Kimbo Owner Support

01 // Setup & installation

Before your first trip, the work splits into three phases. Confirm your truck is ready to carry a Kimbo — payload margin checked against the door-jamb sticker (not the manufacturer's marketing spec sheet), the recommended suspension setup for your platform installed, tie-down points identified and torqued to spec. Walk through the systems on the camper itself — water fill, propane connection, electrical panel, heater pilot, MaxxAir vent. Then practice the load and unload sequence with the jacks at the factory or in your driveway before you leave on a real trip. Per-truck specifics (payload margin, suspension upgrade recommendations, generation and trim caveats) live on the fit page for your specific truck.

02 // Maintenance

Aluminum doesn't ask for the kind of maintenance fiberglass or wood-framed campers do. There's no paint, no gelcoat, no internal wood structure that can rot or delaminate behind a sealed wall. What the shell does ask for is regular inspection — rivets, seams, seals, the chimney pass-through cover plate or installed heater flue, and window gaskets at the start and end of each travel season. Wash with mild soap and water; skip abrasive scrubbers and acidic cleaners. Lubricate latches and hinges twice a year. The K8's Arctic Tern double-pane windows are designed for long service life but the gaskets are still a wear item over a multi-decade ownership horizon. If you've drilled into the shell to add an accessory, re-inspect those penetrations annually — they're the most likely place a seal will eventually need attention.

03 // Electrical & solar

The 12V system is the part of the camper that has the most owner-serviceable surface area — and the most third-party components, each with its own manual. Battery state of charge is the most important number to know: check it before storage, and on lithium chemistries, charge to around 80% (not 100%) if storing for more than a week. Keep solar panels clear of debris, snow, and shade for full output. If a 12V load suddenly stops responding, the charge controller's reset is the most common first step — if your build includes Victron power management, the Victron Connect app surfaces the real diagnostic data in a way the panel-mounted display can't. Component-specific issues (fan speed, refrigerator startup, inverter shore-power transfer) are best diagnosed against the manufacturer's manual, then escalated to the factory if the manufacturer's troubleshooting doesn't resolve it.

04 // Heating & insulation

Heating is the most-asked-about system in cold weather — and the one most tied to a specific third-party manufacturer. The Dickinson Marine heater (Propane on the K6 and the K8 propane-spec, Diesel on the K8 diesel-spec) has its own factory manual that covers priming, lighting, flame adjustment, and maintenance — keep that manual accessible, because it's the authoritative reference for heater operation. The K6's R5 rigid foam insulation and the K8's R10 are designed for real four-season use, but condensation management is on the owner: crack a roof vent any time you're producing moisture (sleeping, cooking, drying gear) and run the MaxxAir fan to move air through the space. Below about -10°F (-23°C), propane efficiency declines as the fuel vaporizes less effectively — K8 owners running diesel see more consistent output at extreme cold. Inspect the heater flue and fuel line annually regardless of fuel type.

05 // Warranty

Kimbo's standard transferable warranty is two years from the date of delivery. Registration is automatic at delivery — the original purchaser is recorded against the unit serial number when the camper leaves the factory, with no separate registration form for you to mail in. Keep your delivery paperwork and any subsequent service records together; they're the supporting documentation for any future claim. To transfer ownership, contact the factory with the unit serial number and the new owner's information and we'll update the registration. For service: major work happens in Bellingham by appointment, but the factory can ship parts and walk you through smaller repairs by phone, text, or video call — most electrical, heater, and seal issues are resolvable remotely. Owner modifications don't automatically void the warranty, but the specific FAQs on /kimbo6 and /kimbo8 walk through what's covered and what isn't.

06 // Replacement parts

Kimbo keeps spares for every camper we've ever built. When ordering, have your unit serial number ready — it's the key the factory uses to pull the right specs (window dimensions vary across generations, rivet patterns evolved over the years, sealant compounds were updated). Common parts (rivets, sealants, window kits, latch hardware, MaxxAir replacement parts) are stocked and typically ship within 5–7 business days. Less common parts can be fabricated to order, with longer lead times. The shell itself is the most repairable surface in the category — aluminum panels can be cut, replaced, and re-riveted by a qualified fabricator using factory-supplied panels and instructions, or the camper can come back to Bellingham for shell work that's beyond a local shop's comfort zone. For owner-installed components (fridge, additional solar, inverter), source replacement parts through the component manufacturer.