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: Jfet on 02/20/13 02:10pm

Thanks Wes, I edited all the posts to width=640

Now those with poor eyesight will start complaining :-)

Posted By: Jfet on 02/20/13 02:14pm

Gary, we will be coming up there to Alaska in a few years in this camper, so make room! [emoticon]

I like the idea of curved sides...but that really makes my roof hard to build, plus all of the cabinets inside would be funky. Will just have to slow down when it is really gusty and deal with the possible hit in mpg.

Will just have to leave that cool feature to Avion and Airstream.

Posted By: btggraphix on 02/20/13 03:37pm

Jfet wrote:

Gary, we will be coming up there to Alaska in a few years in this camper, so make room! [emoticon]

Not to disagree with the suggestion of curved sides.....I like that idea not so much for the wind resistence or fuel mileage, but for clearance issues. Trees branches (and even curved tunnel roofs) are higher in the middle of the road than on the edges. You guys get to thank the delivery trucks (and me?!?!) for automatically trimming the trees by hitting them with the trailers and cargo boxes. But also street signs can hang out over the road at the edge....and the worst thing is crowned roads in some towns where the outter-most lane is tilted enough that the upper edge of my camper can end up over the curb. I drive in the left lane in those cities as much as possible. Same idea off road, if the road is tilted, and the trees are vertical it is much more likely to hit branches or even trunks.

So having said that, Jfet - I wouldn't expect you will have much problem with sidewinds & semis blowing by the other way and that sort of thing. I can be driving at 70MPH one way on a two lane road and have a semi come the other way at 70......when we pass each other I HEAR the sound of the wind and only "feel" it in the rig the baremost bit. MOST of the time I literally can't tell that a semi went by from the handling of our truck. That is despite the fact that my rig is 12'8.5" tall at its highest. The difference is that it weighs about 19,000 pounds and 12K+ is in the chassis alone, down low. It handles wind WAY better than our old 3500# load in our old 2500 truck. Your rig will likely be similar, though your chassis is a whole lot lighter than mine.

I like the idea though and if I were designing something from scratch I would seriously think about an angled or curved top especially if it were smooth...branches and wires and that sort of thing would slip up and over much much more easily with a shape like that. It would help the off-road capability a lot I think. I would consider it, but might not build it that way. But with your 2WD truck and 20' bed it doesn't sound like you are planning on off-road too much so I honestly doubt it would be worth all the extra work and hassle to do.

PS: and thanks for the comment....we dig it too [emoticon]

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/20/13 04:38pm

Jfet wrote:

Gary, we will be coming up there to Alaska in a few years in this camper, so make room! [emoticon]

Just as a thought, you mentioned "flat-roof" The great part of the rounded sides is that you can skin the sides first, then skin the top such that it rolls over the curve, and extends just over the side panels. very clean, and with all your re-enforcing of the frame, would work very slick. as for the inside, I don;t know what your plan for the insides was, but FRP rolls around corners very nicely, as does aluminum. As for the cabinetry, I thought it was going to be really difficult with all the curves of the Avion, but after a few tries you get really good and making the measurements, and it truly adds to the character of the TC. and yours would be far easier than and Avion or Airstream since your will only have the upper curve. The Avions and Airstream's are truly rounded, front to back, and top to bottom (think pregnant roller-skate :-) )
Not trying to argue, or change your mind, just wanted to add that there are a lot of pro's about the rounded top corners that offset many of the con's.

Keep us posted with pics as the build continues!!

Garry

Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper

Posted By: Hodag1 on 02/20/13 05:03pm

Bummer you already ordered it
"Have you thought about using a 12Vdc refrigerator instead of a 3-way?" is a great suggestion. I am glad I have a Novacool.

Posted By: Jfet on 02/20/13 07:07pm

Hodag1 wrote:

Bummer you already ordered it
"Have you thought about using a 12Vdc refrigerator instead of a 3-way?" is a great suggestion. I am glad I have a Novacool.

Yeah...oh well...but the 3 way refeers, while horrible on 12V, are massively efficient on propane. They can run for like 2 months on 14 gallons. Quiet and cheaper than a 12V compressor fridge.

When we have 120V available for free, like at a campsite, then I guess it is a draw.

* This post was edited 02/20/13 07:18pm by Jfet *

Posted By: Jfet on 02/21/13 07:29pm

Not a lot to update today but I did add some little 1x2 down the middle of the base frame to help keep the cross members straight and maybe provide a little stiffening and floor support.

Also I am including some pictures of our sailboat which will be pulled by the Isuzu and the snowmobiles and motorcycles which will be on the back of the flatbed. A lot to carry around, but we will try. [emoticon]

Posted By: sabconsulting on 02/21/13 11:10pm

You lucky ****** [emoticon]

- it's just going to be one big mobile fun factory isn't it [emoticon]

- now, which of the toys should I use today? Hmmmmm.

I am glad to see you are making progress - if only for the selfish reason of looking forward to opening the computer each day and settling back to see what you have done [emoticon]

Steve.

'07 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab diesel + '91 Shadow Cruiser - Sky Cruiser 1
'98 Jeep TJ 4.0
'15 Ford Fiesta ST
'09 Fiat Panda 1.2

Posted By: Wes Tausend on 02/22/13 01:19pm

Jfet wrote:

...

Ummm. WR250's. I like the way you think. I like the sailboat and snowmobile. But I have several quite older on-road plus some off-road bikes and I'd trade them all for a streetable WR250 or two.

If you haven't already done so, you might consider an inner vapor barrier even if you use foam insulation. While foam insulation is relatively water-proof, it is not vapor proof. Dry water vapor finding is way in, and then condensing, can't get back out as easily as it can from fiberglass batt. Not using a vapor barrier so is one of the design errors commonly made by OEM RV manufacturers.

Wes
...

Days spent camping are not subtracted from one's total.
- 2019 Leprechaun 311FS Class C
- Linda, Wes and Quincy the Standard Brown Poodle

Posted By: Jfet on 02/22/13 03:15pm

Thanks for the suggestion Wes! So, like Tyvek between the foam and the interior luan/mahagony walls? That should be pretty easy I guess.

The WR250R is the most awesome bike we have ever owned. Fuel injected 4 stroke, 65mpg, can do 75mph on the hwy, only 280 lbs. They are expensive but worth every penny.

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