Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: So what did you do to your Truck Camper today?

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Topic: So what did you do to your Truck Camper today?

Posted By: WVbassmistress on 03/20/14 09:34am

How is this for girly...I picked out fabric to make new valance. We just need a few days in the 60's for my husband to finish his roof replacement project. I can't wait!

Lisa, Bobby & Dorothy the Wonder Dog
2013 F250 crew cab/6/5 foot bed w/
Firestone airbags
2006 KZ Jag - 29 ft
Ranger Z518
22 ft Suntracker Pontoon

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 03/20/14 06:41pm

Unintended consequences. My recent 3" rear lift on my Dodge has worked out well. Having more clearance for the giant whoops on the Mojave Road excluded my side nurf bars/steps from getting more hammered than they already are. Oh, but at what cost?
Now the TC entry Glow Steps are too short. I had a pair of new snubbers (bump stops) left over from my jeep days and figured they could bridge the gap. I measured, drilled, and bolted the snubbers onto the bottom of the last rung. Looked good on paper; Not so, scissor breath. the steps were parallel to the ground, a plus:

When i stepped on the first step the the rubber compressed leaning to one side in a wobbly fashion. If these had been Stable Loads maybe there would be no wobble. Back to the drawing board. It's not enough difference to add a step. So now i'll punt and use my add-on bars from my old steps: (those 4 parallel bars sticking out to the left)

FYI,
jefe

* This post was edited 03/21/14 08:47pm by jefe 4x4 *

'01.5 Dodge 2500 4x4, CTD, Qcab, SB, NV5600, 241HD, 4.10's, Dana 70/TruTrac; Dana 80/ TruTrac, Spintec hub conversion, H.D. susp, 315/75R16's on 7.5" and 10" wide steel wheels, Vulcan big line, Warn M15K winch '98 Lance Lite 165s, 8' 6" X-cab, 200w Solar

Posted By: Buzzcut1 on 03/20/14 08:07pm

Heading out in two days, noticed a tire looked off. I got out my most accurate pressure gauge. Hmmn down 6psi checked the rest. Fronts at 80 still, on rear at 73 the other at 74 aired them back up to 80, will check again tomorrow.

Oil, radiator, power steering, brake, and tranny fluids are good. Oil change after this trip.

2011 F350 6.7L Diesel 4x4 CrewCab longbed Dually, 2019 Lance 1062, Torqlift Talons, Fast Guns, upper and lower Stable Loads, Super Hitch, 48" Super Truss, Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreme airbags

Posted By: djc486 on 03/20/14 08:27pm

Sue Bee wrote:

I think that guy needs a bigger fire extinguisher, or about 150 more of them...

Walked past the TC, patted it on the rear end and promised it that spring would come someday.

Oh, that's right, today is spring, technically. At least that is what my calendar says, and some astronomist said that the sun passes directly over the equator today. Let me find an egg to balance!

Sue,
Thought I was the only one who patted their camper when I walk by it.

2010 Northstar Igloo
1997 Chevy 2500HD

Posted By: djc486 on 03/20/14 08:28pm

Changed out all of the interior lights to LED's.

Posted By: whazoo on 03/20/14 08:48pm

WVbassmistress wrote:

How is this for girly...I picked out fabric to make new valance. We just need a few days in the 60's for my husband to finish his roof replacement project. I can't wait!

Sorry Ma'am, those days in the sixties are 45 plus years in the past. [emoticon]

Posted By: Reddog1 on 03/20/14 09:08pm

djc486 wrote:

Sue Bee wrote:

Sue,
Thought I was the only one who patted their camper when I walk by it.

It is my understanding that some of our members park their TC outside their bedroom window. This allows them to see their TC when they go to the bathroom at night.

I can understand the bathroom thing, but to pat it on the rear sounds weird to me.

Posted By: AnEv942 on 03/21/14 02:10pm

jefe 4x4 wrote:

Unintended consequences..... Back to the drawing board. It's not enough difference to add a step. So now i'll punt and use my add-on bars from my old steps: (those 4 parallel bars sticking out to the left)jefe

Seems you have a plan B but what I did on ours, though not due to lift-. More to add adjustability than height. Seems our steps are always either to high-to low or just off camber. As our original steps the lower hoop was 1/8 steel bar welded a piece of flat to back side to stiffen. Drilled 2 clearance holes for 1/2-20 rod. Made some j-bolts legs. Cut 5" disks for feet, plug welded half link of chain so the feet/pads can swivele to match ground. I added a piece of angle below hoop tying legs, just a slight side to side wallow to thru holes, allows quite a bit of height difference.

[image]

When we switched to new Torklift Glow steps this previous mod was number one getting transfered. The lower hoop being aluminum decided not to weld a stiffener as more rigid than the steel hoop (and after legs and cross support bolted didn't ever seem any side to side wiggle so unneeded). But on the al bar more concerned with weight point loaded at nuts bending it. Mostly because I placed inboard a bit to match narrower width of old steps for an add on landing we use (upper nuts and clipsa). Cut some pieces of steel angle to spread load with a piece of al. bar on top to sandwich.
[image]

Works pretty good, adds couple mins to setup but really plants the steps. Being able to adjust height nice plus feet don't sink as easily in soft ground, needles or sand. Generally our steps are ±2" too short but always seem to be off side to side. Without extending legs adds ~2".

01 Ford F250 4x4 DRW Diesel, 01 Elkhorn 9U
Our camper projects page

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 03/21/14 04:35pm

AnEv942,
Well conceived system you've got there, but I needed about 4" of lift out of my steps and with the addition of the 4 straps i have it. The stock step height on the Glowsteps is 7.5". With my 5" drop straps the step at the top is now 10.5". Good enough....at least for the next 5 or 6 years, then it will be a chore.
jefe

Posted By: dakonthemountain on 03/21/14 04:57pm

I put the drian plug w/sacrificial anode back in the water heater and the plugs in the low point drains, tested the system, and then installed a portable motion sensor porch light. It slides on and locks on a base plate. Bright, adjustable up and down, and removable. It also has an "always on" switch." I love it! [emoticon]

Dak

2018 GMC Denali "Extreme" and 23' EVO 2050T Travel Trailer
Escapee member #224325-Since 1992

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