Supertramp Flagship LT pop-up slide-in pickup camper

[Chadx]

...
As I plan the build & decide which bed (Bowen's or Custom Flat Bed with Boxes that sits minimum 2-3 inches higher), I was wondering if some other Ford SuperDuty + Supertramp LT combo owners with either stock box or other bed solutions could chime in on the total height of their builds from ground to top of camper.
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@DADVNTRS

Hi Jeremie,
Check out this post.
https://forum.expeditionportal.com/...up-slide-in-pickup-camper.239844/post-3118025

Overall camper height, including vents, is 70" (5' 10"). A rooftop Dometic A/C will be taller yet.
Typical unladen, non-Tremor Superduty I think is around 37" tailgate height. Stock suspension will settle a couple inches with camper loaded. Superduty pickups have tall cabs so STC uses a 2" foam under camper on Superduty, so call foam height and suspension squat a wash.

37" + 70" = 107" (8' 11") before A/C, flatbed increase, suspension and tires increase. I think that height is about what our stock F250 and non-A/C LT ended up.

STC's estimate of 9' 5" sounds about right as most of their customers likely do 3" lift and taller tires or do an A/C. And it's probably taller if they do both.

 

[DADVNTRS]

Hi Jeremie,
Check out this post.
https://forum.expeditionportal.com/...up-slide-in-pickup-camper.239844/post-3118025

Overall camper height, including vents, is 70" (5' 10"). A rooftop Dometic A/C will be taller yet.
Typical unladen, non-Tremor Superduty I think is around 37" tailgate height. Stock suspension will settle a couple inches with camper loaded. Superduty pickups have tall cabs so STC uses a 2" foam under camper on Superduty, so call foam height and suspension squat a wash.

37" + 70" = 107" (8' 11") before A/C, flatbed increase, suspension and tires increase. I think that height is about what our stock F250 and non-A/C LT ended up.

STC's estimate of 9' 5" sounds about right as most of their customers likely do 3" lift and taller tires or do an A/C. And it's probably taller if they do both.

Thanks for the detailed reply, good sir! I've got a F350 Tremor on order & was torn between a bowen customs bed, which is very close to stock height or another high-quality flatbed with boxes company (10K-ish less $) that sits a bit higher (2-3 inches) as it isn't as integrated into Ford's frame.

I would be willing to go with 35-inch tires, no AC, less of a suspension lift as needed to make fitting into the container a reality but am wondering if it's even realistic to aim for getting under 8'6" with those sacrifices, no air in my tires & potentially even taking off the vent covers when it comes time to cram in the container.

Any more thoughts are greatly appreciated!

 

[Chadx]

Thank you Sir! Awesome information. Greatly appreciate you doing this.

Do you have any details on the location of the additional solar charge controller and it's associated external connector and routing? What type of connector are they using?

@Vsgfoster I found out that to date, STC has only installed the second Solar Controller in campers with the large 400ah battery banks. The large battery banks include a Progressive Dynamics 60amp shore power charger which is mounted up under the galley on the wall behind the cutlery drawer. That frees up the space that the Victron IP67 17amp shore power charger would live (see image below) and that freed up location is where they have been mounting the second solar controller. I expect they are considering mounting options for when a smaller battery bank is specced.

The second image includes the external portable solar connector.

 

[Steve_382]

Thanks for the detailed reply, good sir! I've got a F350 Tremor on order & was torn between a bowen customs bed, which is very close to stock height or another high-quality flatbed with boxes company (10K-ish less $) that sits a bit higher (2-3 inches) as it isn't as integrated into Ford's frame.

I would be willing to go with 35-inch tires, no AC, less of a suspension lift as needed to make fitting into the container a reality but am wondering if it's even realistic to aim for getting under 8'6" with those sacrifices, no air in my tires & potentially even taking off the vent covers when it comes time to cram in the container.

Any more thoughts are greatly appreciated!

OK, I have no idea what I am talking about, but anyhow: Since this is a "slide in camper", what about removing the camper from the truck and putting them both in the same 40'x8'x8' container? It would be a hassle, but if you are only doing it once or twice per year, maybe not that bad. You would need some kind wheels to get the camper in the container, I guess.

 

[Chadx]

A little 5'x8' trailer works great for moving around slide in campers. That is what I use at home for my last three. But for containers, I'd expect there would be a forklift around that could move it i to a container. But he'd need his jacks and want some type of 12" platform to support the bottom of camper when lowered (and camper jacks lightly touched down for stability).

Not sure how such an item would get strapped down inside the container (straps across the roof?) But I suspect STC could advise and recommend strap down options.

Camper on the truck would be the best but under 8' 6" is tough. Tires nearly flat is tough on them. A set of 17" wheels and low profile tires would potentially work (like how they trailer monster trucks) but that means carrying those wheels/tires and storing.

 

[Chadx]

..was torn between a bowen customs bed, which is very close to stock height or another high-quality flatbed with boxes company (10K-ish less $) that sits a bit higher (2-3 inches) as it isn't as integrated into Ford's frame.
...

