Why not use a dry van box?

[hobbsdt]

This may have been discussed at length already, but I can't find a thread!

What would be the problem in insulating and building out a commercial dry-van box into an overland camper?

They are widely available and can be acquired for only a couple grand.

Van boxes are pretty darn tough and get the ******** beat out of them on a daily basis in the commercial world

They are easy to customize with windows, doors, etc..

https://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2012-MORGAN-16+FT-5008550743

Any thoughts??

 

[Fatboyz]

Have a look at my thread. It's an old Uhaul. On the Other Expedition Camper category there are a few builds. Java has a nice F450. There's another fella turning a dry van box into an over the cab build by notching out the front.

 

[MTVR]

Lol- I was just gonna start a thread about the same thing.

If I buy one and have it trucked here, how would I get it off the trailer and onto our truck? Are there forklift services that can come out and do it for me, or what?

 

[billiebob]

yep, one of the cheapest ways to start and as you say, engineered to take a beating.
as you fit it out remember they are designed to flex, they are not rigid boxes, so make sure your interior allows for movement

 

[WVI]

That's one of the potions we've considered. You can find some great deals out there.

 

[CampStewart]

Within the dry box family there are many different types of construction and materials. The floors on many of these are of very heavy duty construction for a lot of weight. I would search hard for a box with a lighter duty floor, will save a lot of weight.

 

[Victorian]

Within the dry box family there are many different types of construction and materials. The floors on many of these are of very heavy duty construction for a lot of weight. I would search hard for a box with a lighter duty floor, will save a lot of weight.

Agreed! commercial truck bodies also mostly way taller than you need.

 

[shortbus4x4]

Lol- I was just gonna start a thread about the same thing.

If I buy one and have it trucked here, how would I get it off the trailer and onto our truck? Are there forklift services that can come out and do it for me, or what?

There should be. Or a crane service but that would be expensive. You might try the local tow company, they can usually move stuff like that with their wreckers depending on the box construction and tow points on it. Or they can recommend you a company that can unload it for you.

I have a U haul 24' box I paid $800 for with an aluminum floor and FRP sides I'm going to shorten and make into a camper.

 

[shortbus4x4]

An equipment rental company should have the big all terrain forklifts with the extendable boom that you could rent or meet the box delivery with your truck at the rental yard.

 

[billiebob]

Agreed! commercial truck bodies also mostly way taller than you need.

commercial bodies disassemble real easy if you need to resize them. Especially if the they have aluminium siding, not as easy with FRP siding but still downsizing is easy.

Here I opened the side on my cargo trailer, welded in a new stud and header, added a door and screwed the aluminium siding back on, 4 hours.

 

[billiebob]

and the reason for that extra door, to fit a fold out radial arm saw. the basic commercial bodies are easy to customize
and commercial hardware is like 80% less expensive that RV hardware, the door/frame/hinge/latch complete was $180.00

 

[CampStewart]

and the reason for that extra door, to fit a fold out radial arm saw. the basic commercial bodies are easy to customize
and commercial hardware is like 80% less expensive that RV hardware, the door/frame/hinge/latch complete was $180.00

View attachment 581883

sorry for the thread diversion but what kind of cutting are you doing that a radial arm is the preferred saw?

 

[wxxyz]

Have a look at my thread. It's an old Uhaul. On the Other Expedition Camper category there are a few builds. Java has a nice F450. There's another fella turning a dry van box into an over the cab build by notching out the front.

Can you give me a link to the build notching the dry van box? I can't find it... and apparently dry van box is too common of a search term?

 

[Fatboyz]

Can you give me a link to the build notching the dry van box? I can't find it... and apparently dry van box is too common of a search term?

Here it is. Not sure where he's at on the build. Hasn't posted since last fall.

Party Rated: Our Ram 5500 budget build

Starting our build with a 2011 5500. We're coming from a Nissan NV2500 4x4, and we wanted a bit more room, a kitchen, bed, etc. A party rated RV, basically. Step one, sell the flat bed for $450. Step two, acquire affordable box. Well, that was hard. I am not super wealthy. So, step 2.5, change...

expeditionportal.com

 

[Burlydirtyhippy]

E350 10ft Box Van

10ft Spartan Cargo Box. Soon to be adventuremobile.....

expeditionportal.com