88GMCtruck's 98 Silverado Towpig Build: "Black Fox"

[88gmctruck]

Glad I could help! :thumbsup:

I agree 500%+, wood and campers should never be in the same sentence, ever!

When ever I decide to part with this camper, it will be my last wood camper. I want an aluminum camper, one day.

That camper looks nice, hope you enjoy it more than I have mine.

At least once you get yours fixed up you'll be able to enjoy it awhile longer. Same story was with my trailer, although it was more about function at this point.

Recently a friend of mine had his camper start coming apart on the highway. It's a mid 90's fleetwood caribou 11' (almost identical layout to mine). The overhead had leaked at some point and the wood was rotten, to the point the screws holding the overhead together came apart and started blowing wood, insulation and paneling on the freeway.....

That's HUGE Dave! Nice interior.

Thanks. It was really a tossup on size, but I decided to be more comfortable and deal with the extra weight. At least I bought a truck that can handle it.

 

[83GMCK2500]

Nice looking camper! I need to get mine done. :mad2:

You will love the torklift! :thumbsup:

Yep, the tie downs are pretty schnazzy. Why am I commenting? Read on...

I had been in San Antonio for a couple weeks and David was my ride to-from airport for my flights. On the ride home he tells me he has a project for me... Hmmmm, ok, this could go one of a few ways...

To be fair I was given an option and I chose to install the Super Hitch, all Torque-Lift Accessories, and assemble the 83#'s of WTF that became the 48" truss. I am disappointed in their instructions and consistency across all of the hardware. (I was actually short, by their inventory count, one bolt.) I will be writing up my observations, making a list of fasteners that I USED, and either sending it to them or swinging by their shop with David's truck. (They're CLOSE.)

 

[DieselCash]

Yep, the tie downs are pretty schnazzy. Why am I commenting? Read on...

I had been in San Antonio for a couple weeks and David was my ride to-from airport for my flights. On the ride home he tells me he has a project for me... Hmmmm, ok, this could go one of a few ways...

To be fair I was given an option and I chose to install the Super Hitch, all Torque-Lift Accessories, and assemble the 83#'s of WTF that became the 48" truss. I am disappointed in their instructions and consistency across all of the hardware. (I was actually short, by their inventory count, one bolt.) I will be writing up my observations, making a list of fasteners that I USED, and either sending it to them or swinging by their shop with David's truck. (They're CLOSE.)

I had the same problem with mine. When you call torklift they will refer you to who you purchased it from. I had this problem with the hitch and both truss(s). I had so many problems with the truss I never returned the replacement one. Minus the bolt issue I have no complaints. They do what they are advertised to do.

Wish you luck! :thumbsup:

 

[88gmctruck]

Given this information i will gladly stop at their headquarters. They are literally 15 mins from me

 

[88gmctruck]

Got the wiring done and the truss installed. Man, it's heavy. I still feel weird towing with an extension.

And where it ended up relative the camper....

 

[DieselCash]

Looks good! :thumbsup:

Do you have a link for those LED reverse lights mounted below the bumper?

 

[88gmctruck]

e-bay specials. They are freaking bright.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400700704262?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Ed HD]

Looks great!!! I love our torklift hitch on our Duramax, our only problem was the bracket for the wiring was wrong, so they sent the right one and it was solved. However, this fall my sister busted it all, so I replaced it with a Hopkins unit that looks like what you used in both spots. It's so nice to not have to mess with adapters for once...

 

[GM Guy]

holy shit, that is a hitch! I bet the truck frame would bend long before anything on that hitch would.

 

[88gmctruck]

Looks great!!! I love our torklift hitch on our Duramax, our only problem was the bracket for the wiring was wrong, so they sent the right one and it was solved. However, this fall my sister busted it all, so I replaced it with a Hopkins unit that looks like what you used in both spots. It's so nice to not have to mess with adapters for once...

The combo 7 and 4 plugs are my favorite. I have one on both my 88 and 98, the 02 doesn't have a hitch at all :lol:

holy shit, that is a hitch! I bet the truck frame would bend long before anything on that hitch would.

It is quite scary. And rated for 12k with weight dist, 6k without.

Got the Nomad cleaned up last night, have 3 people looking at it tonight....

Out with the old, in with the new.

 

[DieselSlug]

Nice! I think that's the biggest bed mount i've ever seen.

 

[88gmctruck]

Nice! I think that's the biggest bed mount i've ever seen.

They make a 60" one as well

 

[88gmctruck]

Everything was packed up and I hit the road last night with no problems. Averaged 8mpg.

 

[88gmctruck]

Diesel slug, I just realized you meant bed mount camper, and weren't referring to the hitch extension.

It's a big camper but not the biggest it measures out 11' 10" of floor plus additional overhead above the cab. If you want to see some big campers look at a Host Mammoth. They make any truck look tiny

 

[BIGR]

Nice set up you have and very versatile since you have a place to sleep and can haul the quads on your trips. I noticed where you stopped at the 76 station that the diesel price was the same as what it is in my area, If my vision was correct that was $ 3.89 a gallon for diesel?

 

[88gmctruck]

Yup, that was in Springfield Oregon

 

[88gmctruck]

Finally had some time to update what photos I took and throw a few highlights of the trip here.

Woke up to this the first night before heading out in the sand. Dogs sleeping.

Decided to take advantage of the sliding screens in the camper

Aired down, got pulled out to the sand.

Setup camp. Use the trailer as a nice deck for the camper, works well

Some misc dune shots of the quads and the Jeeps. (I'm in the white riding gear or the orange riding gear)

My LED lighting handywork for night riding.

 

[88gmctruck]

Headed home from the trip mid week to go on another camping trip.

Made it home, dumped the quads and headed up to the mountains.

Some really good shots a friend took at night. The orange glow in the second picture is the wildfires nearby in Eastern Washington.

On the way home a friends motohome blew a heater hose, helping out.

 

[btfarm]

Nice pics Dave :thumbsup:

 

[Ed HD]

Looks like a great time was had by all!