The Bowman Odyssey Rig

[LeftofLucky]

Yeah, man. Sticking the tag on the thing made the thing mine right off the bat.

New post on The Drive went up tonight.

http://www.thedrive.com/article/1976/with-my-father-in-the-passenger-seat

Also had some fun installing some bits from Hellwig. More on that tomorrow.

 

[redthies]

Great truck for a trip like this. Don't worry about the mileage on it. You've addressed all the likely problem areas. It should be gravy! And don't worry about the nay-sayers. We sold our house and most of our crap back in '09 and "lit out for the territories". Best move we've ever made. We're now semi-stable, but instead of a house, we own 2 Airstream trailers and a 10' truck camper. If there isn't a loooong drive in our near future, it just seems wrong!

 

[Ozarker]

Naysayers? Nah, but do have some questions for the gypsy lifestyle.

No house, apartment, residence, how do you take care of residency requirements for taxes and driver's license and insurance, a fender binder can bring this stuff to the surface, tags may not be properly registered to a residence, so how do you (we) take care of lawyer issues roaming the roads for a year?

Cruising sailors have a heck of a time, with mail, taxes, insurance, banking and hospitalization policies especially an HMO.

I'd be a little concerned with some overbearing child protection type someplace where they may frown on a baby living in a camper, they can't really fault anyone for economic conditions, but they may as to living conditions, we have such issues in RV parks with technically "homeless" dwellers regardless of their assets or income. It's more of an issue with school age kids being spotted during school and mom having to show home schooling documents, but living conditions can be critical in the eyes of some regulator type.

It might be good to address the legal issues encountered living on the road, while you can just pack up and leave in this country it doesn't mean things are that easy in reality. It could be a very helpful topic for those with the same dream. Technology will certainly be helpful.

I certainly applaud your sense of adventure, I'm sure your writing skills will take care of you and your family as well, you're a lucky guy to have the opportunity, even luckier to have an agreeable spouse with a baby!

On with the build, subscribed to your adventure!

 

[justbecause]

Naysayers? Nah, but do have some questions for the gypsy lifestyle.

No house, apartment, residence, how do you take care of residency requirements for taxes and driver's license and insurance, a fender binder can bring this stuff to the surface, tags may not be properly registered to a residence, so how do you (we) take care of lawyer issues roaming the roads for a year?

Cruising sailors have a heck of a time, with mail, taxes, insurance, banking and hospitalization policies especially an HMO.

I'd be a little concerned with some overbearing child protection type someplace where they may frown on a baby living in a camper, they can't really fault anyone for economic conditions, but they may as to living conditions, we have such issues in RV parks with technically "homeless" dwellers regardless of their assets or income. It's more of an issue with school age kids being spotted during school and mom having to show home schooling documents, but living conditions can be critical in the eyes of some regulator type.

It might be good to address the legal issues encountered living on the road, while you can just pack up and leave in this country it doesn't mean things are that easy in reality. It could be a very helpful topic for those with the same dream. Technology will certainly be helpful.

I certainly applaud your sense of adventure, I'm sure your writing skills will take care of you and your family as well, you're a lucky guy to have the opportunity, even luckier to have an agreeable spouse with a baby!

On with the build, subscribed to your adventure!

"Land of the free*"

 

[redthies]

Naysayers? Nah, but do have some questions for the gypsy lifestyle.

No house, apartment, residence, how do you take care of residency requirements for taxes and driver's license and insurance, a fender binder can bring this stuff to the surface, tags may not be properly registered to a residence, so how do you (we) take care of lawyer issues roaming the roads for a year?

Cruising sailors have a heck of a time, with mail, taxes, insurance, banking and hospitalization policies especially an HMO.

Unless you have ZERO family anywhere in con-us, you probably have an "address". There are countless mail services across the country, and a little research can get you sorted out there. Most banks, credit card companies, investment houses etc offer "paperless" statements. I don't get more than a half dozen pieces of mail per month, if even that many.

The OPs child is one year old. I highly doubt that a truant officer is going to be a problem, and anyone that calls social services or whatever your state calls it to "rat out" a couple on an adventure with a non-school age child (or even school aged!) needs to get a life. There is a big difference to people that can work remotely with an internet connection while traveling in a respectable adventure rig, and people living in squalor in an old moldy rv.

I'm not going to make any lifestyle judgements here, but if you are clean, tidy and respect others as well as yourselves, you shouldn't be the target of anyone's scrutiny. Yes, there are "busybodies" in this world, and there is a possibility that you may be at some point effected by one, but to be so worried about it that you give up on your dream trip/adventure is maybe just a sign that you (not specifically YOU Ozarker) should be staying home in the suburbs. The traveling lifestyle is not for everyone, and not everyone understands it. We met plenty of retirees who were amazed that we were doing at 40 what they waited until they were 65 to do. I have one friend who spends 4 months every year on his sailboat. He has taken to just telling people he is out for two weeks so he doesn't have to explain how a 40 year old can take 4 months off at a time to every Tom, ******** and Harry.

