C5500 TopKick 4x4 Crew Cab Build

[InvisibleOne]

OK first off, you have earned my design and fabrication admiration. I have never actually said that, so realize that it is truely genuine. If you knew me it might mean more, but you don't so just know that it is about as high a compliment as I have for another individual given that I make my living on those very principles that I am currently admiring. Second off, Bravo. You had an idea, and took to it with a complete disregard for cost, time investment, or economy of any sort and stuck with it for what must seem an eternity endlessly pursuing a vision unique to your own wants and needs. Also quite admirable. Addtionally, you have created something unobtainable by others lacking aforementioned traits and boldness. Plainly put you are a badass and one day, I hope to cross paths with you, at which time I will stop whatever it is that I am currently doing, pull up a chair, and proceed to pick your brain for as long as you can stand the conversation.

[NeverEnough]

OK first off, you have earned my design and fabrication admiration. I have never actually said that, so realize that it is truely genuine. If you knew me it might mean more, but you don't so just know that it is about as high a compliment as I have for another individual given that I make my living on those very principles that I am currently admiring. Second off, Bravo. You had an idea, and took to it with a complete disregard for cost, time investment, or economy of any sort and stuck with it for what must seem an eternity endlessly pursuing a vision unique to your own wants and needs. Also quite admirable. Addtionally, you have created something unobtainable by others lacking aforementioned traits and boldness. Plainly put you are a badass and one day, I hope to cross paths with you, at which time I will stop whatever it is that I am currently doing, pull up a chair, and proceed to pick your brain for as long as you can stand the conversation.

Thank you very much. I don't deserve it, but it's always nice to see an effort appreciated. And any picking of my brain would be just result in an air leak.

I snapped a few quick shots of the inside last week. Work and family have pushed other priorities, so the rig is still parked. A couple of shots from the back of the "great room" in camp mode looking forward to the galley/dining:





From the galley looking toward the rear of the rig with side-slides deployed (notice the speaker wires hanging, sorry, need to get those mounted):



A shot of the passenger-side sofa deployed in sleeping position:



And then there's the joys of simple camping off the bikes. My second oldest just graduated from high school so we did a quick 360-mile enduro loop through the mountains and SRS desert of central Utah to celebrate. Way more fun than spending the weekend installing speakers!

[Mc Taco]

...(notice the speaker wires hanging, sorry, need to get those mounted)...

How dare you post pics of such shoddy workmanship here on ExPo! We expect nothing less than perfection and will not tolerate this in the future.

Looks absolutely fantastic. Been loving seeing the updates as they come in.





Highlight this if offended- *Commentary on workmanship in jest. For those without a sense of humor or mock sarcasm!*

[sarconcepts]

The interior looks great, warm & inviting, but not too 'fuzzy' or sterile. (it's easy to go either way)
A warm interior always compliments the 'machine' rugged good looks of the outside
it's nice when it takes on its own personality, not just the one you've given it in your head all this time.

Steve

[InvisibleOne]

Outstanding. I'm incredibly inspired as a result of my findings here. Should be welding by the weekend.

[trailrunner]

I think your RV is nicer than my house... LOL love it can't wait to see pictures of this thing on the road!

[Ford Prefect]

I think your RV is nicer than my house... LOL love it can't wait to see pictures of this thing on the road!

HAHA

Yeah, Ditto! Great looking truck. I could live out of it for a while.

[fasteddy47]

Artist!!!!!

Exceptional workmanship......

[Entropy]

Wow, great interior! It's just the right balance of warm homeliness and utility.

[NeverEnough]

Things finally slowed down enough today to allow me a few hours to prep the beast for an actual road test. To date, the only miles on camper have been a handful of trips between the paint shop, my brother's shop, and my office- and all below 35mph. Here she is all buttoned up for the road:



A view looking at the back:



Notice the new "fin" on the slide room "push bar". That assembly started as a 2x4 tube- I then added a 2x4 channel to stiffen it up, but finally added the center fin of 3/8" sheet to create a truss effect. Now's there's no flex, which makes the big slide move nice and smooth.

The road test went very well. My business partner and I took turns riding in the camper (pass through to the cab hasn't been built) to evaluate the ride and to see if anything important was moving or falling apart. The most immediate difference between this rig and most Class C motorhomes I've driven is zero ocillation of the camper body when going around turns, especially turns involving torsional stress like deep gutters and driveways. The body looks so big and tall that it's hard to believe it wouldn't be swaying back and forth. The body/subframe and cab/chassis definitely do their own thing, but without over-rebounding. I'm glad I kept most of the weight down at or below the frame rails.

The ride in the camper is very smooth, and the most quiet motorhome I've ever been in- much more quiet than I expected. The only clattering right now is caused by the rails from the blinds occasionally hitting the window frames- hopefully I can minimize that with some drawer cushions. The ride is also better in the camper than in the cab. Even so, I'll be taking the rig to suspension shop next week for an evaluation. I'm hoping I can get a bit more dampening without introducing too much side to side softness. The cab has a Link setup, but I think it needs some work.

The rig moves at highway speeds just fine, and then some. It will be interesting to do some MPG measurements in the coming weeks.

I've still got a long punch list of little stuff, like some cabinet inserts and connecting the cargo door electric locks. I also have to tweek the big slide's power umbillical before installing the solar panels. It hangs up now and then, so I have to make sure that's taken care of before the panels go on since it's beneath the PV array. Casey from D&A Truck Equipment came over to do the final measurements for the catches for the big safety latches so I can bolt those on next week. And it'll need a final "pretty" paint job, but all in all.... getting very close. As much as I'd like to take it out for the weekend, I'm reluctant to do so until it's all wrapped up.