The disadvantage is the cab height is higher.

I don't know about the NPR with a 4WD conversion but the 550/5500s turn sharper than any pickup. The added front track width allows this.

Also, how much vertical space do you have in the berth once a mattress is in? It looks very tight. I hope you've tested that this is acceptable.

 

[gator70]

I don't know about the NPR with a 4WD conversion but the 550/5500s turn sharper than any pickup. The added front track width allows this.

Also, how much vertical space do you have in the berth once a mattress is in? It looks very tight. I hope you've tested that this is acceptable.

Yes the berth is good for sleeping and not more. This was an effort to keep the rig from being too tall.

 

[SkiFreak]

It is highly likely the core material will separate in high stress situations.

I have been working with composites for over a decade and have done many of my own strength tests on components.
I'll just say... it takes a lot of force to separate a well made composite panel.
There are a multitude of methods that can be used to mount a camper to a subframe. It is true that some methods are technically stronger than others, but I have seen very little evidence of failures due to delamination alone.

As I have said many times before in this thread, it's your truck and you should do whatever you feel is necessary to make yourself comfortable with your own build.
Having said that, saying that everyone else has it wrong and only you are doing it right is, in my opinion, a bit of a stretch.

 

[gator70]

Any tips on camping carpets?

Size, type and storage options

 

[rruff]

Yes the berth is good for sleeping and not more.

It appears that the sleeping orientation will be 90 degrees (E-W), which means one person will be deeply buried in a tight space, and won't be able to pee without forcing the other to get out of bed. If you never need to pee in the night or go to bed late, then that can be your spot. Otherwise I wonder if your partner has tried that and given their approval?

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Any tips on camping carpets?

We like carpet on the floor of our truck.
We use an indoor/outdoor version that is cut to size and held in place with velcro patches in the corners.
On the road it is easy to remove to shake out the sand and dirt.
From time to time we remove it and hit it with a pressure cleaner and it comes up like new.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[gator70]

It appears that the sleeping orientation will be 90 degrees (E-W), which means one person will be deeply buried in a tight space, and won't be able to pee without forcing the other to get out of bed. If you never need to pee in the night or go to bed late, then that can be your spot. Otherwise I wonder if your partner has tried that and given their approval?

Sorry the observation is wrong, the sleeping is north-south, A queen size

 

[gator70]

How many 20lb propane tanks should I carry for three weeks on BLM land?

 

[rruff]

How many 20lb propane tanks should I carry for three weeks on BLM land?

I go through < 2lb... so I guess you can't go by me.

 

[gator70]

Analyzing interior trim and materials.

Many builders create walnut cabinets, decorated walls and ceilings, mostly to justify super high prices.

Yet a nice clean professional interior without these luxuries save over $100K on a build.

 

[Roam.Wild]

How many 20lb propane tanks should I carry for three weeks on BLM land?

Too many variables, what's the temperature, do you have an electric or propane stove? Oven? Is your water heat propane?

We have 2x 20lb tanks, if its cold and we are running the heat all day and night we get about 5-6 days. In the early spring when the heat is only on at night, we can go 2.5 weeks. During summer when propane is only powering the stove/oven/water heater we can go about a month, probably longer.