Demountable composite box to flatbed mounting system without pivoting subframe.

[rruff]

@rruff Can you post some photos of your pivoting system? Would love to see what you came up with!!

Here is an old one. The beams are 6061. I used the 8 bed mount locations, with 6 isolators.

I guess I need a refresher on your system. I thought your box was direct mounted and not removable.

If I take those 8 bolts loose, it'll come right off!

But I guess you are looking for something easier. What do you want the bed to be like when the camper is removed?

Montypower did a lot of offroading with a slide in on a F250, and he just used the regular spring loaded tiedowns as I recall... but it was a newer F250 with the boxed frame, so not such a good example.

The tiedown concept is similar to using springs to allow movement between the subframe and the chassis. No reason why it couldn't work.

 

[simple]

Poking around more on the OEV site I found a video explaining their evolution and detailing the new mounting system.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Question?? Over what length of truck frame?

4M.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[rruff]

It's important to know what you want to do with the truck and bed with the camper removed. You can make a simple and light system that pivots and supports the camper, but it won't be a "bed" really. If you want double duty it will weigh more. Or maybe you could make a "bed" that mounts to the pivot/support part like the camper, but you only have one on at a time.

 

[simple]

It's important to know what you want to do with the truck and bed with the camper removed. You can make a simple and light system that pivots and supports the camper, but it won't be a "bed" really. If you want double duty it will weigh more. Or maybe you could make a "bed" that mounts to the pivot/support part like the camper, but you only have one on at a time.

Many years ago I had imagined a system along those lines and I believe others have suggested and or developed similar concepts. A universal tray receiver that accepts campers, utility bodies, truck beds etc. Anything you would want to mount on a truck could be easily swapped on and off. Somewhere in the vein of the roll off dumpster box system.

It appears from Victorian's input and looking at OEV, a regular flatbed for composite boxes 8' and under works fine and a fancy solution isn't required.

Even if not required, it's still fun to throw spitballs. What if a mounting system like OEV's went a step further and incorporated a removable pivot point on the front the camper instead of the 2 hard mount points. The camper would have to have some integral support built in that ties to the mounting point. Think something similar to a fifth wheel hitch type removable coupler. Maybe it could be some brackets attached to the trucks frame that pass through a flatbed where a removable pivot could mount.

Your working prototype mounting system suggests it could be done.

Responding to an earlier question about why someone would remove a camper. One big reason is that on some newer diesel pickup trucks that need service, it is common to remove the cab to get to the engine.

 

[stever1000]

At 3:14 in this video is an example that shows how OEV mounts their Aluma Tray



0:23 in this video

 

[rruff]

The second video shows that they do not have any way of dealing with frame twist... which wouldn't be needed on a boxed frame like that one, but would on C-channel.

 

[rruff]

It appears from Victorian's input and looking at OEV, a regular flatbed for composite boxes 8' and under works fine and a fancy solution isn't required.

Really? Even if it's C-channel?

 

[simple]

Really? Even if it's C-channel?

Victorian's comment about the flat bed adding rigidity might make up for the difference between C channel and boxed frame. All flat beds not being created equal is a factor for consideration.

 

[rruff]

Victorian's comment about the flat bed adding rigidity might make up for the difference between C channel and boxed frame. All flat beds not being created equal is a factor for consideration.

If a stiff subframe is hard mounted to a C-channel frame, the forward mounting area will see high stress when twisting, at the sudden transition between stiff and not. But... a lot of people seem to get away with this with service bodies, and the frame could be reinforced in this area to help somewhat. I think it's better to let the frame twist as it's designed, though... especially if you'll be on challenging roads. Victorian is more concerned about the TC camper being protected, as he should be.

 

[simple]

If a stiff subframe is hard mounted to a C-channel frame, the forward mounting area will see high stress when twisting, at the sudden transition between stiff and not. But... a lot of people seem to get away with this with service bodies, and the frame could be reinforced in this area to help somewhat. I think it's better to let the frame twist as it's designed, though... especially if you'll be on challenging roads. Victorian is more concerned about the TC camper being protected, as he should be.

I was thinking about that as well.
I don't know all the various manufacturer's frame configurations. Are Modern GM 2500 and 3500 boxed from the front bumper to the rear of the cab and then switch to C running to the rear bumper?

 

[rruff]

Are Modern GM 2500 and 3500 boxed from the front bumper to the rear of the cab and then switch to C running to the rear bumper?

I think all recent pickup frames are fully boxed... and all cab-chassis frames are C behind the cab. True for domestics and imports in the US.