So what did you do to your Truck Camper today?

[Mello_Mike]

I saw these threads in some of the other Open Roads RV Forums, but didn't see one for TCs.

I'll start...

I installed Interior LED puck lights and a 12v power outlet.

[jimh406]

Changed my bulbs to warm white M4 leds.

[Kidoo]

kerry4951 wrote:

Kidoo wrote:
I bought a Class A.

We tried the Class A this winter and we just loved the room, the couch, the big screen TV, going around the bed, the view up front and not to have to go outside when going from the driver seat to the table seat.

Well, different type of travel now, not so much in the back country.

I had a 2002 Holiday Rambler (owned by Monaco) Class A with 300 Cummins. The radiator went out on one trip and it was a $6500 expense to get it pulled and replaced, plus 10 days hanging out at an out of state repair center. Right after that I sold it and down sized to a TC. Could not be happier. Monaco and HR had issues with their diesel radiators back in 2001-2003. Others experienced the same thing. Do yourself a favor and have the rad checked out. The oil overflow tube from the engine would throw back oil into the rad causing clogging, corrosion, and failure. The position and location of the rad in those diesels made it very difficult to see and check out. It was a common problem, and very expensive repair.

Thanks for the info I will check this out. I do have a very small leak from the bottom of the rad. The problem I had so far was the turbo electric actuator. Cummins does not sell those separatly and they want 3500 for the turbo assembly. But I did fix it by drilling the little motor and sealing it so antifreeze does not get in anymore, hope it will last. The other thing was the Kweeke hydraulic Jacks, fixed now.

[JimK-NY]

Forget to mention: I also cut foam blocks to install between camper and the truck so my wheel well storage areas are clean and dry. Last trip the foam blew out. This time I cut wooden stakes to hold it on the sides of the truck.

[JimK-NY]

My Northstar Igloo is about ready for the season:
Installed backup camera.
Added wire racks to the pantry.
Washed and waxed.
Totally cleaned interior.
Added a second 3-receptacle 12v charging station.
Dewinterized and bleached water system.
Bleached cassette toilet tank and wiped seals with olive oil.
Spray painted rusty spots on Happijak jacks.
Had dealer service truck.
Replaced rear tires with new Michelins.
Replaced propane pigtails.
Replaced one compartment lock.
Added opener for the screen door.
Sorted hardware and tool containers to remove excess.
Added fog lights to truck.
Ordered new dinette cushion foam.
Waxed floor.
Buffed out window scratches.
Replaced leaky city water connection.
Installed new foam insulation in camper skylight.
Made the bed.
Setup screen house and washed with Lysol.
Sorted maps and travel brochure box.
Made new wooden leveling blocks.
Caulked the entire bath.
Soaked sink and shower aerators to remove scale.

I need to stock the pantry and sort clothing and then I should be ready for 6 months of travel and visits to the National Parks.

[bcbouy]

washed off 750 km's of bugs and 85 km's of forest service road mud and dirt off a white truck and white camper..tomorrow i get to do the boat.yay.

[MORSNOW]

Dewinterized my water system and getting ready for my first adventure this long weekend. Checked out all of the visible piping and connections, everything looked good and no leaks after 8 months of storage.

[jimh406]

Removed the convection oven that needs replacing. More info in this thread with some pictures. It had contact paper over the screws which made them hidden.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28366277.cfm

[deltabravo]

Removed it from the truck.
Why?
Truck needs to go to the dealer because it's throwing a bunch of CEL codes, ABS light and brake light on the dash.
2 of the 3 codes I was able clear, but the third one keeps coming back microseconds after I clear it.

[kerry4951]

Kidoo wrote:
I bought a Class A.

We tried the Class A this winter and we just loved the room, the couch, the big screen TV, going around the bed, the view up front and not to have to go outside when going from the driver seat to the table seat.

Well, different type of travel now, not so much in the back country.

I had a 2002 Holiday Rambler (owned by Monaco) Class A with 300 Cummins. The radiator went out on one trip and it was a $6500 expense to get it pulled and replaced, plus 10 days hanging out at an out of state repair center. Right after that I sold it and down sized to a TC. Could not be happier. Monaco and HR had issues with their diesel radiators back in 2001-2003. Others experienced the same thing. Do yourself a favor and have the rad checked out. The oil overflow tube from the engine would throw back oil into the rad causing clogging, corrosion, and failure. The position and location of the rad in those diesels made it very difficult to see and check out. It was a common problem, and very expensive repair.

[Farmerjon]

Received the set of TorkLift Derringer I ordered.
Hooked up #8 wire to #1 upfitter switch which is a 30amp circuit and ran it to a 2 pole socket I installed in the bed to connect to a 2 pole plug dedicated to running the refrigerator.
Can't wait for our 1st chance to use the new truck with the camper. It will be a few weeks yet.

[Kidoo]

I bought a Class A.

We tried the Class A this winter and we just loved the room, the couch, the big screen TV, going around the bed, the view up front and not to have to go outside when going from the driver seat to the table seat.

Well, different type of travel now, not so much in the back country.

[WVbassmistress]

Showed it off to my grandkids so I could hear them say "when do we get to go camping?" 😉
Of course one of the little smart pants said it just looked like a kitchen with a bed it in . . .
this younger generation!!

[joeshmoe]

Mello Mike wrote:

I'm with you, Kerry. The TL Talons rock! No longer will I have to deal with rust proofing and painting on an annual basis.

Annually?? What kind of paint are you using? That's absurd. I bought mine used and have put about over 10k mi. on them. They still look good. I just wipe them down occasionally.
I don't even remove the fronts. They just stay on the truck full time.

[CAJW]

Rbertalotto wrote:
I want to take my truck and Palomino Bronco camper on the beach here on Cape Cod. All campers must be self contained with both Gray water and Black water holding tanks. My Bronco was equipped with a toilet and black water tank but did not have a gray water tank. I usually ran a hose from the sink into a Gerry can outside the truck. This is not allowed on the Cape Cod beaches.

I went to the Dollar store and bought a 5 gallon, clear container and installed it next to my battery where I had previously 3 storage containers:

Being clear I'll be able to observe when it is getting full. I fabricated a fitting for the drain hose from some PVC fitting I had kicking around.


Now what to do with the three storage containers that used to live here:

Mount them to the ceiling. Using some oak I had hanging around I made a few "tracks" to suspend them from the ceiling:




Now I just need to figure out a way to secure them so they don't fall out when traveling.

Any Ideas???

How about using a hangar bolt (wood screw on one end/ machine screw on the other) screwed into your ceiling mounted hangers, parallel to the ceiling. Then cut a piece of wood about 6" long, drill a hole in it to fit over the hanger bolt, then secure it with a wing nut for fast removal. Just a thought.
https://www.nutty.com/Hanger-Bolts_c_65.html

[Mello_Mike]

kerry4951 wrote:
Installed a new set of Torklift aluminum Talons tie down system, front and rear. The rear set (C3206A) has been nicely redone to fit 07.5-10 Chevy/GMC with factory or Reese Titan hitch. They might even work with the Superhitch, since they are a completely new design and mount to the truck completely different from the first set that I installed 5 years ago. The right rear one also has more clearance to the large diesel tail pipe on my truck. The Talons are much lighter than the old steel and as usual with Torklift products they are very well made. I think I will really like these aluminum no rust tie downs.

I'm with you, Kerry. The TL Talons rock! No longer will I have to deal with rust proofing and painting on an annual basis.