Truck build 92 W250

DI

Dirt Rider

Senior Member
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Jun 13, 2019
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164
Thought I would share my build. Trying to get it ready for retirement and then off to Tuk! 20190706_072713.jpeg20190624_173210.jpeg20190528_170046.jpeg
 
Nice! We have a 1993 Clubcab W250 Diesel, 5 speed getrag, longbed with a 2007 FWC Keystone. The 1st gen Dodge diesel with FWC camper is a great combination and should give you good fuel mileage.

We drove to and from Anchorage last summer with our rig. We got 19.7 mpg on the round trip on the drive between Anchorage and Homer, AK.

On the drive from home to/from Alaska we were towing a large fully loaded Wells Cargo box trailer weighing around 4500 - 5000 pounds and got around 14 mpg.

The original owner of our truck installed a K&N air filter kit and Banks 4" exhaust kit. He also built a custom center console out of wood that has two cup holders, a flip up seat back with storage underneath and a shallow tray for setting stuff in when the seat back is down. Basically a nicer version of the plastic OEM center console.

Prior to the trip I added sound damping material on the floor, ceiling and interior walls of the truck cab which reduced the noise. I also added a Podman Gauge pod with ISSPRO Pyrometer, Boost and Fuel pressure gauges (already had an ISSPRO Tach in it) along with several 12v usb outlets and a second 12 V cigarette socket to run a Dometic CFX-28 refrigerator that sits behind the center console in the extended cab area. Not having to deal with the ice in our old Coleman cooler was priceless!

On the passenger side I installed a removable Ram Mount telescoping computer platform so my navigator could conveniently use the Samsung S2 tablet with maps and Milepost software installed. It also served as a desk when the computer was not needed.

Finally I put a Brinno TLC-200 Pro time lapse camera (Amazon) on the top of the dash under the rear view mirror and let it run all day every day at 1 frame per second to capture the trip (I believe the newer builds allow 0.5 sec time interval which I would recommend - 1 sec is OK however since 0.5 sec consumes twice as much storage. We found that a 32 GB SD card would hold about 10 to 12 hours of images (I can provide more details on its use if interested).

We have 200 W of solar on the camper and I installed a plastic 4-drawer cabinet from Walmart just inside the back door between the end of the rollover couch and the back wall where many larger campers have the built in toilet/shower combination. Our camper obviously did not have that option installed and we find that a porta pottie works fine for us. We out our clothes in the cabinet and it was so much better than using suitcases. We had overnigt duffle bags we would fill on those occasions we elected to motel it (for a hot shower and a nice dinner out).

All of these features helped make the trip a bit more comfortable and enjoyable.

We do regret not getting the new Scheel-Mann Vario model bucket seats and new polyurethane suspension bushings installed before the trip (we couldn't get the seats delivered in time and ran out of time on the bushings).

I do strongly recommend the Brinno time lapse camera to capture the scenery of the drive (it also serves double duty as a dash cam). We reset it every 3 or 4 hours and since it uses SD memory cards we had several we could rotate in and out while downloading the contents of the removed cards in the evening to a portable hard drive connected to my laptiop.
The Brinno TLC200 Pro is not expensive and neither are the SD cards. Also it is compatible with GoPro mounts and holders.

I hope some of these ideas are helpful and wishing you a fabulous and safe trip.

Craig
 
Addendum: Something we wish we had added but did not have time to do was install an awning for the rear door with a privacy flap that hangs down.

I just added LED headlights and I wish I had done that before the trip. The halogen headlights in these old Dodges are too dim.

I used set of Vision X housings (have heavy glass lens not plastic) and Morimoto 2 Stroke V2.0 LED plug in bulbs. They are much brighter than the OEM Halogens. I am not completely satisfied with the beam pattern yet but I have some alignment fine tuning yet to do. The Supernove LED plug in bulbs are alledgedly much better than the Morimoto bulbs but they are 6000k and have a slight bluish tinge (I do not like the LEDs with blue light) whereas the Morimoto bulbs are 5500K and are more a bright white. The Morimotos are an improvenmet over stock none the less..

