This is a long overdue rig project posting of a 2017+ F250/SpaceKap Diablo 8’ camper conversion!
The genesis of the project was the desire to build a full-time luxury overland vehicle...on a reasonable budget and timeline! I previously owned a Jeep Patriot Trail Rated with Autohome Columbus RTT that I spent over 200+ nights in through a variety of conditions to see if I could make the lifestyle work on a part-time basis before deciding to take the plunge and building a suitable new full-time rig. There was a lot of background research and a variety of build budget projections on different platforms before I arrived at this build.
I initially was planning on doing a van conversion, but I was ultimately unwilling to give up 4x4 capability and was unimpressed by the available 4x4 van options (Sprinters were too expensive and Diesel emissions issues, Quigley conversions too expensive, and buying older 4x4 vans were not my speed and seemed overpriced). The Ursa Minor Jeep Wrangler pop top was intriguing, but after spending a lot of time in an RTT I realized that real thermal and sound insulation was going to be non-negotiable. There is also extremely limited payload and to make the interior space truly usable you would need to cut the roll bars which would void the warranty. I also understand the appeal of the new slew of light, soft-sided, pop-top truck campers which are a better first option/deal than most RTTs in my opinion, but I find them unsuitable for full-timing in my book. Vintage overland trucks and other more modern cabovers were very tempting in some cases but between modern safety standards and the availability of parts/maintenance, I had to pass on them.
For my needs, the only other realistic contender I might have considered if it had been available at the time might have been the forthcoming 2020 Ford Transit AWD with either the high-roof option or the cab chassis with Total Composites camper box and full pass-through. I think you would definitely sacrifice some more extreme capability and resilience with that option, but I think some of the efficiency gains and design features in some different areas might make up for that depending on your needs. No regrets though. I love my beastly F-250!
Ford F-250 Super Duty Regular Cab 6.2L 4x4
-BDS Fox Shocks Front/Rear and Sumo Springs for Front/Rear (Stock shocks were shot at 5k, handles like a sport truck now!)
-LOD Front and Rear Bumpers
-Blue Sea Systems Alternator Charger/Relay System (80 amp/hr)
SpaceKap Diablo 8'
-Bomar Roof Hatch
-MaxxAir Roof Fan
-Planar Diesel Heater
-K-Flex 0.5” White Clad ECO/Green Closed Cell Insulation (R3 or 4)
-Faux Teak EVA Foam Floor
-80/20 Bunk Frame, Baltic Birch Bed Platforms, Froli Nemo Marine Innerspring, Tochta Custom Foam Mattresses, Big Agnes Dream Island Bag
-5 x Lensun Solar Panels (270 watts total)
-Victron Solar Charge Controller
-ArkPak with 100ah Battle Born LiFePO4 battery
-I upgraded and built my own 300ah battery pack system in same design vein as the ArkPak:
www.expeditionportal.com
-National Luna Weekender Fridge
-Thetford Portapotti
-5 gallon water jerry can with pump (now stainless steel and tapped for marine galley pump)
-Fiberglass Magnet Bug Screen
-Luminoodle Basecamp LED lighting system
-Ergotron Desk Arm with Majestic 12 volt monitor/TV
I would like to thank the following specific folks in addition to all of those whose advice and guidance on here was great to focus my efforts:
Mike Hiscox and, his friend, Chris-Finding and selling the clean preowned basic SpaceKap
Leland’s Marine of Santa Clara-Fantastic help on installing roof fan, roof hatch, solar panels, heater, fiberglass repair, and amazing troubleshooting for unique project oddities, etc.
Brett of ArkPak-Countless messages back and forth for electrical system advice/troubleshooting
Andreas Schwall of Total Composites-Planar Heater advice/troubleshooting
The genesis of the project was the desire to build a full-time luxury overland vehicle...on a reasonable budget and timeline! I previously owned a Jeep Patriot Trail Rated with Autohome Columbus RTT that I spent over 200+ nights in through a variety of conditions to see if I could make the lifestyle work on a part-time basis before deciding to take the plunge and building a suitable new full-time rig. There was a lot of background research and a variety of build budget projections on different platforms before I arrived at this build.
I initially was planning on doing a van conversion, but I was ultimately unwilling to give up 4x4 capability and was unimpressed by the available 4x4 van options (Sprinters were too expensive and Diesel emissions issues, Quigley conversions too expensive, and buying older 4x4 vans were not my speed and seemed overpriced). The Ursa Minor Jeep Wrangler pop top was intriguing, but after spending a lot of time in an RTT I realized that real thermal and sound insulation was going to be non-negotiable. There is also extremely limited payload and to make the interior space truly usable you would need to cut the roll bars which would void the warranty. I also understand the appeal of the new slew of light, soft-sided, pop-top truck campers which are a better first option/deal than most RTTs in my opinion, but I find them unsuitable for full-timing in my book. Vintage overland trucks and other more modern cabovers were very tempting in some cases but between modern safety standards and the availability of parts/maintenance, I had to pass on them.
For my needs, the only other realistic contender I might have considered if it had been available at the time might have been the forthcoming 2020 Ford Transit AWD with either the high-roof option or the cab chassis with Total Composites camper box and full pass-through. I think you would definitely sacrifice some more extreme capability and resilience with that option, but I think some of the efficiency gains and design features in some different areas might make up for that depending on your needs. No regrets though. I love my beastly F-250!
Ford F-250 Super Duty Regular Cab 6.2L 4x4
-BDS Fox Shocks Front/Rear and Sumo Springs for Front/Rear (Stock shocks were shot at 5k, handles like a sport truck now!)
-LOD Front and Rear Bumpers
-Blue Sea Systems Alternator Charger/Relay System (80 amp/hr)
SpaceKap Diablo 8'
-Bomar Roof Hatch
-MaxxAir Roof Fan
-Planar Diesel Heater
-K-Flex 0.5” White Clad ECO/Green Closed Cell Insulation (R3 or 4)
-Faux Teak EVA Foam Floor
-80/20 Bunk Frame, Baltic Birch Bed Platforms, Froli Nemo Marine Innerspring, Tochta Custom Foam Mattresses, Big Agnes Dream Island Bag
-5 x Lensun Solar Panels (270 watts total)
-Victron Solar Charge Controller
-
-I upgraded and built my own 300ah battery pack system in same design vein as the ArkPak:
Bigger ArkPak Style Alternative?
I have my secondary house battery system built around an ArkPak 730 with a 100 amp/hr BattleBorn LiFePO4 Battery which has generally been working great. I use all of the terminal connections, 50 amp anderson plugs, and available plugs/ports (120v, USB, cigarette plugs) which works out perfectly...
www.expeditionportal.com
-Thetford Portapotti
-5 gallon water jerry can with pump (now stainless steel and tapped for marine galley pump)
-Fiberglass Magnet Bug Screen
-Luminoodle Basecamp LED lighting system
-Ergotron Desk Arm with Majestic 12 volt monitor/TV
I would like to thank the following specific folks in addition to all of those whose advice and guidance on here was great to focus my efforts:
Mike Hiscox and, his friend, Chris-Finding and selling the clean preowned basic SpaceKap
Leland’s Marine of Santa Clara-Fantastic help on installing roof fan, roof hatch, solar panels, heater, fiberglass repair, and amazing troubleshooting for unique project oddities, etc.
Brett of ArkPak-Countless messages back and forth for electrical system advice/troubleshooting
Andreas Schwall of Total Composites-Planar Heater advice/troubleshooting
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