Camper Mounted Forwards or Backwards?

[brp]

Hi everyone. I am working on my Sunrader + F450 project and I have to make a big decision and would like to hear what you all have to say. (My blog is at sunroamer4x4.blogspot.com.)

My dilemma is whether to mount the Sunrader body forwards with the cab-over over the cab, as is traditionally done, or to mount it backwards. If I go backwards, the cab-over bed would be hanging off the back of the truck. In the attached picture you can see what the cab-over portion looks like, gives a sense of how it would look.

Here are my thoughts on mounting backwards:
+ The total height of the truck would be about 1 foot lower (I would not have to raise the whole camper up to clear the roof of the truck)
+ It would create a great spot to mount the spare tire (where the camper used to meet the Toyota cab)
+ It would create a small covered area to get some shade, stay out the rain.
+ As I would not have to build the platform to raise the camper up, but would still need a "tray" for it, it would be slightly easier, cheaper, faster....probably.
+ It would free up the roof of the truck for a roof top basket, should I want one.
+ The set-up would get better mileage and would be quieter, almost certainly.

- The door of the camper would be on the wrong side, I could switch it....work
- It looks goofy
- I would loose the storage space created under the elevated camper, roughly 6ft by 9ft and 8 inches deep, space that would be hard to use, lots of volume
- The truck becomes longer by around 4 ft.


Regarding the storage, I don't think I would miss it too much, I plan on having 4 boxes anyway, one in front and back of each rear wheel.

Final thought, it would be cool to rig up some anchors to hang chairs under the backward facing cab over, see the picture. Thanks a lot.

 

[redthies]

Just mount it forward. No need to reinvent the wheel! Add a swing out bracket to your rear bumper to hang your hamicus...

 

[brp]

Another concern is that the camper would almost 7 feet beyond the end of the frame rails. It would be supported by 2x2 1/4" steel tube, and most of the 7 feet would be the very light cab over, but it is less than ideal.

The thing about leaving it forward is there would either be a BIG expense buying storage drawers or else building some hinged access doors....KISS though.

Thanks

 

[Larry]

I think mounted backwards would look great on a Ford F450. Maybe even hang a porch swing from the camper just above the rear bumper too.

 

[peneumbra]

Mount it backwards?!?

You'll shoot your eye out, kid!!!

 

[UHAULER]

I think it's a little early for april fools day. I think you are trying to convince yourself that mounting it backwards would work and look OK.

 

[mog]

Sunrader + F450= very cool !
Backwards Sunrader + F450=
Backwards it would look crazy ugly/hackjob, throw off any sort of balance and be much longer.
What would you do with the huge opening that is on the front of the Sunrader now? If you fill it in for a backwards mount, another hack looking deal.
Also besides that huge 'hole' and your cabin door being on the wrong side, all your doors, entry, outside access doors, etc, would open the wrong way. You want the hinges forward on doors so if a latch comes loose the wind will keep the door closes, not slam it open at 65mph, maybe tearing it off and dumping everything behind it on the road (or onto the vehicles behind you).
PLEASE mount it forward. Have a balance looking and handling truck. Less work, you will gain your 'basement' storage, be shorter overall length, etc.
Your blog mentions EarthRoamers. I'm 100% sure they never considered mounting them backwards
Have you visualized what it might look like:
Something like this ? :

 

[brp]

Well, that picture seals the deal. Although I do think mounting it backwards could have some cool functional upsides, it looks too hideous.

Thanks for talking some sense into me.

I'll post up some pictures as get the camper mounted.

 

[Buliwyf]

What make you think that the Camper can handle 80mph+ winds to it's back side? It's engineered to go nose first on the road, not backwards. Terrible aero makes Adrian Newey cry.

 

[pugslyyy]

I've thought about mounting a camper backwards. I would be concerned about having to flip all the windows on the sides and the vents on top, but otherwise think it would work. (on a sliding window, you would want the outer pane to be forward and the inner pane to be rearward to protect against water ingress while driving in the rain)

 

[brp]

I think it would be more aero backwards, the cab-over is like a scoop but there is no where for the air to exit. It was also be lower, more aero.
Doesn't matter though, its going on the conventional way. I am off to install my second Bushwacker cut out flare, might get the big MPT81's put on today for the first time!

 

[DennisNYS]

I have to ask....
were you seriously considering mounting it backwards ??