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Haul Slide-In Camper on HDT Deck?


Cotreker

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Are there HDT owners putting Slide-In campers on the decks of the HDT? The slide in I am speaking of are normally used in the bed of trucks like F350 duly these are heavy slide-in's and some have one or more slide out walls. Weight 5,000 to 6,000 lb's with the 4-place pull trailer the weight adds up and that is why I am looking into the HDT's.

 

I snowmobile in Colorado, so the trailer is filled with sleds in the winter and ATV's in the summer. Now you know what I want to do. The question is can I do this? Are there other's doing this with a Slide-In camper tied down to the deck?

 

Dennis

Current Truck F350 duly

Arctic Fox 1150

  • Volvo 670 / 2006
  • 10-Speed 
  • ATV's & Sleds
  • 2017 Host Mammoth Slide-In Camper on Deck
  • Jackalopee
  • Build article published here

 

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We put slide in camper style shelters on our 2.5 ton trucks in the military, worked out very well. Made a frame of two layers of 2x8 lumber, tied that to the truck and then the shelter to the framing. Stove bolts and big washers to connect the framing members to reduce the chance of splitting the wood from stress points.

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My question, why a camper? Why not pull the axles and put a trailer on the back?

More room.....

 

Just a thought.

 

Curt

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A short trailer or even fiver if you want the under the neck storage is sure a possibility. A big plus for that option is the larger floor space from not having to fit in a pickup bed.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/9299-Mitsu-Fuso-Camper-examples

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If you read the article, all this is perfectly logical.

 

1) They had purchased a nice slide in camper, tried to used it with a single wheel LDT, and decided it was way too dangerous.

2) They didn't want to spend the $$$ for a F550 to put it on

3) He was a retired OTR trucker. The HDT was was just sitting there--cause he didn't want to "give it away".

4) They got the truck bed for less than the cost of a flatbed...and thought it looked better.

 

Essentially they decided to use what they had...and ended up with a NICE rig....if a bit cramped, yes. Sure, I'd rather have a truck conversion, but they sure did a nice job on putting the pieces together.

No camper at present.

Way too many farm machines to maintain.

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I think I saw some built to class 8 scale on the powerhouse web site. The guy with the pictures did it the hard way, too bad he didn't know about this site.

Looks like Quebec plates so 2 days drive for me ,sorry Jim.

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If you read the article, all this is perfectly logical.

 

1) They had purchased a nice slide in camper, tried to used it with a single wheel LDT, and decided it was way too dangerous.

2) They didn't want to spend the $$$ for a F550 to put it on

3) He was a retired OTR trucker. The HDT was was just sitting there--cause he didn't want to "give it away".

4) They got the truck bed for less than the cost of a flatbed...and thought it looked better.

 

Essentially they decided to use what they had...and ended up with a NICE rig....if a bit cramped, yes. Sure, I'd rather have a truck conversion, but they sure did a nice job on putting the pieces together.

 

Jeff-C

Could not have said it better.

Thank you E.P.

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If I had a place to work, I'd buy a salvage MH or fiver. Get a car hauler trailer, cut it down & mount the salvage on it. Advantages- full air brakes, car haulers are allowed to have a stinger, & be over the length limit for everybody else. Toys on the truck bed & car on the end of the trailer.

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Interesting comments on why do I want to do a Slide-In camper on the HDT. I already own a very large slide in and currently use it more in the winter than the summer. I park around 8,000 to 10,000 feet in snow covered parking lots so I use snowmobiles. The camper is capable of -20 temps and still run water, lots of work to get to this point. Down the road sell the slide-in and move to the toy hauler, not sure how they will do in the really cold temps.

 

How many of you are driving in the mountains and from time to time have to chain up to get to your location? I know that diesel block heaters are available so the HTD should always start. My weight of the camper is about 5,000 lb's, does that mean I should not single the truck?

 

Lockmup68 great link, so far this is the only conversion I have seen. This is a stepping stone for my future RV days once retired (3-yr's out). I only want to purchase one HDT truck and make it the right one. This forum looks like it has the right people to help me make the right decisions.

  • Volvo 670 / 2006
  • 10-Speed 
  • ATV's & Sleds
  • 2017 Host Mammoth Slide-In Camper on Deck
  • Jackalopee
  • Build article published here

 

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here is a great build of an off road toyhauler, built back in 2010. Mounted a 5ver on a custom trailer with open 16 ft deck on rear, larger water and tanks, storage, etc.

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/tow-rigs-trailers/880366-mobile-marriott-camper-hauler-build.html

 

What's funny is he is an OTR driver and prefers to haul it with a Dodge dually. Says he drives a rig too much.

