Janis Vanis
Member
Welcome! Love hearing about people choosing to leave the rat race lifestyle. I woke up when I was about 27. Now 2 years later ready to start living! Safe trails to you.
Greetings from California!
- Thread starter freerangetortoise
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VJG1977
Well-known member
Found this online. The Starcraft Truck Campers Owner's manual. It has wiring diagrams.
http://www.antiguarv.com/sc2009/brochures/2000-2001TC_OM.pdf
http://www.antiguarv.com/sc2009/brochures/2000-2001TC_OM.pdf
Thanks for the photos! It looks great, very clean and new looking!
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No doubt about it, you scored big time!! 
I second preemptively treating the fabric.. I'd make that a priority. Nik makes a bunch of stuff to treat all kinds of fabric against the sun and water. It's very highly regarded by backpackers to treat their tents and packs so the sun and rain don't destroy them. See them on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ric+treatment&rh=i:aps,k:nik+fabric+treatment
It also looks like the camper is just barely clearing the cab. Newer trucks have taller cabs than the old days. One way to fix that is to get a piece of plywood, cut it to fit in the bed around the wheel wells and screw 2x4s under it lengthwise so you can put long things under like fishing poles or poles for an awning or TV antenna.
Bob
I second preemptively treating the fabric.. I'd make that a priority. Nik makes a bunch of stuff to treat all kinds of fabric against the sun and water. It's very highly regarded by backpackers to treat their tents and packs so the sun and rain don't destroy them. See them on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ric+treatment&rh=i:aps,k:nik+fabric+treatment
It also looks like the camper is just barely clearing the cab. Newer trucks have taller cabs than the old days. One way to fix that is to get a piece of plywood, cut it to fit in the bed around the wheel wells and screw 2x4s under it lengthwise so you can put long things under like fishing poles or poles for an awning or TV antenna.
Bob
freerangetortoise
Active member
Thanks for the Link, VJG! The manual was actually tucked away in the camper underneath the bed so I have it but the one you linked to has more usable information. One can never know too much!
And great idea on the plywood lift, Bob! I drive that baby to and from work everyday (about 60 miles roundtrip) just to get a feel for things and I don't hear any banging or knocking from above so I know its clearing the roof of my truck - even though I totally agree that it looks REALLY close there. But I might just go ahead and make that "basement" just for the extra storage.
But first, I'll have to take my truck and camper combo to the scales and see what I'm coming in at before adding any more weight. Seeing as I only have a 1/2 ton, I would imagine I'm pretty close to my payload capacity of 1,700 lbs. by now. Granted, the label on back of the camper says it's 1,400 lbs. wet (she's dry right now) I'm not completely comfortable until I see the numbers. On the plus side (kind of), the original owner yanked out the 20 gal fresh water tank which potentially saves me 160+ lbs. in water weight and whatever the weight of the empty tank, water pump, etc. We shall see!
And great idea on the plywood lift, Bob! I drive that baby to and from work everyday (about 60 miles roundtrip) just to get a feel for things and I don't hear any banging or knocking from above so I know its clearing the roof of my truck - even though I totally agree that it looks REALLY close there. But I might just go ahead and make that "basement" just for the extra storage.
But first, I'll have to take my truck and camper combo to the scales and see what I'm coming in at before adding any more weight. Seeing as I only have a 1/2 ton, I would imagine I'm pretty close to my payload capacity of 1,700 lbs. by now. Granted, the label on back of the camper says it's 1,400 lbs. wet (she's dry right now) I'm not completely comfortable until I see the numbers. On the plus side (kind of), the original owner yanked out the 20 gal fresh water tank which potentially saves me 160+ lbs. in water weight and whatever the weight of the empty tank, water pump, etc. We shall see!
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Remember that the cab and body flex and as you hit rough road they flex a lot.
You're going to be close or over GVWR once you load it up. Getting some Firestone air bags in back would be a great first step! Spendy, but worth it.
Bob
You're going to be close or over GVWR once you load it up. Getting some Firestone air bags in back would be a great first step! Spendy, but worth it.
Bob
freerangetortoise
Active member
After much digging around the internet, I discovered there are two kinds of people in the truck camper world. There are those who believe that you should never be an ounce over your GVWR and those that think the GVWR aren't set in stone. I choose to go the safer route and Bob, your reply was the nail in the coffin.
For as much as I love and am attached to my '07 Ram 1500, she just wasn't going to cut it for me on this new road I'm venturing down. I'm aware that this amazing site is more geared towards the vandweller so I'm more than appreciative that you've all welcomed me with open arms. My had every intention of pickup up a van and doing the van thing because that's how and why I joined the site in the first place. Someday I still might but I'm happy just taking it one day at a time.
