Dodge 5500 Flat deck and camper build

[Ram5500]

I was enjoying your build, bummer that we will not see it come to completion.
Is the truck still for sale or is it sold?
Did you or are you selling the Arctic Fox too?

Good questions

Truck was for sale...then I changed my mind and was going to sell the other one... just put it up for sale again this week...but already re-thinking that.

The Camper is definitely for sale. Was only going to sell as a unit with truck, now will separate. Without the Camper, it is harder to justify the 5500 when I have a built 2500 as well. Considering trading for a non-slide camper like a Northern Lite, if I got a short box one I could carry with either truck...wouldn't be able to tow the size of trailer (work) along with the camper and 2500 though like the 5500 can. Smaller one would be able to go further off road- not as nice or roomy as my Arctic Fox though.

So that's where I am at-today- next week who knows?

Going through this with my KTM 950 Super Enduro as well, want to trade for a smaller dual sport (500 exc), then change my mind every time I ride the SE.

Wow, sounds bad...worse than women and shoes

Of course, what I'd really like is to keep em all and be able to add more!

[motrhed]

It sucks when wants, finances, priorities, and reality collide...

[Ram5500]

Well, I'm in two lottery pools at work, one with 25 people and one with 16 I think...been for a few years and nada...but I am too scared to stop- don't want to be like that guy in Red Deer that quit the pool just a few months before they won!

[Spencinator]

Any updated pics of the truck?? The 5500 must get some pretty good looks driving around.

[jforse]

Beautiful rig. I wish I had the bank roll to buy that from you!

[Ram5500]

Now looking at a couple other possible campers- and keeping the 5500

1) Northern Lite 8' 5": way lighter, but way smaller and less features. Excellent quality. Could go many more places, have more storage on truck, rear deck and or place for motorcycle and spare tire. Boss not crazy about small size and lack of features- very small sink and bathroom (she is 5'3"" and can't stand up in the bathroom)

2) Adventurer 86fb: really nice floor plan, good amount of space for the size, lots of nice features, bigger holding tanks. Taller than the NL, but roomier- still a short box one so can have more storage behind. Big question is construction, quality and reliability for what we want to do- looks better inside quality wise than many of the more expensive ones we have looked at.

Either one will require some modification to be able have it all the way to the front because of the dump outlets- more of an issue on the Adventurer since it has a fairly long run, about 4' across, below the rest of the floor.

I am awaiting some responses to a couple questions I had from the manufacturers...

[jasonL_031]

i was looking on kijiji alberta and i saw that your ram was for sale damn if i had the money i would pick it up in a heart beat hope everything works out for you

[RedF]

I was browsing through your Moab pics, then I noticed the Alberta license plate! That must have been a great trip! Cool rigs too.

[Ram5500]

Just got a flat deck gooseneck trailer, mounted the camper on that with the Jeep behind it. I need the trailer for work so it was justifiable- to me anyway

Looking at adding a turbo, so twins utilizing the stocker, 5 inch exhaust and head studs.

Down in Missoula at the moment, we did not manage to get the trailer ready for the Washington rally, so came down here to bring the jeep to AEV. Gotta say, Dave, Kent and Jesse have been AWESOME helping us out drawing out maps of places to explore, and anything we needed.

Hopefully be having US diese parts/ Gomer's diesel do the 5500 while we are here- they are swamped with work, but Moe is doing his best to get us in- he really wants to do this truck as well.

Heading towards Billings and the Redlodge area tomorrow I think, then maybe Yellowstone and back to Missoula if they can do the truck the end of next week.


Now I have promised to sell the '01, the Camper might still be going as well. Once we have some more equipment sorted for work then we will look at doing another one. We really like the camper on the gooseneck with Jeep (aka Redneck Toyhauler), can't quite get to some of the places we could with even just the camper but we can base camp and explore with the Jeep- that way if I break anything off reading we can still get home!

[Saiyan66]

The twin turbo setup works well for a lot of people, just be aware that your drive pressures will be really high if you are still running the stock manifold and turbo as your primary. I would highly recommend just calling Diesel Power Products and learning about their Spectre VGT series turbos. They bolt on in the factory location, spool up great, retain the exhaust brake, and reduce drive pressure significantly. The drive pressure is what usually pops the head gasket so that is something that should be addressed whether you go single or twins. Adding head studs helps this, but doesn't always eliminate the chance of it happening.