Ordered Host Mammoth

[zb39]

A couple weeks ago I phoned in an order. (After a few weeks of negotiating) My wife and I have been in a few of them. This will be out 3rd TC and our 8th RV. 4 MH 24, 34, 40 and 45 ft. 2 other TC and a 5th wheel.

We always have a MH and a TC at the same time. Now it is a 5th wheel and TC. They get used for diff things.

Didn't get a lot of options. I feel I can do a better job with the batts, inverter, and the TV's.

Ordered, double couch, leather or what passes for leather on both.
3 slides are now standard, no choice, thats what I was told.
micro/convection
sealed burner top
upgraded escape hatch
9k btu AC
gas electric hot water
swing out brackets, they should be standard.
power awning.

It is prob diff from what most people would order but we have ben camping traveling for a long time. I will add 4 or 6 6v batts and a 3k inverter. I also have a pair of honda 2 k gen.
I will only carry 1. I don;t think they have started the build. I was told it would be in around the end of Jan. Looking forward to it.

[mike_kellie]

Bedlam, it's hard to pick up but the rear box design tapers inwards towards the back allowing for the tie-downs. The inside cargo width of 52" does not change. The last box behind the wheel well is 22' deep toward the front and probably 18" at the rear.

[mike_kellie]

It feels like 3,000 miles away. I'm planning a trip once it's completed camping along our highway 395 then up and over Tioga Pass through Yosemite. Hopefully catch some fall colors and fish. It will also be the first time my wife and I have been able to go out together in almost 2 years and not worry about home life (discussed in another current topic)





Here are 3 getting fitted for the big day. One was from Alaska and the other from Arizona. Another Host was due in a week or so.

[Bedlam]

mike/kellie wrote:
I will have frame mount brackets and my original fastguns. Not concerned if one would temp block a door.

Thinking about your setup and some challenges:

1. An 8' wide truck body only gives you only 3" of additional width on each side for truck frame tie downs and the connecting turnbuckles.
2. The camper tie down points are under the wings at less than 8' wide. You will need some type of offset brackets from the original tie down points to clear your truck box. These will have to mounted in a way that does not put leverage on the mounting locations.

[zb39]

mike/kellie wrote:

Zb39 wrote:
How is the camper attached to the Douglas bed, front and rear.

2 options. Perfectly aligned brackets that match the camper. A pin is inserted and it's locked in. They are pretty much out of sight. I will have frame mount brackets and my originalfastguns. Not concerned if one would temp block a door.

I guess with the pins there is no give etc. Still an interesting idea for locking down the camper.
I wish they were somewhere besides 3k miles from me.

[mike_kellie]

?

[Teagan_s_camper]

Be careful

[mike_kellie]

Zb39 wrote:
How is the camper attached to the Douglas bed, front and rear.

2 options. Perfectly aligned brackets that match the camper. A pin is inserted and it's locked in. They are pretty much out of sight. I will have frame mount brackets and my originalfastguns. Not concerned if one would temp block a door.

[Bedlam]

mike/kellie wrote:
Are the pods boxes like you would find under large truck bodies with doors that fall down stopped with chains? The ones on our company trucks are pretty watertight but I cringe when guys just drop the doors jerking the chains.

They will look like my lower ones but two 4' wide models above the deck instead the one lower at 3':

[zb39]

How is the camper attached to the Douglas bed, front and rear.

[mike_kellie]

I think a plug-in at the rear of the truck. That allows me to get less creative in wiring to the back of the camper since I can keep it in the basement.
Are the pods boxes like you would find under large truck bodies with doors that fall down stopped with chains? The ones on our company trucks are pretty watertight but I cringe when guys just drop the doors jerking the chains.

[Bedlam]

$135 for rims here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-19-5x6-Inch-10-Lug-5-Slot-2008-2016-Dodge-Ram-5500-Steel-Wheel-10-225-Ri...

I think you will get better camera placement on the camper than on the truck bed. You just need to decide if the connection will be near the bumper with the wire run on the frame or near the forward wall and run through the camper.

I just but in my order for side storage pods to sit under the wings. These will add 500 lbs to my truck when empty.

[mike_kellie]

The truck now is 8,740 lbs without a spare which I need to find. A steel rim and tire are expensive! I will get a new weight certificate when completed however I don't have an idea to the body weight.
Looking to take the truck and camper down there this weekend and leaving it for 3-4 weeks. Debating the OEM back-up camera placement. The fixture and harness are bundled with other hoses and extensions and I'm thinking of mounting it on the camper with a harness I could un-plug at the rear of the truck body with the 7-way (front of truck body)when I take the camper off. Any pros or cons? I can live without the camera while driving the truck unloaded.

[Bedlam]

mike/kellie wrote:
Turns out the Host I saw on the Ram5500 was an acquaintance of mine and at one time Bedlam. He is on his second Mammoth and just returned from a 4 week trip looping through Utah, Nevada, Oregon and down through California arriving back to San Diego last night. he is 33K total moving down the road.
Small world!

I wouldn't be surprised if he is pushing or over his GVWR on his 80" CA 5500. He has a lot of storage and he is using it plus his not a stripped Tradesman model like mine - I'm guessing over 11K lbs when unloaded and empty.

Do you know what your 60" CA utility bed will weigh when completed? My truck without the the camper and SuperTruss was 10,220 lbs.

[mike_kellie]

Your basic 9' body is under $10K without install, and then you add options. I have Torklift products including Super Magnum hitch, 48" supertruss, special resistant paint for inside the cargo area, matching OEM paint with clear coat among others. I'm under $19K

[zb39]

So how much are these Douglas bodies? Ball park anyways??