Adding Hellwig Helper Springs and Sway Bar To Our DIY Truck Camper
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- We make some much needed suspension upgrades to the truck, Riley lights the camper on fire and we shed some weight before hitting the road for leg 2 of our trip!
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I recently added a 1 1/2" Lift block, Hellwig 3510 Helper Springs, and Hellwig Anti Sway Bar to my Chevy 3500. I also added a 1 1/8" wedge into my stock leaf spring package to have the overload spring apply sooner. All this helped to stiffen up the ride for my fully kitted out Bug-Out Callen Camper rig. I also went with New Bilstein shocks. What an improvement! I sit @ aprox. 600 pounds under GVWR. I purchased the Hellwig 3510 package during the Covid "Pandemic". The new Leaf Springs came next day.!!! The Mounting kit for my vehicle had a 6-8 WEEK delivery window! I contacted Hellwig's Support and was able to get the Mounting kit in about 3 days!!!! They were AWESOME to get me rolling for a Scheduled Outing. #HELLWIG Rocks!!
Glad you made the point about not loading up the bushings and setting them at ride height and tightening them !
So glad someone taught us that! 🙌🏻
@@AmbitionStrikes loving the build ! I’ve been looking at doing the same with a CC long box Silverado 2500hd and convert the cab to a single cab but need to do some math that I’m not going to be over weight
Your mods are very uplifting. Brings stability to your rig. Thanks for sharing
I like that the woman helps and mows the lawn
I like that the husband cooks me dinner! 😉
We thought Riley setting the camper on fire was him cooking again with the insta pot. Had us worried the cooking with Riley show would be canceled.
Courtney - The eGo electric weed eater brings a whole new fun factor, without the headaches of 2 stroke smoke smell (unless you use Ipone Strawberry oil) and carb cleaning every spring.
Teresa really loved your goats. Long as they stay on your side of UA-cam I'll be ok with them. (6 horses is enough) 🙂
Cooking with Riley will continue as scheduled! I will have to look into the electric weed eater, thanks for the tip. We sure do love having goats and if you have some land they do an amazing job at clearing weeds! I grew up with horses and plan to stick to goats from now on (they basically take care of themselves 😉).
@@AmbitionStrikes 🙂
Nice equipment.
Have to say that, in my ever so humble opinion 😃, and based on experience, I kind of like the idea of having the full ratchet set. And that is a nice set. But the 4 million pairs of pliers is a bit of overkill.
And, of course, you know that the minute you leave any tool behind is the time you'll need it. 🤣
That’s how it always goes! We have salvaged quite a few broken vehicles with the correctly placed ratchet strap.
Riley, don't use those Harbor Freight 6 ton jack stands anymore. They were recalled due to massive failures. I just returned mine, they'll give you store credit or your money back to some degree. CHEERS!
Thanks for looking out for us Kyle!
We overpacked up the Wazoo on our RV. I'm half zombie apocalypse prepper, half boy scout "be prepared". Three years later and I'm still sorting, still sifting and winnowing out unnecessary stuff. Sure, once you just accept that fact that three days after removing Tool X, you'll need it, it becomes easier. Acquiesce and let it go!
With Amazon prime it has certainly gotten much easier to pick up a tool or part on the road in a day or so!
Enjoy my backyard. Haller if you need anything
Thank you!! 🙌🏻
Nice upgrades. I'm sure the ride will be improved. I know you slimmed your tool kit down, but I would be curious what else you decided to leave behind. I agree with your comment that having too much stuff will present a challenge knowing where things are. It's really finding that happy medium that I think all RVers go through. I know after every trip we discuss what to leave behind next time. Now that we are towing with a F-150 V8 it's easy for us to just throw things into the bed. I think organization is one key - having a place for everything and hoping everything has multiple purposes/uses. Stay safe
We are extremely happy with the improvement in ride quality! We have a strict rule that everything we bring has a "home" and needs to be put away when not in use. It keeps the camper clutter free and also means we can always find what we are looking for!
Impressed with your choice in leveling kit. I personally like Bilstein products and use them on my truck as well.
So far we are incredibly impressed!
0:47 I want that sticker on my car
Shoot me an email with your mailing address!
courtney@trailtestedmfg.com
congratulation..............
saludos desde Chile
Thank you! 🙌🏻
Thanks you both. Informative, entertaining, and I'm slightly jealous of the weather from here in Scotland, although not too much if it means having to cut grass.
