Ski Bum Truck V2.0, F450 Rough Road RV

[Srpat]

That's been a long few days to get through this build thread. I remember seeing this a couple years ago when I had an itch to get a bigger truck. 100% not appealing. Too big. Would never fit anyplace.

Time changes things. Where you fit and want to go changes and comfort increases. I have a shuttle bus now that is built on an F550 chassis and this build will help a lot. Looking forward to complete enough to travel in come spring. Its a bit of a mess right now.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Passed you on the freeway Friday, probably around Everett. Sharp looking rig in person! Glad you are squeezing another weekend in.

Sent from somewhere remote on my BlackBerry

 

[java]

Passed you on the freeway Friday, probably around Everett. Sharp looking rig in person! Glad you are squeezing another weekend in.

Sent from somewhere remote on my BlackBerry

Awesome!! Yup we were headed to BC to try to find snow.

US local guys should get together some Time....

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[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Awesome!! Yup we were headed to BC to try to find snow.

US local guys should get together some Time....

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

That would be awesome. Im off contract for the next few months and plan to spend plenty of time enjoying it in the beautiful PNW.

Sent from somewhere remote on my BlackBerry

 

[java]

That would be awesome. Im off contract for the next few months and plan to spend plenty of time enjoying it in the beautiful PNW.

Sent from somewhere remote on my BlackBerry

That's awesome! There are a bunch of us around here. Your in OR correct?

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[java]

End of summer mode. Clean everything out of the back.

Holds lots of goodies. 7 pairs of skis, a full size shovel, all the dump equipment, axe, chairs and carpet.

Engage mobile ski cabin.

Not much snow, but the weather was good.

Really need to find water leak. Speakers making noise all night SUCKS. Not to mention it scares the 100lb German Shepard who then feels the need to jump in my bed...

 

[cph05a]

I'm jealous of your ski closet. That must be nice!

 

[java]

I'm jealous of your ski closet. That must be nice!

It's sooo much better than dragging them inside used to be. Only thing that is a pain is when you park too close to the snow bank. Hard to open the door. Oh and frozen padlocks. Lol

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[java]

Finally a day without meetings. Bumper time. Took the truck to work this morning and nosed into the shop. Unfortunately the door isn't big enough and neither is the shop....

Installation is the reverse of removal?

Brackets where close.... Reamed the holes to fit. Also the back one was single sided, they used a carriage bolt there. I drilled through the other frame rail to through bolt it.

Also had to cut the bolts down as they hit the intercooler.....

Swapped the Rigid fogs over to the outer holes.

Bumper mounted up!

Now onto the BD light bar. No way it fit period. I tired and tried no dice.

So A little CAD later, and I made new mounts that used the body holes. Adjustment will come from the clamps that hold it to the bar.

And on the KC tube clamps, only thing I could find that fit 2 3/8" tube nicely.

Couldn't get much tighter!

 

[Ozrockrat]

If you need tube clamps again try a hydraulics shop. They have various sizes of bolt or weld on and you can get them in stainless steel.

 

[java]

Finally some decent snow in the PNW! Baker got 38" in 48 hours. Go time.

Stopped and did some snowshoeing on the way up.

Pretty damn decent snow!

Hung out with friends by the fire until way too late....

Nearly no lines, great opening day.

 

[java]

Ski days 6 and 7!

Made it up to Baker to find an absolute disaster of a parking lot. 12-14" of new snow meant cars stuck everywhere, 3 loaders, a D8 dozer and two snow cats trying to clear things.... It was entertaining.

Woke up to another 8" overnight. Still nuking.

Light was a little flat, but the snow was decent!

Shoveled the roof....

Sunday cleared up and was pretty damn fantastic!

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Just spent my entire morning reading this build.

Awesome work! Now i need a drink!

 

[Srpat]

You say uou aren't 100% sold on your wheel and tire setup. What would you pick if you did it all over? I am considering Dbl Design for wheels, tires, shocks, and I think a spacer lift. G275 tires seem like a proven choice.

What are your thoughts on regearing 9r leaving it alone? And what have you noticed for a difference in gas mileage since you went to a bigger and single wheel setup. My bus gets me 11-13 mpg right now. I am not sure what happens for mpgs if I spend the money for 41" singles.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

I am not sure what happens for mpgs if I spend the money for 41" singles.

A bus on 41" singles would be super rad! Pics?

But Yeah, a loss of at least 2 MPG i'd bet