LawDawg's Retirement Overland Build

[LawDawg]

The Jeep

2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon 3.6L V6 purchased October 31st of 2024 with 23,XXX miles.

The Lift

AEV DualSport 3" with HD Springs

Rims and Tires

17' Vision Flow 9" wide -12mm Offset

BFGoodrich K02 37X12.5/17

Front Bumper

Dunno. Bought it used from a friend.

The Winch

Still in the wife's Jeep.

The Woodshop

Now I'm just showing off.

And now, the beginning.

I retired on October 1st of this year at 46 after 25 years of law enforcement, never to work again. I've been traveling southeast Appalachia since 2015 in the back of a Jeep JK, WK2, and now the Gladiator. I've done ground tents, wall tents, roof top tents, and even off road trailers. Now, I'm going to build something that I can wake up in the morning in a heated space, stand up to get dressed, wash dishes, watch TV, etc., all inside. I plan to travel the entire country, including Alaska, plus Canada, without an itinerary. Now it starts.

The Camper

TuneOutdoor M1

First is the floor.

Next will be the diesel heater.

To be continued...

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[ericw.]

Looks like you got the king extension? How do you like the whole camper? I've been chatting with Tune Outdoors for a few months now and I'm pretty sure I'll order one eventually. Subscribed for updates!

 

[Free2roam]

Plan for the diesel heater? Cabinets?

 

[LawDawg]

Plan for the diesel heater? Cabinets?

I'm expecting delivery of the Hcalory ToolBox Max diesel heater this Wednesday. This will be installed inside nearest the tailgate on the driver's side. I will be drilling a 2" hole in the bedside to route the side exiting exhaust, which will be wrapped. For the cabinets, the driver's side will bench height, while the passenger side will be countertop height for the sink and cooktop. I'm not decided if I want my 45 quart fridge installed at the front of the bed in front of where the 10 gallon vertical water tank will be or if I want it in the cab on the seat delete.

 

[LawDawg]

Looks like you got the king extension? How do you like the whole camper? I've been chatting with Tune Outdoors for a few months now and I'm pretty sure I'll order one eventually. Subscribed for updates!

I bought it used. I was dead set on getting an Ovrlnd Camper, but this was a deal that couldn't be beat. It was built in June, so is practically brand new. Differences in these style of campers really boils down to construction styles. I do like the Tune in that it is not made of just 1" tubing. The long runs are probably 6" wide, making it very stout. One drawback of the Tune over the Ovrlnd is that I cannot sit up in bed. In the Ovrlnd, the top is much taller. I'm 6'. My wife is 5'3" and has no probably sitting up. It did come withe the King extension and the Hest mattress. I make the bed with sheets and a comforter. So much more comfortable than a sleeping bag.

 

[Free2roam]

I'm expecting delivery of the Hcalory ToolBox Max diesel heater this Wednesday. This will be installed inside nearest the tailgate on the driver's side. I will be drilling a 2" hole in the bedside to route the side exiting exhaust, which will be wrapped. For the cabinets, the driver's side will bench height, while the passenger side will be countertop height for the sink and cooktop. I'm not decided if I want my 45 quart fridge installed at the front of the bed in front of where the 10 gallon vertical water tank will be or if I want it in the cab on the seat delete.

So on my diesel heater. I took out the bed light for my intake and the exhaust is routed through I believe a 1 3/8 hole. Then routed it down and out to the bumper which is my exhaust. The intake side I bought a second light and drilled it out ran high temp silicone to seal it. The exhaust side was drilled through the bed and down the area between the walls of it. In the picture with aluminum tape. That is the intake side. Blocked off from the tire spray etc.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/ovrlnd-camper-roll-call.66940/post-1255212

 

[LawDawg]

That's kewl. I was originally going to do the same with an unboxed diesel heater as it would allow more flexibility in mounting. But, this new Hcalory ToolBox heater is too awesome to not make it work. Reviewers are reporting three straight days of run time on the lowest setting with one tank of diesel and an absolutely silent fuel pump.

Hcalory TB Max

 

[GeneralMaximus]

That's kewl. I was originally going to do the same with an unboxed diesel heater as it would allow more flexibility in mounting. But, this new Hcalory ToolBox heater is too awesome to not make it work. Reviewers are reporting three straight days of run time on the lowest setting with one tank of diesel and an absolutely silent fuel pump.

Hcalory TB Max

Pretty cool how they could get these things to be so efficient. Any built in CO detector? If not, I would buy one for cheap insurance.

 

[LawDawg]

Pretty cool how they could get these things to be so efficient. Any built in CO detector? If not, I would buy one for cheap insurance.

The included remote has a built in CO detector.

 

[nbennettksu]

Where are you at in this pic? Looks a lot like where I go out in Big Cypress

 

[LawDawg]

Where are you at in this pic? Looks a lot like where I go out in Big Cypress

This is the Osceloa National Forest.

 

[LawDawg]

Annnnnnnnd it continues...

First, receive the heater.

At this point, I've already appropriated the exhaust tube from my other diesel heater and wrapped the section that will go in between the body panels.

After determining its placement for the future cabinet build, the hole is cut to route the exhaust. Frightening.

Then, to see if I permanently damaged my very expensive toy.

Perfect. I then set in place the exhaust. I wrapped the joint to prevent an exhaust leak. I'll shortly find and buy some high temp mastic putty and just jamb 10lbs worth in there.

Not a lot of great options. Unfortunately, it was not a simple put in place and walk away.

For tonight, a test run with some friends, I'll just remove that second exhaust tube and reinstall at camp. This will be the way until I find a better solution.

With that complete, it was time to permanently mount the heater itself.

This will fit nicely within the bench to be built.

The first test conducted was that of the CO sensing remote. I powered on the heater and placed the remote at the tip of the exhaust. Within fifteen seconds, the unit threw a CO code and shut down. Now that I've determined the CO sensor works, I placed the remote next the exhaust outlet, buttoned it up, turned it on, and waited.

I put it on high and it stunk. Once it burns everything off there will be no smell. But, the remote showed 0ppm of CO after about ten minutes of running.

I also put down a heat reflector for you naysayers. And, it didn't even warm up after running.

So, there it is. I can now enjoy going out while slowly building it out.

And if you don't have one of these little computer dusters off Amazon, you need to get one. They move a lot of air and are great for blowing out the Jeep.

Till next time...

 

[LawDawg]

Pretty cool how they could get these things to be so efficient. Any built in CO detector? If not, I would buy one for cheap insurance.

I've decided I'm going to buy a couple of CO detectors. It's cheap insurance.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

I've decided I'm going to buy a couple of CO detectors. It's cheap insurance.

I have a small CO/Natural Gas detector. Cost a little more than a CO only detector but I take it with me when I travel to some third world countries. Natural gas has no odor.

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