Forum Discussion

scooterh's avatar
scooterh
Explorer
Aug 23, 2018

Alum. flatbed input.

New Guy here.
A little background. I owned a 1996 Dodge extended cab 4x4 with 5.9 cummins. Hauled an older Coachman 11.5 slide in. ( which had the best floor plan i've seen) pulled a CJ 7 on car hauler from Ohio to all parts west. 1997 drove to Alaska with just the camper. Sold pickup and camper 10 years ago.
41 years of being an over the road Trucker ( Owner Operator), I never lost the yearning to travel. 2 or 3 times a year my wife and I head west either on a Harley, in a jeep. or taking an ATV to roam the mts..
Dreaming of the best camper combo for me always takes me back to a flatbed with storage under camper wings.
Now that I'm on the backside of 60, I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a Ram C/C with an alum. flatbed custom built with either removable boxes under camper wings or hinged side rails that can be lowered to accommodate storage containers. The purchase of Ram will probably be as soon as Monday ,08/27/08.
Campers that I have the most interest in are in order, the Bigfoot 10.4 ( love the panoramic view) and the Arctic Fox 1150.
Also like Northen Lite, but they dropped the rear dinette.
Is there anyone who has a configuration similar to what I have described that could offer any suggestions or what to not to do as to the length of the flatbed? Width will be 92 inches including rub rails. Bed may or may not have built in wheel wells to keep bed distance from bed floor to top of cab the same as a regular pick up.

Thanks in advance.

16 Replies

  • Scooter , no advice on the setup. I just got a little pickup truck with a camper , lol.
    But congrats in advance on the new setup. It’s pretty much exactly what I’d be wanting once we have more time to recreate than work. Flatbeds are jsut uber useful!

    Couple comments though, I wouldn’t let YOUR insurance co be the determining factor in what truck you buy unless ALL ins co are just as expensive in all states. You’ll be full timing so tailor your situation to your advantage.
    On the storage/side boxes. Good cases for either hard mounted toolboxes or portable stuff. If you don’t need be extrabed width that the tool boxes take up then I would 100% do tool boxes for weather, dirt and theft deterrence. Yes you can secure coolers and storage bins from theft pretty effectively with side boards and the camper as a lid. But once you remove the camper you have virtually no way to secure those items and going FT I would presume a good amount of base camp camping where the truck is being used bobtail.
  • Sherptek is one flatbed manufacturer who brags that they work closely with certain TC manufacturers to engineer flatbeds that fit correctly. Currently, they mention Host, Lance, Four Wheel and Alaskan.

    https://sherptek.com/camperintegration

    I will suggest that once you make your final decision on a camper, that you contact that manufacturer directly to see if they have any recommendations as to a flatbed maker that they know works with their campers.
  • Yah, it's always sumpt'n.... insurance etc...

    Did some time in AZ, Quartzsite... nice in the winter and I'm sure you'll find Pickleball down there somewhere...

    Good luck on it all, not easy trying to config the thing as you know.. LOL...

    See ya on the road...
  • My insurance co. considers 4500 and 4500 series commercial. that makes it cost prohibitive. 4500 Ram has only about 500# payload increase, and a higher curb wt. If I get a Bigfoot 10.4 I may carry extra water since their gray and black tanks are large. as far as STUFF. I really like Stuff. Mosquito tent, inflatable boat, extra gas for Honda generator. pretty much anything I don't want in cab of truck or in camper. Heck, I may even get another English Bull Terrier. He would get the back seat.
    My next trip to Alaska will probably be in excess of 4 months. This next camper will be my second home. Maybe start spending time in Az.in the winter. I hear they play Pickleball out there. :)
    Arctic Fox 1150 can be used with the slide wall cranked in with no problem. Still I would prefer the Bigfoot for floor plan and clam shell design.
  • Yep, pretty much what I'm running now, coming up to 3-yrs Full Timer.

    I got the long bed, 9+' to put a 10' Alum flat bed on the Cab Chassis sot the RZR would fit. (If you go longer it gets into complicated licensing or something like that - being a driver you probably know more than I on that)
    It's a little off Center on the Axle, but the 5500 seems to handle it without any issues that I can see.. heheh, doesn't mean there aren't any, just not seeing it and the Dealer didn't seem concerned.. just off by an inch or two..

    I got the bigger truck, same engines (detuned) and trans etc as the 3500s, but I kept going higher. Started with a 1500 plan, that was quickly blown out, then a 2500, 3500 and everyone said "You should ADD...." so went to a 4500, and still a little 'iffy' and finally said the Heck with it and settled on the 5500..
    Overkill?? yep, probably, but no additional stuff yet, although I might get the Hellwig Air Bags, more for the compressor, but I do have a Rt lean that just bugs me. Everything else is Stock, OEM.

    I had a Polaris RZR 1k and the idea was when at a campsite/rally, I 'Could' if need be, off load camper, onload the RZR and go to a staging area instead of towing the RZR trailer.

    With the long bed in mind the camper sits welland has space in the front. I had a winch installed to load/unload RZR. so this adds addition storage. The side of the bed and Camper has a railing that adds to security as using the 8-Gal Action packers fit right in and can't be pulled out, other than lifting the top off. I line the insides with a plastic trash bag to keep out the dust.

    The reason for the boxes compared to the installed 'Fixed' boxes is to allow the RZR to be loaded. It's just a little too narrow to have permanent boxes, plus I can move them around as needed.

    Only thoughts on config would be for Solar Batteries. They need the shortest wire length as possible so I had to store them right under the OEM batteries.

    I had Torklift put on the Fast Guns and they had to support the flat bed underneath to allow the guns to fasten to the bed and not underneath.

    Depending upon flat bed, I got mind from Silverlake Manufacturing in Idaho and it seems to be fine, make sure the side rails will fold down with the Jacks. There are few 'Dings' from lowering camper and a canopy leg getting stuck underneath, but no big deal.

    The side rails are important to have but make sure they cut slots to allow the rails to be folded down around the camper jacks. I had to cut space out and they still will stick if camper is off a little bit.. Also, plan the fixed box doors will open with the jacks down if possible.

    Not sure what else you're looking, hope this helps and if I were to do it again, I'd do the same thing. Flatbed on a sturdy Cab Chassis.. even without a RZR.. it just works...

    Hope that helps..
    Happy Trails..

    Link to various config pics if that helps... Just bypass the other things in the gallery..

  • Have seen several that have done it. Most have boxes on the bed surrounding the camper. I see no reason you could not do both above and below. But you should ask yourself, how much stuff do I really need to deag along with me?
    As for the truck? Consider a 4500 or maybe a 5500 if your going to a large camper.
    You might also look at Host campers. They have some really interesting floor plans.