Slide In Camper on a flat bed (I'll be your test dummy, just ask away)

[mwilson]

Don't mind me: I learned on a motorhome delivery you don't step up on the running board to get in. Good thing I have a hard head!

The step stool IMO could be improved. I like the petsafe products offered by Torklift so maybe they have a complete step replacement to both eliminate the step stool and make it easier for the optional "dog security system".

Remind me what pickup (year etc) are you comparing too that you had for the Lance Camper?

2006 Mega Cab Short Body 4 X 4.

 

[BigPapa]

Mike, do you have room to get at the spare tire fastener?

I was going to ask about that, too. Doesn't look like there's room for it to come out without sliding the camper back.

 

[mwilson]

I was going to ask about that, too. Doesn't look like there's room for it to come out without sliding the camper back.

I "think" it will, might have to take the RH jack off. Will test it when I pop the camper back on. I have the luxury of several trial fits.......want it figured out before I hit the road.

I have a chunk of E-Track here at work to bring home, I'll mount that on the flat plate of the headboard. Then I can use a logistics strap to hold the tire against the headboard tight.
I would be able to release the strap from the ditch side and then roll l it out through the opening. I can set the camper back a few inches if more clearance is needed, the truck won't care...

 

[Ozymandias]

By the way, I like the fact that it is a Fox Den.

 

[Dl5treez]

Me thinks (yes I do have a brain) that flatbeds with slide-in campers is a fantastic idea. Back in the (hey)day, putting an Alaskan Camper on a flatbed was all the rage out here. Still is, actually.

*ignore the GM chassis*...

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/alaskan-campers-debuts-modular-flatbed-solution/

 

[mwilson]

Scrapped the side box idea for this year, I’ve hammered the old budget pretty hard so far…

Wife found totes at Wally World for $10.98 each and we bought 8 of them.
Spent $125.00 at the local lumber store for a pair of cedar 4”X4”X8’ posts and (4) 1”X6”X 8’ pine boards.
Ripped the cedar down to 2 1/2” thick after some experimentation. Whipped these sideboards up.

Room for 4 totes and the Honda 2000 on the left side, 4 totes and the little step stool on the right.

 

[mwilson]

First major trip, dry camping on a private spot on the coast..

 

[GCroyle]

Mike,

Maybe a calendar shot in there? Try it.

Looking good.

Gary

 

[mwilson]

Maybe we will try when the sun comes out…

This area has its own little weather pattern, stuck in a fog bank right now..

 

[Jim W]

Mike; looks good and enjoy the slide in camper.
P.S. Rough lumber prices are way too high in my humble opinion now. Before the pandemic, I purchased S2 4/4 Cedar lumber, for under $4.00 a board foot, it is now going for $4.95 a board foot.

 

[mwilson]

Mike,

Maybe a calendar shot in there? Try it.

Looking good.

Gary

Thanks Gary!

 

[mwilson]

Squall coming through right now..raining sideways..

 

[mwilson]

Thanks Jim! Lumber is pretty rank right now for sure.

The $125.00 did include the heavy duty 3” screws in all fairness.
Went with the cedar to keep the weight down, they are pretty light. Wanted to make sure Sandy could easily handle the side board removal as well..

 

[mwilson]

Well, we are opening a new location in Fort Kent so have been spending quite a bit of time up there and will continue to for the rest of the summer.

The French / Acadian folk are trying to teach me French (fail) and introduce me to the local cuisine. I’ve had a couple versions of Poutine already and that’s good stuff!! You can feel your heart slowing down after you eat it but I digress..

So they brought me a gift basket with “Ploye” mix in it….I think I’ll try to make some where it’s raining.

 

[mwilson]

I believe that some of these same displaced Acadians also wound up in Louisiana as I recall…

 

[GCroyle]

Reads like a buckwheat flour? That's a favorite pancake mix for us when it's a pancake day. Some good b-fast sausages and REAL maple syrup and a stout cup
o joe. Darn good.

 

[Ozymandias]

Yes the Acadians were thrown out of "New England" almost entirely because they denied to swear on the King of England and ended up in the swamps of Louisiana. We have read and learned the whole story when we traveled the area.

 

[Regcabguy]

The overloads are just touching the hangers, a moderate bump will result a a slight noise as the truck lifts and then slaps back down on the overload hangers. The wife will fix that when she loads it up with supplies...

There's spacers sold that will enable the overloads to contact the frame all the time. A Hellwig Big Wig swaybar will help enormously for highway handling.

 

[Jim W]

Yes the Acadians were thrown out of "New England" almost entirely because they denied to swear on the King of England and ended up in the swamps of Louisiana. We have read and learned the whole story when we traveled the area.

We also throw out the Riffraff too between 1775-1783 and we now celebrate this on July 4th.

Jim

 

[mwilson]

Have wonderful toolboxes attached to the flatbed. But the front legs block them from opening when camper is mounted.
Not fond of removing them as my luck dictates something would happen where I needed to remove the camper and the front legs being in storage 200 miles away..

So I came up with this..

When I put the camper on the truck I change the lower two bolts on the jacks over to bolts and threaded thumb wheels…then I can quickly remove them and swing the leg out safely with the top bolt still in place…
I think it’s going to work well…