Another way to go is the Ridgid 5x7 Led lights (made by Trucklite but sometimes cheaper). The best plug and play LED 5x7 lights are J.W. Speaker but they are pricey.


Regards,

Craig
 
Craig,

Been following your build and would love to see some pix of the inside of the cab! One area I am looking at is a camera that fits over the rear view mirror that includes a rear view camera and front recorder as well as possible side views. I just had Tod in Chula Vista rebuild the transfer case and am upgrading the front drive shaft to 1410 ujoints. Added Jungle Jim shackles, but now need to added his front spring hanger as the front springs hit the frame on the rear and need to move forward, this is due to the 6 inch lift. Had the Weld shop in Rosamond build me a custom rear bumper that includes a tire swing out, gas can holders and air tank for the compressor I will be installing in the gap between the bed and the camper. Much more coming...

Hal
 
Dirt Rider said:
Craig,

Been following your build and would love to see some pix of the inside of the cab! One area I am looking at is a camera that fits over the rear view mirror that includes a rear view camera and front recorder as well as possible side views. I just had Tod in Chula Vista rebuild the transfer case and am upgrading the front drive shaft to 1410 ujoints. Added Jungle Jim shackles, but now need to added his front spring hanger as the front springs hit the frame on the rear and need to move forward, this is due to the 6 inch lift. Had the Weld shop in Rosamond build me a custom rear bumper that includes a tire swing out, gas can holders and air tank for the compressor I will be installing in the gap between the bed and the camper. Much more coming...

Hal
Click to expand...
More to come20190528_170017.jpeg20190525_152853.jpeg20190528_170024.jpeg
 
Darrel at the weld shop is a real craftsman, but he works alone and it can take time to get it done, but well worth the wait.
 
Dirt Rider said:
Craig,

Been following your build and would love to see some pix of the inside of the cab! One area I am looking at is a camera that fits over the rear view mirror that includes a rear view camera and front recorder as well as possible side views. I just had Tod in Chula Vista rebuild the transfer case and am upgrading the front drive shaft to 1410 ujoints. Added Jungle Jim shackles, but now need to added his front spring hanger as the front springs hit the frame on the rear and need to move forward, this is due to the 6 inch lift. Had the Weld shop in Rosamond build me a custom rear bumper that includes a tire swing out, gas can holders and air tank for the compressor I will be installing in the gap between the bed and the camper. Much more coming...

Hal
Click to expand...
check out the auto-vox line of backup cameras. i have one and like it
 
DirtRider,

I have a low cost wired Pyle 7200 backup camera with a snap on rearview mirror monitor. It will accept a second camera. No recording function but it sure helps when backing up. I have a wireless backup camera I bought to install on my box trailer but I have not gotten around to installing it yet.

I recently received the Southco rotary latches and latch actuator to install into my cargo bed with fold down side access to wheel well boxed in storage. I have previously posted pictures of this slow moving project and I hope to have it completed and installed on my truck soon.

I like your rear bumper set up. I need to figure out something for our truck. However it is a bit of a challenge considering the Keystone extends part way across the width of the tailgate when the tailgate is down. I have an idea using an articulated bracket that will work with the camper on the truck or off but I need to get with a fabricator.

Wow! 6 inch lift is a lot!. My tuck suspension is stock and it is already a climb to get in. I have been on some pretty gnarly offroad tracks with the camper on and I feel no need to lift the truck any more than it is. No need to raise the CG any further.

I am aware of Jungle Jim and Ramcharger central. I have considered ordering polyurethane bushings from him. I am also considering getting longer front leaf springs to make the ride a little less stiff. I want to upgrade to Bilstein 7100 reservoir shocks (or equivalent too for those long drives down washboard roads.

Ref posts on my truck:

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/15619-refurbishing-1993-dodge-ram-w250-1st-gen-diesel-seeking-advice-status-update/?hl=ckent323

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/16729-truck-cargo-box-fold-down-side-storage-access-mod-finally-begins/?hl=ckent323

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/15218-side-boxes-instead-of-fenders/page-2?hl=ckent323#entry179899
see comment #13

Nice to see posts from another first gen owner.

