Our Box Truck RV Conversion

[redman4556]

I would look into making a flat bed then so your box can be removed when needed.
Kevin

The flatbed options adds a lot of time and money for the purpose of removability. I'm thinking that as long as I ubolt and bolt the box and truck together instead of welding, that it should easily come apart when needed. I would love a flatbed and understand it would work better, but unless I can get the flatbed done at close to the cost of my perf tubing it just doesn't seem worth bothering with. Am I wrong?

 

[southpier]

of course not. you are, and will be, correct in all decisions.

 

[The Artisan]

The flatbed options adds a lot of time and money for the purpose of removability. I'm thinking that as long as I ubolt and bolt the box and truck together instead of welding, that it should easily come apart when needed. I would love a flatbed and understand it would work better, but unless I can get the flatbed done at close to the cost of my perf tubing it just doesn't seem worth bothering with. Am I wrong?

Flatbeds are not cheap. Depends on how long you leave the box on. It is hard to undo the nuts as they start to rust over time.
You are working on a very limited budget so you will just have to wait till the right deal comes along.
Kevin

 

[redman4556]

of course not. you are, and will be, correct in all decisions.

Well duh

 

[toastyjosh]

this could work

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/6072616809.html

 

[redman4556]

this could work

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/6072616809.html

THANK YOU. The issue lies in that with these type of boxes I think I'd have to get my axle placement moved. I don't think that Id be able to mount such a box on the frame rails even with the numerous inches of lift that I have, and still clear the tires! I may be completely mistaken about this concept, but it seems to me that multiple parts of such boxes actually sit below the frame rails. I don't know how it corresponds to the interior but I believe the bottom 6 inches (at least) of this box are just side skirts that hang below the frame. I've been for this reason looking for a flat bottom box that sits completely and totally above the rails I would mount in on. I'm VERY new to all this, but this is what I have inferred based on my research and reading. I believe these style boxes are also narrowly cut at the front end to account for cab/chassis frame rails which are much narrower than mine. Am I stupid in assuming that it won't fit without serious modification?

 

[redman4556]

THANK YOU. The issue lies in that with these type of boxes I think I'd have to get my axle placement moved. I don't think that Id be able to mount such a box on the frame rails even with the numerous inches of lift that I have, and still clear the tires! I may be completely mistaken about this concept, but it seems to me that multiple parts of such boxes actually sit below the frame rails. I don't know how it corresponds to the interior but I believe the bottom 6 inches (at least) of this box are just side skirts that hang below the frame. I've been for this reason looking for a flat bottom box that sits completely and totally above the rails I would mount in on. I'm VERY new to all this, but this is what I have inferred based on my research and reading. I believe these style boxes are also narrowly cut at the front end to account for cab/chassis frame rails which are much narrower than mine. Am I stupid in assuming that it won't fit without serious modification?

This is my best bet so far, https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/6092810644.html
I've looked at nicer/newer boxes but there's always something about them. One a guy decided he wanted to hold for his buddy and would "let me know", another was sold hours before I got to it, the list goes on.

 

[redman4556]

Flatbeds are not cheap. Depends on how long you leave the box on. It is hard to undo the nuts as they start to rust over time.
You are working on a very limited budget so you will just have to wait till the right deal comes along.
Kevin

In my current position, the flat bed is seeming like an extra step for my purposes. It's obviously optimal, but I know I can pull this project off within close to the budget and time constraint estimates Ive set for myself. Those constraints sadly are working against my desire to do a flat bed, but I don't anticipate a horrible difficulty with taking it on/off nor with support issues as is. The nuts do rust, and I can cut through a rusted ubolt if absolutely needed. I just want to see, seeing as how this thing will likely be going on and off at least once per year, whether I can get away with anti-sieze and anti-rust compounds as well as not allowing too much settling by freeing it regularly. It's an experimental process. I just really was seeing how much welding/cutting/drilling through metal I could avoid while still pulling this off.

 

[pappawheely]

If you bought that truck and removed the box, how would you lift it? You would need a hoist, forklift or crane. Have you thought about that? Figure on hours of work to cut the old hardware off and you would have to replace all of it. It took me DAYS to get my box off the uhaul with a hoist, air tools, sawzall, grinders, and a plasma cutter.

 

[redman4556]

If you bought that truck and removed the box, how would you lift it? You would need a hoist, forklift or crane. Have you thought about that? Figure on hours of work to cut the old hardware off and you would have to replace all of it. It took me DAYS to get my box off the uhaul with a hoist, air tools, sawzall, grinders, and a plasma cutter.

Excellent question, one you won't like the answer to one bit. Nobody will like the answer to this. Tripod jacks and concrete blocks! I'm hoping to buy a box already off the truck, but the trucks i'm looking at with boxes still on them don't have much to cut underneath. If the ubolts holding the box down are too difficult to remove with tools, that's the only thing I can forsee having to cut as nothing is welded down there. The more I look the more I'm feeling these wheelwell and sideskirt having boxes are mounted in much more difficult to remove ways than a standard cab/chassis style flat bottom box.

EDIT: I went back and looked at your box. It seems it was secured with welded on bracketry and other welds as opposed to the two frames simply being ubolted together?

 

[redman4556]

Has anyone here had any experience with the honda ultraquiet 2000i generator?
Im looking for something that upon being insulated in a sound muffling box, may still be able to be run after hours at campgrounds if needed.
Are these honda ultraquiets really THAT much quieter? Seems that some of the db ratings between it and other standard generators are fairly close.
Normally, I wouldn't even consider it with honda's msrp, but these things have cost thousands for years and target is offering it at $430 + tax.
My alternative options are all in the $150 range but are certainly not honda ultraquiets! If it's indeed so quiet that muffled it should be able to be run discreetly after hours, it may be worth the investment! :chef:

 

[java]

They are that quiet. When not running 100% anyway that's the big selling factor they can vary rpm. At $430 it should be a no brainer.

There are other inverter generators out there that are very good and close to the Hondas.

The cooling fan is just about as load as the engine running.

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[java]

Double post...


But they aren't huge amperage out putters, iirc it's just under 20. Not a ton, driving for a couple hours may charge better

 

[redman4556]

Double post...


But they aren't huge amperage out putters, iirc it's just under 20. Not a ton, driving for a couple hours may charge better

Thank you tons! I'm going really minimum with what I plan to use on the generator, but it would certainly be nice to be able to crank the AC on at night on a hot summer night if it's needed without getting the rangers yelling at me Power output should be plenty for my purposes, so I think I may go this route. I take it there isn't anything significantly cheaper of comparable sound output? I don't expect there to be with all the fuss that is made about these honda ultraquiets, but I figured you guys know much better than I.

EDIT: I'll likely be putting it into a plywood box insulated with foam under the truck to further reduce sound in order to be potentially able to run it after quiet hours.

 

[java]

I have heard food things about the Yamaha and the generac 2k ones, but no personal experience. I have an older Honda and it's nice. Dig a quick snow cave and you can't hear it. I'm sure a "dog house" sound box would be similar

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