Bowen makes two types of trays. One is a true flatbed and has a bed surface several inches higher than stock pickup bed, and another version that sits about stock height because the center bed surface is sunk down below the wheel wells (that tray model is specifically for slide in campers). There are other tray manufacturers that also have this second option of a sink bed for slide-in campers (sherpatek).

But with the Superduty , the tall cabs already require a 2" foam bed mat so tha cabover clears the tall cab, so overall camper height, and center of gravity, is already raised 2" That means a tray can be 2" taller than stock bed and you won't be any taller than stock bed because you eliminate the need for a mat that is 2" tall so cabover clears the cab. You'll need a little something there, but not 2".

Similarly, if the tray flatbed is 3" taller than stock bed, you'll only be about 1" taller than the stock bed and the 2" tall foam bed mat.

 

[Vsgfoster]

@Vsgfoster I found out that to date, STC has only installed the second Solar Controller in campers with the large 400ah battery banks. The large battery banks include a Progressive Dynamics 60amp shore power charger which is mounted up under the galley on the wall behind the cutlery drawer. That frees up the space that the Victron IP67 17amp shore power charger would live (see image below) and that freed up location is where they have been mounting the second solar controller. I expect they are considering mounting options for when a smaller battery bank is specced.

The second image includes the external portable solar connector.

View attachment 873165


View attachment 873164

Thank you sir that is very helpful.

 

[sn_85]

Thanks for the detailed reply, good sir! I've got a F350 Tremor on order & was torn between a bowen customs bed, which is very close to stock height or another high-quality flatbed with boxes company (10K-ish less $) that sits a bit higher (2-3 inches) as it isn't as integrated into Ford's frame.

I would be willing to go with 35-inch tires, no AC, less of a suspension lift as needed to make fitting into the container a reality but am wondering if it's even realistic to aim for getting under 8'6" with those sacrifices, no air in my tires & potentially even taking off the vent covers when it comes time to cram in the container.

Any more thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Bowen can also make a lower deck flatbed as well. It omits the rear drawer and probably drops it another 2-3" from their regular flatbed. You just have to ask them for that one specifically. That's how I requested mine to reduce the amount of cab gap. It makes it looks a heck of a lot better with less cab gap. I've seen a Mits Alloy bed with a FWC and yeesh it's like a 12-18" cab gap that it makes a camper look ridiculously high. You'd have to add in a roof rack and maybe a few storage boxes to make up the difference so it doesn't look so damn goofy. At that point you'd be better off just getting a hard side with such a large cab gap. Don't be a gaper!!!

 

[Crux]

What kind of maintenance do you have to do for the bamboo countertops so you don’t get water rings and stains?
How are they treated from the factory?

 

[Steve_382]

Hi Jeremie,
Check out this post.
https://forum.expeditionportal.com/...up-slide-in-pickup-camper.239844/post-3118025

Overall camper height, including vents, is 70" (5' 10"). A rooftop Dometic A/C will be taller yet.
Typical unladen, non-Tremor Superduty I think is around 37" tailgate height. Stock suspension will settle a couple inches with camper loaded. Superduty pickups have tall cabs so STC uses a 2" foam under camper on Superduty, so call foam height and suspension squat a wash.

37" + 70" = 107" (8' 11") before A/C, flatbed increase, suspension and tires increase. I think that height is about what our stock F250 and non-A/C LT ended up.

STC's estimate of 9' 5" sounds about right as most of their customers likely do 3" lift and taller tires or do an A/C. And it's probably taller if they do both.

Staying under 9' even would be very nice for anyone (me) that spends a lot of time going through drive through restaurants with their 9'0" warning bars.

 

[Chadx]

What kind of maintenance do you have to do for the bamboo countertops so you don’t get water rings and stains?
How are they treated from the factory?

@Crux When I discussed with STC, they said they use polyurethane to seal the bamboo and that "We really like the [polyurethane] that we use currently as it actually "flexes" with the material, which is great for the bamboo as it experiences different temperatures (expands and contracts). There is no treatment that is needed to the countertop."

 

[ITTOG]

@Crux When I discussed with STC, they said they use polyurethane to seal the bamboo and that "We really like the material that we use currently as it actually "flexes" with the material, which is great for the bamboo as it experiences different temperatures (expands and contracts). There is no treatment that is needed to the countertop."

I am confused, which sometimes is easy. But you first indicate they put polyurethane on it then you say there is no treatment. So, which is it?

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

 

[Chadx]

I am confused, which sometimes is easy. But you first indicate they put polyurethane on it then you say there is no treatment. So, which is it?

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

They didn't say there was no treatment; They said there is no treatment needed. Meaning they sealed it so the owner doesn't need to treat it with anything (sealant, oils, etc.).
And when they say they like the material they used, because it flexes, they are referring to the polyurethane treatment they use because it flexes with the bamboo. For clarity, I'm going to change the word "material" to "polyurethane" in their response.