Forum Discussion

drewkeen's avatar
drewkeen
Explorer
Mar 03, 2020

Short bed camper on long bed truck - Tips for frontal brace?

I want to put a short bed truck camper on my long bed truck. Looking at an 8-9' model with the rear overhangs to have a bit more room. I want to be able to put a generator, firewood, wet/muddy clothing, and several other things on the front area of the bed. This is going on a 1 ton single rear wheel truck and will distribute the weight the same as a short bed truck will since the additional length is at the front of the bed. I have Torklift tiedowns to hold it on the truck.

I have seen pictures of others that have done this and this is where I got the idea from. I haven't seen pictures of how people made a brace for the front that was sturdy enough to prevent the camper from sliding into the tail lights.

I'd love to see some pictures of this or to hear any ideas from guys that have done it or those that have good suggestions.

I've also debated having an aluminum flatbed made and putting storage boxes on the side, but that would be a project for this fall/winter so I would like something I can use over the summer in the mean time (unless someone has a nice aluminum flatbed for a SRW truck they want to sell!)

Thanks for the help!
Truck Campers
  • srschang's avatar
    srschang
    Nomad
    Mar 04, 2020
    We had our original SB camper for 17 years. It sat on 4 different trucks (all Ram diesels because I retired from Cummins). One of the trucks was a longbed, all I did was make a rectangular frame out of 2x8's or 2x10s, can't remember which, it's still sitting in my shed attic. Strength isn't an issue, you need to decide how high your bumpers on the front of you camper are when you back your truck under the camper. You want the framework tall enough that the bumpers hit the framework, not above the framework. If you make the framework too short (2x4s for example), the bumpers will be above the framework if you're not careful, and when you lower the camper into the bed of the truck, the bumpers will be torn off.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Mar 04, 2020
    Simple 2x4 or 2x6 frame the right size will work. Maybe 1 more stud in the center.
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    Mar 03, 2020
    I would slide the camper all the way forward in the bed of your truck. Secure it with tie downs that bolt to your frame. Leave the tailgate on. Then you can access everything behind the camper.

    With a load, you may stop fast enough to make the TC want to slide forward, but the rubber bumpers will be against the pickup box. You cannot start fast enough to make it go to the rear.

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