Big shout out to Pronghorn! They did both the construction of our box and CAD drawings of the interior layout. The drive to Alberta from the Southwest was a bit, but I don't know who among us wouldn't be up for a road trip. In addition, there is an advantage to US buyers purchasing in CAD.
Total Composites Slide In Camper Kits
- Thread starter Victorian
- Start date
Forrest Thorniley
New member
Was Bear Adventure Vehicles an option for you at the time? Im seeing them in north LA and thats quite a bit shorter drive. Though any excuse for a canadian roadtrip is always welcome!
IDK if Bear was open at the time of my order.
Advantages to a Canadian builder include avoiding the tariff on Chinese imported goods and decreased labor costs. The cost savings allowed me to get a custom box, door, windows, hatch, heater and interior wall panels built and shipped for about the same as an equivalent pre-made option with an added benefit of designing the camper exactly the way we wanted. In addition, Pronghorn's ability to do design and layout really clinched the decision since I could know ahead of time which parts would work where and try out different layouts.
Forrest Thorniley
New member
Are most folks running diesel or gasoline heaters? I suppose it depends on vehicle type. I don't plan to plumb my heater to my vehicle tank but an external tank located in the flatbed (probably around 10 gallon size up by the headache rack). Gasoline seems simpler since that's my truck fuel and snowmobile fuel for redundancy. But diesel is more efficient. Is there an advantage to gasoline in the middle of winter knowing my fuel lines will be in the bed of the truck? How about high altitude performance (>10,000ft).
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
With Diesel you reduce the fire hazard. No issues above 10,000 with the Autotherm heaters. I run mine on Kerosene to increase the efficiency and any issues with freezing temperatures.
As far as I know, the gasoline heaters are likely to have issues at altitude.
travelingrn24
New member
I would love to hear more about your personal experiences and mods with this camper, as well as why you chose this over other options! I am seriously considering one of these!
travelingrn24
New member
what is in the floor to catch the water?
Forrest Thorniley
New member
Victorian, Have you tried or heard of others cutting diesel with kerosene (e.g. 10% mix) or adding winter additives to their fuel tanks for their furnaces? Given the higher price and more limited availability of kerosene vs diesel I think using the additive or mixing in kerosene sounds preferable. Id like to be able to fill my external flatbed fuel tank directly at the gas station as well. I'm just worried about these tiny fuel lines/filters on these heaters below zero F.
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
I mix the fuels all the time on my camper. The diesel additives is actually the thing I would avoid at all cost. These will clog up your burner by creating sot. Hence the Kerosene, it's super clean and burns without residue.
Forrest Thorniley
New member
Thanks for the advice. Have you found a good mix ratio? Is 10% enough or is it closer to 50/50 for this type of application?
Also What are your thoughts on plumbing an extra heater duct into the battery/water tank compartments? Or do you think the TC panels and a single well placed heater vent is enough to warm these components with the cabinets closed? (6.5 slide in). I also plan on adding one of those Lunos Ego exchanger in place of any roof top vent/fan/skylight.
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Don't think there is a perfect ratio. I mix as I go or go pure. The only thing I'm watching for is to have NO summer diesel in my system when it gets cold.
If you tanks are inside and the heater is going you shouldn't have to worry about tanks such.
Check these guys out: https://www.instagram.com/decidetheyld/
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
We add 10% kero to the diesel at all times.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Time to test our campers in the most extreme way!
Drumroll..... WE ARE GOING TO THE North Pole .
We are proud to announce our collaboration with https://arctictrucks.com/polar-expeditions/. Over the next couple months we are constructing a"camper body" EXPEDITION camper for the ultimate test.
Needless to say that our team is super pumped!
Drumroll..... WE ARE GOING TO THE North Pole .
We are proud to announce our collaboration with https://arctictrucks.com/polar-expeditions/. Over the next couple months we are constructing a
Needless to say that our team is super pumped!
Ninelitetrip
Active member
Cool. Top Gear guys. Should be fun.