Evolution Of A Camper Formerly Known As...Bison
- tahoeadventuretrex
- Apr 20
- 19 min read
Evolve Or Get Left Behind
It's never easy creating a home on wheels that works well for every adventure. There are always some areas that require a bit of give and take. Through our previous experiences, we've learned what works well for us and what is better left behind. Evolution is what separates the past from the future. Our Bison Overland Camper has now evolved into a much more functional piece of equipment, which makes our adventures a little bit easier. As they often say, "You can't have it all". But, it is possible to balance those needs versus wants. Eventually, you learn what is mandatory, what is an option, and what is a luxury that can often be dismissed or limited.
So, what exactly have we changed to make this camper more user friendly for us? Why did we make those certain changes? Who helped us make the changes? What have we learned through this evolution forging our next adventure vehicle? How can we make it better from the past, to utilize in the present, and to be prepared for the future? Where do we actually see ourselves in the future? When do we walk away and when do we stick around for the fight?
These are all very important questions that we hope to answer for everyone taking the time to read this. As a reader, we know that your passions are what drive you, but we also hope to help others avoid a few of the pitfalls that we've unfortunately experienced along the way. We hope that more and more people will learn what works best for them and make their dreams a well-oiled and fully functioning reality from the beginning. It's our hope that this will serve as a guide to lead others away from some of the negative experiences that tarnished our experience.
What Did We Get Ourselves Into?
Imagine your feelings when you just invested a large sum of money into a vehicle for adventure and you're immediately hit with a check engine light, a poorly functioning electrical system, and you're potentially stranded in the Utah desert. Well, that's just some of what we endured within the first few hours of owning our Bison Overland Camper.
It's easy to make a decision looking back at everything and seeing it all with 20/20 vision. But, when all these potentially catastrophic events are hitting one after another, the first thought is to walk away and cut your loses. But, where is the adventure in that?
Adventure is what often begins when the comfort zone is lost. Well, to say our comfort zone was lost would be quite an understatement. So, let's go back and recall a little of that initial impression.
Our roof was "stuck" in the extended position. The powered actuators were hindering the roof from collapsing. The solar system wasn't getting enough juice to charge the batteries sufficiently. And, our house battery wasn't getting any juice from our truck battery/alternator. This is about to be quite the memorable adventure. This is also a very valuable lesson for what the truck needs to be reliable.
Thankfully, we were able to improvise a jumper from the truck to the camper. This enabled us to get enough juice to power the actuators and lower the roof. But, we didn't really have enough time to carefully tuck in the canvas. It was a one shot type of situation. Get the roof down, so we could head down the road towards home. Our 100ah Dakota Lithium was drained and not getting a recharge any time soon. So, drop the top, and make a beeline towards home before anything worse could happen.
Zero Declination Takes Aim
We knew that quite a bit of the troubleshooting and repairs were going to be well above our pay grade to properly perform ourselves. In fact troubleshooting for continuity was being very inconsistent and misleading. How can our system go from receiving a full solar charge to absolute zero in the midst of a midday sun? Why does it work one moment, then show zero activity the next? Maybe we had a bad cable, a shoddy connection, or maybe the wires were literally crossed somewhere along the way? Well, through many recommendations and research through online forums, we found KP Pawley and his shop which was thankfully not too far from our home in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
Zero Declination was still over an hour and a half away. Plus, I didn't want to just drop in unannounced. So, I made my first call to KP. Immediately, we hit it off. I personally liked his no BS style and felt comfortable that he was going to make things work properly. I really like the mantra that if he never saw us again, then his shop would have done the job right. So, let's break down the issues and make our camper work for our needs.
Time To Get The Electricity Firing In Sparks
We drove our camper down to Zero Declination and had a solid meeting with KP and his crew. They were actually very interested in seeing our camper firsthand. They had higher expectations about the product in front of them. However, those expectations were subsequently lowered as they started to inspect more and more of the layout. It was easy to see how we could be so frustrated with quite a bit more than just a little fit and finish issues. We had a long road ahead if we wanted this camper to be a fully functioning and a reliable home on wheels.
