I love cruising through the "what did you do to your camper today" thread, I figured I'd add a "what did you do to your truck today".
I'm sure that many of you are like me....and your truck that you use to haul your camper gets a lot of special attention to make sure it's in tip-top shape for your adventures.
I'll start out.....
Today I mounted 2 PIAA 520 Fog lights and 2 PIAA Driving lights to my winch bumper, and aimed them.
This evening, I received a box containing torklift stableload bumpstops. Those will have to wait for another day....we've got a blizzard going on here.
I'm sure that many of you are like me....and your truck that you use to haul your camper gets a lot of special attention to make sure it's in tip-top shape for your adventures.
I'll start out.....
Today I mounted 2 PIAA 520 Fog lights and 2 PIAA Driving lights to my winch bumper, and aimed them.
This evening, I received a box containing torklift stableload bumpstops. Those will have to wait for another day....we've got a blizzard going on here.
Hokey Smoke SoCal-thats a tough one...just looked at pics, dang.
Received and installed the AmpResearch power steps several weeks ago. Wow. After using for a while cant say enough about them. A bit of re-engineering 'one size fits all' to fit a standard cab but well worth the effort. Kits are really set up for a 4-door.
This was first install of step arms per instructions, places front bracket in middle of door...looked pretty dumb. There's a set of holes 13" forward that can be used-requires drilling one hole.
So they got moved.
Step deployed
Margaret is stoked. They are nice. But every time she gets in or out she comments. It was a 27" hike to trucks door sill, new steps split that in half at 13" from ground when deployed. Which I think is the biggest benefit of the Power steps, other than tucking up out of the way, the Power Steps are lower when deployed verse fixed step.
And why I'm stoked-retracted all but unseen, painted the trucks pinch weld seam black, stood out like a sore thumb against black steps.
I wired thru SPDT on-off-on switches, one on each door to control its step. I wanted normal auto operation but ability to disable, or manually use with door closed. Good call, last trip out drivers door ajar switch stuck, (what triggers steps). Noted the door-ajar dash light going down hi way, means the steps deployed-err, manually turned off. Ford thing.
Also first trip with steps I managed to kill batteries, 3 days of getting in & out of truck with no charge she wouldn't start when we got ready to leave. I now disable steps when parked at camp. Once home checked- though only briefly the motors peak at 9 amps while going out and in. Just an FYI if parked for a few- might pull the fuse if not switched.
The only thing I don't like, don't understand & might consider 'princess' is the purple led puddle lights-they're getting addressed.
All my air lines entered cab right where passenger front step bracket needed to mount.
Having to cut & reroute air lines, took the opportunity to add tank pressure gauge. Cut lines behind pillar so fittings easier to access, pulled lines and rerouted.
Though always wanted to 'see' tank psi, its primarily so when using air for other stuff I'm not completely draining tank-helps minimize pumps constant run time.
But the steps are awesome-Short video of them deploying and retracting. Quality of components really nice.
Lastly; When I bought the Power Steps there was a 2 week promo running which I got in on last day. They generally have something offered, like $40 off etc but this was for a rear bed step. Like a $200 item? Cant really use but its 'free'.
Not something I would have bought, other than cost didn't think it would fit with the Torklift camper mount so wasn't holding my breath. Figured I'd pass it on if I couldn't use.
8 week wait but it arrived. I was sort of right, not a bolt on with the Torklifts. The steps arm folds under truck and hits the Torklift receiver. It would work, step just doesn't tuck up as high as it could but moving the rear hitch mounted receiver it would. So decided to move Torklift mount. Tried drilling hitch on truck-that didn't work, not enough access to drill straight, bit kept walking and that was on most accessible hole.
So I unbolted Torklift hitch side plate and took to drill press. Drilled 3 holes in less time trying to drill under truck, reusing the forward bottom hole.
Moved camper mount 2" forward. I have room and angle on rear tiedown so not an issue. Might not work for all.
Step is pretty slick, angles off to side deployed so easy bed access when gate down, flips up pretty close to bumper stored.
So in effort to make getting in & out of the truck independently & with ease for her, I ended up with not having to jump off the tailgate anymore.
Wheres my tiara...
