Bought a new cabover, got a couple of questions about stuff for it.

[Mace]

In order to make the happy in the dirt, I pulled the trigger and got a Arctic fox 990. The thing is gorgeous.. single slide out, satellite tv, bunk bed over the dinette, generator, AC, heater, microwave, cd/DVD, inside and outside shower, everything... It even included a torklift super hitch and the torklift tiedowns..

I already have bags coming for my truck. The damn camper is HEAVY!!!

I need a cover for it. I have seen a couple on Ebay but really do not know what to look for. In vegas there is very little humidity, but the sun is amazingly hot.. So UV is my top priority..

I also already have bed tie downs in my truck. Are these heavy campers really that better off tied down to the frame?? I am going to be using the spring loaded turnbuckles.. I have most of the frame mounted tie downs but need to build the mounts for my truck. Not a big deal, but if it really is not necessary, then I won't worry about it.


ideas?

 

[73fj]

Those are nice units. I tie mine to the frame and the back to my bumper, but I see guys with the box mounts too, I guess it boils down to how secure it makes you feel. Thats a huge wind scoop.

 

[sandcruiser]

luxury camping at its finest

can't help you on the tie down options.... I guess it depends on how much you trust the body mounts on the bed.

 

[bigndn]

Cover? Would the neighbors be pissed if you threw a blue tarp over it? That's what everyone in my neighborhood does.




























Of course there's a better than average chance someone would pop a cap in yo ass for trespassing out here in the boonies, too.

 

[D'Animal]

Isn't the bed held on by 6 bolts?

I would secure it to the frame.

 

[spotcruiser]

Unfortunately, there is no fabric camper cover that the sun will not destroy in about a year, two years tops. And they are damned expensive. The blue or silver tarps are pretty cheap, but they don't last more than a season.

My advice would be to put a small, solid roof over it, either a pole building or one of those manufactured carports. You have a lot of money in the camper and it pays to protect that investment.

 

[sandcruiser]

could you build a simple carport for it? Just some 4x4 posts, 1x6 crossbeams and something over it that more or less matches your current roof?

Or build a lattice work wall facing south and coming over the camper... let a vine cover it up. Won't do squat for rain, but it'll cast a lot of shade.

 

[Mace]

luxury camping at its finest

Absofreakinglutely.. It SUCKS to be out at places like the hammers or an off road race in a tent. Up in the woods away from people a tent is perfectly fine.

I am gonna use the outriggers. But for now, I am just going to use the bed mounts. I am not going far (bout an hr drive) and I don't have the time to make the frame mounts before thurs..

My father gave me one of the tarpish frame covers. I am gonna try that for now.

I also have a estimate into the CalMark Company to see how much they charge for a cover..

 

[rusty_tlc]

Absofreakinglutely.. It SUCKS to be out at places like the hammers or an off road race in a tent. Up in the woods away from people a tent is perfectly fine.

I am gonna use the outriggers. But for now, I am just going to use the bed mounts. I am not going far (bout an hr drive) and I don't have the time to make the frame mounts before thurs..

My father gave me one of the tarpish frame covers. I am gonna try that for now.

I also have a estimate into the CalMark Company to see how much they charge for a cover..

IMHO Arctic Fox is one of the best brands on the road. and I loved ours. My only bitch was the little doo hickies that held the shade cords would break. I called the factory and they sent me a bag of fifteen or twenty at no charge.

General RV stuff;
Get some of the leveling blocks that look like thin legos, they are the s***zs. Much better than jacking around with 2x8's I like this brand Lynx Leverler

I didn't see an awning in the picture, if you don't have one get one. Also get the little antiflap clips that tie the awning to the frame, they work.

Get a piece of indoor outdoor carpet, for a door mat. The cheaper stuff is better because it has a more open weave that lets the dirt fall through and you can replace it more often. A bigger piece is better, it gives you a place to leave dirty shoes, ice chest and stuff.

ASAP get a coat of wax on the sides and give the roof a coat of UV protectant, get a recomendation from the guys in La Grande OR on which products to use. I cleaned the roof and waxed mine twice a year and it looked brand new when I sold it after five years. The sun is probably just as bad up here as down there, just not as hot. Do get tire covers, I lost the tires on my first trailer because I didn't keep them covered. They rotted out in a few years.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mace]

Already got a set of the lynx levelers.. Bought them like 4 years ago at a good will store for like $2.50..



Awning is on the entrance at the back. funky thing, it extends out a LONG way for being so narrow..

we are going to carpet the inside and have a 5'x5' entrance area as well.

The nice thing is that this camper has been stored inside for it's life. I'll get a good coating of wax on it and am going to store it in one of those clotch instant shelters. PIcking it up tomorrow

Just got my airbags installed yesterday

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

Congrats!