First, our 100w Zamp Solar panel was "like a postage stamp" and wasn't going to keep up with our electrical demands. So, we decided to upgrade to a 300w panel with a fresh cable run. This would be our main source for electricity. KP was originally just going to run the solar right back to the Redarc Manager 30. However, the Manager 30 wasn't exactly instilling confidence. So, let's back that up with a Victron MPPT solar controller. With this configuration, we could verify that our solar continuity was working properly and not a source for potential failure. We liked the little extra confidence from the redundant system.
But, we needed some more redundancy. So, KP installed a relay between the truck battery and the camper. That way, our Redarc Manager 30 could always rely on our alternator to muster up enough juice in the event that the solar panel was insufficient. All of this was capable of recharging our upgraded Dakota Lithium 277ah camper battery. Plus, we also had the option of running an AC connection from any 110v plug via shore power or even from a portable generator.
We also needed sufficient juice to power our Isotherm 130l drawer style fridge/freezer. It's nice not having to deal with coolers, ice supply, and the eventually soggy mess associated with a conventional cooler. But, due to supply issues, the Isotherm had taken a bit longer to arrive. There was already a cutout that Vice Customs provided with their cabinetry. So, we had KP and the crew run a power supply from the Blue Sea fuse block. That way we'd have one less thing to worry about when the Isotherm finally arrives. Plan ahead and there's less frustration later. Of course, it wasn't exactly a "plug and play" once the Isotherm fridge finally arrived. That would be too easy. We had to modify the opening a bit to allow for the trim piece to properly fit. I think we made it match up well. And, it really does work great.
As they say, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". We were not going to have to jumper our camper battery in the middle of the desert or even risk driving down the highway with our roof trapped in the upright position. These adventures were teaching us more and more. But, the lessons were far from over.
Ever Had It Rain On Your Parade?
Have you ever woke up to the sound of rain, then actually felt the rain fall on your face? It sounds like a magical and surreal moment, unless your trying to sleep INSIDE your camper. This was while we were in the midst of a consistent Spring Break forecast of wind and rain. Needless to say, we knew what the next upgrade needed to be. It was time to address the swiss cheese looking canvas and upgrade our all too important shelter. We needed an appropriate shelter from the storm.
We knew that we could replace the canvas with a quick fix. Yet, a quick fix isn't always the correct way to address or properly alleviate issues. So, if we were going to do it, we were going to do it right. Our powered actuators weren't configured appropriately to have stops assigned for maximum and minimum heights. So, we had unfortunately punched a hole in our headliner due to this improper calibration. Plus, we had another instance where it ripped out the attachment point secured to the ceiling. We knew that we needed to tackle these specific needs, as well as keep our wants in mind for beefier insulation. We needed to be able to tackle winter's cold and wet adventures, all while still remaining warm and dry inside the camper.
So, do we get rid of the lift system and go simple? Do we look into converting from a pop-top to a hard-sided system? Or, do we upgrade to some better lift equipment, add a well insulated/burlier canvas, and really boost our camper's all-season capabilities? Time to make the docile camper into a full on beast.
At this point, our Bison is fading into a distant memory. The next evolution is happening right before our eyes. For this, we enlisted the services of Poptop Overland and Seams So Fine out of San Diego, CA. They seemed like the best choice to tackle the tasks needed to properly upgrade the camper and turn it into something better suited for four-season fun.
Clocking Miles And Investing In Happiness
Both Poptop Overland and Seams So Fine were located in San Diego, CA. However, we live in South Lake Tahoe, CA. That's about 539 miles...one way. Fortunately, I often travel for work. Certain times like this my work takes me right to the places that I need to go. Of course, I wasn't going to have the camper if I jumped on a flight. So, I made arrangements to meet and discuss everything first. Then, we could see if our ideas could manifest into a reality. The time was going to be limited, since I did in fact have to get to work. On the bright side, I did have pictures, videos, measurements, and more to help us work together to visualize our dream into a reality.
Sasha and John instilled confidence in their delivery. There wasn't some hard sell or even pushing their agenda for the build. I felt at ease knowing that we had a similar vision for what our camper should be capable of and how to feasibly make that come to fruition.
Scheduling an install with any custom builder should always have additional time calculated into the equation. I had a race to work in Southern California, so I was able to drive the camper down while towing my motorcycle. Originally, the plan was for them to complete the work over that race weekend, which would end up budgeting five days. However, things don't always go as planned. Thankfully, we've learned through previous experiences to expect the best, but be prepared for the worst.
