Kimbo Camper BS and Mods

I’m about to head out skiing and it’s 12° with a 25 MPH wind. No lodges open due to COVID, so the Taco is my lodge.

I bet I could rent that Kimbo out for $200 an hour if I had one on the truck. I think it’s a cool idea for use as a parking lot friendly private “lodge”.

 

@Tacomaroma - the shark fin is standard/stock...there is prob 2”, it’s close but the truck would have to fold in half to touch. I do pay close attention when removing/installing the Kimbo. I would speculate tipping it forward too far could cause it to be impacted.

 

Ive seen a single piece of rigid foam being used if you wanted something in between and light.

 

Thanks, appreciate the responses. I will start by modifying the double layer of 2x6 that the factory guys made me down to one layer and the evaluate.

 

Researching 12v fridges - stand up front door style, not the ARB open top ones. Anyone have recommendations other than the requirement that the compressor is a Danfoss?

 

Found this article just now. Haven't finished it but it looks like the Dometic CR-1110 uses it.

https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/the-danfoss-compessor-refrigerator-pros-cons-and-a-few-tips/

 

Great article! Thanks - been lurking around that site for a while now. Lots of great information on there.

 

Whats the idea behind the front door style you have in mind? Similar to the Kimbo layout?

We'll see this summer, but my plan is to use a 12v fridge chest style. Since I have the 12v already wired to where the propane heater was supposed to go, I could extend that outside for the fridge when we are camped allowing for more storage/space inside. Although it will have to be on the floor until we are at camp and will require moving it back in when we leave. Would use these quick connects and outlet.

$15 12 Gauge 2 Pin Quick Disconnect Harness 2-Wire Connector(5 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S3ZBXH5/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=A1MB48WMIFI495&psc=1

$10 NOCO GC018 15A 14AWG 12V Adapter, Heavy-Duty Cigarette Lighter Plug, and Female Socket with Eyelet Terminals

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GC018-A...id=1611693466&sprefix=12v+out,aps,200&sr=8-18

 

Well it happened... Finally drilled some BIG (1in) holes in the Kimbo. It went just fine fortunately. Must have quadrupled checked everything. Currently working on the install for the diesel heater and although slow, feel like I'm making some headway after completing drilling. Have plenty of pictures and some tips if anyone needs them sooner than later, but will post a how-to later when complete. Creating a cool wooden cover for it and Rotopax tank on the outside like other owners have done. Now that wiring is hooked up I can put most of the panels back and focus on the layout of the solar components. Still waiting on the battery and some flue pipe for the stove.

 

If you have money to burn... Although, heated floors do seem nice. They did modify extensively to meet GVWR but looks to be the same engine pulling it. Including a 30 gal freshwater tank and possibly a 32in TV. She does look good though. Inspiration is spot on!



https://www.truckhouse.co

 

They also use a Pro and then scrap all the Pro parts. Interesting.

 

That Truckhouse front bumper is on point - hadn't considered any of the bumpers out there...everything I've seen just seems so intrusive and screams "4Xboi" but the one on the Truckhouse looks really slick and well integrated.

 

Hi All, Stoked about the little community we have here. Profloundering, I believe we met and picked up our Kimbos on the same day. I have significant amount of room needed to clear the cab on my truck and am planning to install truck drawers underneath the Kimbo. I have looked at Decked and Truck Vault with the later offering the best quality but also an investment. https://truckvault.com/products/pickup/all-weather-line

I wanted to ask you all whether you have experienced any issues in super cold temps with the electrical system. It takes me a minute or so to get the lighting system to work when its 6-19 F outside. I toggle the lighting and the fan and unplug the DC connection to those systems and it eventually works. Let me know if have any thoughts, I just figured its the cold and upset battery.

I also was planning on changing out the remote lighting switch for something mounted, the remote light is like a TV remote and I have concerns about it going missing or failing.

What have you all thought about outdoor showers? I have looked at this as a possibility since its an all-in-one setup with dish washing. https://www.joolca.com/products/hottap-v2

All the best!!

 

Another question to anyone who has the Dickenson heater...have you experienced any smells when running, I don't think its propane, burned or unburned, I suspect it is the new metal heating up and burning off anything from the manufacturing process but wanted to see if anyone else had any smells when running the Dickenson heater.

