PovertyRoamer- F550 4x4 CC 7.3 11' flattie moto/mtb/surf sherpa with a Lance 1040

[jtcym1149]

Then I pulled the black and grey drain pipe. The plan is to go through the flatbed floor. I'm planning on seperating the grey and black and utilizing a second grey tank that will double as a bike washing reservoir. Also I'll feel a lot better with the drain pipe being protected. Not just hanging out behind an 8' bed waiting to get caught on a rock, stump or high parking block. The steps also came off. I'm undecided if I'm going ladder down the side of the flatbed or adding the steps.

 

[jtcym1149]

First I put the camper on my 350 and repositioned it in the driveway to a more level spot. Added 10" of blocking under the legs. A little unnerving looking at it way up in the air and backing under it with 1/2" of clearance on literally all sides. I measured the ears and they were looking like they were going to fit along the sides of the bed if I removed the rub rails. Backing under it I saw my error was that I was measuring behind the trim pieces. Trim pieces came off and it's on but it's too tight for my liking. I'm cutting them off this week. Rear bumper I cut off with a circular saw about 1.5" from the floor of the camper. Then used a block of wood and hammer to 90 the aluminum to the floor. Lowering it onto the camper finished the job and it came out nice looking to me.

 

[jtcym1149]

I have this theory that truck makers spring a truck to about 3/4 of capacity. You ride around in a 350 with a 9900lb gvwr empty and its rough. Say the truck weighs 7500lbs and you throw 1500lb in the back and all of sudden the ride is nice. Go up to 2500lb and now the truck doesn't have enough spring to control the load and your suddenly not happy with the handling. Bottom line I hope the excess of the 550 keeps me far away from being under sprung for the load. Not to mention everything is bigger and more robust on a 550. When I pulled myself up into the camper last night the camper barely rocked back and forth. Meanwhile on the 350 it feels like you're boarding a boat. Still have some testing to do to prove the theory but so far I'm happy with my purchases.

 

[SDDiver5]

Looks so awesome. I remember I wanted an F550 when I was in high school just because. Should make for a great rig.

Is it me or does the truck dip down in the middle? Does not look level to me.

 

[jtcym1149]

The camper is sitting about a half an inch higher on the back of the bed giving that illusion. There are some plates welded onto the back corners of the deck for some work aparatus that was removed prior to my purchase. I tried to get some horsemats from Tractor Supply to get it to sit level but NJ's gyms are still closed and everyone keeps buying up all the mats for their home gyms. The cab lights are too close for comfort bc of it. As soon as tractor supply restocks I'll rectify it. I'm still a long way from going out and using it.

 

[SDDiver5]

The camper is sitting about a half an inch higher on the back of the bed giving that illusion. There are some plates welded onto the back corners of the deck for some work aparatus that was removed prior to my purchase. I tried to get some horsemats from Tractor Supply to get it to sit level but NJ's gyms are still closed and everyone keeps buying up all the mats for their home gyms. The cab lights are too close for comfort bc of it. As soon as tractor supply restocks I'll rectify it. I'm still a long way from going out and using it.

Ah that it explains it!

 

[jtcym1149]

Spent the last 3 days slowly cutting off the campers wings to get it on the bed nicer. Originally I was only going to trim them but I wasn't happy with it so I took it apart again and cut some more and than repeated the process again. Still need too trim the rubrail some on the driver side due to a clearance issue. Also got rid of the mudflaps and installed a new neutral safety switch which has me hating the automatic a little less since the gear selector moves nicer. Next week is some wiring that I'm getting help with and the campers coming back off and the flatbed is sliding back so that I can install a thinner headache rack. I'm trying to get the entire camper on the flatbed and I need about 2 more inches to get that done. Also looking forward to making this thing a srw because I hate the skinny front tires and backing under the camper with 1\2" to spare is unnerving. Stairs and bedsides are probably before the srw conversion.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Nice!!!

 

[jtcym1149]

Been mia lately posting progress but I've been slowly working on the rig. Attached the steps directly to the flatbed instead of the bottom of the TC and trekked 50 mi up to my brothers to get the flatbed wiring sorted.

 

[jtcym1149]

Then I started dd'ing this beast so that I can find any issues before I end up far from home. Good thing I did the tests bc I ended up breaking down on my way to work. Got towed home and troubleshooted a bad IPR valve. Also bought a spare IPR valve to put in my spare parts box that's going on the truck. It does fit in the spot at the local tractor supply but I'm screwed if people come and park on both sides of me.

 

[jtcym1149]

Then I started really working on my metal fabrication skills. I thought about buying utility boxes but cost and the unused space discouraged me. I think Sherptek does the best bedsides but there was no way I was pony'ing up for their system. I`m trying to copy them albeit in a less skilled, not as nice looking and way heavier way. Its a combo of 1.5x2 frame and 1x1 box and 11gauge plate doors. All steel.

 

[jtcym1149]

 

[shortbus4x4]

Keep a spare CMP sensor in the glove box too and know how to change it. Get a quality one from International or Ford, the cheap aftermarket made in China ones are known to have issues. The other issues I've repaired quite a bit on the 7.3s are the under valve cover harnesss and valve cover gaskets. The plugs that pass through the valve cover gasket like to burn up. Unplug them, inspect the terminals, clean and tighten up the terminals and plug them back in. If they look at all burned replace the UVC harness, valve cover gaskets and you can get the parts to repair the plugs on the engine harness side. Nice truck and build.

 

[jtcym1149]

Thanks. I just bought pretty much every sensor, including the CMP, that the internet reported could go bad on the 7.3 and they're sitting on my work bench along with the UVC harness and replacement plugs. I have 3 of these 7.3's now and I've had one CMP replaced under recall and one truck had the UVC wear through and I'd lose 4 cyclinders intermittenly. A dealership misdiagnosing that symptom repeatedly, encouraged me to start wrenching on my own stuff. Super lucky for repair forums and youtube nowadays. Nothing you can't learn anymore but I don't get much practice with my 7.3's. Only basic stuff even with two of my trucks at 300k.

 

[zb39]

Looking great , what size tires are on that beast?