When one of the original powered actuators snapped and almost crushed John and Zack, that was the first inclination that we needed to take our time and make sure to get it done once and done right. We put our trust in them and waited patiently for each little bump in the road to be resolved appropriately. Once we finally returned to pickup our "new" camper, we were elated at the results.
Shakedown Run And Addressing The Elephant In The Room
What was once an unfinished shell of a camper with a swiss cheese canvas, protruding self-tapping screws, an unreliable electrical system, and a questionable platform base was now starting to resemble the camper that we dreamed of building. Like all good things, the end products often consume a lot of time, energy, and quite a few frustrating moments along the way. As Yvon Chouinard said, "The word 'adventure' has just gotten overused. For me, adventure is when everything goes wrong. That's when the adventure starts.". Well, we've definitely experienced more than enough adventures with this build.
Every "adventure" acted as a learning moment. We learned more about ourselves. We learned what may work in theory, but doesn't necessarily work in practice. Most importantly, we learned how to take something that was occasionally seen as time consuming and energy sucking, only to turn it into a valuable tool for chasing more and more adventures and finding the freedom to roam.
After Poptop Overland completed their work, we now had a camper that was a well-insulated shelter on wheels. We had worm-drive powered actuators that were strong/reliable/effective for raising and lowering our roof even with a heavy load of snow. Our diesel heater had appropriate intake/exhaust which kept the cabin cozy. The electronics were fully functioning and integrated properly. Our Froli bed system was comfortable and provided appropriate ventilation to avoid any condensation. The interior layout matched the needs for our adventurous travel. Things were starting to look up. So, we flew back down to San Diego and got ready for another shakedown run back home. Let's see if our investment is starting to payoff in happiness, convenience, and reliability.
Well, what can I say? It wouldn't be an adventure if everything ran smoothly. So, what exactly would our next adventure entail? How about losing your brakes and steering on a windy mountain road? Is that adventurous enough? I'd say it was enough to make me pucker properly.
At least we only had the motorcycle trailer and no bike on it when the steering box blew. The mechanic in Oakhurst found that it was an o ring that failed. That sent power steering fluid all throughout the engine compartment and properly lubed up the brakes. I was able to downshift and get enough bite from the brakes to steer off and into this pullout before careening out of control down the mountain. Lee's At Your Service in Oakhurst, CA was available and able to fix the o-ring on the steering pump and get us on our way in only a few hours. We did miss getting the kiddos at pickup from school. But, at least we weren't stranded for days or weeks with an overly complicated repair.
All in all, the RAM hasn't really left us totally stranded. This was our only real issue since the check engine light incident when we first picked up the camper. Yes, there are a few little details like rear window relays having an issue. But, the 6.4l Hemi equipped Ram 2500 Tradesman isn't some full on lemon. For a salvaged vehicle, it has been strong enough to get us away from it all. More importantly it's helped us get back home when the adventures are said and done. But, it definitely isn't as inspiring as our older Tacoma. We always have to balance the pros and cons, as well as address any other specific wants or needs.
Make A List Of Needs Versus Wants
Most of us have a list that we keep for what would make a dream camper build. Yet, we all have to balance the list of needs versus wants when we work on those lists. We've always wanted a capable 4x4 vehicle equipped with a camper that can get us to those off the beaten track adventure spots where we like to go. We want to sleep comfortably, eat and drink well, and clean up after playing on our bikes, boards, skis, skateboards, hikes, paddleboards, and everything else in between.
As we get older and start thinking about our own next evolution, our next camper will have to evolve as well. We may need something that is more conducive for full-time living. We may need a camper that works well for being a campground host or other similar type of gig. Although wanting to take our camper into remote spots is still a viable desire, needing a more suitable basecamp for some of those previously listed needs may outweigh the wants. So, now we own two campers and unfortunately one will probably have to go. Of course, the new camper is capable of towing 15k pounds. So...you never know what might happen.
