Thoughts on overall height of your set up. How tall is too tall for the backcountry?

[alanymarce]

Here's why a tall vehicle may not be ideal for big trips. This is getting ours off a river boat at Manaus. The two planks from the boat to the dock had to bend about 20 cm so that the roof could clear the deckhead.

 

[mog]

That will depend on how much flex is in your truck's frame. I had to make a platform for my camper to raise it ~3" above the cab of my Dodge. Otherwise, when I got it in a good twist (to where one front tire and one rear tire just about come off the ground), the cab and the camper would make contact.

Same here. I have my camper (EarthCruiser GZL-300) 3 inches about the cab (that was also dictated by having the side of the camper high enough so I can still access my RamBoxes, win-win), with no issue.

 

[gator70]

That will depend on how much flex is in your truck's frame. I had to make a platform for my camper to raise it ~3" above the cab of my Dodge. Otherwise, when I got it in a good twist (to where one front tire and one rear tire just about come off the ground), the cab and the camper would make contact.

I've raised mine 4 1/2 inches above the cab. My frame is longer and prone to more flex.

 

[rruff]

Yeah, we will definitely be adding enough lift to clear a 35" tire (in reality it is probably a 34+" but also keeping that to a minimum b/c it all adds up, but we will want/need some suspension improvement and clearance for what we like to do..

Using stock wheels? 295/70r18s fit easily... maybe a little plastic work. A lift isn't necessary, but if you upgrade shocks keep it to ~1.5 inch, ideally.

 

[wackyhacky76CO]

Using stock wheels? 295/70r18s fit easily... maybe a little plastic work. A lift isn't necessary, but if you upgrade shocks keep it to ~1.5 inch, ideally.

Stockish wheels. They are 18s, but 8.5" wide versus 8", but they are of a proper offset that keeps things still nicely within the wheel wells & I was planning on a 285 75R18. Totally agreed on keeping the lift at a minimum.

 

[kmacafee]

Dang, that is very tight. Would definitely have flex issues on my 2006 ram 2500.

In many, many miles of off road, off camber and uneven surfaces, the camper has never hit the roof of the truck cab. When having the camper built, we intentionally kept the gap as small as possible -- and succeeded.

 

[rruff]

I was planning on a 285 75R18. Totally agreed on keeping the lift at a minimum.

Those are nominally 34.8" while a tire labeled as a 35 is typically 34.5-34.6"... so I'd definitely call it a 35! Mine are 325/65r18 and are 34.6" diameter. They are on 9" +25 offset rims. I cut the body mounts, but I probably could have avoided that by increasing the caster.

 

[wackyhacky76CO]

@rruff do you have any pics of your set up? I would just like to admire if you don't mind sharing! Sounds very cool.

 

[rruff]

Here are a couple from awhile ago. The under-bed rear boxes are ready to go on, but I'm waiting for my leaf upgrade to get here and installed before I mount them. I just have a big rear hatch for access that is usually open during the day when I'm there, and a single fold-down step to get in.

 

[wackyhacky76CO]

Sweet. I love the shaping..! Very cool.

 

[rruff]

Sweet. I love the shaping..! Very cool.

PITA to build, but it seems to be aero and it's light. Highway mpg dropped from ~17 to 15.

I had a look at Mesa Overland, and their prices seem quite reasonable, and they appear to be in full production mode. I'm curious what the time to deliver is?

 

[wackyhacky76CO]

PITA to build, but it seems to be aero and it's light. Highway mpg dropped from ~17 to 15.

I had a look at Mesa Overland, and their prices seem quite reasonable, and they appear to be in full production mode. I'm curious what the time to deliver is?

Yeah, but maintaining even 15 with a camper of any size sounds like an accomplishment to me!

They are trying to be conservative, but I think if I deposited now, we would see a camper early Q2 based on my most recent discussions.