Thanks Charles! This year has been exceptionally dry but normally by now I would have had to mow and weed whack several times.
Entertaining and informative video.
Thanks Richard! 🙌🏻
On this ride up to Oregon I hope you show us the ride up there! It isn't about where you go but how you get there that makes the trip!
I’d say in their case that’s definitely not true. They’ve had some amazing skiing this year!
@@striknein Yes , but one ski slope look like all the rest if you don't ski. I just thought that if they were to show more of the trip this site would begin to bring in more viewer that all. I loved the build but the trip could have been a lot more interesting with seeing more of the ride they took.
Thank you so much for the feedback! We definitely need a reminder every once in awhile to slow down and enjoy the entire journey!
Really Love your build..Kind of torn between building my own expedition vehicle or purchasing one.
Build your own is our vote. That's what we are doing. While I have to say if I had to buy one I like the Scout line-up.
@@OutOfOfficeCamping That's great. I'm looking at a Chevy 5500 4x4 chassis cab as the platform and material from a company called Total Composites for an expedition kit.
Thanks so much! I'd say it really depends on how much time you can invest to it and how soon you are hoping to start using it! A purchased camper will get you on the road ASAP but will definitely lead to some sacrifices in design. We heavily considered going with the total composites box but ultimately the lead time was longer than we were willing to wait. I'd recommend checking out Kevin's build as he is doing an excellent job documenting his total composites build:
ua-cam.com/channels/qujvuY_X6dh8-V20k_1DGQ.html
@@AmbitionStrikes Thanks so much. I will definitely be checking out Kevin's build. That is exactly my dilemma. I need to just be patient and build a vehicle that fits my family and the way we travel.
If you guys need anything my brother lives in Bend and has a cabinet shop on the property.
Thank you so much! We love Bend and can’t wait to explore a bit.
Check out the lava tubes in Lava Beds Natl Monument SE of Klamath Falls on the way. A stop at Crater Lake NP is a must too. Clark's Nutcracker in the parking lot. Make sure to take the Cascade Lakes Hwy off 97 south of Bend. Gorgeous camping along that highway. Great mtn biking around Bend and fabulous breweries there. It's growler country. ... Stay safe.
Thank you so much for the tips Martin! We fell in love with Bend on our honeymoon and are looking forward to busting the bikes out for some good riding!
@@AmbitionStrikes ... I forgot to mention the Juniper Swim & Fitness Ctr in Bend. Been quite awhile since I visited, but it had an outdoor Olympic size lap pool. Also a smaller indoor lap pool, a nice sauna and jacuzzi hot tub. ... You could pay a daily use rate. Take your own padlocks for changing room lockers. ... It's a great resource for outdoors people and campers. ... Enjoy!
Another great video from a great couple! Have subbed and watched all of your episodes - Riley is a master at all non-Instant Pot gadgets and Courtney is very smart and adorable!! Thanks for sharing with us!!!
Thanks so much John! We really appreciate the support and kind words!
Congratulations 🎊
Thank you!!
great video 👍
Thank you!
Nice work. Thinning tools it hard - you just never know! I recently switched to only carrying 3/8” drive sockets. Originally I kept only 1/2” but kept finding they didn’t go small enough. 3/8” spans the most used sizes and I keep a 1/2” adapter for the random 30mm needs.
That is an excellent tip Ryan!
Wow Riley don't burn down the rig.😂 Like the lift/level kits. Goodluck on your guy's travels and can't wait for the next adventure. 😁
Thanks Guy! Let's just say there is a pattern there and I always have a fire extinguisher within 20 feet of Riley... 😉
That’s hard to decide what tools you need compared to the ones you want. Wow 16 lbs. is huge savings and then another 12. You guys were carrying one hell of a lot of tools. Nice work on the weight reduction, now if I could do the same we would be very happy. Have fun guys. ❤️🇨🇦❤️ Cheers!!!
It is certainly a question that doesn't have a "right" answer. It really depends on your set up, intended use and skill ability. In every vehicle hobby we have weight is so critical, because the heavier something is the more likely it is to break! (especially in off-roading)
Hello from Bend. Hope you enjoy our town.
Thanks Ken! We absolutely love Bend and are having a blast!
