ToolBox Guy
Adventurer
And here are a few from our first trip of the year to the Eastern Sierras. My friend John's Chevy with a new Palomino, and me and my son with a stringer full of trout from Upper Virginia Lake.
2004 Dodge/Diesel/Utility Bed/Skamper-Modifications
- Thread starter ToolBox Guy
- Start date
topofpalomar
Enthusiast
ToolBox Guy,
I've been wanting to put our older Apache popup on a utility bed for years. Your's looks great. I've located a used low profile box that will fit on my 2500 HD longbed.
Question: I see how you have the front of the camper attached to the bed in your photos. What about the rear? Did you bolt the camper thru the floor or did you do something else?
I haven't decided if I'm going thru with it yet (actually the CFO hasn't decided if she will allow me to), but if I am allowed it would be nice to get some ideas on how to attach it. We do use the truck and camper off road alot.
Thanks,
Cliff
I've been wanting to put our older Apache popup on a utility bed for years. Your's looks great. I've located a used low profile box that will fit on my 2500 HD longbed.
Question: I see how you have the front of the camper attached to the bed in your photos. What about the rear? Did you bolt the camper thru the floor or did you do something else?
I haven't decided if I'm going thru with it yet (actually the CFO hasn't decided if she will allow me to), but if I am allowed it would be nice to get some ideas on how to attach it. We do use the truck and camper off road alot.
Thanks,
Cliff
topofpalomar
Enthusiast
The low profile utility bed I've had my eye on weighs approx 800/900 lbs. My popup camper wet weight is 1400 (at least that's what the camper sticker says. Overly optimistic, I'm sure). Once I get all my junk loaded I'd be right at my max weight (truck door sticker says 2986 lbs max payload).
blue dog
Adventurer
bed
I have been keeping my eye out for used utility beds, butt, yet to come across a low profile one that does not have flip up tool box's on top. Really, the low profile beds are few and far between. Just not in the cards to have one built right now. Talked to a company called ctec that said they will build me what ever i want, but after paint, best price was $ 6000.00
I have been keeping my eye out for used utility beds, butt, yet to come across a low profile one that does not have flip up tool box's on top. Really, the low profile beds are few and far between. Just not in the cards to have one built right now. Talked to a company called ctec that said they will build me what ever i want, but after paint, best price was $ 6000.00
topofpalomar
Enthusiast
I feel your pain. The low profile I've located has the flip top, which is not needed, but since it's used and a good price I can work around it if I decide to go that route. It's a used ctec in pretty good shape, and would work fine for me. Blue dog - Are you looking for a long or short bed utility box?
blue dog
Adventurer
I am looking for a long bed, My new truck is a regular cab long bed, 09 ram 2500. My current ram is for sale, but only a few nibbles so far. I want to do exactly what was done in this thread for going to Baja. I notice in your sig, palomar mountains, i was just down in Valley center last week, That Pauma Valley sure is a pretty place, would not mind living there at all.
topofpalomar
Enthusiast
We look down on Pauma Valley/Valley Center from up here, we're at 5300 feet looking West. Yeah, it's nice.
If I decide not to invest in the used utility bed I can point you in that direction, if you like. I just discovered today that our well is not working. Might have to sink some dough in that all-important project and put the truck on the back burner. Well company is coming out tomorrow to have a look-see. I'll go from there.
I've also been wondering how the long bed utility box would look. ToolBox Guy and others have short beds. Looks very proportional. Not sure if the long bed would look as good.
I hope I didn't get too off track here.
If I decide not to invest in the used utility bed I can point you in that direction, if you like. I just discovered today that our well is not working. Might have to sink some dough in that all-important project and put the truck on the back burner. Well company is coming out tomorrow to have a look-see. I'll go from there.
I've also been wondering how the long bed utility box would look. ToolBox Guy and others have short beds. Looks very proportional. Not sure if the long bed would look as good.
I hope I didn't get too off track here.
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ToolBox Guy
Adventurer
LOL! It gets used from time to time.
The rear of the camper is attached with the identical attachments as the front, I have pictures somewhere.
Like wise, your truck and camper combo is one of the ones that pushed me into getting a pop-up.
Not exactly sure on the weight, I need to check that out though. The truck drives like a dream, fully loaded with wife, kids, and 4 days of gear, I hardly notice it going down the road. Off road, it gets noticeable. Next Mojave Road trip will be done at a way slower pace.
Price has went up considerably. When I bought this Pacific about 4 years ago, custom ordered low profile short box was $3,000.00 painted.
ToolBox Guy
Adventurer
More modifications....Finally.
Viair Super Duty on board air system. Not super impressed with this yet. It is, I believe the highest output compressor you can get from Viair, but it is lacking for things like air mattresses, and inflatable boats. Maybe I am asking too much from it, but it seems to me that there should be a bypass/ball valve that lets you fill from the compressor with out it having to fill the tank first. I am a little uneducated with compressors, I need to look more into it.
Viair Super Duty on board air system. Not super impressed with this yet. It is, I believe the highest output compressor you can get from Viair, but it is lacking for things like air mattresses, and inflatable boats. Maybe I am asking too much from it, but it seems to me that there should be a bypass/ball valve that lets you fill from the compressor with out it having to fill the tank first. I am a little uneducated with compressors, I need to look more into it.
ToolBox Guy
Adventurer
I am also currently working on a swing out tire carrier/rack combo that will mount to the utility bed, and also mount to the back of the camper because it sticks out 13" past the truck bed.
ToolBox Guy
Adventurer
Here are a couple of pictures of my progress so far.
Tube slips through bracket and is fully welded.
Tube slips through bracket and is fully welded.
blue dog
Adventurer
nice
I love this build. It is the perfect combination for me, utility bed to store all the stuff that goes along with an adventure, camper, cummins engine, solid front axle, all around great combo. One day i will be traveling down a dirt road in Baja to a secluded beach in a adventure rig built very similar to this. I am going regular cab long bed with a 6 speed stick ram.
I love this build. It is the perfect combination for me, utility bed to store all the stuff that goes along with an adventure, camper, cummins engine, solid front axle, all around great combo. One day i will be traveling down a dirt road in Baja to a secluded beach in a adventure rig built very similar to this. I am going regular cab long bed with a 6 speed stick ram.