Poor man's 1999 F450 Truck Camper Build
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I'd recommend a strainer on the inlet side of the pump to keep the check valves clean. They're like $8-15. Little bits of tank plastic, rust, sand, water scale, debris, etc. can cause a real headache if it gets into the pump Here's a link to some examples: https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=shurfl...=shurflo+strainer,aps,201&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_16
highdesertranger
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x2 on the strainer. all RV water pumps should have one. highdesertranger
I waffled back and forth on the strainer since everything goes thru the filtration system but I guess it's a cheap enough insurance policy to put one right before the pump. Thanks, I'll order one now.
Getting kinda excited, remember this not just my first rehab of a camper this is my first camper period, having solar/elec/water/gas systems installed. Tonight or tomorrow I'm doing systems checks, tidying up wiring, and other misc. Spent most of morning replacing the broken propane compartment latch with a locking one. Only keep an honest person honest but I feel better about it. Also had to replace/repair door latch and striker plate. They had been abused pretty badly. Went ahead and added some aluminum angle stock to door frame for more security. Again, won't stop a serious attempt but you won't be able to pop it with a screwdriver and locking from inside is much more secure.
Completed all the painting I intend to do now yesterday.
Getting kinda excited, remember this not just my first rehab of a camper this is my first camper period, having solar/elec/water/gas systems installed. Tonight or tomorrow I'm doing systems checks, tidying up wiring, and other misc. Spent most of morning replacing the broken propane compartment latch with a locking one. Only keep an honest person honest but I feel better about it. Also had to replace/repair door latch and striker plate. They had been abused pretty badly. Went ahead and added some aluminum angle stock to door frame for more security. Again, won't stop a serious attempt but you won't be able to pop it with a screwdriver and locking from inside is much more secure.
Completed all the painting I intend to do now yesterday.
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highdesertranger
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good job. put that down on your regular maintenance schedule, I clean mine once a year. highdesertranger
@ Weldman
It's a 1988 1500 series 9.6 ft w/ East to West sleeping. Dry weight, from badge on camper is <1160 lbs, iirc. I DO like that I, @ 6'4" can stand fully upright.
I forget the exact outside dimensions, something like 93 in wide and it's sitting on a 11' 6" flatbed.
I hear you guys on the romex.
I've got to get a couple of new windows up front and rework the other two sliding ones in the back. I'm still getting a little leakage when rains cats and dogs and I don't think it's coming from lack of sealing in the hole. I used marine butyl tape, stickiest stuff I ever saw.
It's a 1988 1500 series 9.6 ft w/ East to West sleeping. Dry weight, from badge on camper is <1160 lbs, iirc. I DO like that I, @ 6'4" can stand fully upright.
I forget the exact outside dimensions, something like 93 in wide and it's sitting on a 11' 6" flatbed.
I hear you guys on the romex.
I've got to get a couple of new windows up front and rework the other two sliding ones in the back. I'm still getting a little leakage when rains cats and dogs and I don't think it's coming from lack of sealing in the hole. I used marine butyl tape, stickiest stuff I ever saw.
Must of be the angle of the picture. Mine is east to west sleeping too and forbid if your partner or you have to get up in middle of the night, someone crawling over someone hehe. Guess they got smart with newer ones and made them with longer bunks to go over the cab. Right now I’m making mine go from north to south sleeping, will include pictures later on it.
Maybe it’s time to break out the 5200 again for the windows, heck it’s made from materials as boat might as well treat it like one hehe...
I have noticed in your pictures they went with thinner fiberglass to shave weight by the amount of sunlight shining through walls, I can only imagine how much this one weighs.
Maybe for extra room since you are on a great truck to hold the weight take and make a pedestal to sit it on and have a basement for storage, just food for thought.
Maybe it’s time to break out the 5200 again for the windows, heck it’s made from materials as boat might as well treat it like one hehe...
I have noticed in your pictures they went with thinner fiberglass to shave weight by the amount of sunlight shining through walls, I can only imagine how much this one weighs.