 

here's some pics:

http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq346/pimcotrans/skins/skins010.jpg

http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq346/pimcotrans/skins/skins014.jpg

http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq346/pimcotrans/skins/skins019.jpg

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachments/tow-rigs-trailers/590110d1302718109-mobile-marriott-camper-hauler-build-xp-049.jpg

 

Or this is just sweet:

http://www.limitlessoffroad.com/gallery/2-060114195442.jpeg

2003 International Eagle 9200i, Cummins ISX, Freedomline

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I never got to sled in CO or WY (I'm WA, OR, ID, MT, some BC) and honestly my first thought is you'd be insane. Maybe if your current Ford is 2wd and it currently works fine I might try it. I sure the heck wouldn't get a 2 pedal trans truck and doubt I'd consider anything automated. It would probably have to be something flattop and small block too. But hey trucks snowplow it so trucks outta be able to get around there somehow huh? There used to be a T600 on here that hauled kyaks on the top in the summer and skii'd all winter and they seemed to be fine though.

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  • 1 month later...

Small world, I found the builder of the Big Truck Build pictured above in this string. He lives in Canada and is a retired truck driver with a very nice Pete. I am still searching for a HDT and really want to put my Camper (slide-in) on the deck. My next test drive is a International 9400i 2007.

  • Volvo 670 / 2006
  • 10-Speed 
  • ATV's & Sleds
  • 2017 Host Mammoth Slide-In Camper on Deck
  • Jackalopee
  • Build article published here

 

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Funny that this thread got bumped as I just found this setup. He carries what looks like a modified Samurai in the middle like a lot people carry the smarts. It looks like he definitely shorted up the back part, maybe shortened the frame, because I don't think the Samurai was that short?

 

Very interesting setup. I found the pics here - http://truckbeds.com/cms-homepage.asp?page=stellar_7621&product=52

 

img_0654.jpg

 

img_0650.jpg

 

img_0655.jpg

 

img_0631.jpg

Dan (Class of 2017) - 2012 Ram 3500 & 2005 Alpenlite Valhalla 29RK
Contact me at rvsolarconsulting.com or Two Wheel Ramblin

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  • 2 months later...

Update: March 16, 2017 I purchased a 2006 Volvo 670 with a 22' cargo box.  Cutting down the box and getting ready to load up my camper plus other modifications.  Thanks BlueLghtning for info on yet another build and it has a Arctic Fox camper on it, same brand as mine.

Volvo 2006 Buy small.jpg

  • Volvo 670 / 2006
  • 10-Speed 
  • ATV's & Sleds
  • 2017 Host Mammoth Slide-In Camper on Deck
  • Jackalopee
  • Build article published here

 

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Cotrecker,

I could be way off base and it is hard to tell by just one photo, BUT, does that box have extra added framing under it?

The reason I ask is that the picture of your truck looks like the box is made using aluminum sheeting. If it is, a large portion of the floor frame strength is carried through the wall panels.  They are similar to most dry van trailers.  It is called monocoque construction, similar to airplane construction.

Hope I am wrong,

John

John

Southern Nevada

2008 Volvo 780, D13, I-Shift

2017 Keystone Fuzion 420 Toyhauler 

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9 hours ago, Cotreker said:

Update: March 16, 2017 I purchased a 2006 Volvo 670 with a 22' cargo box.  Cutting down the box and getting ready to load up my camper plus other modifications.  Thanks BlueLghtning for info on yet another build and it has a Arctic Fox camper on it, same brand as mine.

Volvo 2006 Buy small.jpg

Can't wait to see the finished product. 

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3 minutes ago, jkennell said:

Why not just build that box out into a nice camper body??  Seems you would have more flexibility and room--and may not take much more work than fitting the two together!

Jeff, that's just crazy talk.  Next thing we know, someone will suggest a walk through from the truck to the box.............;)

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3 hours ago, jkennell said:

Why not just build that box out into a nice camper body??  Seems you would have more flexibility and room--and may not take much more work than fitting the two together!

Other than the aesthetic's of making the camper look like part of the existing box, I think using a premade camper might be easier. At least the camper is already finished. We are in the process of building a camper inside a dry van trailer, and it seems the little things are the most difficult. It has been a challenge getting the wiring, plumbing, and everything else to fit like I want it. It will be worth it in the end, but I seriously considered just putting a camper inside instead. 

Chris & Tonya

'99 Freightliner FLD120, '01 Wabash Toyhauler (32' garage, 20' LQ)

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