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visitor
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2003
17:39:56
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 Subject: camper on a quad cab
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I am curently thinking about buying a quad cab w/ the 4.7l, 4x4 and am wondering if anyone has been able to put a camper on one (weather it be a pop top or standard type) If so how did the dakota handle it, and what brand were you able to put on the quad cab. Thanks in advance
mark
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Regluar
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2003
18:15:59
|  RE: camper on a quad cab
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There's barely enough room to put your grocerie back there, don't know how or who would make a camper for it
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Alan
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2003
18:45:22
|  RE: camper on a quad cab
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My brother put a camper on his quadcab with a 5.9 engine. It is made by Pastime if memory serves. He did install those inflateable bags for the rear suspension to help support/stablize the load. It however did fall within the Dodge specs for his trucks capabilities. He has been very happy with it and tows a small wood drift boat at the same time. It does not have a head. Don't know how the 4.7 would do. I have the 4.7 in a club cab and have towed a 4500# (dry) trailer over the pass. The weak point in my opinion is the transmission.
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BlkDakDave
GenIII
 
5/07/2003
19:10:50
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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I have a Leer XL100 on my QC 4x4 and I get a lot of compliments on the looks of the top with the truck. My digital camera has a little “glich” right now and as soon as it passes I’ll upload a new profile picture.
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TomSawyer
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2003
23:09:16
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Just design & build your own; mostly from 2x2 spruce and 1/4" fir plywood sheathing. Cover with 1/8' aluminum sheathing (comes in big wide coils) for best weather protection. Only use 2x4's or structural iron in a couple of key places to save weight. Because of the short narrow box, you can only use that part as a sort of foot-well, so a bit of overhang on both sides of the truck will be necessary. Because of the large cab:box size ratio, you'll need a big forward overhang and high ceiling, and will need to rest part of the weight of the unit on the edges of the roof on the cab, or have some very strong (iron) structure in it carry the strain of supporting the front part. A self-built job would be the best way to deal with the limitations of the tiny box and oversize cab on that truck. The good news is that you'll be able to size the base of the camper to the width of your box exactly, and should be able to tightly bolt it to the inside bulkheads of the box. So, you can avoid having to mount goofy security hooks on the sheet-metal of the exterior of the truck or on side-extensions welded to the frame of the truck.
Pretty straight-forward; a lot easier than doing any sort of custom machine work on a motor for example. But if it's too involved, probably the best solution would be to just buy a camping trailer or mini-5th-wheel.
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MarkTwain
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2003
02:25:31
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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No offence Tom but personally I hate seeing a beautiful, new truck with some ugly, home made piece of cobbled together shlt going down the road.
Don't do it, man.
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HiHoSilver
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2003
04:10:35
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Owners manual states that the truck is not balanced for a camper (to heavy). Although I would think a topper would be ok as stated above.
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TomSawyer
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2003
10:04:09
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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No offense taken. But keep in mind that all manufactured products are a compromise. Somebody is simply trying to make money by making and selling it. So it's made as cheaply and simply as possible so that they can pay wages, medical insurance, power, raw materials, property taxes, and design time and still make 10% profit for the owner.
Putting something together for yourself means you can afford to spend the time on the design, construction, and finishing without always having an eye on making a profit from it. So, it can be constructed and finished to much higher standards than factory, if you are able. And it can be cut exactly to the size you need, with the features you want; without having to second-guess what everyone else might want (like a factory selling to a market has to do). For these reasons, for example, many home-built aircraft are made/finished to much higher standards than you could every get from some manufacturer.
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Walter
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2003
10:45:37
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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I have to agree with Tom, I like to fabricate some things for the very reason he mentions. As with any other project design it out completely first on paper, check out some of the different materials that are available so as not to under build something.
Good Luck, and when you get done please post pic's of the end product!
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2003
10:49:00
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Thanks to everyone so far for the information. I did do a little search via-internet last night and did find one camper that said it is made for the the quad cab. it was made by six-pak. I do agree that you can make your own and still have something that looks pleasing to the eye, but i just don't have the time to do that (though it does sound fun) As for a 5-th wheel or small trailer those are not really and option, the reason being is i will be pulling a 16 ft boat (that i'm building, kind of the reason i can't start another project like a camper) so that's why i would like a camper. I appreciate all the responses and look forward to hearing more. Keep them comming and Thanks to everyone.
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DakUSA
DakotaEnthusiast
5/08/2003
13:47:46
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Here ya go
Chris Lambert
Dakota USA
01 Graphite QC -- 4.7 Auto, MBRP Dual Exhaust Custom bent on 45s,
Bed Rug, Bed Rails, CF Euro Tails, Clear Fronts, Leer 100XQ, Custon Leather seats, NR Auto gauges, Kenwood CD, 350 amp, JL 10" sub in console, DVD player
18X9 ALT at200s, GTS style hood, SS front
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DakUSA
DakotaEnthusiast
5/08/2003
13:52:10
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Chris Lambert
Dakota USA
01 Graphite QC -- 4.7 Auto, MBRP Dual Exhaust Custom bent on 45s,
Bed Rug, Bed Rails, CF Euro Tails, Clear Fronts, Leer 100XQ, Custon Leather seats, NR Auto gauges, Kenwood CD, 350 amp, JL 10" sub in console, DVD player
18X9 ALT at200s, GTS style hood, SS front
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Shame
Dodge Dakota
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5/08/2003
17:13:08
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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I'd be ashamed to be seen going down the road in that thing ;P
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Silver Streak
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2003
01:29:48
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Interesting, I'm getting tired of tenting it, and not alot of room for a trailer, and I have the Roadmaster susp to help with the weight, hmmmmmmm
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sdfsdf
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2003
02:32:38
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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This one pops up to lower the c/g and lower wind resistance.
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visitor
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2003
09:45:46
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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I want to thank everyone again for there help. I think i'm going to look more seriously at the pop-top shown. I like the idea of it being so light weight. Thanks again everyone.
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metermike
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2003
19:23:54
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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I had a Fourwheel pop-up camper and they are very nice . I highly recommend them . They are very light and will not effect the handling of your truck . There are two small things that I did not like . One , the foam on the bed is very thin ,two the bed pulls out from the cab over and covers the stove . So to cook you hve to break down the bed .So if you can afford one go for it . they are not cheap ! You might want to check out Phoenix campers .
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TomSawyer
Dodge Dakota
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5/09/2003
19:47:38
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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Eight thousand, for a mini-camper??? Holy sh*t.
http://www.usa-hawk.com/hawkmotorcars/campers/campersixpack.htm
Musta been made outa titanium alloy with solid
gold fittings.
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Wildman
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2004
07:22:43
|  RE: camper on a quad cab
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I have a 2000 dakota, club cab, 2wd, 4.7l, manual 5speed, and a max payload of 2k, I have looked at Northern Lites, and the Pastime campers, neither of these two had a head, interested in seeing if I could get the SC 100 from six pac which does have the head.
I am not interested in a pop-up though.
I also have taken measurements and made a drawing of my own with a head, thinking of making the framework out of 1" hollow steel tubing, and keeping the shell under 750lbs, and the camper under 1400lbs, exterior would be a combination of a base plywood, coated with fiberglass, then coated with a smooth polyurathane coating simular to truck bed liners.
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Wolfpacko4
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2010
16:49:34
| RE: camper on a quad cab
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I have a 2001 4.7 Quad, and while I have nver towed much with it or done much heavy lifting, the weak point is the rear end. Even using it more as a car than a truck, the rear end went at about 80K. Dodge may have improved the rear diff since then but I would not bet on it.
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