1997 Cummins Towho/Expo

[james727]

I love the fullsize build. Great inspiration.

[blakeape]

I wouldnt mind checking out your truck? I am in Bozeman. I had a F-350 for 3 years before i sold it. burned VO and saved TONS on road trips. I am in Bozeman.

I am in Columbia falls up by Kalispell. PM me if you are ever coming up this way and we'll get together.
Jake

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I love Cummins, hate the Dodge front end. Your 4Runner looks good too.

Your winter kayak pics made me laugh. It reminded me of a buddy that dropped in after a nice snow storm. He dropped in about 100 yards above the water line and thought sledding his kayak to a wet entry would make for a fun ride. He did well and stayed vertical until about five feet from the water line where rolled it on his side and took a rock to his face. The momentum and speed carried him into the water. He survived that one with a great scar and some serious laughs. He even finished paddling that day.

Sadly he didn't survive a ultralight accident a year later. He was a great friend and a good adventure buddy that I think about often and miss. Thanks for the pics.

[blakeape]

I love Cummins, hate the Dodge front end. Your 4Runner looks good too.

Your winter kayak pics made me laugh. It reminded me of a buddy that dropped in after a nice snow storm. He dropped in about 100 yards above the water line and thought sledding his kayak to a wet entry would make for a fun ride. He did well and stayed vertical until about five feet from the water line where rolled it on his side and took a rock to his face. The momentum and speed carried him into the water. He survived that one with a great scar and some serious laughs. He even finished paddling that day.

Sadly he didn't survive a ultralight accident a year later. He was a great friend and a good adventure buddy that I think about often and miss. Thanks for the pics.

Thanks for the compliments, I am very sorry to hear about your friend. I have lost 3 good friends to water and think about them often. I have definitely scaled back the risks I take kayaking, skiing, dirt biking, etc. I actually just ordered a stand up paddle board. I am looking forward to being challenged on water, but not scared for my life. Kind of like the whole expo vs rock crawling idea.

[blakeape]

Finally started my flatbed. Never really wanted one but they make a lot of sense and give a lot more storage space with a camper on. My stock box was really getting rough too, it needed a ratchet strap to shut the tailgate. I mounted the front with some 1/2" grade 8 bolts through some spring to give a little compression and allow some flex.

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[chilliwak]

Man that looks wicked Blak!

[kfgk14]

Well-executed flatbed. How are you securing the camper, and what are you decking it with?

Also, are you going to fab removable sides?

[blakeape]

Thanks, I am using 14 gauge tread plate steel for the deck and some 14g smooth for skirts, boxes and misc. I haven't totally decided on how to attach the camper yet but something will come to me. Eventually I will probably build or buy a couple boxes for the top of the flatbed, but for now I will make some removable sides and tailgate. It will also be getting a swing-out tire carrier so I can carry a full size spare.

[turbolab]

how are u making the goose neck hitch work?

[blakeape]

how are u making the goose neck hitch work?

My truck has a B&W turnover goose neck hitch that is attached directly to the frame so I am building a hatch with a cover around the hitch, you can kind of see it behind the grinder and plasma in this pic. I got my stake pockets and receiver tube for my removable rack welded in them started slapping down the tread plate. Its going well, but it all takes time. Tomorrow will be a big day because I need to put the camper on and take off for a kayaking/rafting trip to the Lochsa river with my wife on Friday afternoonIMG_0212-1.jpg.