Overland Explorer Camp-M User manual

Camp-M
Operators Manual

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Camper features
2. Raising the roof
3. Component locations and functions exterior
4. Component location and functions interior
5. Camper tie down system
6. Loading

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
1: FEATURES
Your Camp M camper is constructed with materials and methods exceeding anything that is
available on the current market. There are 3 types of composites used in the construction of
your new camper, all selected for optimum performance in their respective applications. All of
our composites are proprietary, manufactured in USA and Canada to our specifications, and
assembled by Canadian craftsmen with years of experience. Truly a North American product.
The floor panel is laid up wet, gel coat, fiberglass, polyester resin, with a polypropylene
honeycomb core. This product has been designed and utilized for its brute strength, the
exterior of this panel is fiberglass with a poly coating for abrasion resistance, the interior has
enough fiberglass on it to support a lifetime of foot traffic and the abuse a floor can take. The
interior side of the floor has an automotive gel coat to seal the panel itself, it is then covered
with one-piece Lonseal marine flooring, a very tough, wear resistant flooring designed for harsh
environments. There is no wood in the floor, nothing to rot, nothing to fail.
The wall panels are another proprietary wet laid up product manufactured to our specs with a
unique skin design, and a foam core manufactured to our specification for a very good balance
between strength and insulation. Both sides of the wall panels are finished with an automotive
gel coat, maintenance for the walls is the same as any fiberglass product, minor scratches can
be polished out easily.
The roof panel is more of a conventional composite, a foam core with a bonded FRP skin. Our
skins are produced by Crane or Lamilux, with UV stability and thickness to our specification.
This roof is manufactured this way to keep the weight as low as possible, while retaining
structural integrity, and insulation value to match the rest of the unit. Care must be taken if
getting on the roof of the camper, minor denting of the roof surface can occur from knees and
other point loading, it is purely a cosmetic condition that can occur with no effect on structural
integrity.
This whole package is wrapped in proprietary aluminum extrusions designed to minimize
weight and maximize strength. By design the shell is watertight, the extrusions supply a second
complete seal for the shell, along with increased structural integrity, and damage resistance.
The roof extrusion set, upper and lower, is the workhorse of the roof and allows excellent
sealing when closed, supports the soft wall, anchors the hinges, supports and hides the lift
assist cylinders, and looks good doing it. All exterior extrusions are media blasted and powder
coated with an automotive/industrial quality polyester powder coat for corrosion resistance,
and durability.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
1: FEATURES CONTINUED
The interior cabinets are all CNC cut and formed 5052 marine grade aluminum for durability. All
hinges are marine grade stainless; all cabinet doors are polymer sheet material, an FDA and
USDA approved material. The cabinets are media blasted and powder coated with a textured
polyester powder coat for durability, appearance, and ease of maintenance. All latches are
compression latches to keep everything tight, this is especially critical on rough roads, and in
rough environments. Keeping everything tight prevents noise, wear, and premature failure. Our
tables and countertops are produced from fir plywood, with a textured laminate on top and a
sealing membrane on the bottom, this minimizes any environmental impact to the only wood
product in your camper. The toilet cabinet slides out on ball bearing slides rated at 500 pounds,
not necessarily for the weight capacity, but for stability and durability. This all translates to a
camper that is exceptionally easy to clean and maintain to a standard equal of its construction.
The quality and properties of the shell demanded a soft wall solution to match. The soft walls
are made with a North American sourced marine coated fabric exterior, a microfiber loft
insulation, and a breathable treated canvas interior fabric. Our soft walls are highly insulating,
extremely durable, and much quieter than a single fabric side wall. This is standard equipment
on the Camp M which helps to provide a comfortable environment whether it is cold, or hot
outside. Insulation works both ways! Our window blind is integral, and constructed the same as
the rest of the soft wall, fully insulated.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
2: RAISING AND LOWERING THE ROOF
The roof on your Camp M is designed to be easy to raise and lower, and be very structural
when opened fully, and closed.
1. Remove safety pins and release all 4 heavy duty roof latches

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
2. From the inside, lift up on the roof near the rear, close to the rear hinge. The hinge is
designed to provide lift assistance for the initial raising of the roof, and the assist struts
are designed to pick up the second stage of lift, so relatively low force is required to
raise the roof. The door must be open to allow air displacement.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
3. Once the roof has raised, using the handle on the hinge, push the handle towards the
soft wall until it over centers and the top half and bottom half of the hinge are in
contact. This will lock the hinge; it is generally very obvious as it basically “snaps” into
the locked position. KEEP HANDS AND FINGERS ON THE HANDLE ONLY, THE HINGE CAN
BE A PINCH POINT.
4. Repeat the process for the front hinge, generally lifting the roof near the center will get
the roof up quite easily.
5. Remove all of the bungee cords connecting the side walls.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
Roof in raised position

