| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: How to keep a TC from being stolen when not on the truck?
You biggest worry will be battery and propane tank theft rather than the unit.
|
Bedlam
|
02/04/23 10:02am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Frame Stiffing to reduce Porpoising?
For frame strengthening, I was thinking along the lines of L-stock clamped with U-bolts to the rails. This would prevent the original frame from being drilled or welded. It would be the automotive version of a medical splint or brace. However, I still am not convinced that this is needed.
|
Bedlam
|
01/30/23 07:57am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Honda generator to truck camper
The fault issue with EMS is whether your generator has a bonded neutral to ground. Typically the generator is powering a RV or transfer switch at a home so bonding happens there rather than at the generator to prevent a ground loop and electrical noise.
They do sell bonding plugs for generators or yours may come with one. This is used if you are running tools or appliances directly off the generator so you have a safe return path during a short that will pop the breaker.
|
Bedlam
|
01/29/23 09:50am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: 550 / 5500 insurance???
I converted my F250 State Farm policy over to my Ram 5500, but the price shot up 50% at renewal and they coverted it to a commercial policy written for exclusive use. I shopped the market and also found USAA would not insure but they sent me to Progressive Commercial where they were able to write up a personal use policy close to what my smaller Ford was costing me.
|
Bedlam
|
01/27/23 09:37pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Installing a new Thetford Toilet and water supply line
Typically the RV toilet seat can be replaced with a residential seat. I did not like the flex in my plastic seat and replaced it with a wooden one for under $10 at Walmart.
Add a stop or block under the pedal to limit travel. That should keep the flap from overextending and getting stuck.
|
Bedlam
|
01/27/23 10:57am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Frame Stiffing to reduce Porpoising?
I carry a heavy camper and tow a heavy trailer. Whether it was my F250 with an AF811 or my current 5500 with Mammoth, I look at keeping loaded front axle weight the same or more than when it is unloaded. This may mean loading the camper or truck differently or adjusting my WDH so tongue weight does not lighten the front truck axle. Keeping your load in the proper horizontal CG not only reduces stress on the frame but also helps overall handling of the vehicle.
Reading through this thread, I am not convinced that there is anything wrong with the current truck frame. You want to make sure your axle weights are within limits and the front end is not unloading due to too much weight rear of the axle. The camper should be sitting level in the truck and may need shims in the front or back if the bed crowns in the center. If you are seeing excessive bed movement, perhaps the bed is coming apart and you should look underneath for visible signs of cracking or corrosion. The camper should be evenly anchored at 4 points - With FastGuns or other quick release levers, it is fairly easy to verify tension is the same on all of them. Having uneven tension on the camper tie downs may be good when you are moving slowly on uneven terrain to relieve stress, but not on highways.
I had the adjustable Rancho shocks on my F250. Since the front axle weight really was not changing much from unloaded to loaded, the shocks stayed at mid-level damping. The rear axle was the one that varied greatly (in my case from 2750 lbs to 8000 lbs) and this is where adjusting damping between minimum and maximum gave me the best unloaded and load ride.
|
Bedlam
|
01/27/23 10:44am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Frame Stiffing to reduce Porpoising?
Thanks HMS Beagle. I did some research on the frame differences and what I found was Ford did increase the thickness. From this discussion here:
https://www.powerstroke.org/threads/frame-differences.136669/
The frame differences are:
99-04 Crew Cab F-250-350 Pickup 156.2" WB, (6.87 x 2.36 x .240), 6.0
05-10 Crew Cab F-250-350 Pickup 156.2" WB, (6.87 x 2.36 x .264), 6.7
That would explain the payload capacity increase.
2005 brought a number changes to the Ford F-series. Not only was the frame thickened, the front suspension was switched to coil, the leafs and stabilizer bars were thicker and the rims were taller to clear larger brakes. I am not sure when 4r100 transmission was introduced, but the 5r110 came in with 6.0 PSD.
|
Bedlam
|
01/24/23 07:28pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Wiring 4 awg charging wire to upgrade 8 awg factory wire.
I believe Ford is still the only one with switched power at the trailer plug.
|
Bedlam
|
01/24/23 06:29am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Rickson contact problem
American Force and Vision both make 8-lug 19.5" rims. Method HD makes higher rated LT rims for those 4k lb rated tires.
|
Bedlam
|
01/23/23 03:53pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Honda generator to truck camper
I have seen some 4kw diesels for marine use and some Chinese portable models that are smaller but nothing like the 2kw Honda gas model.
|
Bedlam
|
01/17/23 08:04pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: midi heki replacement for a 2012 Lance 855S camper
It would be a good time to see if you can find a marine hatch close to that size which might be more durable?
|
Bedlam
|
01/12/23 10:56am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Inverter install
It would be easier to run the inverter to one or more power strips and keep the output isolated from the camper. I have 3 outlets that are only live with my inverter active and don't care whether on battery, generator or shore power.
|
Bedlam
|
01/11/23 06:36am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: 2005 Arctic fox 1150 boat loader
13.5' is the accepted limit on most highways but some eastern states are lower and western higher. Once you get to secondaries, there are plenty of bridges in the 10' range so you have to watch routes with just about any RV.
|
Bedlam
|
01/11/23 06:27am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: 2005 Arctic fox 1150 boat loader
Are you sure you have sufficient height clearance for kayaks? I was almost 12' tall with my F250 and AF811.
|
Bedlam
|
01/10/23 02:03pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Aluminum vs Steel flatbed
I have taken mine down 50 PSI with little visible squish. It really did not help with flotation on sand.
|
Bedlam
|
01/10/23 01:59pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Generator Gas Storage
Rotopax makes cans that can be mounted to the ladder and will not leak.
|
Bedlam
|
01/03/23 06:21pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
Some of the camper weight ratings I have seen assume a 150 lb person in every seat. If you have six seating, that reduces your camper carrying rating by 900 lbs.
|
Bedlam
|
01/03/23 08:15am |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
TFL is not versed on truck campers, so they did not touch on possible additional option weight of the camper nor on the attachment to the truck. I am glad they pointed out that truck capacities vary greatly within a model and advertising only shows best case scenarios in limited configurations. There is more planning than just looking at camper weight if you plan to hang weight off the rear for additional cargo or trailer hitch...
|
Bedlam
|
01/02/23 04:39pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Extending run time on a Honda EUI 2000
If you search on extended run Honda generators you will see it is a modified fuel cap with feed to another tank.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=honda+extended+run+fuel+tank
|
Bedlam
|
01/02/23 04:18pm |
Truck Campers
|
|
RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
This truck empty will be 9-10k lbs, add the camper to this and what ever you think you will carry (people, animals, water, gear, supplies) and you see this was close to 16k lbs GVW. The AAM axle is rated for around 11k lbs before it is derated for this Ram, so you know it was close to maximum too even if within tire and rim limits. The fact the owner only used brochure weights and had no actual weighings to know real-world travel weight leaves us guessing and leaves him with the bill to correct this.
The question still remains whether the truck frame was modified with welding or drilling prior to failure. We know it was welded post failure to get back to the US which most likely compromised it even more from the emergency repair in Mexico. There have been questions about getting the frame repaired rather than replaced, so this may be the reason.
My Host, like the Eagle Cap, have the fresh water tank forward of the axle to help CG. My camper is actually tail heavy without water due to the dual 30# LPG tanks, stairs and generator in the wings while also supporting a rear slide out section.
The question has come up many times why people choose such large truck campers rather than a motor home. The answers have been repeated multiple times in this forum section, so there is no need to get sideways on this failure thread.
|
Bedlam
|
01/02/23 04:11pm |
Truck Campers
|
