Bailey's 2018 Raven Shell - Build & Photos

[RC Pilot Jim]

Bailey that is a nice simple build. I assume that is the Hawk model. I see a few things I can incorporate in mine.

I have a question on your "We Boost cell booster" . How does it do offroad 40 miles from the nearest cell tower with a couple of mountain ranges in between?

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Code Name 607

Don't say its "crappy" because it isn't . I like the drawers with your watercontainer on topon top. What keeps the drawers and water container from falling off?

I have been looking for a better solution to carrying my kitchen box under the sink for years while keeping the weight down as my Tacoma is close to gross as it sits without camping gear, water and adult beverages.

That is the challenge with an Eagle. What I have works as we do all our cooling outside except when it rains which is not very often down here in San Diego.

 

[Vic Harder]

Bailey that is a nice simple build. I assume that is the Hawk model. I see a few things I can incorporate in mine.

I have a question on your "We Boost cell booster" . How does it do offroad 40 miles from the nearest cell tower with a couple of mountain ranges in between?

I can speak to that. We were in Utah last month and at the Peekaboo trailhead, 33 miles away https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Peek-a-boo+slot+Canyon,+Utah/Escalante,+UT+84726/@37.6174533,-111.5475796,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x8735d11ed2823d2b:0xaccf6b7d1168e17e!2m2!1d-111.2166812!2d37.4818251!1m5!1m1!1s0x873591c175b0059f:0x49146e74ec0cae3!2m2!1d-111.602119!2d37.7702663

we had 1-2 bars on my cell phone (Verizon). Weboost RV with OTR antenna got that up to 5 full bars.

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Cougar Couple - Russ.

The issue with the 150 watt panel is where your place it. Ours at 26 pounds is in front of the front lifting board (location of the old Flexible panel). Not a good location. Only way I can lift it is with the "speaker Lift".

I should have placed the panel one foot in front of the roof vent...Thereby balancing the panel between front and rear lifters.

Too late now

 

[BaileyJ]

Bailey that is a nice simple build. I assume that is the Hawk model. I see a few things I can incorporate in mine.

I have a question on your "We Boost cell booster" . How does it do offroad 40 miles from the nearest cell tower with a couple of mountain ranges in between?

It's a FWC Raven for the short bed

I have been many remote places without service. Not sure the exact distance between cell towers

 

[BaileyJ]

On the road again...

Back to the Rest Stop camping

 

[BaileyJ]

Made it back to Colorado a week ago. Haven't had a chance to take many pics due to work and other things.

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Thanks Vic,

I have ti do something as my old "SPOT" is no longer reliable and the factory now wants $200 per year to access the satellite. I cancelled the contract at the end of 2018. Now I have nothing

The In Reach is $375 plus the annual usage fee and I only use it twice per year when I go solo to the springs.


OOOPS ! Just checked the "We Boost" price $499.99.

Based on the price the InReach would be the better solution for me

 

[PaulT]

Check the monthly freedom plan for the InReach. There is an annual subscription fee plus a monthly usage fee for just the months you want it active.



Pair it with your phone or tablet. It works as the GPS for the Earthmate mapping app and the phone is the keyboard and display for texts, etc.

I like the localized detailed weather forecast you can get, especially after several days out of cell service range, when the batteries are getting low & the sky appears to be threatening.

Paul

 

[BaileyJ]

Camped near Woodland Park, CO last night. Temps were a bit chilly but it felt great to be out in the mountains again.

Topped off the propane tanks this morning. I'm planning on spending another night here. Looks like we have some weather and cold temps coming. It might drop below zero.

If things get too wild I can bail to my GF's parents place in CO springs.

 

[BaileyJ]

Thanks Vic,

I have ti do something as my old "SPOT" is no longer reliable and the factory now wants $200 per year to access the satellite. I cancelled the contract at the end of 2018. Now I have nothing

The In Reach is $375 plus the annual usage fee and I only use it twice per year when I go solo to the springs.


OOOPS ! Just checked the "We Boost" price $499.99.

Based on the price the InReach would be the better solution for me

This is my emergency device
https://www.somewearlabs.com

 

[BaileyJ]

Woke up and it was -5. I feel like I've pushed the limits of the camper. Not sure i'd camp in temps below 10 degrees.

I went through 1 tank in 16 hours. Inside temp set at 55-60 and the exterior temp was 8 degree down to negative 5.

 

[buckland]

Beautiful photos. I have not done that cold a camp in the camper. I have in a tent but I was geared for it (-36 in BC)...won’t do it again!
Very interested in how everything worked at that temp. Struts, water?, batteries, propane?
If the inside was kept at 45 or so I could do it but below freezing in the camper would make it “work” (like Manard G Krebs would say)
Such a beautiful spot to be in. On your own in the boonies!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Brrrrr!

A couple of those photos are great candidates for the Truck Camper Magazine calendar. Next to the bottom is my favorite.

Steve

 

[Sara123]

Decided to redo the interior layout on my Raven Shell. I wanted more seating as well as the ability to stealth camp if I need to. Easier access to the Fridge is a plus

Part 2 will add organized storage under the platform

I’m interested in more details on how you secured you fridge and how it handles off road. I have a Swift shell and want to put my fridge in the same spot. I was thinking of adding a could tie downs on either side of the fridge and running webbing to the handles. But your method looks simple. I like simple.

 

[BaileyJ]

I’m interested in more details on how you secured you fridge and how it handles off road. I have a Swift shell and want to put my fridge in the same spot. I was thinking of adding a could tie downs on either side of the fridge and running webbing to the handles. But your method looks simple. I like simple.

I'll get some more pics of how everything is secured in the next few days

 

[BaileyJ]

A few updates...

Picked up some new tires. I decided to go with the 285/75/17 Toyo ATII again. My last set had roughly 45k when I replaced them and could have gone another 5-7k but I wanted some fresh tread for the winter. I've been very happy with these tires and this size (285/75/17 aka 34x11.5)

I also added Baja Designs S1's in the ditch light location. These bolt to my current XL80s and will be wired on their own switch using the switch pros.

I had initially gone with the Amber Wide Cornering but decided to switch to the Work/Scene pattern. Wiring should be here in the next few days

The camper also saw some additions in the form of rubber flooring. This will insulate slightly while providing more protection from the elements.

 

[buckland]

Looks good...where’d you get the rubber flooring?

 

[CougarCouple]

Hello BailyJ
Nice looking shoes, have you regeared or are you still stock. Reason I ask, is wondering if you notice any difference in accelerating,
Fuel mileage or excessive shifts. I was thinking of going up a size like you,but have apprehension for the above reasons. Hope you like your new floor, I think you will. We also did a similar floor, but used anti-fatigue mats cut to size. Definitely much nicer to walk on when cold.



Russ

 

[BaileyJ]

Looks good...where’d you get the rubber flooring?

Home Depot