Freightliner & Truck Camper

[petersene]

Don't know if this is possible. Thinking of getting rid of my F350 and get one of these. Really like my rig but I feel like the newer trucks aren't built to last (Let's not get into the Ford Vs Chevy Vs Dodge debate) I know some will say go with a motorhome at that point but I like having the freedom a truck provides.

Has anyone seen this used with a truck camper? Looks like cab height would be the biggest problem.

[Explorer1016]

Junket wrote:
Here is a picture of my F550 Super C. I can tow 10,000# and have a class V hitch
X 2 Have been looking at this also
Ken

Ken there is a real nice one on eBay right now from 5RRV out of Colorado. You might check it out. Last I looked it was only up to about $61K.

[Junket]

Here is a picture of my F550 Super C. I can tow 10,000# and have a class V hitch
X 2 Have been looking at this also
Ken

[Explorer1016]

petersene wrote:
I'm guessing a 550 would probably be the best bet for me. Remember I also tow a trailer 90% of the time with my rig. Going with a Freighliner etc. I would probably loose too much of the flexibility I enjoy. I'm looking towards the future with the vehicle. With my current setup I'm fine but any bigger I'm pushing weight limits.

A MH does not interest me cause I loose the ability to tow a trailer and have a vehicle with me to get around with.

Anyone know of aftermarket companies that put Factory beds on 550's?

Thanks

Here is a picture of my F550 Super C. I can tow 10,000# and have a class V hitch

[Bedlam]

bcbouy wrote:

dadwolf2 wrote:
Does a truck that large really provide you with more "freedom" than a motorhome would?

i'd think a mh and a toad would work better.cant see that rig being good for anything close to freedom.just my 2 cents.probably a lot cheaper for mh/toad as well.not to mention gas bills to drive that truck around.

If you need to tow heavy behind your RV, these large rigs start to make sense. If you look at the ToterHomes, they are basically a tractor with large RV sleeper and a massive rear hitch to tow a large FW or stacker toy trailer behind them.

[Bedlam]

I don't know who makes pickup beds for your truck since the cab to axle length is different and requires a modesty panel, extra fuel tank or storage box to fill the gap. The frame rails are straight and sit higher than a pickup, so the supports under the bed have to be modified in order to get the body lines matched up with the cab. Chassis cabs from different manufacturers use the same standard frame spacing, so my research on the Ram 5500 should help you with a Ford F550 bed. I went with a Palfinger Badger flat bed with the low sill option and tapered headache rack. It was one of few that has a low skirt in the back to allow the SuperHitch to fit underneath. The lower sills allow the bed to hug the chassis rails closer so the TC does not ride so high. Make sure the headache rack you choose is under 4' tall and it will clear your cab over. I chose to add a 30K lb goose neck hitch to my deck for future towing - It is less expensive to get it done all once than have to have the bed removed later for installation.









I also looked at the Jensen CR, Ironstar Bullet, Hillsboro Steel and CM RD when I was shopping...

[petersene]

I'm guessing a 550 would probably be the best bet for me. Remember I also tow a trailer 90% of the time with my rig. Going with a Freighliner etc. I would probably loose too much of the flexibility I enjoy. I'm looking towards the future with the vehicle. With my current setup I'm fine but any bigger I'm pushing weight limits.

A MH does not interest me cause I loose the ability to tow a trailer and have a vehicle with me to get around with.

Anyone know of aftermarket companies that put Factory beds on 550's?

Thanks

[bcbouy]

dadwolf2 wrote:
Does a truck that large really provide you with more "freedom" than a motorhome would?

i'd think a mh and a toad would work better.cant see that rig being good for anything close to freedom.just my 2 cents.probably a lot cheaper for mh/toad as well.not to mention gas bills to drive that truck around.

[wintersun]

Better to get either the F-450 CC (not the pickup version) or the F-550 truck and mount a flat bed and then attach a camper and build a storage area in front of the camper.