I'm a big fan of Bilstein products. I'm planning on installing their 6112/5160 kit on my F-150, which will be getting a camper eventually. I think it's a great setup for the price.
We are always looking for ways to get the most bang for our buck and the Bilstein kit offers just that!
I would like you to show the motorhome inside. I looked for the video with this content but I didn't find it. congratulations for the video! Hugs from Brazil! 🇧🇷
We are going to do a tour video VERY soon! 👊🏻
Funny, I wanted 5100s but had to get Rancho because the Bilstein were on backorder
Getting anything this year has been tough with so much stuff on backorder. We got lucky with the Bilsteins and found a distributor that still had a set.
I knew a lift would be in the future with beefy tires
😉
Looking good! Can’t wait to see the wheels and tires. You guys are getting closer to me, just another 6 hours north and you’ll be at my house!
I love the weight reduction!
We are slowly making our way North! We are SUPER stoked for the tires and wheels upgrade.
been following you guys on the build, great work///your new lorry is the same type the British army use
Thanks for following along!
@@AmbitionStrikes ahh you got a M1083 Cargo Truck, we use the MAN versions i think very similar as the US trucks i think were built by BAe but different power units...hope you get the brakes sorted,,sure you will :)
Great video. Courtney, you are as handy as a pocket on a shirt. Have fun in Bend.
Thanks so much Suzanne!
Looooooo need my sticker 🤓🤓🔥🔥⚡ saludos desde Mexico, cuando vengan pasen a casa.
Shoot me an email with your address and I'll get a sticker headed your way! courtney@trailtestedmfg.com
YAAAAAAAA email send. love yaaaaaaaa amigosssssssss
Congratulations on 40 k subscribers
Thank you so much! 😀
37s is a big upgrade
We’re currently running 35s so not a huge jump but we aren’t ready to make the modifications needed for 40s!
i love usa .... only there is possible to do this... good luck and keep going....
We love the USA too! Thanks for watching!
@@AmbitionStrikes hey no problem ... Hello from argentina...
Argentina is a bucket list destination for us!
Bilstein is a good alternative for a really high end kit. Seems like that would be fine since you not going to Baja a camper. What was your number 1 choice? Carli?
Don't forget to check the head light adjustment after you installed the lift kit.
Wonderful tip. Thanks Mark!
Welcome to Oregon! Bend is amazing, if you have the chance, I highly recommend climbing/hiking at Smith Rock, I was just there last week!
Thanks so much for the tip Philip! We love Bend and are having a GREAT time so far!
Where did you learn how to do everything? Amazing
You sure live in a beautiful place. Where is it approximately ? Spring is in full swing there. Nice.
We live in Central California and it certainly does have wonderful weather (except for the no snow to enjoy!)
Dang I thought we were gonna see the new wheels and tires this video!
Coming very soon!!
Plumbers union will be calling....
😉
Casal Trabalhador e Companheiros,
Sucesso no Canal.😀🇧🇷.
We feel very lucky to be able to work together every day (and still be married 😂).
I have 37” wheels on my ram, stock height. The height does not resolve tire clearance on Ram. See Thuren website.
The height does give us more suspension up travel though! We ordered wheels with 20mm offset to try and hit that sweet spot for tire clearance.
congrats on 40k!
Thanks Nathan! I think it may be time for a giveaway... 😉
@@AmbitionStrikes pick me pick me. 🤪😜
Do your dogs hang out in the truck to help like ours does?! Good work on everything. Crazy busy.
The dog’s favorite place to be is in the truck!
A lot of messages, congratulations 40K. Will adding suspension increase the bumpy feeling during driving?
Thank you!! Adding too much spring rate (ie airbags, helper springs or stiffer springs) can certainly make the ride quality harsher and bumpier. Adding more up travel and better shocks can dramatically improve the ride quality. The key is to find the proper spring rate and shock calving for the weight of your set up!
@@AmbitionStrikes why don’t you use airbags to level out the rear instead of lift blocks? I don’t know too much about suspension so I was just wondering. Another great vid as always!
@@shawnmckee14 Lifting the rear that much with airbags would result in a lot of spring rate (and a harsher ride quality). If your truck is being used for a lot of varying loads (removable truck camper, different trailers, etc) then airbags are nice for the adjustability. But for us because we have a fixed load in the camper they aren’t necessary.
