I need creative ideas from the PBB on how to find a box or camper CHEAP for a toyhauler project. I'm trying to find something for $500 or less and all the slide in campers I've seen at that price were complete beaters so that kinda narrows it down to a truck box of some sort. Ideally, I'd like a 14' box with the cab over config for extra loft/storage space that can go on top of the goose neck. I really don't need a shitter, shower, or any of that stuff that costs extra money hence the reason I'm looking for a box truck box.

Has anyone tried buying a 14' box truck, taking the box off and selling the cab & chassis? I'm wondering how well I could make out doing that. There are lots of box trucks out there but hardly any box truck boxes. I've tried all the keywords I can think of on Craigslist. Mainly just looking for some direction and whether or not my $500 figure is realistic for a decent 14' cab over box. Thanks

Check junkyards closer to bigger cities or your local trucktrader mag. I've been to a junkyard in the Bronx where they had 7 or 8 lined up in a row for storage of interior parts.

Too bad you're not closer to me. I know of one you could probably have just for hauling it off.

Damn, I'd be all over that shit

Around here the hay farmers buy the Izuzu and Nissan rental trucks used and take the boxes off so they can make hay buggies with them.
My boss bought a 16' box for $700. Not a cab over, and it still had the step down bumper attached to it. But it works great.

Btw, I was thinking about doing the same thing with one of these and a spare trailer I have sitting.

Here's another question for those of you that have done this. If you had to do it again would you go the "slide in/small travel trailer" camper route or the box from a box truck route?

Right now I'm torn. The slide in camper has more amenities but less room to pack all your shit. The box from a box truck has lots of usable sq/ft but less amenities. I'd probably build a loft and some storage areas and be done with it. Cost is a factor as well and it looks like a box will be quite a bit cheaper. All the slide in's I've seen for cheap were piles of shit. Thoughts?

are you looking for a box your rig will fit inside of to tow/store?or are you mounting it on a long GN so youll have a flat deck behind it?

around here cheap boxes dont exist. ive not really seen any(even non-running) trucks for under $1k here,but everywheres different. If i lucked into something like that,id use it,but dirt cheap slide in and pop up campers are way easier for me to find. matter of fact im getting a free slide in camper this weekend im planning on mounting on my 36 foot GN. should have the space for it and 2 rigs.

as for myself when only carrying 1 rig,ive contemplated all sorts of different things,but have lucked into a 25 foot livestock trailer for $300 that i think will fit the bill nicely for me carrying 1 rig and camping space. :smokin: all my trail tools and spare parts will live on it permantly.

buying a whole truck and selling the chassis is an idea,what it will be worth will just depend on what it is. obviously youre not going to get $1000 for a rusty frame with a non-running chevy 350 and bald tires,but a c7500 chassis with a running CAT 3208 should easily bring that or more.

im like you,i dotn care about a shower or shitter,mainly somewheree to sleep,parts and tool storage,maybe a table,fridge,and a small microwave :grinpimp:

They usually cost a little more than $500 but it depends on size and condition. They are a little heavy but you could easily cut out a notch to ride on the neck of your trailer and most time they are pretty easy to keep water tight. Just a thought.

i am looking at putting a pop-up on the front of my gooseneck so when the beds are extended if you had a top view of the whole rig it would make a T. I am going to have to buy the smallest pop-up they make though?????

I found a 1995 Chevy Box truck with a 12' box. It's in pretty good shape, box is nice, motor seems to run fine but it needs a transmission so the guy is having a hard time getting rid of it. He's asking $950 but I think I can get it for $750. I wanted to throw that out here to check with you guys to see if that would be a good deal. All I want off it is the box. After that I guess I could sell the cab & chassis for a couple hundred. I don't want to spend a lot of time parting it out.

What say you all mighty PBB? Jump on it or keep looking?

I found a 1995 Chevy Box truck with a 12' box. It's in pretty good shape, box is nice, motor seems to run fine but it needs a transmission so the guy is having a hard time getting rid of it. He's asking $950 but I think I can get it for $750. I wanted to throw that out here to check with you guys to see if that would be a good deal. All I want off it is the box. After that I guess I could sell the cab & chassis for a couple hundred. I don't want to spend a lot of time parting it out.

What say you all mighty PBB? Jump on it or keep looking?

If you go the box truck route, make sure you mount it on end so that you can stand up in it. :flipoff2:

ttt, the couple deals I "thought" I had lined up all fell through so I'm still looking

why not just build your own box? if you can build a half decent truck im sure you can nail some 2x4's together. i know around here i cant get a box for under 2000 (just the box)

Well here's an update. I'm still looking. Big surprise. It seems like 12'-14' boxes around here are bringing in around $750-$1000 for a nice one. I've found some better deals but there were all too far away. Luckily I'm not in a rush so I'm holding out to find that "perfect" deal.

In the meantime, is there anyone that has done a hauler/camper with a box? Every thread I've found on here people use the pickup truck camper. I'd like to see some pics if anyone has some.

Someone in Cali could get a SMOKIN deal on this baby
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-Chevrolet-12-BOX-3500_W0QQitemZ330221484292QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item 330221484292
No reserve. This is the kinda of deal I'm waiting on.