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
Roof in raised position.
6. To lower the roof, connect the bungee cords between the side walls. This is to help fold
the soft walls in. The soft walls only require a small amount of force at the initial part of
the drop to help fold the top inwards. By design, the soft wall will fold in very nicely
right after it starts to fold, and the bungee cords will become slack. Slack bungees are
normal with the top closed, and there is no wear caused by tension on the cords in
transit.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
Bungee cords installed; they start the folding process for the soft wall.
7. Unlock the front hinge by pulling the handle away from the soft wall, and continue
pulling until the front of the top is lowered. The hinge can be moved vertically with the
handle to assist in aligning the top as it comes down.
Front hinge down, bungees slack, top folded in.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
8. Unlock the rear hinge by pulling the handle away from the soft wall, again, vertical
movement of the hinge handle will assist in the alignment of the top while it is coming
down.
9. From the outside, ensure all of the soft wall has folded into the camper, and nothing is
in the mating area of the top to the cabin. The soft walls generally fold in very nicely due
to the materials and construction.
10. If the roof is forward of the camper (not sitting flush to the camper), push up on the rear
hinge to align it. If the roof is more towards the rear of the camper, pull the rear hinge
down to align it.
11. Latch all 4 corners with the heavy-duty latches, and install the lock pins, you are ready
to go.
3: COMPONENT LOCATIONS EXTERIOR
1. Propane system.
The propane cabinet is at the front left-hand corner of the camper, accessed through a
non locking door. (1)- 10 pound 1 cylinder fit the mounting bracket and is secured with a
ratchet strap. The strap does not require immense pressure to retain the cylinder, but
needs to be tight. The regulator and connecting hose are also located in the cabinet.
Connect the propane connector to the cylinder and tighten firmly by hand.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
Propane tank in cabinet with ratchet strap.
2. Connecting and turning on the propane cylinder.
Opening Propane Tank: Before opening the valve on the propane tank, first make sure
ALL propane appliances inside the camper are turned OFF. Once you are sure all
propane appliances are turned off, then you can safely open the valve on the propane
tank. Proceed to open the propane tank valve slowly. By opening the propane valve
slowly, it will allow the check valve to open properly and allow the correct amount of
propane gas to enter the system. Wait a few minutes before turning on any propane
appliances inside or outside the camper. This will allow the pressure to build up inside
the propane hose and also ensure that the safety check valve will open up. Your camper
should now receive the full propane flow it needs to run the appliances.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
If you haven’t used the camper in a while, and you open the propane tank valve too
quickly, you might have restricted flow. It is best to open the propane tank valve very
slowly, wait a few minutes, and then start using the propane appliances.
Prior to operating the furnace or hot water heater, you should purge air from the
propane supply lines. The easiest & quickest way to purge air from the propane lines is
to first raise the camper roof. Next, light the stove and operate each burner for approx.
30 seconds. Lighting the stove usually removes most any trapped air in the propane
lines and will then allow faster and easier lighting of other appliances.
Propane has a distinct smell added to warn the user of a possible leak. If you smell
propane inside the camper, make sure the stove knobs are in the “OFF” position, exit
the unit immediately, close the propane tank valve that is located on top of the propane
tank, and allow ventilation through the door and windows to exhaust the vapors. Wait
until the scent of the propane is no longer present. Check for valves that might have
been left open. A spray bottle with water with a small amount of dish soap added can
be used to spray the fittings and propane lines to inspect for potential leaks. The soap
will bubble if a leak is present. Immediately have your camper checked out by an
authorized RV service center to find the possible propane leak before using your camper
again.
3. Utility connections.
The utility connections are all located in one location on the passenger side of the
camper right behind the propane access door. In this location you will find the 30-amp
shore power inlet, fresh water fill, sink (grey water) drain connection, 12-volt solar
connection, and outside shower port.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
Utility Grouping on the Passenger Side of the Camper
4. Truck electrical connector.
Your Camp X has a 4 pin Anderson connector that has 2 6-gauge conductors that supply
the 12-volt connection between the truck and camper. There are 2 14-gauge conductors
that provide power and ground circuits for the clearance lights, these tie in to the trucks
lighting circuit. The truck chassis battery should be tied in with #6 conductors, and the
ground should run right back to the battery as well. Avoid grounding to the truck frame.
With the advent of smart alternators and batteries it is imperative to avoid voltage drop
due to inadequate cable size over length. Even conventional batteries will not receive a
full charge if the charge conductor is too small. The conductor sizes selected with the
connectors selected for the Camp X eliminate a low voltage supply into the camper’s
system. This connector is located at the front left-hand side of the camper.
4 Pin Plugs RED= (6 gage-50 amp fused power) WHITE LEG =(ground)
BROWN- (16 gage-marker light power) LIGHT BLUE (16 gage-ignition power)

