bp71k5
3/4 ton status
We were in Lake Powell a few weeks ago. It was kinda nice. The only problem was that it felt like we were camping on the surface of the sun.
CK5
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Camping Trailer Build
- Thread starter r3dd0g
- Start date
So...how is your servo doing since you switched back to the first torsion bar? How was the steering on the highways so far? I know you intended to stay off the blacktop as much as you can but I'm sure you had to take the fast lane.
Wrong thread...
We made it to Moab, but we hit a washout that was impossible to see with the lighting conditions and buckled the frame behind the coil springs (on the truck, not the trailer). The s-10 frame was not up to the team of hauling the heavy trailer. Time to back half the s-10....
Even though the bend shouldn't affect wheeling, I have an appointment at 2 at a local body shop to attempt to straighten the frame a bit.
Even though the bend shouldn't affect wheeling, I have an appointment at 2 at a local body shop to attempt to straighten the frame a bit.
12 days, 12 campsites, 1200 miles... I'll post up a full day by day thread after Blazer Bash, but for now here's a few teaser pictures.
Epic campsite is epic:
We had a day to kill between the AZ Run and meeting up with the Watsons, so why not run a hard rock trail while trying to get out onto the Grand Bench...:
That day led to the bumper ripping off, then after we met up with the Watsons I hit an invisible washout and did this to the frame:
It's almost as if the poor S-10 frame wasn't designed for that sort of abuse...
Epic campsite is epic:
We had a day to kill between the AZ Run and meeting up with the Watsons, so why not run a hard rock trail while trying to get out onto the Grand Bench...:
That day led to the bumper ripping off, then after we met up with the Watsons I hit an invisible washout and did this to the frame:
It's almost as if the poor S-10 frame wasn't designed for that sort of abuse...
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oh $hit 
I haven't made it to a scale yet, but I'd bet it's close to a ton fully loaded
Wow, that's crazy.
It's much straighter now. Frame for downs and a 20 ton jack did the trick
I got the frame straightened at a body shop here, then I took it out on Moab Rim and broke a 14 bolt shaft... Apparently it was rubbing inside the spindle and made a big steel goober inside the spindle. This wore a groove in the shaft and took the temper out of it causing it to snap. Now half of the shaft is stuck in the diff behind the goober...
I worked on it for several hours last night trying to get it out, going to hit it again today. By the end of the day I'll either be fixed or set up to drive home in FWD.
I worked on it for several hours last night trying to get it out, going to hit it again today. By the end of the day I'll either be fixed or set up to drive home in FWD.
Bummer!!! Good luck man!
Good luck dude! You got this!!!
Just now reading through the thread. The camper looks awesome, it is exactly what I was planning on building until I decided to go the Suburban route instead. But I'm still filing away ideas. 
Truck looks sad. You're right, GM never imagined you'd work one of these rigs so hard.
Can't wait for the pictures to start flowing.
Truck looks sad. You're right, GM never imagined you'd work one of these rigs so hard.
Can't wait for the pictures to start flowing.
I like this idea a lot. Not sure why I've never thought of this.
We have a small electric pump that works, but I probably would have simply bought a sprayer if I had thought of that idea.
I also love the 3-axis hitch setup.
Progress is slow, but we're getting there I think. We're using a hacksaw blade between the shaft and spindle tube to clean out the goober. We also have a hole drilled and tapped into the end of the shaft so we can pull on it.
Amber and I are taking turns with the hacksaw, maybe a few more hours and we'll be somewhere...
Amber and I are taking turns with the hacksaw, maybe a few more hours and we'll be somewhere...
What caused all of this? Bad bearing or was there a flaw in the tube someplace?
I don't know for sure. The superior shafts are bigger diameter than factory and barely fit in the spindle. Either there was a burr there or the axle tube warped slightly or there was something floating around in the tube that got jammed in there.
Are you saying that the goober wore a ring completely through the shaft? Or simply that it started wearing and then snapped?
It started wearing, then the heat took the temper out of the shaft causing it to snap on the first obstacle I tried to go over.
I'm just glad it didn't happen on that trail or to grand bench.
I'm just glad it didn't happen on that trail or to grand bench.