 

[LeftofLucky]

Naysayers? Nah, but do have some questions for the gypsy lifestyle.

No house, apartment, residence, how do you take care of residency requirements for taxes and driver's license and insurance, a fender binder can bring this stuff to the surface, tags may not be properly registered to a residence, so how do you (we) take care of lawyer issues roaming the roads for a year?

Cruising sailors have a heck of a time, with mail, taxes, insurance, banking and hospitalization policies especially an HMO.

I'd be a little concerned with some overbearing child protection type someplace where they may frown on a baby living in a camper, they can't really fault anyone for economic conditions, but they may as to living conditions, we have such issues in RV parks with technically "homeless" dwellers regardless of their assets or income. It's more of an issue with school age kids being spotted during school and mom having to show home schooling documents, but living conditions can be critical in the eyes of some regulator type.

It might be good to address the legal issues encountered living on the road, while you can just pack up and leave in this country it doesn't mean things are that easy in reality. It could be a very helpful topic for those with the same dream. Technology will certainly be helpful.

I certainly applaud your sense of adventure, I'm sure your writing skills will take care of you and your family as well, you're a lucky guy to have the opportunity, even luckier to have an agreeable spouse with a baby!

On with the build, subscribed to your adventure!

All great questions. We have the advantage of selling our home to a family member, who's been gracious enough to allow us to continue to use this as our "residence." That takes care of sticky questions like registration, insurance, and the like.

As for the child protection types, there's nothing we can do about other people's perceptions beyond take care of ourselves, our things, and our daughter to the best of our ability. Like it or not, appearance has as much to do with other people's reactions to you as anything. This is where the new camper will help. It doesn't look like we've moved into a $1,200 slide in because we had no other option. Keeping the truck and camper clean and well organized, keeping the kiddo as clean as possible, it'll all help.

Part of the timing for us was knowing that we had just a few years before the kid needs to be in school. Even with home schooling, I think it's important to be rooted down during those years, at least for most of the year.

 

[redthies]

As for the child protection types, there's nothing we can do about other people's perceptions beyond take care of ourselves, our things, and our daughter to the best of our ability. Like it or not, appearance has as much to do with other people's reactions to you as anything. This is where the new camper will help. It doesn't look like we've moved into a $1,200 slide in because we had no other option. Keeping the truck and camper clean and well organized, keeping the kiddo as clean as possible, it'll all help.

This exactly what I was getting at. If you LOOK like trouble, you will attract trouble.

 

[Klutch7]

Yeah, man. Sticking the tag on the thing made the thing mine right off the bat.

New post on The Drive went up tonight.

http://www.thedrive.com/article/1976/with-my-father-in-the-passenger-seat

Also had some fun installing some bits from Hellwig. More on that tomorrow.

I've enjoyed reading your eight-part series thus far. Excited for what else is to come! As an aside, I'm insatiably jealous about your recent seat time in the Penske Camaro. I daydream about the sensations that small block is capable of evoking.

 

[LeftofLucky]

I've enjoyed reading your eight-part series thus far. Excited for what else is to come! As an aside, I'm insatiably jealous about your recent seat time in the Penske Camaro. I daydream about the sensations that small block is capable of evoking.

Thanks. Yeah, that '67... I'm going to have to own a punched-out, blueprinted 302 at some point in my life. It's just a matter of time.

 

[LeftofLucky]

Hellwig Airbag Install

Hellwig was kind enough to send over a few bits to help stabilize the rear of the truck. Up until this point, everything's come out of pocket, but we're starting to get in a few pieces for evaluation. While the Grandby should be within the payload of the Ram, throwing in water, a motorcycle, us, and a few odds and ends, and we'll be right against the GVW.

Airbags and a rear sway bar will limit the truck's capabilities off road, but this thing's never going to be a scrambler. I'd rather the thing be safe and stable on the road, where it will spend most of its time.





The kit comes with everything you need, no welding required. Install took just over an hour, including time to ponder how to run the air lines and where to locate the inlets.



The airbags replace the factory bump stops, which come out with two 15 mm bolts. Mounting plates bolt in their place with cap screws.



The airbag assembly itself is quick and easy. Throw some studs in the plates, plates attach to the top of the airbags with cap screws, with the passenger side also getting a heat shield since its near the exhaust. Axle mounting plates go on the bottom.