Regards,

Craig
 
Craig,

Many thanks!

ALCON,

Have not seen a post on mirrors yet, is there one? First thing I noticed is a lack of rear and side visibility, thinking a rear view camera that replaces the rear view mirror but will also allow and added camera for side view. Or should I add extended side mirrors? Also my truck did not have the optional sway bars and being so tall I am now really noticing the corners! Would like to know if I can get away with just one and if so should it go on the front or back? which would give the most benefit ?
 
Thinking I should be able to squeeze a compressor in that space, what are others doing with it, and should I seal it up? Thinking about a door to his and store. Search hi and low for a porta potty that would fit the space and allow an adult Male to use, if you know what I mean. It had the option to have a quick release which makes it solid and easy to service. 20190624_173129.jpeg20190525_152853.jpeg
 
I have the parts to set up a "back-up" camera as my center rear view mirror. Been the plan for a while, just a round-tuit.

I dislike urethane bushings and avoid them when at all possible. The only such that I've found to not be disagreeable are those made by Old Man Emu.
The RoT with the bushings made in the US is that once they squeak they are done and need to be replaced. Once started squeaking you will never, ever stop them from squeaking for any length of time. Sadly sometimes their life-span before they squeak can be as little as 40 feet.
A desert race team that I had a passing acquaintance with was using the best urethane radius arm bushings that they could buy in their Class 8 Desert Racer. If they were lucky one set would last a whole race, but more often than not they had to replace them at least once per race. One race they ran out and had to put OEM Rubber in there in order to finish the race. 4 races later they realized that the rubber bushings were still in there. From that point on they only used OEM rubber radius arm bushings. It's not that urethane can't work, it's that most of them are made to a very low price point.

I put our compressor under the bed outside of the frame rail & forward of the driver's rear tire. Because the fuel tank is right on the other side I had to make the bracket clamp on if I didn't want to drop the tank, and I did not! Air tank sits in the same location on the passenger side. I used 10 feet of copper tube to cool the compressor's discharge before it reaches the tank and the pressure switch. Probably excessive, but I bought the roll just for that job so I used it all.

i-m9Trzrk-L.jpg

i-FLthQ6t-XL.jpg


i-XnqP6FK-XL.jpg
 
Dirt Rider,

The previous (original) owner of my truck pulled a fith wheel trailer. He had white painted steel extension tubes fabricated and installed to move the side mirrors further out. They work well but are showing rust spots and age.

My only complaint is that the longer tubes coupled with the tilt toward the rear displace the mirror location further back due to the mounting angle. I have long thought about putting a compound bend in stainless steel tubes to move the mirrors closer to the front. I will likely make this mod as soon as I get the modified cargo bed completed because I am going to repaint the entire truck.

Link to pic of driver side mirror on extended arm

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/gallery/album/1344-1993-dodge-w250-clubcab-exterior/

Link to pics of interior mods including sound damping, Brinno Time Lapse Camera, P byleackup camera Monitor, Podman Guage Pod with ISSPRO Gaugers, Added USB and 12v cigarette lighter outles, BlueSea ACR Switch and 4 Gang rocker switches

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/gallery/album/1341-1993-dodge-w250-clubcab-interior-mods/
 
Hello ntsqd nice clean looking install. My first thought about the copper is looking like a condensate trap. Might be wrong not an engineer. Have always seen the bleed at the lowest point. Lg compressor’s use a radius tube but don’t think I’ve seen loops.

Russ
 
Craig,

Would you mind tossing a pix of your mirrors?

Really need some safe grab handle with it being so tall, so added this one. Had Derral from the weld shop add this tray underneath to add more batteries or compressor. Have a fresh AGM for the house part, but now I have room for options. Modified an old Warn front bumper for the front. Added Jungles shackle, but springs are hitting the frame, time his front support to move it back.
20190715_195813.jpeg20190715_195847.jpeg20190715_200011.jpeg20190715_200040.jpeg
 
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