Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Our custom true flatbed truck camper build thread

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Topic: Our custom true flatbed truck camper build thread

Posted By: noteven on 07/29/14 04:49am

WR250 and XT225?

Oh and still a great project. [emoticon]

Posted By: Jfet on 07/29/14 06:53am

They are both 2011 WR250R but my wife's bike has been lowered a few inches with a special knuckle. It is a tall bike, just right for me at 6'7".

On the ramp issue, we are still brainstorming a interim fix until we build the garage pod (which will have a 8 foot + 4 foot ramp door). We loaded the bikes easily in our sloped driveway with a 6.5 foot ramp we already had but on a flat surface the bed of the truck is too high for that ramp. I was looking at the black widow 12 foot folding ramps but I don't want to spend $600 on a temporary solution. Might be time to break out the welder to hack something together...

Thanks for all of the nice comments.

Posted By: CAJW on 07/29/14 08:50am

Jfet wrote:

NSFW (it may make you want to leave early)

So sexy it hurts.

[image]

Very nice! My Mrs. is dying to see the interior and I'm interested in your loading ramp system for the bikes. Pictures would be nice,that is, whenever you're not out having fun with the new rig!

2013 AF 996, 2013 Chevy 3500 CC,LWB,4X4, Duramax, DRW, 3.73 rear, Torklift Stableloads & Tie-downs,Fast Guns, Ride Rite Air Bags, Superhitch w/ 32" extension.Big Wigs, Front Timbrens, TST TPMS-507,CubbyCam, Trimetric. TM & SC 2030 150W + 100W suitcase

Posted By: Jfet on 07/29/14 10:31am

We still have some work to do on the interior, might be delayed a bit while we use the camper this summer. I will get some pics soon when we put the overhead cabinets in.

On the ramp ideas. We had an idea just now of making a simple attachment point on our short ramp for the four Rieco Titan 2000 pound camper jacks we currently lift the camper with (and thus carry with us). You could then roll the motorcycle on the ramp while it is level and raise it up to the height of the flatbed using the four camper jacks.

This has some advantages.

1) Easy to build

2) Don't have to buy anything or carry much extra stuff (already carry the jack stands with us)

3) Probably one of the most stable, safest ways to get a bike loaded solo.

4) Doesn't matter if the bike is disabled, as long as it can be pushed on a level surface

If we are in an area where there happens to be a small dune or slope we can back up near, we can just use the 6 foot ramp as a ramp and quickly load/unload.

I do admit it would be pretty slow to load the bikes in this manner, but it is a pretty temporary solution.

[image]

Posted By: kereams on 07/29/14 11:40am

Awesome idea!

*2011 F350 SRW CC/LB/PSD - Mods: Custom overload springs with custom early engagement blocks~Firestone Airbags~Hellwig Big Wig Rear Sway~Rancho RS9000XL~Bilstein Steering Damper~19.5" Hankook DH01'a on steel wheels.
*2012 Chalet Ascent S95R Camper

Posted By: Jfet on 08/05/14 08:00am

We took our first overnight trip in the camper. We had a early Monday morning appointment to get a VIN assigned and decided to spend Sunday night at Belfair park (a state park on the Hood canal that is very close to the Tahuya ORV park).

The camper/truck is a lot easier to drive than I thought it would be and does not sway or rock really at all. The cabover design and rear camera make it very easy maneuver and I can almost fit it in a long single parking spot. This is pretty incredible for something of this size which can carry two 600 pound snowmobiles plus two 300 pound dual sport bikes and still be well under GVWR.

Fuel mileage wasn't great but was about as expected. You would think the sleek aerodynamic styling of the cabover would get us in the neighborhood of a Prius but alas it was quite a bit less than that. We got 9.5mpg with the camper and the two motorcycles on the flatbed. This is opposed to about 11 to 13mpg with just the empty flatbed. If I adjust these numbers using TC camper forum GAAP fuel reporting, we technically got 19mpg doing 65mph (woo hoo!)

I took a picture at night to see what the clearance lights and outdoor floods (only turned up to 25% power) looked like. All you can really see is the bright spots of the floods.

Next step is to get the aluminum storage boxes installed under the flatbed.

[image]

Posted By: jimh406 on 08/05/14 08:22am

Looks great!

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member

Posted By: BoonHauler on 08/07/14 12:00am

I'm curious to hear how the furnace is working out for you? .......and wondering if you used the 1000 btu a foot method of sizing?

With as efficient of an envelope that you have I'd have to think that rule of thumb just wouldn't be very accurate. That's for tent trailers and alike.

05 RAM 3500 CTD 4x4 Q/C Laramie DRW/NV5600/3.73, B&W Gooseneck, MaxBrake, PacBrake PRXB, Brite Box Fogster, BD steering Box Brace
2014 BoonHauler 3614

Posted By: Jfet on 08/07/14 07:21am

BoonHauler wrote:

Furnace! It has been 90 degrees during the day and 70 degrees at night.

Based on how well this thing is insulated, I think the near 20,000 BTU furnace will be overkill if anything. The tiny 500 watt AC certainly manages to keep the inside 25 degrees below the outside.

This fall we will know more about the furnace as sometimes it dips into the 20s during October.

Posted By: Capt Eddie on 08/07/14 07:23am

Can I ask what is used to stop the side to side movement of the camper. It appears to be the tiedown tabs. The truck tiedown loops appear to be sticking out from the side of the bed. Could they be hit in that location? I am not criticizing the build, I love it. Just getting your idea on how you solved the problem.

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