I was thinking on my upcoming project (84W350 crew cab expedition rig) and looking at similar builds and I got an idea.Slide on interchangeable beds.Build a flatbed and mount it to the frame as usual but have a dock and lock type action built into it so I can run my regular bed (reinforced and the floor cut out,the flatbed will be the floor)then when a trip comes up I can slide it off and slide on a dedicated camper bed or rock the flatbed when I buy yet another antiquated piece of Old Iron to rebuild for my shop.Maybe something like oversize T-slots with appropiatel placed cut outs for cam locks or something.Small winch under the bed threaded to the front to pull the bed into location.Anyone done anything like this?Maybe a stand for the unused bed that can be moved via acme screws left or right to line it up and a fishmouth on the leading end. Am I just off my rocker thinking this could really open up some posibilities?

Curious about something this my own self, I've got a Goose Neck in my truck but want to add a camper shell to it..

I was thinking on my upcoming project (84W350 crew cab expedition rig) and looking at similar builds and I got an idea.Slide on interchangeable beds.Build a flatbed and mount it to the frame as usual but have a dock and lock type action built into it so I can run my regular bed (reinforced and the floor cut out,the flatbed will be the floor)then when a trip comes up I can slide it off and slide on a dedicated camper bed or rock the flatbed when I buy yet another antiquated piece of Old Iron to rebuild for my shop.Maybe something like oversize T-slots with appropiatel placed cut outs for cam locks or something.Small winch under the bed threaded to the front to pull the bed into location.Anyone done anything like this?Maybe a stand for the unused bed that can be moved via acme screws left or right to line it up and a fishmouth on the leading end. Am I just off my rocker thinking this could really open up some posibilities?





Great idea. I have a fab. shop in Southern California and we regularly build custom flat beds and utility beds. I have been thinking about making universal products like this, especially now that more and more people are getting rid of their RV's or campers, but still want to get out or "Expedition" in their daily driver trucks.

It may be a pretty involved process to take one on and off, but still a good idea.

It is a fairly standard setup for the Aussies. Here is one example: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=744859

There are a couple others posted in the "Show Your Expedition Vehicle" thread.

It is a fairly standard setup for the Aussies. Here is one example: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=744859

There are a couple others posted in the "Show Your Expedition Vehicle" thread.

damn...beat me to it...

think they call them "Trays"...I could be mistaken though.

Yep, trays or "trayback"

Anyone know or have pics of how the lock down? I'm kinda digging the way the Aussie campers are designed though they seriously remind me of a Roach Coach (So-Cal native here :grinpimp:).Still though these traybacks don't mount the original bed.From searching the net it seems lot of the Aussies are torn between the traybacks and the better looks and general everyday utility of a standard truck bed.I guess really the question is how to mount the standard bed to the flatbed.The bed on my project needs replacing so I can cut it up and explore possibilities.I can't imagine that there would be any real exceptional fab work needed to make it work.

You can see the clamps at the front and rear in this picture:
http://utilitycampers.com/templates/imageresizelive.php?image=../images/album/55.jpg&width=1000&height=1000

I don't think you're going to get an acceptable way to mount a standard pickup bed onto the flatbed that will look at all decent. At that point I'd say you're looking at having a pickup bed and a flatbed that you can interchange. My thought would be to have a flatbed that you can either mount the camper or a utility body.

For the utility body, I'd go for something like one of these options:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~jah/4wd/70series/pic_05.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1225/alloycamper002mediumvg2.jpg

More pictures of both of those in this thread here (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=724740).

Rather than have a "pickup" bed, why not just have a set of sideboards for the flatbed? I know it's not as cool, but i like K.I.S.S..

I can see having a camper that goes on the flatbed and cam latches down. then maybe some kind of utility/toolbox/etc tray that goes on the flatbed.

Seems like It would be a lot easier to build your flat bed to the desired width and make pin on bed sides to retain the factory look. This would also make removal and installation a lot easier.

You could even attach the bed sides using standard stake pockets and a few latches so they don't flop around much.

one consideration is compared to a standard bed floor a flat bed sits much higher, so with your standard bed sides around it you wont have a very deep bed.

I've actually put a bit of thought into this.... We used a LOT of modular equipment on one of the ships I was on....... easy retrofit for different missions.

Anyway, what I came up with....

Build your flatbed...

Using your perimeter frame as the securing point for your mod bodies...

Build you mod body...

In six easily accessed points(3 each side), use 3/4 or 1 inch bolts, into the frame of the flatbed. Tap a section of DOM(for strength, though I am sure HREW would be fine), and weld those sections into the frame. A pin in the bottom of the bolt to prevent backing out with vibration, and stretching...

When you set the body on the bed, line the holes up, and bolt down. Swapping of the bodies could be handled by those jacks used for slide in campers... Was thinking a couple short locating pins to make the line-up easier...

Wish I could do up a digital sketch for ya... it would make A LOT more sense...

Chase

I was just thinking something like a rollback waste truck would work well. You could simply put rails on the frame rails and a winch at the front. I'd probably put a couple or six bolts to fasten it on though or some threaded tiedowns. You could make any bed you wanted, flatbed, camper, regular truck bed, tanker, hopper, whatever. The regular truck bed might be kinda hard, it would definately have to be reinforced to be usefull and you'd loose the lower quarterpanels. Of course with some ingenuity you could keep those. I'd definately think using a full stock truck bed would be easier than trying to get the sides to attach to a flatbed.

I remember watching ice road truckers on tv and being impressed with how some of the drivers were able to load and unload there trailers without a crane. They had these large modular building units to move. They'd back they're trailer up in front of the unit, run the cables to the rear of the trailer and hook onto the front of the building unit, then winch away. It would lift the front of the unit up and onto the back of the trailer and then pull it all the way forward. To get it off they'd just back up and hit the brakes hard, the unit would slide rearward and the winch would be used to help control it. A few times of backing up and the unit would be hanging off the rear just teetering there and one more time and it'd hit the ground and they could pull forward and drop it. Of course those were like 80ft long, I don't think it would work well with a 6ft bed.

Kevo