Tent trailer on truck bed

[Terrainist]

I have been toying with the idea of bolting down a tent trailer on top of my truck bed. And would like to get some feedback. There has to be reasons no one is doing this.

It's a 93' dodge full size long bed. There are several reasons it's attractive to me versus a typical slide in pop up truck camper.

1. It's a lot of cabin/camper. A tent trailer with a ten foot box, opening up to approx. twenty feet is a lot of cabin area. Easier to walk around than a truck camper. Not so crampt, more space.

2. I like the open feeling of a tent trailer. When the screens are open, it's, well, a very open feeling.

3. Might be relatively easy. My other option is to go with a pop up truck camper on a flat bed of sorts, with boxes on the sides for storage. Have to take the stock truck bed off, get rid of it, build the flat bed, come up with the boxes, etc. With putting the tent trailer on the back, it's, hypothetically, a matter of building a frame to set the tent trailer box on top of the stock pick up truck bed.

 

[Terrainist]

Continued

4. Would be fairly streamlined. When put away in traveling mode, the top of the tent trailer wouldn't be much taller than the cab of the truck. Would pretty much just be a big box sitting on the back of the pick up truck bed. Seems like it would be very compact.

5. Perhaps a decent, low center of gravity. Maybe not. A 1200 pound box sitting at bed rail height.

6. Storage. The area underneath, in the truck bed could all be used for storage and fluid tanks. That's quit a bit of storage area.

7. The door is on the passenger side of the truck, versus the back end if I use a truck camper.

 

[Terrainist]

Continued

Some things that make me think it may not work.

1. Too much weight on the rear end of the truck. The weight of the tent trailer box, I'm looking at putting a 10 foot box on, would pretty much be directly over, at best, the rear axle. Versus a better placement of about a foot, two feet in front of the rear axle.

2. Too high a COG?

These are my main concerns for not doing it. I was thinking these two draw backs might be able to be offset some what by a water tank and a fuel tank put underneath and forward in the truck bed.

My best example of what I would want to put on the back of the truck at this point would the Forrest River Flagstaff 205 tent trailer.

Some other concerns.

3. No fresh water tank on a tent trailer?

4. No 12 volt system?

Any feed back regarding this "idea" is appreciated. I have been toying with it for a couple months now, taking measurements on different trailers, etc. There are no images of tent trailers on pick up trucks on the net. Not a real common thing.

 

[rynosurf]

I saw this one in San Diego. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31942&highlight=budget

 

[Terrainist]

Ryno - Thanks for the link. That is the first first tent trailer I have seen sitting on top of a pick up truck bed. Gives me hope. And there was a helpful link in that thread as well. So, people have thought about it and some have actually done it. Maybe it isn't so crazy.

Basin - Yes, the forward bed would end up directly over the cab of the truck. From the measurements taken so far, the trailer box would sit pretty much right at bed rail height. Although I would make a frame to take the weight, rather than let it rest on the bed rails.

I have a full size 3/4 ton truck, that can take some weight. I had a ton on my truck and all it did was level it out. So I can put a heavy box on there, theoretically. Just seems like so much more "bang for the buck". Bigger cabin, camper, more storage, very streamlined traveling mode, while still keeping some decent 4x4 capability.

 

[dport]

I think you should go ahead with it, that way I don't have to be the lab rat for it one day. This idea has ran through my head, as well. I think done right, this should be a cool set up.

 

[Terrainist]

Yea, decisions decisions. After the wind gusting here this morning, I was back to going with a Callen. Then after reading about another truck bed buckling because of their weight, I was back to an Alaskan. Then thinking about the storage....round and round it goes. We'll see what happens.

Was thinking about putting a 10 foot box on the truck because I can find one with a toilet and a shower. That would be nice. Now I think that's probably pushing it a bit much. Confident I would have no problems with an 8 foot box so that would be better. Can get one with an outside shower and buy a toilet.

 

[Prybry]

your looking for a "pickupper"

check this thread...
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40439

Your idea is available as a Bethany Pickupper...
I've got one and it works great! your right on regarding the interior room... and best of all it has a full height door!

Not sure where you are, but these are listed on craigs list in MN on a regular basis.

Prybry

 

[kcowyo]

Might look at a Quicksilver Truck Camper too -

.

 

[Maximus Ram]

Hmmm, maybe instead of a regular pickup bed, mount it to a truck with a flatbed on it.....

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I have thought of getting a older 3/4 ton 4x4 and removing the bed and mounting my jumping jack to it.

 

[dirtroady]

Update

Terrainist-

I am interested if you ever pursued your idea of mounting the tent trailer in your truck bed. It sounded promising. Any updates?

 

[Ponyracer]

I considered finding someone parting out a truck that had a utility box on it and mounting an 8' popup trailer on it. Make an old school trailer out of the frame and remove the trailer from the popup.

I ended up going with a slide in popup instead.