My new custom ATC flatbed camper

[DirtyDog]

After almost a year of planning, design, and production, I'm excited to reveal my new camper! I am extremely happy with the way it turned out and huge thanks to ATC for going way above and beyond on this project!

First a view from above that shows most of the external features. Note some of the key features here - door on the side to free up the back wall for gear storage. Awning over the door on custom brackets to clear the door. Top of the awning is about level with the roof vents and solar panel so no extra overall height was required for the awning mount. Propane is also on the awning side so my outside kitchen can be under the awning with direct access to the propane tank.

This view shows the custom bike rack in action, the AT can holder, and the remote controlled rear spotlight.

Rear external storage hatch.

Side external storage hatch:

Note that these storage areas are also accessible from inside the camper.

 

[DirtyDog]

Lower Bed.

Converted to dinette:

Rear cabinet:

Engel on slider. I'm really happy with how this turned out.

Utility cabinet and SMEV stove.

So I designed the entire utility cabinet around using a very compact smev single burner stove/sink combo. When I could not get that item I was in a bind. Marty came up with something profoundly clever and resolved the situation. May I introduce the sink-in-a-drawer:

 

[DirtyDog]

Parting shot:

 

[craig333]

Sink in a drawer. That is clever.

 

[docdave]

How much different is the bed to top of cab distance than in a pickup?

By the way, thanks for sharing your rig.

 

[pods8]

How much different is the bed to top of cab distance than in a pickup?

By the way, thanks for sharing your rig.

3-4" with a UTE bed which DD has, obviously more if you put spacers in there.

 

[fullpoints]

alright a little off topic but I have the same exact truck and love your rims and tires. tell me the size and offset pretty pretty please. camper looks awesome! I bet you cant even feel it with that truck!

 

[NothingClever]

Ooooh, very nice, Dirty Dog. The dual-access storage is spot on, the sink-in-a-drawer is slick and the tuck-away Engel is really handy.
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What a timely post for me since I'm in the concept stage for a customized, pop-up camper. As much as I absolutely treasure my 2002 Tacoma (with super low mileage) and FWC Fleet combo, the space is a limitation for extended trips if the occupants (me, wife, 2 year old and a Jack Russell) don't come from a backpacking background. In my case, my wife never carried more than a Macy's shopping bag growing up so adopting/adapting to a backpacker's mentality has been a slow process which makes the Fleet seem to underperform (much to my consternation). So, I'll be following your lead sometime in the future and getting a full-size F250, flat-bedding it and getting a pop-up with increased storage.
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Anyways, back to you and your project......VERY WELL DONE :victory: !

 

[dzzz]

very nice. so much more storage with a flat bed
You much be tall. From the camera angle the F250 looks like a smaller truck.

 

[DirtyDog]

alright a little off topic but I have the same exact truck and love your rims and tires. tell me the size and offset pretty pretty please. camper looks awesome! I bet you cant even feel it with that truck!

They are American Racing wheels but I don't remember the model name or the specs.

 

[DirtyDog]

Ooooh, very nice, Dirty Dog. The dual-access storage is spot on, the sink-in-a-drawer is slick and the tuck-away Engel is really handy.
-
What a timely post for me since I'm in the concept stage for a customized, pop-up camper. As much as I absolutely treasure my 2002 Tacoma (with super low mileage) and FWC Fleet combo, the space is a limitation for extended trips if the occupants (me, wife, 2 year old and a Jack Russell) don't come from a backpacking background. In my case, my wife never carried more than a Macy's shopping bag growing up so adopting/adapting to a backpacker's mentality has been a slow process which makes the Fleet seem to underperform (much to my consternation). So, I'll be following your lead sometime in the future and getting a full-size F250, flat-bedding it and getting a pop-up with increased storage.
-
Anyways, back to you and your project......VERY WELL DONE :victory: !

I'd love to see someone do a flatbed camper on a Tacoma. Possibly a Tacoma camper with adequate storage and functionality?

 

[NothingClever]

That's been my plan but my wife seems to think our daughter (2 y/o) will outgrow the Tacoma ExtraCab rear seat soon. I don't think so given we don't intend to do any high mileage on weekend trips or an international one (~200-300 miles per day max and with several breaks in the day). However, flat-bedding and completing a standard FWC on a Taco is pretty reasonable and would greatly increase comfort and convenience. Stan at FWC quoted me a pretty modest price to retrofit my Fleet with "sponson boxes". No re-arranging of the galley would be required; They'd simply extend the frame, insulate the new walls and install the hatches for outside access. The www.utebed.com flat bed isn't that expensive although shipping's a little tough . My plan for the current bed would be to make a trailer out of it by mounting it on a salvaged rear Tacoma frame to haul the usual supplies and outdoor toys.
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However, as much as I love my Taco (paid for, primo condition, low mileage), I wouldn't protest getting an F250 SD and a Keystone. Trailworthiness going from a Taco to an F250 with a Keystone would be the only bummer for me.
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Anyways, back to your camper. It's even better looking at it a second time. Very well thought out use of the space. My wife looked at it, too, and was impressed with all the storage.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

How long is the camper/flatbed? 6'

This camper is awesome!

I stopped by 4 wheel campers last week, and spoke with them about building something like this. The guy I spoke with wasn't ale to offer any solid answers. Maybe I should check w/ ATC...

Thanks
-Chris

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Hey Chris

When looking at a custom built camper for a flat bed truck, you will want to speak with Tom (the owner) or myself (Stan).

The other sales guys usually don't get into the custom designing all that much.



We have built some in the past, have a few customers designing them at the moment on paper, and we can talk through what you are looking for.

These have been a "one off" custom design, so you would have to let us know what you want and we can work up a price quote for it.

Some things we won't be able to do, but many things we will be able to do.

We are looking at doing more creative things as each year passes.

If you do decide to move forward please go check out ATC as too.

Good guys over there and the flat bed camper they built for DD is awesome !

I like it !!!

Hope this helps.

Good luck on your project.

Stan

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How long is the camper/flatbed? 6'

This camper is awesome!

I stopped by 4 wheel campers last week, and spoke with them about building something like this. The guy I spoke with wasn't ale to offer any solid answers. Maybe I should check w/ ATC...

Thanks
-Chris

.

 

[riveroceanandmountain]

Love it!

especially the sink in a drawer and engel on a slide!

Great ideas for the rest of us to borrow

What brand of bike rack is that? I was envisioning something like that for my camper!!..... very slick!