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
4 Pin Anderson connector, with 6-gauge charge conductors, and 14-gauge clearance light
conductors. Drivers side front tie down access port is visible behind.
4: INTERIOR COMPONENTS AND OPERATION
1. Battery.
Your Camp M is equipped with either an AGM or Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, the
battery is located in a tray located below the front dinette seat in front of the water
tank. We only recommend fully sealed AGM batteries as a minimum battery
specification. Conventional batteries vent explosive hydrogen when charging, and
corrosion can cause electrical issues.
2. Main DC Breaker.
The main DC breaker is located above the battery enclosure. It is a resettable 90-amp
breaker that can be manually closed or open.
3. Converter.
Your Camp M is equipped with a Redarc BC/DC 40 power management system as standard
equipment. The Redarc is located under the front dinette seat. It converts AC shore power

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
4. to DC, charges the battery from shore power, charges and manages vehicle charging
(critical in newer vehicles with smart alternators) and solar control. The control panel for
the battery management system is located in the main control panel at the rear drivers’
side of the main cabinet. Please refer to the supplied factory Redarc manual for set up
and operation, or alternatively download the manual directly from this link:
https://www.redarc.com.au/Content/Images/uploaded/Manuals/BMS1230S2%2
0Instruction%20Manual.pdf
Battery storage, water tank, water pump, tank drain, strainer, DC main resettable
breaker, located under dinette floor.
5. Main control panel.
The main control panel for the camper is at the rear of the drivers’ side cabinet. You will
find the following components here:
•Exterior light switch
•Interior light switch
•Water pump switch
•Truma heater and hot water heater control panel with thermostat function
•12-volt accessory outlet
•12-volt USB outlet

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
6. Fuse panel.
The fuse panel is located on the back of the control panel, to access the fuses simply
open the latches at the top of the control panel and it will swing down. All circuits are
marked for capacity, all 12-volt circuits are distributed from this point, use only fuse
sizes specified. Altering fuse sizes may result in a fire, and loss of warranty.
Do not store anything in the utility cabinet as it may block airflow, short electrical
components, or damage heating or plumbing components.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
7. Water pump.
The water pump is located under the dinette floor. There is a strainer on the inlet of the
pump that may require cleaning and servicing that is dependant on water supply.
Inspect and clean the strainer as required or annually, it simply screws off and back on,
use caution to make sure the sealing O ring is correctly reinstalled when reassembling.
The switch for the water pump is on the control panel.
8. Water tank.
The water tank is located under the dinette floor. The level is visible by looking through
the level indicating slots in the front access panel. The water tank is filled at the utility

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
connection point on the drivers’ side of the camper. A locking cap for the filler is
standard equipment for your security. The drain for the water tank is located between
the tank and the pump, and the drain point could be on the left- or right-hand side at
the front of the camper. There is a winterizing valve also located between the tank and
the pump.
Top view shows fresh water drain, and strainer, and winterizing valve.

Overland Explorer Expedition Vehicles
140-8319 Chiles Industrial Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4P 1H2
403-346-9199
Fresh water level can be measured visually through provided sight slots
9. Winterizing.
To winterize your Camp M, open the tank drain valve located under the dinette seat and
leave open. It is best to set the camper at a slight angle to maximize the amount of
water that drains from the tank. Open the exterior service door on the Truma hot water
heater and drain the water heater according to instructions located inside the door, and
in the supplied Truma manual. On the back of the heater inside the utility compartment
there is a valve that isolates the hot water heater from the rest of the plumbing system,
it is brass and it is located between the hot (red) water line, and the cold (blue) water
line. Put this valve in the bypass position. Between the fresh water tank and the water
pump, there is a winterizing valve, put this valve into the correct position, insert the
clear vinyl tube into a jug of RV plumbing anti freeze, and turn the water pump on. Open
the faucet on the cold tap, then the hot tap until antifreeze is running through, operate
the outside shower on both cold and hot settings until antifreeze is running through.
Remove the antifreeze, and run the water pump with the taps open until the system
pumps out the remaining antifreeze. It is recommended to leave all taps open for the
winter.