I've seen a number of builds with toolboxes on the side of the truck. I want to buy a of F250 or F350 with a 7.3 and a camper of a similar age. What would be the best way to go about that? Look for a work truck to buy, buy new bed, flatbed or one with the to boxes on it. I want to have extra storage particular for good and what not. We'll be traveling months at a time as a family so I can't use the back seat as I do now. Thanks for the advice.

If going that route, I'd get a 350 or larger. A 250 is too light duty a unit for carrying that much extra weight and the 7.3 is a low output motor too. Reeliable but low output.

Yea I'm thinking 350 now, I just really don't want a dually as we're headed to central America and the roads are narrow. . However, if that's what I need, that's what I'll get. The driving is slow down there especially past Mexico. The roads are terrible.

Buying one already with a flatbed or service body would probably be cheaper and less work.

I had 10' service body and not only floor was 7" above the frame, but I had to add 4x4 planks to clear sides with camper. Having basement camper that made for 13-6 total height. Not too comfortable and costing extra fuel to push that frontal area. Flatbeds add 4-5" to the height. Lot of variables, so carry tape measure with you checking it out.On the other hand, the original Cab & Chassis on 2006 F350 had stronger suspension than regural bed trucks. I had no problem carrying the heavy body and 6000 lb camper set 2 ft behind the cabin.

I'll suggest that a service body is HEAVY. Staying light and minimizing overall vehicle height while maximizing ground clearance for a a setup that is basically an expedition vehicle is what you should be honing in on, and you're on the right track. Of course buying already setup flatbed possibly with a couple tool boxes should be more economical than building it. Think ranching areas for buying a used flatbed. MT, WY, eastern wa, anywhere rural out west has a lot of flatbed trucks. Idk how mechanically inclined you are, but on one hand, staying simple with a 7.3 Powerstroke or a 12V or 24v Cummins is IMO the best for mechanical and electrical simplicity, but the older the truck gets the more "stuff" gets wore out. I'd be looking for a lighter weight aluminum sided hard side TC, flatbed preferably aluminum but those are more expensive and the tool boxes, if not already setup, I'd wait til you have the camper and flatbed setup and then match the boxes. You can get fairly economical generic side boxes for not too much $. Expedition to South America, while I've never been there, I'd think srw truck would be largely preferable. Get a 250 or 350 (2500 or 3500), doesn't matter. You'll need to upgrade the rear suspension anyway and the rest of the truck is the same regardless of model and since you're looking at old trucks, miles and condition is far more important than the badge on the fenders. Those are only ther to provide something to debate on a camper forum! LolWhile I'd be tempted to get 19.5 tires and rims for capacity and durability, they are extremely rough riding and hard on suspension components on the front of a vehicle that isn't heavy enough to need them, on unimproved roads. And you lose the ability to air them down compared to E load tires. Ideally, 19.5s or some big super singles in the back and normal tires up front, but that creates a mismatch and the need for 2 types of spares. This I'd do some serious research on and shoe the truck with what's available south of the equator in case you shred a tire or 2. Good luck with your build and trip. BTW, if you're in the PNW currently, there's a basically brand new 7.3 Powerstroke for sale on Craigslist Seattle. But they want $27k for it.

Adding toolboxes to the sides | Good Sam Community

buylow12
Explorer
Jun 20, 2018
Thanks will do, about to be in Whitehorse, YK so I should have better internet.
mellow
Explorer
Jun 20, 2018
http://xpcamper.com/versions/truck-trays/
BMB
Explorer
Jun 20, 2018
re: mkirsch

check out https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14122053/srt/pa/pging/1/page/139.cfm

third pic up from the bottom
buylow12
Explorer
Jun 15, 2018
Sounds like a plan, lol.
burningman
Explorer II
Jun 12, 2018
Yes, that would be the ideal setup. Spot-on.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 12, 2018
^ That would be my ultimate expedition setup as well. (I might have a Dodge though.... lol).
Look at a setup like Bedlams on here and then scale back the camper and truck to your needs.
The more I think about it, a Dually makes all the sense in the world for what you’re doing. First is the security of extra tires and stability. If you bring one spare, youactually have 3 spares if absolutely necessary. Second, dually tires are typically smaller, less expensive and those sizes are super common and I’d imagine more readily available than if you shoed up a SRW with big tough tires.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 12, 2018
Here's the combination I would recommend:

1. F350 DRW 4x4 diesel or gas, you don't need 1000ft-lbs of torque to move a truck camper so a 7.3L diesel would be fine.
2. Flat bed.
3. 9.5' floor length camper. A camper this size will be light enough that you can load up elsewhere.
4. Aluminum tool boxes to fill in the spaces under the camper wings. The kind you see mounted to the bed rails on contractor's pickup trucks.
5. Aluminum tool boxes hung under the bed if you need additional storage and can spare the clearance. Maybe low profile to maximize clearance.
ticki2
Explorer
Jun 11, 2018
An alternative to tool boxes on a flatebed I built full length side doors out of pt ply . They give me 21"x21"x96" storage on both sides with less than 50# added weight . They are lockable but not waterproof . I use waterproof plastic bins of various sizes . Very versatile . Picture in profile . Just a thought .
buylow12
Explorer
Jun 11, 2018
Just had the wife looking at a Lance 825 which has a gross weight of 2000 lbs, even said you could use a Toyota, Nissan, or F150 with it. Point being she thinks something around that size would work. That being said I still want the toolboxes and an F250/F350. We used to backpack around the world, with small backpacks too. We don't need anything huge but we'll likely go a bit bigger than that.
buylow12
Explorer
Jun 11, 2018
One thing with a srw is if you drop the TC it's now narrower than the dually. I'd like to be able to drop the TC every now and then. Hell maybe I should just find a very small hard sideded off-road trailer. I might just consider that.

Anyone here who's actually had a truck with the toolbox setup? Like it? Hate it? World have dinner something differently the second time around? Prefer something else altogether? Anyone drive these or of the country, and USA north doesn't count, lol. I'd like to get some info from people who have actually driven some of these rigs. I know some of you who already posted have.

It seems like I've seen quite a few of them in areas where expedition type vehicles are found, and that's what I'm looking for really, just much cheaper. I can get a truck for ~10k and a camper for ~5k and have plenty of money to make whatever modifications I want versus ~100k+ for one of those sweet German expedition vehicles I see around(and that would probably be a good deal on a pretty old one, plus you can't drop them and use them as a pickup).