Received and installed the AmpResearch power steps several weeks ago. Wow. After using for a while cant say enough about them. A bit of re-engineering 'one size fits all' to fit a standard cab but well worth the effort. Kits are really set up for a 4-door.
This was first install of step arms per instructions, places front bracket in middle of door...looked pretty dumb. There's a set of holes 13" forward that can be used-requires drilling one hole.
So they got moved.
Step deployed
Margaret is stoked. They are nice. But every time she gets in or out she comments. It was a 27" hike to trucks door sill, new steps split that in half at 13" from ground when deployed. Which I think is the biggest benefit of the Power steps, other than tucking up out of the way, the Power Steps are lower when deployed verse fixed step.
And why I'm stoked-retracted all but unseen, painted the trucks pinch weld seam black, stood out like a sore thumb against black steps.
I wired thru SPDT on-off-on switches, one on each door to control its step. I wanted normal auto operation but ability to disable, or manually use with door closed. Good call, last trip out drivers door ajar switch stuck, (what triggers steps). Noted the door-ajar dash light going down hi way, means the steps deployed-err, manually turned off. Ford thing.
Also first trip with steps I managed to kill batteries, 3 days of getting in & out of truck with no charge she wouldn't start when we got ready to leave. I now disable steps when parked at camp. Once home checked- though only briefly the motors peak at 9 amps while going out and in. Just an FYI if parked for a few- might pull the fuse if not switched.
The only thing I don't like, don't understand & might consider 'princess' is the purple led puddle lights-they're getting addressed.
All my air lines entered cab right where passenger front step bracket needed to mount.
Having to cut & reroute air lines, took the opportunity to add tank pressure gauge. Cut lines behind pillar so fittings easier to access, pulled lines and rerouted.
Though always wanted to 'see' tank psi, its primarily so when using air for other stuff I'm not completely draining tank-helps minimize pumps constant run time.
But the steps are awesome-Short video of them deploying and retracting. Quality of components really nice.
Lastly; When I bought the Power Steps there was a 2 week promo running which I got in on last day. They generally have something offered, like $40 off etc but this was for a rear bed step. Like a $200 item? Cant really use but its 'free'.
Not something I would have bought, other than cost didn't think it would fit with the Torklift camper mount so wasn't holding my breath. Figured I'd pass it on if I couldn't use.
8 week wait but it arrived. I was sort of right, not a bolt on with the Torklifts. The steps arm folds under truck and hits the Torklift receiver. It would work, step just doesn't tuck up as high as it could but moving the rear hitch mounted receiver it would. So decided to move Torklift mount. Tried drilling hitch on truck-that didn't work, not enough access to drill straight, bit kept walking and that was on most accessible hole.
So I unbolted Torklift hitch side plate and took to drill press. Drilled 3 holes in less time trying to drill under truck, reusing the forward bottom hole.
Moved camper mount 2" forward. I have room and angle on rear tiedown so not an issue. Might not work for all.
Step is pretty slick, angles off to side deployed so easy bed access when gate down, flips up pretty close to bumper stored.
So in effort to make getting in & out of the truck independently & with ease for her, I ended up with not having to jump off the tailgate anymore.
Wheres my tiara...
Put Torklift springloads on the back tie downs, 4 of them came with the camper, the camper manual has in it that the front must have them.
Got my eBay Vision Hauler 19.5s and had Les Schwab mount Toyo M608Z 285/70R19.5s on them, at 90 psi.
They are definitely heavier and stiffer than the 285/65R20 BFGs I normally run, but not too bad. Still rides better than any stock F350 or Ram 3500. They do feel a little squirrely on occasion, but I've heard it takes several thousand miles to break them in.
They make my truck look more like a work truck, though.
Oh, and a few days ago I also put on the Firestone Ride Rite airbags. Next up: Hellwig Big Wig front and rear swaybars, and Airlift 72000 Wireless airbag compressor.
They are definitely heavier and stiffer than the 285/65R20 BFGs I normally run, but not too bad. Still rides better than any stock F350 or Ram 3500. They do feel a little squirrely on occasion, but I've heard it takes several thousand miles to break them in.
They make my truck look more like a work truck, though.
Oh, and a few days ago I also put on the Firestone Ride Rite airbags. Next up: Hellwig Big Wig front and rear swaybars, and Airlift 72000 Wireless airbag compressor.
