Belltownbikes
Observer
So we are in the planning stages for our next camper. We have settled on a 3500 series truck with a flatbed and one of the 8' flatbed campers. We are thinking a Dodge 3500. I'm also thinking a 3500 crew cab chassis cab. These come in a couple of different lengths, but we would get the 60" cab-to-axle version which is normally fitted with a 9'4" flatbed. The chassis can be shortened to 8'.
In either case, we will fabricate the flatbed ourselves.
We must carry bicycles. But we also must upon occasion pull a racecar trailer or a snowmobile trailer. But sometimes we won't have either - the skis can just go in the truck.
I could shorten the chassis to accommodate an 8' flatbed. The camper would be tight up against the cab. I could fabricate a nice aluminum box that rested on the hitch receiver and attach to the back of the camper to house our bicycles. When we pull the trailer, this box could be easily removed and the trailer should tow nicely with the hitch relatively close to the rear wheels. And the bicycles could just get added to the rest of the stuff in the trailer.
Or - I could lengthen the chassis just a bit to allow me to build a 2' wide box that mounts right behind the cab with the camper on an 8' long flatbed behind this storage box. There's some advantages to this. One of which would be to allow me to install a rooftop carrier forward of the camper overhang. And the box is always there, and there is open access to the back of the camper. The disadvantages include, permanently increasing the overall length of the unit; and placing the receiver further from the rear wheels making towing slightly less enjoyable. It also pushes the relatively heavier camper further aft, placing the light bikes and stuff midships - which seems wrong.
Anyone have any thoughts on this matter? Thanks - Bob
In either case, we will fabricate the flatbed ourselves.
We must carry bicycles. But we also must upon occasion pull a racecar trailer or a snowmobile trailer. But sometimes we won't have either - the skis can just go in the truck.
I could shorten the chassis to accommodate an 8' flatbed. The camper would be tight up against the cab. I could fabricate a nice aluminum box that rested on the hitch receiver and attach to the back of the camper to house our bicycles. When we pull the trailer, this box could be easily removed and the trailer should tow nicely with the hitch relatively close to the rear wheels. And the bicycles could just get added to the rest of the stuff in the trailer.
Or - I could lengthen the chassis just a bit to allow me to build a 2' wide box that mounts right behind the cab with the camper on an 8' long flatbed behind this storage box. There's some advantages to this. One of which would be to allow me to install a rooftop carrier forward of the camper overhang. And the box is always there, and there is open access to the back of the camper. The disadvantages include, permanently increasing the overall length of the unit; and placing the receiver further from the rear wheels making towing slightly less enjoyable. It also pushes the relatively heavier camper further aft, placing the light bikes and stuff midships - which seems wrong.
Anyone have any thoughts on this matter? Thanks - Bob