Count me in amongst the group that prefer to keep it small and simple, despite the money is no object scenario.
I already have a good camping truck, the '92 crew cab. Suspension, chassis, wheels, tires are all already set up. It needs a motor and transmission swap. Definitely a diesel, and either a 6spd manual or a good auto with overdrive. Also needs rear disc brakes. I am flat sick of drum brakes, on both my F350's. They suck!
So I'd make some changes to the crew cab truck.
Swap in an '02 7.3 PSD and a built 4R100, or a ZF 6 speed, or find some way to adapt a 5R110 to the 7.3. Other possiblity would be swap in a Cummins 5.9 and NV5600. Either one will mean the truck needs complete fuel, exhaust and cooling system changes, as well as another leaf in the front springs to hold up the weight. The 7.3/4R100 swap would be easiest and more factory-like.
Next change is the rear axle. Nothing wrong with the Ford 10.25", except the brakes. So I'd swap in a Dana 80 with disc brakes from an '01/'02 Dodge dually pickup. The wider dually axle will give the single rear wheels more width in the rear, no need for duals with the small camper the truck will carry.
Tires, I'd probly go just a little bit bigger, about 35", seeing as how I have 4.56 gearing. Slightly taller tires will be better for the diesel engine's highway crusing speed. The bigger/better rear disc brakes will stop the taller tires better than my current drums stop the 33" tires, I'd be willing to bet.
I'd chuck the pickup bed and build a 7' wide by 9' long galv steel flat bed (C4x5.4 frame and 12ga tread plate deck) with some 18x18x48 steel storage boxes under the bed on each side.
Atop the flat bed would mount a 7' wide by 9' long camper with full size bed lengthwise over the cab, of my own build, with full width bottom and built in storage along lower sides. Built from galvanized steel tube and galvanized sheet steel siding. A very spartan interior, with built in Honda EU3000i generator, solar charging system, bank of AGM batteries, microwave, Polar Cub a/c, gas range, gas/electric water heater, gas/electric fridge, gas furnace, 40 lbs of propane, 40 gal fresh water tank, 30 gal grey tank, cassette toilet, shower, fold-out couch/bed, front bath floorplan layout. Nothing big or fancy, just built very solid and all welded watertight for long life with no leaks.
Trailering behind of course is the flatbed trailer, probably a newer nicer one than the one I have now, with the Bronco on top, fully rebuilt with many mods I have been planning for years, all built for great off road fun, as well as toading around town, using the truck and camper as base camp. When the Bronco is not on the trailer, the 3-wheeler and dirt bike will be, or a snowmobile if im up north in the winter, or a classic Harley sometimes in the summer. When the flat bed trailer is not in tow, an 18' outboard boat would be in tow, or a canoe would be atop the camper.
Where am I going? All over the US, all the places I've never been. Alot in the southwest, but all over too. Have no desire to leave American ground for any reason, but I do want to see every bit of this country that I can before I die. Just exploring all the mountains and deserts and forests and canyons and rivers and lakes that I find along the way, all the little trails that I see that I dont know where they go, just following them wherever they go until I find the end and camp out, enjoy it and move on to the next. :)
Not all that much money needed to do that, so the rest of the money can go to family, and others less fortunate than myself. :)
