Truck bed trailer with cabover or popup camper

[Photobug]

My wife wants more room and the ability to have a hard sided place of comfort so we can have a place to leave the dogs for a day when traveling. Since my truck is optimized for Overlanding I don't want to undo what I got to put a truck camper on it. I would like to buy an old truck bed, install a heavy-duty axle on it and create a trailer with it, then use that as a platform to hold a cabover camper, popup truck camper or just an expedition camper.

Is it possible to put a 5000 lb axle on a truck bed trailer?

Can a heavy built truck bed trailer be made off roadable when the camper is not on it?

 

[billiebob]

Technically, if you use the stock truck frame, box, springs, axle, you should be able to carry whatever that trucks rear axle rating was. You can put any axle you want on it but the springs, frame, box are all factors in the load capacity regardless of what axle or tires you use.

Can you drive it off road..... it'll likely be top heavy. But there is a guy who rock crawls with a Crown Vic.
I think you need to proof read your last question.

Have you considered a service truck body?

 

[Photobug]

Technically, if you use the stock truck frame, box, springs, axle, you should be able to carry whatever that trucks rear axle rating was. You can put any axle you want on it but the springs, frame, box are all factors in the load capacity regardless of what axle or tires you use.

Can you drive it off road..... it'll likely be top heavy. But there is a guy who rock crawls with a Crown Vic.
I think you need to proof read your last question.

Have you considered a service truck body?

Thanks I edited my first post.

I would not take the trailer with camper offroad. I would drop the trailer and possibly use the truck bed trailer for transportation, firewood getting.

As I look at availability I see many tuck beds available that have been removed from the truck. Based on your comments I would guess this would need an entire frame and modifications to be roadworthy and carry a camper. Your comments make me realize I was underestimating what it would take to make these available truck beds into a trailer. I will likely look for an already built truck bed trailer or flatbed for this project. I have looked at service truck bodies but once again would likely have to invest a few thousand dollars to make it into a trailer.

 

[CampStewart]

Most t truck beds have the wheels pretty close to centered fore to aft. You usually need to make a effort to load all the heavy things in the front to get enough tongue weight. I would find out the weight distribution of the type of camper you would be putting in the truck bed before proceeding. I think truck beds are rater wasteful in their space utilization aside from the balance issue.

 

[Photobug]

Most t truck beds have the wheels pretty close to centered fore to aft. You usually need to make a effort to load all the heavy things in the front to get enough tongue weight. I would find out the weight distribution of the type of camper you would be putting in the truck bed before proceeding. I think truck beds are rater wasteful in their space utilization aside from the balance issue.

I am still in the search and study phase. I figure I would need to possibly extend the tongue of the truck trailers I have been finding. I may also add a platform and storage to this extended tongue which will help with balance. We were at a music festival two weeks ago and have another one in two weeks. We were envious at all the campers. We sleep in the back of my truck bed. It's pretty nice as long as you don't need to sit up. I have also considered a toy hauler but don't want too much interior space then we might not spend as much time outside. A truck camper is a big step up for us and will be hopefully perfect. All I want is a bed and a place to sit up and read when not sleeping, wife wants an enclosed head, refrigeration and kitchen is all a bonus. Also having a place to keep dogs if we are in a park where they can't hike on the trails means we get to bring our buddies with us anywhere we go.

If my plan works out I will be all in for between $3-5,000