Plus airbags can fail, and if they are our primary lift source that would be bad!
Next time, save your take-off dampers for my truck. I will make them fit.
Sounds bouncy 😆
What size tire do you currently have? Because if going to 37'' tires is a big increase you will need to change the gear ratios in your differentials so that you still have enough torque.
We are currently running 35” tires and are only going to 37” for that exact reason. We may regear down the line to allow for 40s!
hi chicos thank you for this beautiful videos i learn a lot with with you , but i have question what model it your truck and how working ? let me know please i think i try to buy one of your i like thank
Hi Cesar! Our truck is a 2015 Ram 3500 and we are extremely happy with it so far! But if we planned to build any larger of a camper we would start with a larger truck.
oh oregon! i wanna pull my trailer to oregon and see that area. redwoods? or more in california? courtney, you drive that lawnmower a little fast dont ya think?? lol
Drive it like ya stole it... 😉
@@AmbitionStrikes that you did!
Great suspension install, looks great! Im glad you did a little segment on all of the stuff that you removed to save weight. That is very useful because I planned on taking a ton of tools, but riley made some very good points about what's really needed. How are you liking the Hellwig suspension in the rear?
Thanks for watching! I think we are going to a review of the Hellwig set up after we have had a chance to put some miles on it but the sway bar has certainly made a big difference.
Where did you get your dash mount bracket for the tablet?
Hi Tim! The mount is from Bullet Point.
@@AmbitionStrikes Thank you
I figured out the ratchet strap trick replacing the control arms on my Jeep TJ last week after having my GF unsuccessfully shake the thing around for 30 minutes
It's a life saver for sure!
Hello, I wanted to ask what generation of your RAM 1500? but is it the fourth generation does it have to have springs at the back and independent suspension at the front?
You guys have a beautiful property! Is it tough to leave it for long periods of time? Do you have a caretaker for the grounds and animals?
Thank you! After 7 weeks on the road it was nice to come back but after a week we were itching to hit the road again. We have a wonderful caretaker Erinn who keeps everything running while we are gone.
Was the coil spring a hint for the next surprise?
We just met our best friends newborn so that’s where the inspiration came from 😂
@@AmbitionStrikes Riley would be wrapped so tight if y’all had a girl. Lol. My baby has me wrapped still and she is in her 30s.
What are the shocks you are going to have in place permanently?
We’re keeping that one a surprise! 😉
I love your home. Why the camper? Can I live at your home?
Thank you!
How do I get a decal? Are you going to offer plans to your camper frame?
I’m not sure if we will offer plans in the future. Shoot me an email and we’ll get a sticker headed your way! Courtney@trailtestedmfg.com
when are those big tires going in?!!!!!
😉
great job! :-)
Thank you!
👍
Thanks Tom!
Bilstein! Support SoCal businesses! Is your home in Santa Ysabel? It looks like that area.
Yes we love supporting local businesses, but more importantly companies with great products and customer service!
LOL Real babys smell !
Our best friends just had a baby and they have warned us of that! 😂
@@AmbitionStrikes our twins are 8 months old .We hav'nt closed the windows in 8 months ! 😝
Congrats on the pregnancy. You guys never gave us post lift measurements.
The post lift measurements are exactly 2” higher than the pre!
Pregnancy? Did I miss that announcement in this vid, as I don't recall them saying anything about a pregnancy. Though, they did say they have a big surprise coming, just before the shock site gag...
If she is pregnant, with how good they are at everything, they'll probably have some mega genius baby who will build orbital rockets for fun.
@@evilcam No baby for us... yet 😉. I think he was referring to Riley’s lesson on how to hold a coil spring 😂
@@AmbitionStrikes yea the spring thing seemed like practice. Plus the big surprise. Thought I’d throw out a guess for the you tube formula .
Riley: more crack than a rough neighborhood! Also who criticizes a woman who is doing yard work? Are you crazy?! Thanks again for not weighing Boone and leaving him in the pile.
I'll leave Riley behind before I have to leave Boone... 😂
@@AmbitionStrikes I weigh less than he does and I don't show crack if that is helpful
AS
Thanks for watching!
1:35 The buttcrack made an appearance.
LOL
Thank God it didn't.
😂
1st 😂
🙌🏻
Won't pay for this .