Fueggia
Selkman
😂oh ok... im out of the loupe I see... I will catch up! thx
Supertramp Flagship LT pop-up slide-in pickup camper
- Thread starter Chadx
- Start date
I got the awning and shower brackets installed. I used RacksBrax quick release mounts so I can remove them easily as needed. It was kind of a pain to keep the bolts in place in the L-tracks before everything could get tightened down, but eventually I figured out an approach that worked. There's 3 mounts for the awning and 2 for the shower.
SimplyAnAdventure
Well-known member
A
Are you on the Ford Tremor forum as well???????
Nice! I’ll have to check those out! I definitely wanted a removable option for this type of thing on mine.
Are you on the Ford Tremor forum as well???????
Like @SimplyAnAdventure says, straight from the folks at STC. I'll review my original post and update to make it more clear.
Yep, Tremor Traveler. I need to update my build thread soon.
And @Chadx thanks for showing that shelf, I'm going to reach out to STC to get one. Not sure if you want to say, but how are you so plugged in with STC stuff? They're a bit slow on updating their website I've noticed.
I've no problem sharing the story of how I've built a relationship with STC. The relationship and communication channels have built over time, originally out of being a potential owner. That started with online research but before putting in an order, we wanted to see the Flagship in person. And not wanting to wait for the 2023 Expo in CO, my wife and I had made an appointment and drove from Montana to Loveland, CO to meet some of the team in June 2023...and spent way more of Kelsey and Keith's time than they probably expected or budgeted for. Ha. When a couple guys, that love details, start chatting, "closing time" comes in a hurry. And back then, not as many campers in the wild, nor owners to share info, so lots to discuss from my perspective.
We picked up Flagship LT #95 in March 2024. Met even more of the team including some fast friendships that extended outside the immediate subject/connection.
Related to the campers, I've enjoyed keeping in touch, bouncing ideas, etc. Anytime I have a question or someone brings up a question that I'm not familiar with, I reach out to STC because I'm too curious not to.
And, I love to research, so much of what I've posted here or on the FB group (details on retail-available components like Truma and Victron, for example), I've researched out of my own curiosity and then might as well share the info. I've done similar with our previous campers and also in forums of other subjects over the years (pickup trucks and other vehicles, dual sport motorcycles, snowmobiles/snowbikes, freshwater aquariums, photography, etc.)
In this thread, and in the FB Owners group, there are quite a few others that keep in communication with STC, so good chance, when new info or options come along, someone will share. Which is the whole point of these threads, so that is great!
I have had enough detailed design and component conversations that I was invited to spend a few nights in the HT right before it's release and share feedback. I also enjoy writing and chatting about things in which I'm interested and there is mutual benefit there.
Much like this LT thread, I started a Flagship HT thread. I just enjoy chatting about campers and trucks and doing so in forums spares my wife from hearing it at the dinner table...mostly.
https://forum.expeditionportal.com/...-ht-hard-sided-slide-in-pickup-camper.247361/ )
STC also used our Flagship LT (and drove up an HT) for a local show recently so I spent more time with the team talking shop.
All that, or maybe I'm just a pest for them and don't realize it. Ha.
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Oh nice. Good to connect the dots. We've talked in the tremor camper thread (I'm Chadx on that forum as well).
BroncoHauler
Adventurer
I agree about the taillights/BLIS. When I dropped on my '24 F350 at Bowen Customs, I figured I'd salvage the assemblies before the factory bed got scrapped. I had never removed them before, so there was some short learning curve but I had both removed in less than 5 minutes. Ended up selling both for about $500.
SimplyAnAdventure
Well-known member
What do you think of the Bowen bed? I hear things are mostly positive but a few people have been quite unhappy.
How does the flatbed affect the BLIS system? Do you get warning?
Sorry if I missed it, this thread is only 27 pages...
Does anyone have a photo of a gray camper on a white truck?
We are prepping for our final design conversation tomorrow and really the only thing we can't agree on is the color. Any photos of that combo would really help.
