So what did you do to your Truck Camper today?

Winterized it again, for perhaps the last time of the year. Thought I'd get away with it thyis weekend but after a 60+ degree opening day at Coor's Field with the Rockies, we are supposed to get 6-14" of snow and a high of 20 something tomorrow. Timing might be perfect
though....one last chance for the dealer to catch my truck in the act of the cold start issue it has. I'm dropping it off tonight for something else but if it does its thing we can catch it before next winter.

mike mck wrote:


I think I figured it out. Truck and a shot of the Dana 135
Will load the camper next weekend.

Looks familier:



(except yours is blocked by that spare tire!)

and for scale:



:)


Now that is a pumpkin! (Though not as good as the newer replacement from Dana, the S-130


It's from a good thread awhile back that ended up discussing the differences in some of the larger rear axles on 450's/550's and 4500/5500's here Might be useful reference for someone.

Spent the weekend cleaning and packing for our maiden voyage. My husband spent the previous weekend rebuilding the overcab bed area due to rotting crappy wood and absolutely no support system. After we spent the "test night" in the driveway, we noticed a distinct sag in the bed area from outside. So he tore into it and replaced and augmented the (non-existent) support system.

I realize that Palomino is not top of the line and I guess I expected this kind of thing. We just needed something entry level and I hope to escape someday without putting so much into it. I was primarily looking for a cheapy way to even see if we like the TC deal. But this is disheartening none the less.

But now that is all better and I got my mattress back in and bed made nice and cozy. Bought some comfy throw pillows to help the spartan cushions on the seats. Packed away dishes, pots & pans and some food stuff. I am actually surprised at how much stuff I was able to squirrel away. I spent alot of time just sitting in it brooding and planning. Got the propane tank filled and stashed. Washed it down and 303'd the canvas. Generally just getting ready to hit the road.

Being the goofy "don't think of things" kind of person I am... we had never hooked the darn thing up to water and tested THAT aspect. My husband was elsewhere (plowing a food plot for deer that he will shoot at and miss this fall), so I did it by myself. Guess I found out that the pressure regulator is not a "option" but a "required". This little baby just has the hand pump faucet so I opened it...turned the water on at the source... not a problem. When I turned it off...problem. So today, my little man gets to tear into that deal. I hope it was just a pressure issue. Seemed like it was more of a fine mist spewing and not a gusher.

Today is pressure regulator shopping and final grocery store run including emergency Maker's Mark purchase!!!

got out the shop vac and sucked up the ladybugs. still got a big job to do before I can get it out, 700 sq ft of hickory hardwood flooring for the house.....then it is coming out.

getting ready to trailer to a horse show next weekend with Ruth. She is competing and I am the Show EMT, funny how that works. Put the 48" super truss and Huskey wd hitch into place.

Not today but just a few ago. Went around two vents with eternabond and put a Max Air cover on the Fan Tastic fan so it can be used even in the rain.

mike mck wrote:

jamminalong wrote:

mike mck wrote:
Bought a F550 XLT to put under it

Pics please!! :B

Now I need to learn to add images:?:h

I think I figured it out. Truck and a shot of the Dana 135
Will load the camper next weekend.

Was finally able to finish the job that I have started before new year.

I was changing the charge wiring to 1/0 AWG, but had to wait for the surepower relay. Mine was recalled and took a long time to get a new one. I asked them for an upgrade while changing it in and got it 4 free. :)
Previously I had a 1315-100amp, but changed that to 1314-200amp, wich was much better with the 1/0 wiring and to uni-directional for solar. The recall came at the right time. ;)

By the time it got here, the truck was gone for a transmission rebuild. I got it back Wednesday.

So yesterday I placed the 1314-200amp relay and connected it, placed and connected my 200A shunt and A-meter, connected the "emergency start" switch, the "emergency cut-off" switch and two led-lights.
Then I placed our extra battery in a hiddenpower from Torklift. We now have a total of 315AH from 3 trojan 27TMX batteries.

When all this was done, I tested my two-way-usage-with-a-one-way-battery-separator-theory. (omg) And it worked! :) The reason is: I only want one-way charging, because I don't want to loose solar power to charge the truck batteries. When I'm on shore power, I can choose to charge the truck batteries anyway by using my theory. In other words, I can use it semi-automatic bi-directional if I choose so.
The theory was to hold the emergency start switch for some time (which seems to be 12 seconds) and then release it. After this time, the one-way separator stays closed because it sees more than 13.2V at the truck side. I saw 5 to 10 amps of charging current going from camper to truck, so this is the amount that would get lost by solar if I kept the bi-directional separator.

Some pictures:





The ammeter works as soon as the separator makes a connection, so I can see when the batteries are charging and by how much. "Plus" means that the truck alternator is charging the camper batteries. "Minus" means that the camper is charging the truck, which is the case in the pictures.

And now I'm going outside to dewinterize and install a water saving shower head.
Greets!

De-winterized the unit and am now sanitizing the water system. Tested the hot water heater, lights, and furnace. Checking off each step puts us closer to our trip to Alaska for the summer!

Mello Mike wrote:
Gave my truck and camper a much needed bath.

X2,filthy after our 4 weeks in Fla.

Buzzcut1 wrote:

meatwagon wrote:
Refilled my propane tank, seems that I get 5 nights of heating + cooking eggs, perking coffee & dinner each day. Should go allot further when not running the furnace once the weather warms a little more(low of 40" in Payson last weekend).

Did you stay at Flowing Springs? In my youth we camped up in the caves on the cliffs above the Campground on the Verde

stayed southeast of Payson, near canyon creek. my beagle had a great time treeing squirrels, it's what he lives for.