2006 Dodge Mega cab camper home build (with Pictures)

[Mongoloveshammer]

Few more pics of the rear suspension

 

[kamicrazy99]

Clean build, well done!

 

[vintageracer]

All I have ever seen and owned as far as a utility box bed have been steel which is what yours appears to be also. Your estimated loaded weight of 11K lbs got me to wondering and therefore my question:

Has anybody ever seen or owned an ALUMINUM utility box bed?

 

[Tubefitter61]

Reading produces service bodies in aluminum. 50% less weight. I can only guess how much. One of my reasons for choosing a steel service body and steel tube for the frame of my camper was reparability. Arc welding gear for steel is everywhere. Tig welding gear for welding aluminum, not so much. Also I bought a used service body for 900 dollars for a 8' bed and shortened it by about 3'. A new Pacific service body is about 6500 installed. So the the cost savings was worth the sweat equity. But the truck is heavier than I would have liked but even if I would have reduced the wall thickness of the tube it would have not saved that much weight. 2D Battery. 38 gallons of water, Fridge. Awning, Solar panels. All the parts and pieces add up for sure, But its a lot of truck and fully featured and everything has a price.

 

[Scoutman]

I'm looking to do a similar arrangement to our truck. I've been shopping around for used beds and trying to get a feel for prices vs new and I totally understand the appeal for buying a used one. Even one that needs a little TLC would be over half of a new one.

When I spoke with a CM Truck Bed rep today he gave me an approx weight of 1100# for a steel, 8' SRW service body. I've weighed my factory bed and it's around 450#. That's a big jump in weight over factory but in the end I'm not sure if I'll find a suitable aluminum service body. A new steel bed was ~$7k so I would have to think aluminum would be in the 10k range. I'm waiting to hear back from the Knapheide rep.

@Tubefitter61 I would be curious what the weight of your camper came out to be. Chatting with another expo member (who's selling a similar setup) mentioned the camper being around 800#.

 

[Mongoloveshammer]

38 gallons of water. fully provisioned all in 10500. More than I would have liked but after hearing what a full size lance camper weighs I didnt feel to bad.
But like i said before everything has its price. If I have forgotten anything I dont know what it is,

 

[Scoutman]

38 gallons of water. fully provisioned all in 10500. More than I would have liked but after hearing what a full size lance camper weighs I didnt feel to bad.
But like i said before everything has its price. If I have forgotten anything I dont know what it is,

Thanks. That's only 100# more than we were on our last trip out (2 adults, 2 kids, gear, 2 kayaks, rack, rtt, etc.) I have found a few suitable service bodies but need to figure a few more things out before we pull the trigger.