Does anyone have a photo of a gray camper on a white truck?
We are prepping for our final design conversation tomorrow and really the only thing we can't agree on is the color. Any photos of that combo would really help.
Someone off the FB group recently stopped at our place so we could jack up his camper and adjust bed mat.
He let me post this image on FB so imagine he'd be OK with here as well.
Gray camper on white truck is very nice looking.
Brown229
New member
I used the Raxbrax as well and love them.
Quick question though. Did that locking water fill come on your camper or did you install that?
Brown229
New member
Awesome info. Would I be able to buy and drop in the Victron batteries for an easy swap out or are the other components you mentioned required with the Victron batteries for charging and protection purposes?Battery bank update:
The standard Flagship LT (and new flagship HT hard sided) camper builds include one Battle Born 100ah battery. In my previous two campers, I did all or part of the house battery and solar wiring setups/installs (battery, solar panel, solar controller, battery monitor, etc.). I do like Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries and have experience with three different brands, including Battle Born and all have performed well.
In the original Flagship LT pop-top builds, Battle Born 100Ah batteries were the only choice. One could optionally add up to three additional Battle Born 100Ah batteries for a total of four batteries (400Ah). Two Battle Born batteries can fit in the electronics cabinet. Previously, if a 400Ah house battery bank was optioned, the drivers side under-bench storage would house two additional Battle Born 100ah batteries with conductors passing through the basement.
Coinciding with the the introduction of the Flagship HT but also available on the Flagship LT, STC is now using Victron Lithium 12.8v 200Ah Smart batteries for battery bank options of 400Ah or more. 200Ah Victron batteries are only slightly larger than the Battle Born 100Ah. This allows for two 200Ah Victron to fit within the electronics cabinet rather than utilizing the driver's side under-bench storage location. That location is still available, however, so there is now an 800Ah battery option that consists of two 200Ah Victron batteries located in the electronics cabinet and two 200Ah batteries in the under-bench location.
Below shows a Flagship LT driver's side under-bench storage being utilized for Battle Born batteries back when a 400Ah battery bank used four Battle Born 100Ah batteries. When batteries are added to this compartment (middle image below), a carpeted cover panel, with supporting tabs, separates the batteries from the upper storage compartment. That panel becomes the floor of the now-shallower storage compartment (right image below).
This is the same driver's side compartment when third and fourth batteries are not specced. The full-depth storage space goes all the way down to the "basement".
Victron batteries can fit more cells, in a given battery case size, because most Battery Management System (BMS) functions are performed outside of the battery case using external Victron components. Most other brands of lithium batteries have an internal BMS, and often also include internal Blue Tooth connectivity/monitoring and internal heat pad. Victron batteries have a few internal sensors/components and cell monitoring/communication cables that must be connected to one of five available model external BMS. The BMS, in turn, connects and communicates with Battery Protect disconnects (one on charge side and one on load side) to disconnect current from charge sources and disconnect current to a load. Battery heating pads are also external.
Victron makes five main BMS that are compatible.
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- smallBMS – recommended for use in small systems.
- VE. Bus BMS / VE.Bus BMS V2 – recommended for systems with specific Victron inverter/chargers.
- Smart BMS 12/200 - recommended for use in Automotive and Marine systems having DC-loads and Alternators.
- Smart BMS CL 12/100 – recommended for use in Automotive and Marine systems having DC-loads and Alternators.
- Lynx Smart BMS - recommended for use in large systems.
For house battery banks from 100Ah to 200Ah, STC will continue to utilize one or two Battle Born 100Ah batteries.
For house battery banks from 400Ah to 800Ah, STC will utilize two to four Victron Lithium 12.8v 200Ah Smart batteries, one Victron smallBMS and two Battery Protect BP-100 (one on charge side and one on load side.
With the extra external components and wiring needed when using the Victron batteries, it makes sense for STC to continue to utilize the somewhat simpler solution of Battle Born batteries for a battery bank size of 100Ah - 200Ah. Once battery bank size grows to 400Ah, the extra components and wiring are worth it since 400Ah can fit right in the electronics cabinet or up to 800Ah if also utilizing the under-bench storage for battery storage.
