Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Truck Campers: Remove box for flat bed...Why not?


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tmartin000

Washington

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Posted: 06/18/16 11:48pm

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I was thinking, I realize that I wouldn't improve carrying capacity, but why not remove my truck bed....and add an aluminum flat bed and have a better more useable surface for camper and boxes for storage?

Any thoughts?

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Ski Pro 3

Placerville area

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Posted: 06/18/16 11:50pm

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You aren't the first person to consider doing this. I recall reading a few threads of guys who flatbed their pick up truck. Maybe run a search.

Golden_HVAC

Fairview OR, USA

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Posted: 06/19/16 12:00am

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The flat bed is typically flat, thus no wheelwells, and this causes the flat bed to be higher from the ground than a typical pickup bed. So you would end up with more space between the cab and cabover section, and that will increase the overall height, and wind noise between cab and cabover.

Not to mention more steps to get into the camper.

Yes you might be able to find a flatbed that actually has wheel wells, and thus can keep the same distance from ground to bottom of the camper. Many pick a toolbox body, that is 19" deep, not the normal mid-window height. These can accommodate both dual rear wheels and SRW designs. It will be a little heavier than a typical pickup bed body. But it will have more toolbox storage than a flatbed could have, and much more storage than the typical storage box between the factory bed and camper bottom.

I was reading a story about a couple that had a SRW F-350 and large camper. They wanted to avoid the extra long wheelbase of the crewcab, but wanted more cargo capacity and storage. They ended up buying a extended cab F-450 pickup and having a special toolbox body fabricated for their camper, with the ability to use the camper's inside storage box doors that had been to a space between the camper and pickup box, to access the forward storage box from inside the camper, as well as having a door outside, so they could load supplies that way as well.

They stored their bikes in the supercab section, and with the 14,000 GVWR (of that model year) they had more than enough cargo rating.

Good luck finding the ideal camper system!

Fred.

jimh406

Western MT

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Posted: 06/19/16 12:21am

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Here's a good variation. http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/off-r........s/extreme-boondocking-and-the-tp-factor/

'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.

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WNYBob

Tonawanda, NY

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Posted: 06/19/16 05:41am

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Talk to the Australians, they do it all the time.

RoyB

King George, VA

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Posted: 06/19/16 06:41am

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I always thought doing this with a flat bed trailer would be great as well...

[image]

Has all kinds of OFF-ROAD possibilities...

Roy Ken

My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
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Itchey Feet

Wyoming

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Posted: 06/19/16 06:48am

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You have about what we have but ours is an 06, have pics. in my profile of what you are talking about. Drop me a pm if you would like more details.

My feet are fine as long as they are traveling.

ticki2

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Posted: 06/19/16 07:33am

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tmartin000 wrote:

Take a look here
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/17978710.cfm

and here

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25259431.cfm

Wheel wells are not always an issue on a HD truck . Usually the axle stops prevent the wheels from going above the frame rails .

'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed

noteven

Turtle Island

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Posted: 06/19/16 07:57am

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I know why the box sides and tailgate have to be chin high on a NBA player now so your advertising b.s. can say "best in class cargo cubic feet volume mostest biggest..."

but anyone know why the rear wheel wells of a pick 'em up truck need to be so big and clumsy?

Now that I am running a no squat rear air suspension I'm threatening a flatbed conversion too...

'nother 5 years will have the old truck sorted out... [emoticon]