4x4 Truck Camper Build | DIY Subframe

[@OrionMcKay1]

Hey Matt I have to say I told you to sell old blue but now I’m a believer in New blue after seeing this.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

😂 good to have you on board

[@grahames9228]

Not being picky, but the end of the exhaust pipe has seen better days.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

You'll like the next video 😉

[@xcracer311]

Nice!, building on a mini ramp!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Yeah. That was a father son project when I was a teenager. driveway/mini ramp

[@ADONAIsays-so]

This is really cool. I look for new vids from you every day!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks

[@SimonElenor]

Great work. But may I suggest something. You need a rubber bushing or something between the bed and the chassis. The chassis flex's you need to allow for movement.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks Simon. The T100 has a fully boxed frame, so it doesn't flex as much as most trucks. I attempted a flex-test before building the subframe and measured 3/8 inch of flex across the back 8 feet of the frame. I may regret it, but I'm thinking it will be able to handle this amount of movement.

[@SimonElenor]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal This is what I do daily is fabrication. At least a small piece of rubber will help. You don't need to change anything.

[@SimonElenor]

Bu the way did you do the test with weight in the bed? Wish you were closer to TN I would love to help.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

@@SimonElenor I had some weight in the bed, but not enough to replicate a loaded camper. I know its not a proper flex test since I don't have a way to stop the front end of the truck from moving while I flex the frame, but the only other information I could find was based on similar test and they were looking at 1.25 inches or more of flex. I know more weight on the frame will add to the flex, but the bumper, storage and the subframe will resist the flex. I really just guessing here🤷‍♂️

[@SimonElenor]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal Just keep an eye on it. Any movement is going to flex everything. Might consider just some rubber at least.

[@jacobberntsen9296]

Might want to change oem shock mounts. Will ride Alot better! Ask your brother his truck is sick!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

There will be more work to do after the camper is built. Gotta see what the final weight and ride is like first, then try to set it up as well as I can

[@Everlanders]

Nice!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Progress 😁

[@E70dino]

Hey matt!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

hi

[@theangrypickleadventures1368]

Coming along great man! Love it!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks

[@aventurassobretierra]

Congratulation Amie and matt on your new project. My wife and I we are stuck. Canada border is close. For our venture from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville Fl. By ship. To Chicago , New York Canada from east to west up to Alaska and from Dead horse Alaska to Ushuaia Argentina. But Not this year.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

That's frustrating, but hopefully when the border opens up and you can travel, you'll just be that much more prepared

[@saltysawyers212]

Thanks for putting this together Matt and Amie. Always wanted to build a flat bed for my 1983 FWC and this is giving me the motivation to finally give it a go in the next year or so!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Go for it! A couple of days of practice with a mig welder and auto-dim helmet, and I was way more comfortable than after a semester of stick welding class at the community college. If I can, than I'm sure you can too

[@BywaysnoHighways]

Looking good Matt! Your welds look professional compared to mine!! I sand/grind more.. LOL

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks 👍

[@robperez3433]

I’m loving this!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks Rob

[@franklinbrown8417]

Looking good.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks 👍

[@dougaranda6187]

Pretty nice welds! See, 97 lbs. You still have a ways to go before you equal the bed weight. I love doing metal fab. Fun isn't it?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

I've really enjoyed learning some new skills and steel has proved to be a real pleasure to work with.

[@coryyoung8289]

Excellent video Matt! Are you going to do some work on or clean up the chassis and cab on blue beauty?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Yeah. I'm waiting until I have the basic camper done. I'm not sure exactly what I'll end up doing, but Once I have a better Idea of the weight I'll pull the suspension apart, replace all the bushings, clean, and paint everything, and maybe make modifications for the extra weight as necessary.

[@marcpikas2859]

I will enjoy watching this new build ! Thanks

[@rollwiththepunches5932]

Nice welds matt, cant wait for the next vid

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks 👍

[@bajahostels4115]

Good work guys. Excited for you. Have u shared where you are going next?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks. We don't have any major longterm trips in the works yet. Definitely more Mexico and probably a trip up to Alaska, but not sure if/when we'll get the truck off the continent.

[@ProBackgammonequipment]

Looking great! Thanks for explaining the welding process, always wanted to learn.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks. You should give it a try. I've found it much easier with the modern gear (mig welder, auto-dim helmet) compared to back when I tried to learn stick welding.

[@feralobsomem4933]

Excelente trabalho 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 eu sou do Brasil e estou querendo fazer um truck Camper também para viajar pelo mundo.

[@coltceverz5498]

Looks great!

[@20DYNAMITE06]

Insert Spiderman pointing at Spiderman meme whenever Matt's T100's see each other.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

😂

[@erichughes9098]

😎👍

[@mrad4234]

Please tell me that you built at half pipe there when you were growing up

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Yeah. Father son project. I think I was 16 when we built it

[@marshallbrowne5371]

Was aluminum an option for you? Seems it would have been a weight savings.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

I considered it, but as someone who is not an engineer and who has never welded aluminum I felt a lot more confident building with steel. Aluminum is plenty strong initially but it's hard to say how it will hold up to the vibration of off highway miles over time

[@marshallbrowne5371]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal I understand going with you know and it looks amazing. Great work ...looking forward to more. I am going to be doing a build for a 3/4 ton 2001 Chevy here in Hawaii and shipping the truck and camper to the mainland for my adventures.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

@@marshallbrowne5371 Sounds like a fun project! If you're thinking of building with aluminum, check out @Everlanders KZbin. They made a big, rad camper with aluminum subframe and have been "testing" it through the Americas for a few years now.

[@MrFastFarmer]

Great job, but where’s the missus? She needs to keep a working man watered and fed..

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

I'm sure she'll make an appearance eventually. And don't worry, I think I've been an bit over fed lately 😉

[@yeahman1975]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal i can imagine taking advantage of all tbat home cooked good on top of all the excellent food in Socal. Oh the Mexican food

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

@@yeahman1975 😋🌮

[@yeahman1975]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal ojai beverage company, casa de lago, boccalis pizza, the ranch house if rhey are still open. Taqueria tapatio in Oxnard, Cafe Zack in ventura for pasta. Paradise pantry downtown Ventura.....the list goes on. I think i just gained 3 lbs listing this

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

@@yeahman1975 😂 definitely a fortunate place to live

[@ACarrotFromtheEarth]

Good job man! the subframe came out awesome 👍🏽ur little blue truck should meet up with our big blue truck sometime @bigbluerig on the instagram

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Unfortunately ours won't be going anywhere for quite a while, but once we are functional again I'm sure we'll be itching to get out and explore😁

[@ACarrotFromtheEarth]

great things take time for sure 👌best of luck on the rest of your build!