[bighatnohorse]

get a side door camper and mount it backwards

[Reality_Check]

petersene wrote:
Didn't think about the overall height. Maybe a 550 would be the way to go. The price of a 550 gets up there once you add a bed etc. The reason I was looking a little bigger is I tow a trailer 95% of the time with my current setup (2009 F-350 Dually Diesel, 24' Enclosed Trailer & Arctic Fox 990). I have been looking at upgrading both the Camper and trailer. Bigger trailer and larger Chalet camper. Just thinking out loud here getting ideas

Thanks

Late to the party..

I license the work 550's at 34k..they're good to 33,500 I believe. Get a pass on the RV version sorta, but you get the idea.

Most of us have stinger extensions, which limits the trailers in the 12k range anyhow. Easily within range for these rigs.

Add a heavy camper and 'stuff' (God knows, we all have lots of stuff, stuffed) and...well, it's just heavy.

I like those rigs you're looking at, but to be honest, I get tired of driving 'trucks'; the 550 is slightly better. If I had my druthers, I'd find a truck that drive like a town car and throw the camper on that....

[Bedlam]

There are utility and skirted beds available but I had to do something that would clear my SuperHitch out the rear. If you're not towing heavy, this is not a concern. I won't be finishing off upper deck boxes until I get the larger TC - It will look more complete when the wings are filled.

[petersene]

Looks like the payload capacity of a F350 & F450 Crew Cab DRW 4x4 is right about at 5300 LBS. If I get the Chalet I'm looking at it's 4700 LBS. I would be more than likely over Payload capacity or closer than I'd like. Maybe I should look at a F550 and try and get a pickup on it. (Don't really like the flatbed look) I think anything bigger present too many challenges.

[Bedlam]

Ford's Super Cab would have lopped off one linear foot from my current setup. If it wasn't for the additional price and unknown reliability of the CP4 fuel pump, I would have had a Super Cab F550 because there were some other options I could not get in the Ram.

[garryk6]

Bedlam wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Do not pay $100K+ on something that looks neat but does not do what you need to do. For half that you can find, with a lot of looking, something like this. The crew cab is very hard to find with 300+ HP and a auto tranny. If you do not need the crew cab, auto tranny, and 300+ then plenty of trucks out there for less than $25K and 100K miles.



Put the TC on the back of the flat bed with storage or ATV under the front overhang. Add 8' storage boxes to the sides to fill in that area of the TC.

Adding 17-20' behind the 12-13' cab so the TC would fit is what eliminated this option for me. Having the cab over section behind the cab added too much length to the vehicle to make it practical for parking in many areas. Right now, my overall truck length is just under 23' and under 25' with the TC loaded - Even with the currently largest TC produced, I will not be longer than 27' overall. If I stay with my 20' length trailer, I will be just under 50' long combined length. For us, length is not just an issue for parking but the ferry fees we pay in 10' increments when we travel.

Bedlam,
Boy do we understand ferry fees in Alaska..... But having grown up in the PNW, ferries historically get you coming and going.....
I get charged by the foot to get on and off Kodiak island. The ferry ride is 9 to 13 hours depending on the ferry and weather. And just for my 25' truck and camper, it is $330 each way. So for the whole family to come and go I am usually around $1,000 just to get to Homer and back... Length is a big deal....

But I do like those trucks, especially when they are 4x4!

Good luck!
Garry

[Bedlam]

Ivylog wrote:
Do not pay $100K+ on something that looks neat but does not do what you need to do. For half that you can find, with a lot of looking, something like this. The crew cab is very hard to find with 300+ HP and a auto tranny. If you do not need the crew cab, auto tranny, and 300+ then plenty of trucks out there for less than $25K and 100K miles.



Put the TC on the back of the flat bed with storage or ATV under the front overhang. Add 8' storage boxes to the sides to fill in that area of the TC.

Adding 17-20' behind the 12-13' cab so the TC would fit is what eliminated this option for me. Having the cab over section behind the cab added too much length to the vehicle to make it practical for parking in many areas. Right now, my overall truck length is just under 23' and under 25' with the TC loaded - Even with the currently largest TC produced, I will not be longer than 27' overall. If I stay with my 20' length trailer, I will be just under 50' long combined length. For us, length is not just an issue for parking but the ferry fees we pay in 10' increments when we travel.