Several weeks ago while I was looking for vans on Craigslist, I came across the Starcraft truck camper. It was close by, cheap, and in great condition - so I bought it. It was a smoking deal that just kind of fell in my lap and I couldn't pass it up. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up an '06 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.6L turbo diesel (GRUNT GRUNT!). The place I work at got new trucks and they were getting rid of the old ones. It was close by, cheap, and in great condition - so I bought IT, too. Another smoking deal that landed in my lap that I couldn't pass up. So I swapped over the camper from the Ram onto the new-to-me Silverado and took the new rig out last weekend to El Mirage Dry Lake Bed in Southern California. With the beefier frame and stronger suspension, I could barely feel the weight of the camper loaded up. I kept checking my rear view just to make sure it was still there!
Here's the new, happy couple at a Walmart parking lot while I was pickup supplies for the quick shakedown trip...
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/FreeRangeTortoise/media/2015-04-18 09.22.27_zpswnhuynar.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn14/FreeRangeTortoise/2015-04-18 09.22.27_zpswnhuynar.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2015-04-18 09.22.27_zpswnhuynar.jpg"/></a>
and here she is at home with some friends in the California desert.
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/FreeRangeTortoise/media/DSC00754_zpsrmsjpryn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn14/FreeRangeTortoise/DSC00754_zpsrmsjpryn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC00754_zpsrmsjpryn.jpg"/></a>
The rig that I now call the Silvercraft (Silverado + Starcraft = I'm not very creative) climbed up the Cajon Pass without a hitch. I even passed a few cars, which in hindsight was a bad idea but I wanted to see what the baby could do (and I promise not to do it again). We took our dirt bikes out for a spin and after we got back, I sat there in my chair underneath the EZ-Up and the thought of going back to work made me sick to my stomach. The day I can join the rest of you in saying that I'm truly free cannot come fast enough!
For as much as I love and am attached to my '07 Ram 1500, she just wasn't going to cut it for me on this new road I'm venturing down. I'm aware that this amazing site is more geared towards the vandweller so I'm more than appreciative that you've all welcomed me with open arms. My had every intention of pickup up a van and doing the van thing because that's how and why I joined the site in the first place. Someday I still might but I'm happy just taking it one day at a time.
Several weeks ago while I was looking for vans on Craigslist, I came across the Starcraft truck camper. It was close by, cheap, and in great condition - so I bought it. It was a smoking deal that just kind of fell in my lap and I couldn't pass it up. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up an '06 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.6L turbo diesel (GRUNT GRUNT!). The place I work at got new trucks and they were getting rid of the old ones. It was close by, cheap, and in great condition - so I bought IT, too. Another smoking deal that landed in my lap that I couldn't pass up. So I swapped over the camper from the Ram onto the new-to-me Silverado and took the new rig out last weekend to El Mirage Dry Lake Bed in Southern California. With the beefier frame and stronger suspension, I could barely feel the weight of the camper loaded up. I kept checking my rear view just to make sure it was still there!
Here's the new, happy couple at a Walmart parking lot while I was pickup supplies for the quick shakedown trip...
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/FreeRangeTortoise/media/2015-04-18 09.22.27_zpswnhuynar.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn14/FreeRangeTortoise/2015-04-18 09.22.27_zpswnhuynar.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2015-04-18 09.22.27_zpswnhuynar.jpg"/></a>
and here she is at home with some friends in the California desert.
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/FreeRangeTortoise/media/DSC00754_zpsrmsjpryn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn14/FreeRangeTortoise/DSC00754_zpsrmsjpryn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC00754_zpsrmsjpryn.jpg"/></a>
The rig that I now call the Silvercraft (Silverado + Starcraft = I'm not very creative) climbed up the Cajon Pass without a hitch. I even passed a few cars, which in hindsight was a bad idea but I wanted to see what the baby could do (and I promise not to do it again). We took our dirt bikes out for a spin and after we got back, I sat there in my chair underneath the EZ-Up and the thought of going back to work made me sick to my stomach. The day I can join the rest of you in saying that I'm truly free cannot come fast enough!
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That's a beautiful set-up you've go there, you will be very happy with it!!
The one thing I'd add is that diesels like to be driven a certain way, especially when it comes to climbing mountains, and it's my understanding it's different than gas engines.
I know that"s vague, but it's because I don't know much more! Maybe some of the experienced guys here can jump in. There are also many really good forums for pickups with diesels and I'd strongly suggest you look into them. It will pay off in the long run because it's what you don't know that you don't know that can really hurt you.
Bob
The one thing I'd add is that diesels like to be driven a certain way, especially when it comes to climbing mountains, and it's my understanding it's different than gas engines.
I know that"s vague, but it's because I don't know much more! Maybe some of the experienced guys here can jump in. There are also many really good forums for pickups with diesels and I'd strongly suggest you look into them. It will pay off in the long run because it's what you don't know that you don't know that can really hurt you.
Bob
