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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper

This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
Overview Gallery Discussion
The narrative among my friends is that if you don't reserve your campground spot back in January (or whenever reservations open up), then you have no chance of getting a spot at a campground in Colorado. Did you all reserve the spot at Dorchester or were you able to roll right up?
 
shima said:
The narrative among my friends is that if you don't reserve your campground spot back in January (or whenever reservations open up), then you have no chance of getting a spot at a campground in Colorado. Did you all reserve the spot at Dorchester or were you able to roll right up?
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The forest service opens up reservations either 3 months or 6 months before. I've tried to sign on and reserve as soon as they open up and I've not succeeded yet at getting a spot at the more popular places. You gotta be fast with fast internet.
 
We have a campground here in utah that my inlaws reserve every year that you have to be ready to go at midnight when it gets released for the dates you want. Also have to have multiple logins to get the number of sites we do next to each other. It's a lake front campground.
 
shima said:
The narrative among my friends is that if you don't reserve your campground spot back in January (or whenever reservations open up), then you have no chance of getting a spot at a campground in Colorado. Did you all reserve the spot at Dorchester or were you able to roll right up?
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Rolled right up. At least 4 spaces were empty at that campground. Dorchester is a US forest service campground and for some it was first come first serve and no cost to boot.

Other organized campgrounds were reservation based and did have a cost per day. I looked last week and dinner station site was all reserved, rivers end was completely reserved but the site just south of the reservoir is a mix of reserved spots and first come. There were sites there that were available and it was my backup choice if the stuff up in the valley was taken.

One other thing you need to research the target area with the USFS, BLM or county for camping. Not everything available is in organized sites. In the Taylor area free dispersed camping was allowed if the spot had already been established (ie, look for a fire ring) As long as the site is 100 ft away from Taylor creek you could camp just about anywhere up the valley.

There was a TON of people up there. Enough I was concerned Dorchester was going to be full. It was insane to see the amount of RV’s and campers all over. It’s been a while since I’d been up in that area and never seen it like this weekend.

The other option is wheeling to a spot further up Taylor pass but it wasn’t possible this time around.
 
So one of the things that’s been lacking on our runs is an easy way to get water for washing hands, dishes or other needs. Trying to dump water out of a 5 gallon can is annoying.

So I pulled an idea from the web to put a hand pump on an extra cap for the scepter water can.

The pump is from Fanspray and it’s pricey but built well.

Simple install. I picked up a new cap for the can. Remove the larger of the two caps to allow for the pump install. The instructions said to cut the threaded portion off and then cut a new hole with a 1 3/8” hole saw. I strayed from the instructions when I realized the hole saw ID was tight to the threaded portion. I just chucked it up and drilled it.
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Then after attaching the pump to the lid you just add some food grade silicone tubing to the end of the pump to allow it to reach the bottom of the can.
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I won’t leave this pump in as I travel as the cans collect a lot of dirt back there.
 
I had wondered if something like that could work. I just bought the spigot tube they sell for them. I have the smaller 2.5gal can.
 
mrk5 said:
I had wondered if something like that could work. I just bought the spigot tube they sell for them. I have the smaller 2.5gal can.
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I looked at a spigot, but it wouldn't fit in my rack now or the one I've got lined up to replace it when I change it. Plus I really didn't want to drill a hole in the can. At least this way the cap is replaceable. My buddy Bill uses one that screws onto the cap with a short hose and a valve at the end. He just has to turn the can over on it's side to use it. It works for him since the can stays in that corner. But my main thing is I want to avoid having to take the can out of the rack if I don't have to.

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Wes Harden said:
My Dad $.25 a gal filtered water for the dog. Tap water here is no bueno, very hard do not drink.
He got tired of lifting the 5gl jugs, so he got a pump.

View attachment 422261

View attachment 422262
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I looked at those on Amazon but they are made to fit the neck of a 5-gallon water jug. The thing that swayed me to go in another direction was not wanting another item that needed batteries or charging to function. I'm sure I could have figured out a way to make the pump work I just didn't want to deal with more electric stuff.
 
The spout threats on to the cap already on the lid.

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But your idea is a lot neater! And DIY is always cooler. :pimp:
 
mrk5 said:
The spout threats on to the cap already on the lid.

View attachment 422335

But your idea is a lot neater! And DIY is always cooler. :pimp:
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That’s the exact spout my buddy has on his. I’m lazy that I don’t want to move the can at all. The pump took 10 minutes to set up.

I skipped a step where the instructions had you cutting out some gasket material and using silicone to seal the pump to the cap. If I don’t leave it on full time there not much need to seal it tight to the cap.
 
Update to the camper power feed cable is now complete. 6ga power and ground cables from the battery direct to the camper. I did the majority of the work last week but was short a couple of lugs to install a second circuit breaker on the camper side of the circuit.

I also changed out all the usb outlets in the camper to 3.0 units with built in switches. The ones I pulled out were on all the time and had a little blue led shining all the time. When I installed them I didn’t think they would be that bright but holy cow they light up the camper in the darkness. Plus each one was pulling a couple of tenths of an amp all the time because of it.

Now they are shut off when not charging anything so my constant drain on the battery is gone.

The camper got cleaned out and reset for another trip. All that is left is a little maintenance and it’s load and go time.
 
ZooMad75 said:
I looked at a spigot, but it wouldn't fit in my rack now or the one I've got lined up to replace it when I change it. Plus I really didn't want to drill a hole in the can. At least this way the cap is replaceable. My buddy Bill uses one that screws onto the cap with a short hose and a valve at the end. He just has to turn the can over on it's side to use it. It works for him since the can stays in that corner. But my main thing is I want to avoid having to take the can out of the rack if I don't have to.

52199535013_7369fc99be_b.jpg



I looked at those on Amazon but they are made to fit the neck of a 5-gallon water jug. The thing that swayed me to go in another direction was not wanting another item that needed batteries or charging to function. I'm sure I could have figured out a way to make the pump work I just didn't want to deal with more electric stuff.
Click to expand...

I have a submersible electric pump I use for washing & showering. When it fails, I'm planning to switch to a sprayer setup like this:

portableshower-1.jpg


Cheap. Simple. No batteries required. And you don't need to take the can out of the rack to use it. :thumb:
 
campfire said:
I have a submersible electric pump I use for washing & showering. When it fails, I'm planning to switch to a sprayer setup like this:

portableshower-1.jpg


Cheap. Simple. No batteries required. And you don't need to take the can out of the rack to use it. :thumb:
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I can get this product line through work. More capacity, black to absorb heat and can be pressurized by a hand pump. I think the larger one can be pressurized with an onboard air system.

My problem is I don’t have a lot of room to put another container onto the truck. Putting on the roof of the camper means it’s got to be lifted with the roof when opening it up.

Plus the longer adventures are usually with Larry who has onboard water with heater. I’ll mooch his.
 
campfire said:
Wouldn't this be able to replace an existing water jug? So you wouldn't be carrying any extra containers?
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My current rack is setup to fit 3 Scepter cans. The dimensions of the smallest water port could fit in the space, but I'd lose 3 gallons of capacity.

The setup is always evolving anyway so I won't rule anything out. When going out without Larry for Blazer Bash, the current water can will be used mainly for washing hands, dishes and such. I carry a case of bottle water for drinking, but this can be used for that in a pinch.
 
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