Total Composites flatbed build

[socceronly]

This lady does a great job talking about being new to a truck camper (good for a newb like me).

This part of the video shows some rocking or twist, not sure which. But it does show, as emphasized above, that even not very rough ground can have a big affect on the vehicle

 

[andy_b]

Not sure if this exists, but is there any kind of rating system for off road? Like OR1, OR2, OR3 ect... ?

I see so much time wasted with people talking past one another wrt what off road might mean.

The picture above is the kind of stuff I would be going on. Not climbing rock faces, which, is quite frankly amazing.

There are ratings, but these are fairly subjective and vary among locales. Usually, they are discussed in guidebooks, forums, or other areas of local knowledge. Similar to ski resort ratings - reliable in the area, but you can't compare a midwest ski hill black diamond with a Rocky Mountain black diamond. I agree that there is a lot of talking past one another which is why it is important to have a sense of your own travel style and experience.

I'd describe that as a benign forest road that maybe has been neglected for a little bit. I don't mean that I intend to take my camper on anything tougher than that, I'm just not impressed and wouldn't get out to take a picture of it.

Anyhow, to your previous question about the dynamic mount - it technically fits between the frame and flatbed, kinda like how the truck's suspension is between the wheels and the frame. Generally, flatbeds are hard mounted to the frame, just like the bed itself.

My experince when calling around to flatbed manufacturers is that they have no idea what I'm trying to accomplish (Alumna, Alum-Line, Highway Products, CM, Adventure Trailers, Hillsboro). Regardless, you buy the flatbed from a dealer who does the install anyhow. Part of the reason I went with Alumna was because their dealer was the only place that was even willing to talk about a non-traditional mounting solution. Maybe in your neck of the woods things would be different.

Clearly, there is a lot of murkiness on best approach, mainly because it seems like the question itself is still ill defined. All I know is that only ITB in Canada had a rational approach to designing a system to make it work. None of the other manufacturers or builders I've spoken to were either familiar with the concept or had an engineering department capable of tailoring a solution to individual problems. That isn't to say that smaller fabricators couldn't do it - they absolutely can and I would have used one if there was one closer to me. In the end, however, I wanted to stick to a budget and avoid huge multi-state road trips to get it built.

However, because 2020 continues to be so great, I've had to put the camper on hold. I'd like to take a moment to say that working with @Victorian has been amazing. We talked about the need to put this project on hold and he was so gracious and supportive. This kind of flexibility couldn't have happened I don't think through another process. I am grateful for his support and I can't wait to get this thing moving again.

 

[Brad_UT]

Interesting discussion here regarding subframe mounting. With regard to the spacer between the flatbed subframe and truck frame, wood seems to be a common choice, but others have mentioned UHMW, rubber and even polyurethane. Other than contacting a local plastics supplier to have them cut, does anyone know of a source for the UHMW or polyurethane?

You can get UHMW "chain guide" which has a U-shaped channel cut out in one side. This normally holds the chain in place, but in our case, it could fit over one of the frame rails thus holding it in place. Seems like that might work.

Thanks

 

[rruff]

I recall that Everlanders found some plastic that fit the frame quite well. Check out their youtube videos.

 

[Brad_UT]

I recall that Everlanders found some plastic that fit the frame quite well. Check out their youtube videos.

I remember he said he used chain guide.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

but others have mentioned UHMW,

That is an arcmin for "Ultra High Molecular Weight", but you need to add the plastic type to the end of that which is usually polyethylene, so ask for UHMWPE and in Oz that is typically available from specialist engineering plastic sheet and rod suppliers like DOTMAR. It is commonly used in good quality cutting boards although cheap ones will use high density rather than UHMW PE.

UHMWPE (and HDPE) are quite rigid materials. UHMWPE is typically chosen for its low friction and low wear properties.
Cast polyurethane has some performance similarities in hard grades (often used in suspension bushes) but is also available in much softer grades that can provide movement, more like the use of rubber blocks. it is typically cast from a 2 pack liquid into moulds at about 100C and cured in a vacuum chamber to eliminate bubbles. It can therefore be supplied in an infinite range of shapes and sizes and hardnesses.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[ben_j_c]

Interesting discussion here regarding subframe mounting. With regard to the spacer between the flatbed subframe and truck frame, wood seems to be a common choice, but others have mentioned UHMW, rubber and even polyurethane. Other than contacting a local plastics supplier to have them cut, does anyone know of a source for the UHMW or polyurethane?

