Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Our custom true flatbed truck camper build thread

Print | Close

Topic: Our custom true flatbed truck camper build thread

Posted By: jroddick on 05/19/16 10:09pm

[quote=Jfet]
On the way back from Helens we decided to take a detour to the WA coast since we were relatively close to Long Beach, WA. We ended up staying two nights on the beach at the Cape Disappointment state park and rode our motorcycles some 20 miles up the beach.
[quote=Jfet]

That's a great little campground. Mary and I stayed there in February during one of the Razor Clam openings. There was a minus tide about 4:30 pm, sunset was about 5:30. It was 40 degrees and raining sideways with a 40 knot wind. Even with a minus tide the surf was running nearly up to the high tide mark. I stood my ground on more than one clam extraction and had water come over my nearly knee high boots. I was soaked and frozen but ended up with a great bunch of lovely Razor Clams. It was worth it, but I think that was my last Winter Clam dig.

Jeffrey

" If you don't think too good..... don't think too much"

Posted By: Otterman on 05/20/16 12:05am

Wow, that thing is awesome.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, 4.5" BDS lift, BFG AT/KO2 285/65R20
Vision Hauler 19.5s and Toyo M608z 285/70R19.5 for camper duty
2016 Arctic Fox 990

Posted By: Jfet on 05/28/16 10:10am

We finally sold the house and set off on our cross country adventure!

Moses Lake sand dune area was VERY crowded Thursday, with everyone reserving 8x the area of their camper using tape or flags. Really there was nowhere to park so we headed on to Fishtrap BLM land (about 7000 acres). It is very nice and quiet here for Memorial Day weekend, only one other tent/car camper couple who seem to be mountain biking.

I have unloaded the garage pod in this picture and setting up the motorcycles for a morning ride. It is 68 degrees and sunshine here in Eastern WA.

[image]

Posted By: Jfet on 06/05/16 08:01am

Idaho is very pretty. Finally got to use the canoe and kayak free camping on Johnson Creek. It is pretty easy to unload them using the 8 foot ladder we keep behind the truck cab. We put the ladder on the ramp door which puts the top of it above the garage pod roof. From there it is pretty safe and easy to take off the watercraft.

[image]

Posted By: RobertRyan on 06/05/16 02:18pm

06Fargo wrote:

Good looking setup Jfet

Little Japanese Truck, too bad you could not get something with a bit more " grunt" You are limited in the US in that regard. This is an Isuzu FTS 800, with an Off Road 30,000lb GVWR
[image]

* This post was edited 06/05/16 02:25pm by RobertRyan *

Posted By: recycler on 06/05/16 05:58pm

wow it's turned out mighty fine

1999 F550 truck conversion

Posted By: JoeChiOhki on 06/15/16 11:43pm

How in the devil did I miss this thread....

My Blog - The Journey of the Redneck Express
CB Channel 17 Redneck Express
'1992 Dodge W-250 "Dually" Power Wagon - Club Cab Long Bed 4x4 V8 5.9L gashog w/4.10 Geared axles
'1974 KIT Kamper 1106 - 11' Slide-in
'2006 Heartland BigHorn 3400RL

Posted By: Jfet on 09/14/16 01:32pm

So wow, it has been awhile since I updated y'all (see I can do that now that we are back in the south and are original southerners)

We have now been full timing in our home-built flatbed camper for almost four months. We have traveled through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, and are currently camping in Tennessee.

The build has worked out amazingly well. Solar was as awesome as we hoped and has been able to run the air conditioner during the day as well as provide a little battery charge at the same time. We do use the generator at night for a little bit if the day is hot and muggy. Because we want to sail, we have actually stayed at quite a few Army Corp campgrounds which are on lakes, are cheap, and usually have electricity and showers.

We took the rig up to 8300 feet in the Bighorn mountains of Wyoming and she did quite well on the 8% grade even pulling the sailboat. Not speedy mind you, but we felt in control the whole time.

Took a trip to Devil's Tower and stayed in the national park there with a great view of the monument.

While traveling in North Dakota, after staying at the gorgeous, free Army corp campground right on the water (Douglas Creek, Lake Sakakawea) we noticed our truck was showing an engine light. We bought a $50 code reader and found it was a problem with cylinder #2. Darn, why did I only have injectors 1 and 4 replaced last time I had major service?

Not to fear, this is how we designed the truck pods. We found a nice empty campground outside Fargo in Hannaford, ND ($10 a night with electricity, water, showers) and unloaded both pods from the flatbed truck. We put the WR250R motorcycles on the empty flatbed and drove the truck to RDO truck service center in Fargo. We rode the motorcycles back to the pods and stayed in them for five days while the truck got new injectors for #2 and #3 (and a 2nd inline fuel filter). Repodded (that really should be a word now) and were on our way running better than ever (about 9.5 to 10mpg depending on driving).

We sailed on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin which was superb (another great Army Corp campground) and also on Lake Carlyle in Illinois.

We found ourselves in Kentucky on Labor day and the only campsite left was an unlevel one nobody wanted. Not to fear, our camper jacks were able to keep the pods level by relieving the pressure on the truck springs on the downhill side.

We are now in Tennessee and have beached our sailboat at the campsite for the first time ever (see last pic). Hopefully we get some wind soon, but it is HOT in the south (92 today).

[image]

Posted By: braindead0 on 09/14/16 02:07pm

Wow! I wish I had the ambition to take on a project of this size...

Very nice, looks as good as anything commercial and I'd bet it's built waay better....

2015 RAM 1500 4x4 5.7, 3.93
2013 Econ 16RB TT

Posted By: cewillis on 09/14/16 04:14pm

braindead0 wrote:

Very nice, looks as good as anything commercial and I'd bet it's built waay better....

Absolutely right. Glad you're enjoying your travels.

Cal

Print | Close