Maybe for extra room since you are on a great truck to hold the weight take and make a pedestal to sit it on and have a basement for storage, just food for thought.
highdesertranger
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Marine Romex uses stranded wire. solid wire is illegal in a boat, for all the same reasons it should be illegal in RV's. highdesertranger
highdesertranger said:
It's why I am wiring mine up with Ancor marine wire, boatid.com has best prices especially if you are former or current military for the 10% discount. Though will say in 1968 mine was built with Romex.
highdesertranger
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they still build RV's with solid wire doesn't matter what year it was built in. just using the word Romex as a bad thing really isn't true because like I pointed out Marine Romex is stranded wire. highdesertranger
I have about 8 ft of 12/2 and 14/2 solid wire romex in right now on 110v circuits, combined. I used marine grade wire from genuinedealz everywhere else except for lighting. I've got some marine grade 6, 8 and 10 AWG to replace the romex. The wire nuts you saw were there when I open the cover on the inverter but I did use them on solid/stranded. I've got heat shrink connectors to replace them.
I believe the leakage is around the glass seals. Think 30 yrs have taken their toll.
I'm at 12 ft height now, no way I'm adding to that with a basement. I'll have plenty of storage when I get some underbody boxes.
I believe the leakage is around the glass seals. Think 30 yrs have taken their toll.
I'm at 12 ft height now, no way I'm adding to that with a basement. I'll have plenty of storage when I get some underbody boxes.
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Of wow 12 ft height, that's where mine is sitting at and it's on a semi or at least it's 11'9" at height but I won't chance a bridge under 12'. Yeah I don't blame you on not going higher, I was leery on 11 ft height but now I don't feel bad. Yep seals can be reason for leakage, just sounded as there was a underlining problem in the installation is all. Well have fun with that...
Got the 14/2 romex changed out, 8 AWG from solar charger to batteries swapped out for marine grade and most of the electrical box wiring tidied up.
Mocked up the storage containers I ordered for that space. I think they'll work out. Not cheap but they nestle pretty good when empty. Have a couple of larger ones that will go on other side over propane compartment. Still got to panel that area.
Mocked up the storage containers I ordered for that space. I think they'll work out. Not cheap but they nestle pretty good when empty. Have a couple of larger ones that will go on other side over propane compartment. Still got to panel that area.
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Got some roof support done over toilet area, hid a flexible shower curtain rail in behind it and got two more puck lights installed. Used some cheap Home Depot stick on cable molding to run the wiring through.
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Got the fridge/freezer and stove mocked up. Stove/oven is original, the fridge is an Australian model I bought from a guy in Phoenix a year or so ago that was compted to him after doing a job over there. It's a Beier, chinese, I believe, at least the compressor is. Little bigger than I'd like but I'll make do for now. The stove takes up a lot of room also but wanted to see if I used the oven enough to have one.
Rather than do a permanent type countertop install I'm just going to secure them and give them a test run. I've had the fridge running for a few days now. I have used the stove top before however the oven looks like it's never been used. Both need a good clean up.
Rather than do a permanent type countertop install I'm just going to secure them and give them a test run. I've had the fridge running for a few days now. I have used the stove top before however the oven looks like it's never been used. Both need a good clean up.
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RoamerRV428
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love the stove and fridge! rock on! great pics
Got the kitchen shelf fabbed and installed. Took Weldman's advice and used the Kreig kit for some of the joinery. It is pretty handy.
Went ahead and used a 20" deep wire shelf. Not sure if I would again but I thought I would save some weight and I can hang small items if I choose to. I used a piece of 1/2" EMT conduit for support under the rear of the shelf. I'm pretty happy with it, I guess. I installed it with the thought that only lighter weight items would be stored there. Don't want to be any more top heavy than I have to. It installed upside down as well to use the lip as a stop.
Put a floor in the compartment to the right of the stove above the propane compartment. You can see the containers I bought to fit in there.
Went ahead and used a 20" deep wire shelf. Not sure if I would again but I thought I would save some weight and I can hang small items if I choose to. I used a piece of 1/2" EMT conduit for support under the rear of the shelf. I'm pretty happy with it, I guess. I installed it with the thought that only lighter weight items would be stored there. Don't want to be any more top heavy than I have to. It installed upside down as well to use the lip as a stop.
Put a floor in the compartment to the right of the stove above the propane compartment. You can see the containers I bought to fit in there.