Need Versus Wants
Here's a brief outline of what we have done and might still do to make this camper a bit more user friendly for us:
The electronics are essential these days for being more productive on the road. A cell booster, more solar, or even more battery capacity can make things quite different. With more battery storage it could be possible to get rid of any propane kitchen appliances and convert to induction cooking. This is really a want, and not a need. But, thankfully we are setup for that if things change in the future.
Our roof setup is great with the MaxxFan and we probably wouldn't think about adding any A/C. It's never really been needed. However, we do wish that we would have added a storage system up there for paddleboards or even skis/snowboards. I'm sure it would be possible to weld a couple crossbars to the solid trim piece that Poptop Overland upgraded when we had the actuator upgraded. It's a want, although sometimes it feels like a need.
Speaking of Poptop Overland, our Seams So Fine canvas has been spectacular for insulation as well as for keeping out the elements. Our only want would be the ability to zip up the insulating panels to add a bit more protection from the cold. Of course, that may also contribute to potential condensation. So, we think we've got a pretty solid canvas setup as is.
Our diesel heater came with the camper, so we didn't want another additional expense upgrading or changing. We thought about swapping the diesel version of the heater for a gasoline version. But, the 6.4l Hemi is already thirsty. So, we weren't keen on using any more gasoline than we already do. If anything, a propane version like Truma's Varioheat could be a solid upgrade in the future. But, if it ain't broke, don't fix it was the mantra. So, this upgrade was s a definite want and not a need.
We didn't hesitate when it came time to upgrade our bed and the ventilation system to reduce any condensation underneath our mattress. The Froli system helped us solve any condensation issues. Plus, it made the camper's mattress so much more comfortable. A good night's sleep is most certainly a need, instead of a want. We can't celebrate this enough.
Suspension is a very important aspect of any adventure mobile. It needs to handle highway speeds, as well as some rough and tumble off roading. We'd like to adjust the suspension to better suit the camper's weight. We even have some mild rubbing up front and could remove or relocate the track bar/sway bar to alleviate some of the issues. But, a properly adjusted suspension upgrade would make every adventure a little bit better. It's an eventual need. But, there's no real need to upgrade until the other system is completely worn out.
Water and cold weather don't mix well. That's the main reason we left water out of our setup in the first place. We've made due with portable water containers, which actually work very well for keeping items from freezing and eventually leaking throughout the cabin. An upgraded water system, including a Wrappon, Composting, or even a Cartridge type toilet would make adventures a bit easier. However, there are some great "poop in a bag" options that are manageable for most adventures. This upgrade is a want. And, our needs have been met with our existing water/sanitation setup.
A tunnel box with a proper ladder storage sounds like a great idea, until the additional cost is calculated. Sure, we'd love to secure our ladder outside of the camper. And, a tunnel box for bikes and other gear would keep our organization needs met. But, we'd have to purchase another flatbed or modify our existing flatbed. That money would be better spent on adventures, instead of the upgrade. At least we know what we might need for the next flatbed build.
Fuel, water, propane, recovery boards, and even spare tire storage options can make a vehicle look like a decorated Christmas tree. We solved a little bit of this with the addition of a Rigd Mega Swing. We're able to keep 5gal of fuel safely stored outside of the camper, as well as relocate our spare. Yet, we also lost a bit of departure angle and have to deal with a little extra when swapping out trailers, bike racks, etc. An upgraded rack off the rear of the camper, similar to the FWC option would make quite a bit of sense for organization and less complications. So, although a little frivolous, this upgrade would be filed under a need. But, there's no immediate need, since our alternative is working sufficiently well.
Our accessory lighting is well thought out. The Vision X light bar lights up the night. The yellow pods on the bumper help in fog/snow. And, the ditch lights prevent us from making a wrong turn while looking for pull offs on dark, forested roads. We could probably reinforce the AEV tube bumper to keep the yellow lights from "dancing". AEV makes an accessory to prevent the bouncing. Plus, I would really like to upgrade the switches to the AEV Switchpod, which is installed above the radio on the dash. The existing switch is OK. It works and has room to expand. But, the lighted display can be distracting at night and it's mildly inconvenient mounted on the A pillar. Since most of it all does work, although a bit inconvenient, it's really just a want.