I'm a big fan of truck campers...I've had two Lance campers and have put thousands of miles on both....currently have a Lance 900 series on a 2500 GMC 4x4.

Anyway, do not go with the Happy jack bed mounts....you'll have to drill your bed to mount them and the moment you go over anything larger then a curb the entire camper will flex and either bend/warp your truck bed or tweek the rear bumper.

On both trucks I've run Torklift brand....they're like mini receiver hitchs that mount to the frame, so when your not using them they can be removed and you can not see that your truck is used as a camper truck.

I've off-roaded with my truck camper and have bent and broken things due to the tweeking of a top heavy camper, even bent the pins holding the receiver hitch in, but due to the shock absorbers in the mounts I never hurt the camper!

BTW- think about getting airbags for your truck...it doesn't matter which ones, they both work great...I prefer the ones you air individually versus the remote ones with the compressor....more air lines to fail...not fun cutting an airline on the road!

Also, make sure your truck is rated or has the "Truck Camper" rating. There should be a sticker in the glove box indicating the rating....These campers are so dang heavy that they will over whelm the suspension, brakes and drive train of trucks not set-up for that type of weight.....Plus your insurance company and local trooper are fans if something happens....I could go on and on about TC's but have a great time!

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[rusty_tlc]

Already got a set of the lynx levelers.. Bought them like 4 years ago at a good will store for like $2.50..



Awning is on the entrance at the back. funky thing, it extends out a LONG way for being so narrow..

we are going to carpet the inside and have a 5'x5' entrance area as well.

The nice thing is that this camper has been stored inside for it's life. I'll get a good coating of wax on it and am going to store it in one of those clotch instant shelters. PIcking it up tomorrow

Just got my airbags installed yesterday

Nice score on the levelers.

An awning that comes off the side is nice, it gives you some usable shelter from rain and sun. I can't imagine one off the back would be that practical.

I'd avoid carpeting the inside. Vinyl is a lot easier to clean. Just get some runners you can shake out when they get full of sand and dirt. Thats what we have done in all three of our trailers, it works out well.

 

[inthewall]

I had an eagle cap on my truck. I had the bed mounted tie downs. I didnt trust it completely. I think frame mounts would stop some of the bed flex I was getting. Drop your speed when its windy. You dont drive truck campers in the wind, you just herd it down the road.

 

[Mace]

Awning for the side is in the works. I already have a "pop up" cover that will stay in the camper. So I do not know how fast I'll get a new awning.

The rear one was already there. with as narrow as it is, I don't know how useful it will be either.

Carpet is just gonna be a runner. Mostly for protection of the flooring.

I'm getting a set of the torklift tie downs. But I will not have enough time to install them before this weekend.

The truck is a Crew cab F350 long bed 4x4 diesel with the camper package. I'll most likely be slightly over weight. But nothin horrible.. And I installed air bags in it yesterday..

I used to have a Alaskan, so the cabover concept is not exactly a new thing to me. But this camper is a heck of a lot nicer

 

[KOWBOY]

Welcome to the civilized world Mace.

Don't waste your time slappin' it in the back of the truck though ...

slap 'er on a gooseneck By Gawd.

I NEVER miss an opportunity to post up this here pic.

 

[Mace]

THought about the gooseneck.. But where would I get a Lime green kenworth to tow it around with??

 

[KOWBOY]

Hemi green Peterbilt.

 

[locrwln1]

I have a 2002 Lance 1010 (10'1") on my Ford (see sig). It has been to the tip of Baja three times, British Columbia and everything in between here and the Mississippi, multiple times (Johnson Valley x2). I have the Happy-Jacks and they have been on it the whole time. My only complaint with the system is the stock rear bumper on the Fords, pretty much tin-foil. I have a Ruenel bumper on the rear and it is mucho better.

Jack

 

[rusty_tlc]

I have a 2002 Lance 1010 (10'1") on my Ford (see sig). It has been to the tip of Baja three times, British Columbia and everything in between here and the Mississippi, multiple times (Johnson Valley x2). I have the Happy-Jacks and they have been on it the whole time. My only complaint with the system is the stock rear bumper on the Fords, pretty much tin-foil. I have a Ruenel bumper on the rear and it is mucho better.

Jack

You forgot Moab. You guys were snug and dry during the deluge.
Thats a nice camper.

 

[locrwln1]

You forgot Moab. You guys were snug and dry during the deluge.
Thats a nice camper.

I kind of put that in with the west coast thing, and yes we were.

Thanks, we have gotten a ton of use out of it. I just wished it would fit on the roads that we take our LC's in the middle of Nevada. Oh yeahh.

Jack