Anyone know details on this Kodiak with a lance 1181. I want to do the same things but would like to ask the owner a few details...http://i42.tinypic.com/23uoppg.jpg

WHAT?????That truck is dangerously overloaded- it shouldn't be carrying anything more than an 8' pop-up. :EWeight police must be sleeping off a tryptophan hangover. :B

I don't know if the owner of that camper and truck combination is on this website or not. I have not seen that camper picture posted before. What I do not like is the distance between the rear tires and the truck body, it is to short and can rub if you bottom out. Also the distance between the center of gravity and rear axle is to short, or the camper center of gravity is to far rearward for my liking. While you are not going to lift the front tires off the ground with such a heavy truck, it would be more stable with the weight a little more forward, and because it looks like a custom truck body, why not make it so that you can get from the cab to the camper? Even being able to pass drinks back and forth would be handy, having the heated air flow into the camper is nice too! But perhaps they purchased the flatbed truck without the camper, and installed everything to fit the current truck, rather than shorten the flatbed, and make it shorter overall? OR perhaps they wanted to carry a generator or something large in the space under the cabover - just behind the truck's cab?Anyway it is not my "Ideal" set up, but if it works for them, go for it, it looks safe. Fred.

I don't know if the owner of that camper and truck combination is on this website or not. I have not seen that camper picture posted before. What I do not like is the distance between the rear tires and the truck body, it is to short and can rub if you bottom out. Also the distance between the center of gravity and rear axle is to short, or the camper center of gravity is to far rearward for my liking. While you are not going to lift the front tires off the ground with such a heavy truck, it would be more stable with the weight a little more forward, and because it looks like a custom truck body, why not make it so that you can get from the cab to the camper? Even being able to pass drinks back and forth would be handy, having the heated air flow into the camper is nice too! But perhaps they purchased the flatbed truck without the camper, and installed everything to fit the current truck, rather than shorten the flatbed, and make it shorter overall? OR perhaps they wanted to carry a generator or something large in the space under the cabover - just behind the truck's cab?Anyway it is not my "Ideal" set up, but if it works for them, go for it, it looks safe. FredYou're kidding right?

There are more rigs set up this way:

Want info on this Kodiak with a Lance 1181 | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 18, 2015
rshrimp wrote:
I looked at a real nice Kodiak this week. The top of the cab is right at 8 feet. My Chalet is 6 ft from bottom of cabover to top of AC unit. With a few inches of cab clearance I would be over 14 ft. 13.5 is legal limit. Could not buy the truck. 2016 Ram 5500 on order.

While I almost bought one for the same purpose last year, honestly you're better off with the new 5500 Ram if the $was comparable. The Dmax in the Kodiaks is detuned so they're kinda sluggish and they run fine but don't have as good of longevity in med duty applications as the cummins. Plus they ride more like a buckboard even then the 5500s.
You're getting a better truck for your purposes.
rshrimp
Explorer
Jul 17, 2015
I looked at a real nice Kodiak this week. The top of the cab is right at 8 feet. My Chalet is 6 ft from bottom of cabover to top of AC unit. With a few inches of cab clearance I would be over 14 ft. 13.5 is legal limit. Could not buy the truck. 2016 Ram 5500 on order.
btggraphix
Explorer
Jul 16, 2015
How are things going FD? I sure like the looks of that spring pack.
I finally got around to ordering a couple of those headlights to replace just my low beams in the last moment before a trip on Monday northward to Glacier. One old one died on the way back from Florida so I will change the two low beams first.....at their price I can't afford all four! Mine will have the DOT box checked. I'm not sure the difference between DOT and ECE standards. All I know is the stock ones were horrible! Now maybe I'll see that elk in front of me a little sooner!
Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 25, 2015
My doorway is about 57" off the ground which is about 15" higher than when I hauled the camper with my 3/4t. I don't remember the overall height but it was under 14' at highest part of the roof. Very little sway with my 1-1/2t in stock trim and no suspension modifications. My 3/4t with did well handling sway with all the upgrades, but those 7000 lb rated springs don't compare to my new spring pack on the 1-1/2t.

BTW: This past weekend I hauled one our VW's in my enclosed trailer to leave at a shop for some work. I could not even feel the trailer behind truck/TC combo with it loaded over 5000 lbs. It was light enough that I didn't even use the WDH - it was loaded to rear of trailer with about 9% tongue weight because I had been cleaning out some of my tools and spare parts out of the front.
bka0721
Explorer II
Mar 25, 2015
Hi. I would be interested in what your new overall height is now. Also, how top heavy/sway is occuring with so much weight up higher on the flatbed.

Thanks.

b
Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 25, 2015
At the time, I did not want to buy the folding basement step and the GlowSteps. Somehow my size 11's didn't like the transitions. having the scissor steps all the the way to the top keeps the stair size and spacing the same all the the way. I still feel the same way which is why I haven't purchased the basement step and relocated the scissors.
f4mdtwr
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
Bedlam,

Leaf is pretty stout. Like I mentioned before I am really happy with the work Atlas Spring performed on the kodiak.

Side note... Why didn't you install the stair bracket on the bumper of the TC? Not possible?
Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 23, 2015
I like the side entry. Our next TC will have a side door because we also tow often. Right now we have issues with the stairs not reaching the ground and needing seven GlowSteps. TorkLift typically does not recommend more than six steps, so I have a temporary solution. This is before I set the GlowGuide in place:

The leaf pack is impressive. It is quite a bit different than what is on my Ram 5500. My lower StableLoads cannot be used, but the upper StableLoads can be installed if I ever need a little boost.
f4mdtwr
Explorer
Mar 23, 2015
Update…

Got the Kodiak back from Atlas Springs over the weekend. I’ve got to say I am satisfied with their work, sort of… Springs are as expected, rear shock as expected… Front shock, too long. They were not able to fit the front Fox Shock, the shock that Fox sent was too long so the ride in the front a little bumpy. But I was able to feel the difference even without a good shock up front. The rear… huge difference. Got the rear lifted about 3 inches and the front about 2 inches. Onto the pictures…

New spring pack in the rear

3 inch lift

I also got around to prepping and installing the Aux fuel tank, I opted to put it under the camper cradle, inset into the flat bed. It was a difficult task to get that tank into that space, but I got it in and I am pretty happy with the location. Not so much on my fab work though, I ended cutting more wood strips than I wanted.

Check out my location for my torklift steps. I did not want to put them in the rear because I will be towing most of the time and I did not want my trailer to get in the way.

Let me know what you think.
btggraphix
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
PS: find a chart with normal full charge testing DC voltage for batteries (with type such as SLA, AGM, etc. Full charge after rest should be something like 12.8 or so. During charge it'll be in the 13's depending on three stage charging/type of charger etc. Resting voltage is lower that's why the rest period to get accurate numbers. When you do hook up to the converter/AC power you can then check what voltage the converter/charger is sending to the battery (frying it with 14+ volts?)