Long bolts attach the lower axle plate to mounting brackets. Just like that, you've got airbags.



Here's where it gets fun. Now you've got to figure out where to mount your air inlets. I considered running both of them to the marker light nearest the fuel filler cap, but that would have left me with two inlets poking out right at jacket-grabbing level. So, I went with something else.





Simple and clean.

I ran into just a couple of problems. First, there's a curious mix of metric and standard hardware in the kit. I'm guessing that has to do with the fact that the truck itself is metric, and Hellwig, for whatever reason, uses standard bits. Frustrating, since that means that if I have to work on these while we're out there, I'll need a set of standard tools.

Overall, the components were well made, but each of the upper mounting brackets had stud holes that weren't completely circular. I'm not sure if they were plasma cut or what, but it took some filing to get them round enough to accept their component studs. Otherwise, couldn't be happier. The ride's a bit stiffer now, even at 10 psi unloaded, but the bags have clearly taken some burden off of the springs. I can hear my hammered bushings sloshing around without the weight of the truck on them.

Guess that's going on the list...

 

[kraven]

This exactly what I was getting at. If you LOOK like trouble, you will attract trouble.

Can confirm. Lived on the road for a bit in my musclecar and on a couple of motorcycles during various disaster relief gigs and between major jobs, on road trips, etc.

It didn't take long for me to figure out to keep my hair cut, my car washed, and my clothes clean (even if I had a good excuse for being dirty).

Bowman, you get high marks for being clever with your valve placement. I'm glad you're finally seeing an influx of free/test stuff. I keep hoping that with the way Dodge is throwing stuff at writers and adventurers you'll get a free new 2500 to use. But no sense in being greedy or wishing away the goodness of the old truck. I love beaters deep in my heart, through whatever equation of farm culture or working class Marcus Aurelius poetry I manage to cobble together as a defense.

 

[35xj]

Hey man,
Glad my truck and I could be of some inspiration to you!

How much additional deck height did you gain from the flat bed? Trying to figure out how low I can build one for mine now

 

[LeftofLucky]

Hey man,
Glad my truck and I could be of some inspiration to you!

How much additional deck height did you gain from the flat bed? Trying to figure out how low I can build one for mine now

Honestly, wouldn't have done it without poking around your rig. Not sure whether to say thanks for curse your name. I'll get back to you on that in a couple of months...

I gained a good bit. Maybe five inches, partly due to the fact that Martins make the beds as generic units, then fit them to the truck. It would be pretty easy to put one together that sits about where the stock bed height sits with a little planning. The extra height sucks, but it saved me a pile of cash going with those guys.

 

[ibanezer]

Subscribed. As many have already said, kudos to you for doing what so many only dream of. Can't wait to see where the truck takes you and your family.

 

[LeftofLucky]

I got the Hellwig Big Wig sway bar in last night. Install was pretty simple, just a bolt in procedure. The biggest thing seems to be making sure you keep everything loose enough to adjust while you're putting the bar itself in. The bar's a heavy piece. Solid, and wrangling it with bushings and the rest solo can be a chore. If you can have a second pair of hands around, all the better.



Two brackets mount to the axle itself with u-bolts. My kit originally shipped with incorrect brackets with equal-length legs. The instructions clearly call for one leg to sit on the cast portion of the differential housing, while the other sits on the axle tube itself. I have to say, I'm impressed with the company's customer service. I called the company number, quickly got someone on the end of the line who knew what was going on, and had the problem solved. They next-day air'd the correct brackets, and they were on my door by 10:00 am the next day.

The frame brackets mount beside the spare tire, and while it's not necessary to drop the spare for the operation, it might make your life a little easier. Otherwise, follow the instructions, lubricate everything liberally with the supplied grease, and go to town.

I've only driven the truck around the block, but it does feel a good bit more planted. Controllable. I've had a hell of a time sorting steering wander on the Dodge, and strangely, this seems to have helped a bit.



I'll be interested to see how the bits do once the camper's installed.

All of this begs the question: why a sway bar at all? Most guys are quick to rip the factory sways off in search of a little more articulation, but as I've said before, I'm not going to be pushing this thing through the worst Moab has to offer. It's a school bus, and it'll spend most of its time on the highway. With kid aboard and wife occasionally behind the wheel, I want it as stable as possible.

I see a lot of guys build up amazing off-road rigs that may see 5 percent of their time in the dirt. Yeah, they look fantastic, but that doesn't do you much good if the thing's on its roof on the side of the interstate.

I'm heading for Sacramento to pick up the camper on Saturday. There are just a few more things to cross off the list before I'm comfortable with setting off. The spring bushings get here this afternoon, so that's probably what I'll attempt to knock out tonight.