Voltron, stoked on the Diesel heater project. I have heard great things about them, they make a lot of heat. I met some friends today who have one and they say it almost makes too much heat, they may be changing to a different model. I'll let you know if I find out which way they are going.

Also, the Kimbo works great in all weather conditions. I just a blue tarp and bungie cords to make the snow removal easier, simple and it worked great.

 

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Congratulations on your Kimbo! Yes the propane heater has to burn off the manufacturing grease/oil and stinks for a few hours. We left the door open and the fan on to cure it without having the smell saturate the material inside the camper. A suggestion for the manufacturer would be to pre cure before folks pick up the camper, esp in winter.

 

Thanks for the information: I went and found the owners online. http://dickinsonmarine.com/dm/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Propane-Heater-P9P12-Manual-2020.pdf

As you stated : "NOTE: Only on first lighting, the lubricating oil on the stainless steel pipe will produce smoke and burn off. THIS IS NORMAL. We suggest that windows and hatches be opened. Smoke from the inside pipe will be emitted outside, through the flue cap."

 

Man, to have a Decked system under the Kimbo would be pretty sweet.

The lighting is a bit finicky but it thinks it's due to the bluetooth connection. Probably not the best connection. I may change to a mounted switch but don't want to loose the dimming. My fan recently had the same issue briefly. These fantastic fans have that thermostat so when it's turned all the way to cold and its below what its programed at, it will wait to turn on. I may need to try playing with the thermostat a bit more because there is suppose to be a manual on. After playing around with it, I may have raised the temp in the Kimbo and it turned on.

Here is a smaller option, just have to heat the water separately. That Joolca system is pretty sweet though if you have the room. A guy made a portable case with someone similar. Videos below.

Edit: Took one option off because of bad reviews.

$160 CAMPLUX Tankless Water Heater Outdoor, 1.32 GPM Portable Propane Camping Water Heater, 5L, AY132, White

https://www.amazon.com/Camplux-Outd...U6JI/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B01CJPU6JI&psc=1

$37 Camping Shower Portable Shower Outdoor Shower Handheld Electric Shower,Water Flow Stalls Adjustment,4800mAh Rechargeable Battery, Flow Contol and Shut OFF Valve for Showering, Washing,etc (blue)

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Handheld-Adjustment-Rechargeable-Showering/dp/B07FX1KD23/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=lithium+portable+shower&qid=1611795249&sr=8-5&th=1

 

Yeah I hear the 5kw one is a beast. Good thing I sleep by the window and my girl on the other side. Someone said the 5kw will run at low and produce the same heat as the smaller one on medium or high. Figure I might save some battery juice that way. Probably marginal though. Happy to hear any tips they have! Kimbo camping in Tahoe when it was 17 outside was the first time my girl was too warm. That never happens at home!

 

This might work for the lights. A few options...

$30 12 Volt DC Dimmer for LED, Halogen, Incandescent - RV, Auto, Truck, Marine, and Strip Lighting - Long Shaft - Gold

https://www.amazon.com/Volt-Dimmer-...=12v+dimmer+switch&qid=1611796275&sr=8-5&th=1

$20 ALOVECO 12 Volt DC Dimmer Switch PWM for LED RV Lights Interior, 5-24 Volts LED Ceiling Dome Lights Dimmer and Switch for Camper, Recreational Vehicle, Halogen, Auto, Truck, Marine and Strip Lighting

https://www.amazon.com/ALOVECO-Inte...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

I have a 5kW unit and it pumps out some crazy heat. Enough to keep 2x RTTs warm (in the low 50s) all night with ambient temps in the mid teens. I would think it would do very well in a well insulated, hard sided structure like this.

I did a lot of research on these units and it seemed that the 3kW units were physically the same size with the same blower motor. Just a smaller fuel jet or whatever they called it. So Im not sure you would really see any savings that way. And for what its worth they are pretty efficient from what I can tell. Seems to pull 1-3 amps when running depending on setting. Startup / shutdown pull closer to 9-10A for the glow plug. But I always run mine off my second battery (an AGM group 35) and have never had any issues.