Something New Is Afoot - Building Our New Camper

[billharr]

I took the only glimmer of hope I found – Forscan – and initially used it to calibrate the truck to the new tire circumference.

Just a word of warning on Forscan. I am on a Ford Transit forum. One of the members used Forscan to change some engine parameters. He had a problem that should have been a warranty item. The dealer's computer found setting had been changed with Forscan and them told the Transit owner that his warranty was void.

 

[pods8]

Just a word of warning on Forscan. I am on a Ford Transit forum. One of the members used Forscan to change some engine parameters. He had a problem that should have been a warranty item. The dealer's computer found setting had been changed with Forscan and them told the Transit owner that his warranty was void.

Technically they would have to prove it caused the problem but that won’t stop them trying.

But I wouldn’t be rushing to change engine settings either, versus user interface.

 

[ski3pin]

One thing this truck has that I never would have considered buying, but I've found surprisingly useful, is power folding side rearview mirrors. Three times now we've been on narrow roads with encroaching vegetation- juniper, pinyon, creosote, Palo Verde, mesquite - and pushing that button really makes it easier to squeeze through, especially one time backing up.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Yes some of the tech items are worth it.They make live easier not just to change something.
Happy motoring.
Frank

 

[ski3pin]

Since I made several comments about the 21" bed depth on our new Ranger, I'll add an update. A friend who is an automotive engineer (and a very experienced mountaineer) stopped by to see the new truck and camper project. I asked about the evolution of deeper truck beds. He explained about vehicle doors. The window is the weakest area in the door. To make vehicles safer and get better crash safety results, windows have become shorter in height. In pickups, the window bottom usually corresponds with the top of the bed for a nice visual line. So be happy with a deeper bed, it may save your life.

 

[goinoregon]

thx for the info SilentMode. errrr, ski.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Now if we only had a way of improving the driving ability of the person behind the wheel.
Frank

 

[Tilldawn]

Great write up on your new build. I don't have your amazing cabinet building skills so Marty built my shell interior for me. I brought some of your interior build pics from your first camper to Marty when I had my Ocelot built last winter. I'm heading back up to see him and the crew next week to get more interior mods done. I'll be sure to bring a treat for them like Julie does!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Great write up on your new build. I don't have your amazing cabinet building skills so Marty built my shell interior for me. I brought some of your interior build pics from your first camper to Marty when I had my Ocelot built last winter. I'm heading back up to see him and the crew next week to get more interior mods done. I'll be sure to bring a treat for them like Julie does!

Team ATC is fantastic! Don’t forget to get some pictures to share

 

[pods8]

@ski3pin With the taller bed rails and your interior layout having the dinette seats flush with that flare out of the floor pack how is the comfort in your new rig? IE on the front dinette models they put a riser on the floor there. But you also have thinner looking cushions so maybe not an issue?

 

[ski3pin]

@ski3pin With the taller bed rails and your interior layout having the dinette seats flush with that flare out of the floor pack how is the comfort in your new rig? IE on the front dinette models they put a riser on the floor there. But you also have thinner looking cushions so maybe not an issue?

I was somewhat concerned about the added height. The cushions are 2" thick, thick enough and comfortable. The extra height is a non issue for us and are we comfortable with it with the 4" height increase from our old camper.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

Since I made several comments about the 21" bed depth on our new Ranger, I'll add an update. ... To make vehicles safer and get better crash safety results, windows have become shorter in height. ... So be happy with a deeper bed, it may save your life.

Ranger security system ... Saw this at the post office today and couldn't resist.

 

[ski3pin]

“Are we going to make it?” Julie asked on a regular basis as we built the camper interior. “I told cousin Sherry we’d be there before Thanksgiving.” I hate deadlines. I love working on projects, figuring out the details, and enjoy the process. Deadlines are a distraction. So poor Julie got my usual response, “We’ll see.” It drove her nuts. She lived a life as a school teacher with strict schedules and deadlines.



Cousin Sherry (and husband Thom) is a truly special and talented person. During her working years she had her own upholstery business. She still enjoys projects and offered to help put together a thermal pack for the inside of the sideliner. We had all the material and supplies on board when we left on 18 November. First stop was Cousin Sherry’s place in Oracle, Arizona. We’ve been down this thermal pack road before –



Building an Arctic – Cold Weather Pack



This time we were using new material and a couple of design/build changes. Four Wheel Campers kindly agreed to sell us the new quilted material they recently switched to for their thermal packs.

I went over with Sherry the design and measurements and we put together a plan with pen and paper. Old ways still get the job done right.

With this material, edge binding is used instead of a folded hem.

The major difference in our new design was initially cutting separate panels instead of one long piece for each side. Each panel was edge bond and Velcro sewn vertically for the openings over the windows.

We hung the panels in place to check fitment. The vertical Velcro held the panels together and kept everything square.

Next up was sewing the wide Velcro along the top that adheres to the Velcro strip on the sideliner. This also joined the individual panels together.

With the Velcro in place, we checked the fit again. It was looking great.

We made the pieces that tuck behind the lift panels longer and cut slits for the straps that capture the sideliner to the back of the lift panel so the sideliner folds in when the top is lowered. The slits were hemmed.

With the panels sewn together, it was a delicate dance to keep control of the bulk as work continued to sew button holes for the D-ring loops on the sideliner windows.

It took three days to get the project completed. The result is wonderful!

All of us are work/project oriented – instead of sitting on our butts and “visiting,” so this project made for a great get together for all of us. Thanks, Cousin Sherry, for all the help and wonderful friendship!

Sherry grabbed a photo of Julie and me the morning we left to continue on our maiden voyage.

The adventure continues. Please check back for updates.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

Looking nice! Is it my imagination, or is the smoke detector a new addition?

 

[ArcherJim]

Very nice work! Love the slits around the straps behind the lift boards.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

As usual you do great craftsman/woman work.
Enjoy many years with the new rig.
Frank

 

[goinoregon]

looks great. thx for posting.
and thx for cousin sherry !!

 

[ski3pin]

Looking nice! Is it my imagination, or is the smoke detector a new addition?

Not a new addition. It was installed by Marty and the crew as per the requirements of building/selling a new camper.

 

[ski3pin]

Update 14 January 2025. We dropped by the ATC camper shop to have the guys inspect our final product. We shared with them how Julie is holding up the “technical end” of our adventures with apps on her smartphone. She monitors our battery health with Renogy’s DC Home app. The Iceco chest fridge is monitored with the Iceco app. We opted to use a Mopeka ultrasonic sensor. I installed the carrier for the sensor and the sensor on the bottom of our water tank. The phone app gives precise readout of water in the tank.

 

[pods8]

I'm running powerurus lithium in my trailer with victron solar charge controller, having blue tooth interfaces with each of them is quite handy to check in on battery status, charge rate into the battery, watts out of the panels, watts produced in a day, etc. Kinda nice not to have to wire in an additional shunt, volt meter, etc. to normally monitor the batteries.