I really like the concept of separating components from the cells/battery case. If a BMS or Battery Protect goes bad, you replace it without replacing the entire battery cells/case. Similarly, if cells go bad, you replace the battery cells/case but without the waste/expense of discarding the built in BMS, heat pad, bluetooth, etc. like you do with some sealed LiFePO4 batteries. Granted, there are brands with battery serviceable battery cases that you can open and replace internal BMS, sensors or cells, which is great (and I've done on some brand batteries I've owned over the years).
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Victron Lithium 12.8v 200Ah Smart battery:
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Victron smallBMS:
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Two Battery Protect BP-100:
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Two Victron Lithium 12.8v 200Ah Smart batteries. 400Ah now fits in the electronics cabinet, leaving the driver's under-bench space available for storage or for another 400Ah of Victron batteries. External size heating pads are visible in this image.
Tipping forward the front panel in the electronics cabinet allows access to the Solar Controller, DC charger, smallBMS, Battery Protects, Busbars, shunt, etc.
All wiring is neat and tidy, even with the extra external Victron components. The main panels and components are wired with the panel on a wiring jig for consistency. Note that wiring loops accommodate the front panel leaning forward.
The two Battery Protects are mounted up high with one tasked to disconnect the charge side (cell overvoltage situation, cell temp too cold or hot for charging, etc.) and the other to disconnect the load side (cell voltage falls below set voltage, cell temp too high or too low for current draw, etc.).
The Victron shunt tracks inbound and outbound current to give a battery bank State of Charge (SOC).
The Victron smallBMS uses the information from the battery communication cables and makes decisions regarding when to trigger either one or both of the two Battery Protects.
@roamie These last few months, I've been busy at work and cramming on some fun camper vacations, but I'm hoping to elaborate soon on a few more of STCs newer options. Truck Camper magazine did a high level overview a while back, which was very nice to get the word out, but I'm hoping to dive into the details/considerations of each. Some I've already gone into a bit, but going to get some more details.
Looking down the latest options list, that would be:
- Custom Paint Match
- 400ah and 800ah battery bank options using Victron batteries, external BMS, and external disconnects (100ah and 200ah options continue to use BattleBorn batteries)
- External Solar Port option (includes a second solar controller dedicated to portable solar panels)
- Upgrade 30amp DC/DC charger and conductors to one or two 50amp DC/DC chargers and appropriate conductor guage
- Diesel Truma Combi (rather than propane)
- Induction Cooktop (rather than propane)
- Locking water inlet
- Guzzle H2O filtration and dedicated faucet
- Wrappon Toilet (toilet and wiring)
- Dimmer Switch for overhead lights (which is more complicated than it sounds because STC uses guts from a dimmable switch, that only comes in white, and puts it in the black switch)
- Bunk Bed
- Starlink Installation
I believe there are going to be some "packages" in the works, too, to bundle some of the more popular and related options into packages.
Looking down the latest options list, that would be:
- Custom Paint Match
- 400ah and 800ah battery bank options using Victron batteries, external BMS, and external disconnects (100ah and 200ah options continue to use BattleBorn batteries)
- External Solar Port option (includes a second solar controller dedicated to portable solar panels)
- Upgrade 30amp DC/DC charger and conductors to one or two 50amp DC/DC chargers and appropriate conductor guage
- Diesel Truma Combi (rather than propane)
- Induction Cooktop (rather than propane)
- Locking water inlet
- Guzzle H2O filtration and dedicated faucet
- Wrappon Toilet (toilet and wiring)
- Dimmer Switch for overhead lights (which is more complicated than it sounds because STC uses guts from a dimmable switch, that only comes in white, and puts it in the black switch)
- Bunk Bed
- Starlink Installation
I believe there are going to be some "packages" in the works, too, to bundle some of the more popular and related options into packages.
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