The front hitch helps when you seem to overpack. It can be used for bikes, firewood rack, a generator, and more. But, the more you pack up there, the less air intake is going across your radiator, the visibility is obscured, and you also have items that will be covered in bugs/road debris when you reach your final destination. We thought it was a need, but it's really just a want for some conveniences.
An awning spends much of it's time tucked away and not in use. However, park in an overly sunny spot or endure a long trip in the rain and an awning becomes a need. One want that we would like to see would be a cover to bridge the gap between the awning and the wall of the camper. Our new actuators created a gap and that gap really comes into play during wet and inclement weather. We've seen Fiamma offer a small piece to bridge the gap. Of course, we've also seen people stuff a pool noodle in there to help divert any water flow. So, our needs have basically been met with something simple.
The powered actuators were originally some type of Amazon product and almost killed two employees at Poptop Overland. They snapped in two, as the worker were prepping the roof for the upgrade. Our current actuators aren't the fastest. But, they're powerful, reliable, and work well for what we need. I could see the benefit of a faster system. But, that seems like a frivolous want and definitely isn't a need. Our needs are definitely met with the current Poptop Overland system, even if other setups are faster.
The addition of the AEV bumper, especially the winch, is something that is a quite valuable necessity, especially when going well off the beaten path. The additional weight has added to our future suspension needs. But, the piece of mind is more than enough to outweigh any rubbing issues. We needed this, although maybe we may want something a bit lighter.
The 37" Federal R/T tires came on the truck when we bought it. They've come in handy when Tahoe got dumped on with snow and those tires were enough to get in/out of the neighborhood. However, we do think that a 35" with more of an all-terrain tread could better suit our needs. Although we may want a 37" (or even a 40") in the snow or even in treacherous off-road situations. The 35" may be a smarter choice and can fulfill most of our needs.
The Vice Customs layout is pretty well suited for our storage and dining needs, as well providing an optional twin bed down below. I've used that twin bed during winter storms to keep more heat in the vehicle by not popping the top. However, if we did the layout again, we'd probably choose to keep that as more of a couch, instead of a complete dinette system. We rarely sit at the dinette, since we don't really work remotely or need a dedicated table for meals, cards, etc. Our needs are met with the hybrid system, so an alternative layout is really just a want.
Speaking of tables or even tabletops, our upgrade from the aluminum countertops to bamboo is awesome. The old aluminum was sharp, scratched easily, and came unglued. Our bamboo has a great stain, an easy to clean finish, and works incedibly well as a cooktop, for clothes storage, and even for laying out drinks and snacks. We wish this need would've happened sooner. But, we wanted to put our resources elsewhere, since they seemed to work well enough.
As for any other wants/needs for upgrades, there can never be enough storage, organization, and other similar additions. But, we like to keep things a bit modular to adapt for all of the changing seasonal requirements. What may be a necessity in the winter, may become frivolous in Summer. Our goal was to build a camper that can adapt to any season or adventure and wouldn't be too set in stone.
Our current system is capable of handling any and all adventures for winter, spring, summer, and fall. We can hike, mountain bike, ski/snowboard, paddleboard and more. Our camper can work well for solo adventures, plus it can even accommodate the full family of five, including the dog. We can urban "stealth" camp, if needed. Or, we can pull into a campground with hookups and live a bit more comfortably. My favorite part about our poptop flatbed camper is that we can really do almost anything our heart desires. Add the M-416 trailer and we can be prepared for so much more, since there is additional water, fuel, toys, and even a small generator. Our camper has evolved into a four-season adventure rig ready for making memories. It'll be sad to see it go. It's been an exhilarating adventure putting it all together. But, we hope that someone else will be able to pickup where we left off. We can't thank all of the people that helped to make our dream a reality enough.
What basically started life as a Four Wheel Camper, then evolved to become a Bison Overland Camper, and has now been updated with the work of Zero Declination, Poptop Overland, Seams So Fine, and more. So, we're not really sure what to call this beast anymore. We've heard it called T-Rex, as well as just a Flatbed Poptop Camper, Mobile Mountain Chalet, Adventure Vehicle, Overland Camper, Expedition Rig, etc.. All we know is that it's been ours since we parted with our AT Overland Habitat equipped Tacoma. It's evolved to suit our wants and needs. Now, it may be time to be a part of someone else's adventures.
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