Truck-Bed-Trailer-Camper

[Quartermile]

Has anyone ever made or seen a truck bed type trailer converted into a camper? A buddy wants to build one with me for when we go wheeling and hunting. We thought it would be easy to modify for offroad, and it would just be a fun project. :icon_welder: Some ideas so far are: replacing the gas tank with a water holding tank, using a topper with a ladder rack built in to haul our kayaks/mountain bikes, and making it match his F150 that will be used to pull it. Any help guys?

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Surge brakes; they would tie into existing brake lines. Last time [5 yrs ago] I checked ~ C$200.00
Weigh your 'camper' and use appropriate tires.
I made a trailer for work from a '76 f-150 and I had room at the front for a tool box- extra storage. If I had a choice I'd use a 3/4 or one ton,
The puller;
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww342/mrich1962/race%20truck%20p2/worktruck225.jpg
The pullee;
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww342/mrich1962/race%20truck%20p2/worktruck226.jpg
I made racks that bolted to the side of the [steel, works for fibreglass too] canopy, carried ladders on top, tools inside, next time I'll make them slightly taller to clear the pullers' canopy when carrying long stuff.
Richard

Edit; Or true redneck, mount the camper on the front 1/2 of your flatdeck trailer, and a picnic table to the back1/2. I saw it, I swear.

[straycat]

I have seen nice used small clean capmers going for around here on Craigslist for around $600 to $800. There is everything you need in them for a weekend of camping. Why bother maiking it yourself if you can find somethig like this. I sold my 84 Camper Tag-Along two years ago for $500. It was as clean as the day I bought it. I paid $700 for it 12 years ago. The only thing wrong with it was it needed new tires and the top was getting worn but it never leaked on us when we went out for a weekend or a week. We could cook in it and it had a port-a-potty in it and a small shower and sink combo.
One thing I looked for was as close to a one owner as I could find and a non smoker camper. I saw some that were so nice but somebody smoked cigars in it or a pipe and it just stunk to high hell in there.

Good luck!!

[Quartermile]

Why bother maiking it yourself if you can find somethig like this.

Because we want to make it ourselves as something to do, not just go out and blow a bunch of money. We already have the topper and truck box/frame/axle

[ForOffRoadDriving]

plus its easier to lift a truck bed trailer and throw on some taller tires for towing through the trails. i know my pop up would turn into an anchor trying to take it down a trail.

[Shran]

Because we want to make it ourselves as something to do, not just go out and blow a bunch of money. We already have the topper and truck box/frame/axle

What kind of pickup are you using for a donor? Something full size I hope. Reason I say that is because I had a pickup box trailer that was previously an '88 single cab, short box Ranger. That little fawker was really hard to tow because it was so light. On the highway it wasn't bad, but if you got on washboarded gravel or potholes it would pull you all over the place. It is also hard to get pickup box trailers balanced right, they are usually really tongue heavy or really tail heavy. Just friendly advice and some things to think about.

[Quartermile]

What kind of pickup are you using for a donor? Something full size I hope. Reason I say that is because I had a pickup box trailer that was previously an '88 single cab, short box Ranger. That little fawker was really hard to tow because it was so light. On the highway it wasn't bad, but if you got on washboarded gravel or potholes it would pull you all over the place. It is also hard to get pickup box trailers balanced right, they are usually really tongue heavy or really tail heavy. Just friendly advice and some things to think about.

1992 F150 8', and we are going to relocate the axle to get around 150 lbs tongue weight after its built

[straycat]

Because we want to make it ourselves as something to do, not just go out and blow a bunch of money. We already have the topper and truck box/frame/axle

That is a cool idea. Good luck with that. Just remember to find something you can stand up in and get around in so you will be happy with it. That is why I like the trailer camper or one that slides in the bed. That is cool too but not as cheap as building it yourself!!! lol

[babytruck]

me and my grandpa made a deer blind out of an old chevrolet bed. has a heater and two stool type seats in it we put carpet, windows, and for trailer jacks one for each corner so we could raise it up off the ground. that way it wouldnt shift and spook the deer. ill get pictures next time i go down there. old timers know there stuff! good luck man it can be done!

[86 slo-vo]

ive been thinking about doing this with a 3rd gen longbed to match the truck...

i have a 1964 driftwood camper thats 15ft but its so heavy its a pain in the ass to haul with the ranger

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l106/jonhagan490/IMG_1334.jpg

[Shran]

1992 F150 8', and we are going to relocate the axle to get around 150 lbs tongue weight after its built

Good call, that should work well. Are you going to use the leaf springs that came with it or something else?

[Quartermile]

Good call, that should work well. Are you going to use the leaf springs that came with it or something else?

Not sure yet, depends on how much it weighs and we need to lift it 3" to match the pull truck

[B2 Addict]

i have a 1964 driftwood camper thats 15ft................

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l106/jonhagan490/IMG_1334.jpg

That thing is cool as hell, I love old "retro" campers and want one to pull behind my '64 International project, that is, if I ever get the money to actually get 'er goin'......:c-n: Sorry for the thread jack!

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb375/B2Addict/utf-8BUm9iaW5zb24gZmFybSAwMDQuanBn.jpg

:icon_cheers:
B2

[AllanD]

I'm in the process of building a truck bed trailer, but I already decided against
surge brakes and keeping a factory axle under it...

I greatly prefer electric trailer brakes, plus the fact I already have a 3550# rated
trailer axle with electric brake assemblies on it that also uses 5-on 4.5" wheels...

a Trailer that takes the same wheels and tires as the primary tow vehicle for it is real attractive on several levels.

One twitchy thing about pickup truck bed trailers is that the axle is typically located in the center of the box, so they tend to make trailers that LACK the proper tongue weight for stability on the road and actually make them dangerous if you are trying to load or unload one that is not attached to a tow vehicle to stabilize it.

So I strongly recommend mounting a receiver hitch to it as a receiver hitch makes a convenient mounting point for a stabilization jack to keep it from tipping nose up at the least excuse....

As for "tongue weight" insufficiency mounting a "Breakaway" battery for the electric brakes a tongue jack toolbox and probably a spare tire up front on the "a-frame" front of the trailer should make it nice and stable...

AD

[94 lngbd]

Not sure yet, depends on how much it weighs and we need to lift it 3" to match the pull truck


why not get a droped trailer hitch? For a truck bed trailer I would recommend getting stiffer leaf springs & a factory/aftermarket type rear sway bar set up installed on the trailer & use either ST tires or Load Range E tires