You can get UHMW "chain guide" which has a U-shaped channel cut out in one side. This normally holds the chain in place, but in our case, it could fit over one of the frame rails thus holding it in place. Seems like that might work.

Thanks

I am using Redco H78 channel on my F-550 build and they were easy to work with. I did a will-call pickup from their facility, but they were willing to ship too. https://usa.redwoodplastics.com/industry-solutions/chain-channel/redcotm-h78-channel.html

 

[DirtWhiskey]

Hi Andy sorry to hear about the delays. I'm in the same boat. On the spring mount, i just finished touring an auction yard and saw no less than 3 dozens trucks with spring mounts. Mostly tankers concrete mixers. Snapped a few shots. I'm starting to think a big truck upfitter would be a good resource they are all over America and part of the industrial fabric. I am amazed that spring mounts aren't the preferred method for almost all truck bed fitments equiped for non highway travel. The amount of broken mounts, cracked bodies and compromised frames I've seen tells me enough to know. I don't think spring mounts are controversial or misunderstood. I think they are a requirement..

 

[DirtWhiskey]

I am using Redco H78 channel on my F-550 build and they were easy to work with. I did a will-call pickup from their facility, but they were willing to ship too. https://usa.redwoodplastics.com/industry-solutions/chain-channel/redcotm-h78-channel.html

Thanks for the link. Can you elaborate? Will the channel cup the flatbed frame (facing "up) amd countersink bolts vertically into the channel or to the side to hold them in place? Seems like L channel would work well too.

 

[ben_j_c]

Thanks for the link. Can you elaborate? Will the channel cup the flatbed frame (facing "up) amd countersink bolts vertically into the channel or to the side to hold them in place? Seems like L channel would work well too.

It cups down over the truck frame with cut-outs for the cross members and tabs on the inside edge. That locks it in place, so it just floats in between the camper and frame. An L could work would but would need to be secured with something as you mentioned, it will also put a bit of tension on your fasteners when pushed to the outside as the frame moves. With the U channel any lateral forces are spread out across the whole length of the channel as opposed to on the fasteners.

 

[Bama67]

You mentioned you were going to order a $55k new Dodge, but settled on the older 7.3 Ford.

I think for something like this you might have been better off and getting a used 2017+ Super Duty with the 6.2 gas for mid twenty $k range. Excellent bargains.

Has about as much go as the old 7.3 and every bit as reliable, but the platform is miles ahead of the old OBS ford. Brakes, steering, cabin, comfort, transmission.
But the main thing is the frame.

The 2017+ Ford frames are hell for stout, the rails are massive, where the old ones are floppy old open C channel. I can cross up my 2018 F250 and there is basically zero deflection.

And to people that say the C channel frames are necessary to keep the tires on the ground; I think that is a bit silly in a build like this. If you are lifting tires on a long wheel base F350, you got no real business being in there with a giant house box on the back.

If you have a 2017+ with Deaver leaves on the back and decent suspension up front, you aren't going to be lifting many tires.

Or just rock traction devices front and rear, even if you lift tires you are going to keep moving, unless you are trying to take your giant box through Carnage Canyon.

But sweet build, I like reading these threads and get inspiration for my future build. One day.

 

[extraj]

Curious to hear where this project is. I've been thinking that my next build might go this direction.

 

[Victorian]

Curious to hear where this project is. I've been thinking that my next build might go this direction.

On hold

 

[edaydesign]

I am using Redco H78 channel on my F-550 build and they were easy to work with. I did a will-call pickup from their facility, but they were willing to ship too. https://usa.redwoodplastics.com/industry-solutions/chain-channel/redcotm-h78-channel.html

Ben

Would
Love to see more on your composite build that you have done… just to confirm, did you only use the chain guide UHMW? Or do the whole camper out of composite materials?
Ex-industrial designer and fabricator here

 

[edaydesign]

Curious to hear where this project is. I've been thinking that my next build might go this direction.

Curious on where you are as well… been researching the heck out of hdpe and uhmw for a tray/canopy build…
Look forward in hearing your progress