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I use white garage door seals. Most hardware stores sell them. Not expensive. Replace every 15 years or so.

I ran a bundle of wires from the top to bottom half by drilling a hole in the corner of the bottom of the cabinet above the stove top, and in the corner of the stove countertop. Used expandable branded wire wrap. 8awg wires come down from the solar panels and 10awg wires (+/-) go back up from...

Several years ago I made jack extensions for loading a 10’ CO on a dually truck so I could clear the rear fenders when loading. I used 2x2 steel angle, 1/8” wall. I no longer have them, but my recollection is that each extension was four pieces about 6” long. Two were parallel such that the...

You don’t mention whether you have a front dinette or side dinette. I made a new table top for my front dinette because the dimensions of the original required 1x2” slats to convert the table top into a bed foundation, and because the original table surface was worn. Now the table top spans...

My Alaskan has 3/4” plywood for a floor. No other reinforcement as far as I know, so placement of bolts is inside cabinetry, where you can get to them with your tools. If you can calculate where the drill bit will come out under the truck bed, you are more talented than me. For hardware, I...

I built the rack on my 8’ NCO using 1.5” mill finish square aluminum tubing. Sturdy, lightweight and minimal flexing. Attached to stock Alaskan canoe rack mounts upgraded with new Grade 5 bolts and nylock nuts. Holds 300w solar panels, basket, ski/bike racks etc. These panels do require...

A solar controller with a DC/DC charger will charge both your house battery and your truck batteries using energy from your solar panels. I installed a Renogy DCC50S, 50A, DC-DC battery charger with MPPT. https://www.renogy.com/dcc50s-12v-50a-dc-dc-on-board-battery-charger-with-mppt/ It tops...

I like white because it reflects heat (solar radiation), and keeping the interior cool is a priority for me. Haven’t installed A/C. I repainted my Alaskan using Kirker automotive paint. I’m no pro at body work, and I’ve found this paint to be very forgiving in application. It has held up well...

Modern truck campers use exterior cabinets for propane tanks, but many older campers did not. Carrying propane tanks inside RVs is now considered unsafe, if not illegal. My ‘66 Alaskan has a horizontal Manchester tank under each seat compartment, which I assume was the OEM design. These areas...

Sounds like a plan! My recollection is that the last time we spoke was 20+ years ago in Ouray when you had a 10’ NCO on a utility bed Dodge - time to catch up. Also, this year I hope to attend the overland expo in Loveland on August 28th, so if you plan to be there please let me know.

Yup https://www.grandtarghee.com/vacation-planning/lodging/camping-rv-parking/

Yes, it was cold and snowy much of the time. I have yet to see anyone with an “overlander” roof top tent camping in any ski area parking lot. I sure wouldn’t want to be standing outside preparing dinner in those conditions. I guess sleeping on top of your truck in a tent in winter during heavy...

I’m unaware of any plug-n-play upgrade for the windows. I upgraded the big window in the front above the table by paying a local glass shop an exorbitant amount to make a custom double pane replacement. Noting that Airstream puts a shield over their front window, I then added a third layer by...

I carry my skis on a Yakima rack mounted to 78” Yakima round bars which are U-bolted to the roof rack. I made the rack out of 1.5” mill finish aluminum square tubing reinforced with L-track. Square tubing is attached to the stock canoe mounts upgraded with Grade 5 bolts to the camper. With the...

Last week I took a six day tour of some Wyoming ski resorts, and stayed in my ‘66 Alaskan 8’ NCO. My main objective was Grand Targhee, where it snowed 22” while I was there on top of 105” base. Great powder skiing and scenery. My ‘01 Dodge 2500 Cummins was in 4x4 some, but never needed chains...

I don’t have much use for a hatchet while camping. Chopping wood isn’t high on my list of things to do when I’m in the woods - I get enough of that feeding the wood burning stove at my house. Also, I don’t ever want to be the guy who’s campfire got away from him. Still, to each his own. While...

Aside from expense, the problem with rotomolded coolers like the Yeti is excessive weight. They cool well because they have much thicker insulation, or put another way, the volume of insulation space is double (or more) than most coolers. I’ve been waiting for years for the industry to come...

No, I haven’t tried to use it because I’m under the impression it can’t be refilled when parts are no longer available. Not sure if that is right or not. If it could be refilled, I would like to discharge it just to see how and whether it still works. It is clean and appears to be in excellent...

Until recently I hadn’t paid much attention to the fire extinguisher in my Alaskan camper, other than verifying the gauge was still registering in the charged section. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the General Fire Extinguisher Corp model I had, although well made, was ancient. How ancient...

I went with a Renogy DCC50s which is both an MPPT controller and a DC/DC battery charger in one package. Once it changes my 100ah lithium house battery to 100%, it charges the dual lead acid truck batteries in my Dodge diesel. It will charge any type of battery, but as noted by others here, you...

My early ‘60s NCO Alaskan used four, 1x2” strips of wood to support the cushions when in the bed configuration. The table was to be stored on the floor under the bed. Also the Marlite table surface was worn out. It occurred to me that if the table was about 1” wider, it could support the bed...

In my early ‘60s Alaskan NCO, I used this queen size memory foam mattress from Wayfair...

Nice looking camper, from the pictures. I had a 10’ Alaskan cab over, and learned that many C/Os have a problem with the lower cab over section drooping down over time, such that the very front is lower than the connection point at the front camper wall. I don’t know of any easy way to fix...

“I was looking at those Olympian Wave 3 heaters, so thank you for that. Does it fit in the original location or did you have to modify anything. Or is it loose.” I used 1/4” plywood to fill the hole left from removal of the stock heater, and hung the Wave3 on it. I leave the front window above...

Tripod jacks like the Reico work fine for me, although I use one on each corner. I like to use a 2x4 or 2x6 to cushion between the jack plate and the camper, and to spread out the load. I modified my m101a1 trailer to carry my Alaskan by moving the inner fender wells outward to make a 49”...