Community Forums

vetspet.ind · 09-12-2022, 04:49 AM

my old v-10 dodge 3/4 ton truck is too rusty to carry the 8 ft camper so i am purchasing a new truck...the distance from bed to top of roof is 42" in my new truck but the newer trucks are much higher cab heights...ford is 44 1/2"...chevy is 45" and dodge is 51".....dodge is out of the question....i was told i can put a floor on bed of camper with 2x4 and a piece of 1/2" plywood...is that true?...my travel lite had about a 3-4" clearance with my older truck...it lists that i need 3" for my camper specs...any advice is appreciated

MtCamper · 09-12-2022, 05:32 AM

I'd put a sheet of 3/4" plywood on the bed, put a 2x4 on each side with 1 1/2" blue board foam in the middle and top it all with another sheet of 3/4". Warm floor and cab clearance to boot.

laj · 09-12-2022, 05:37 AM

Building various devises to obtain the proper/needed clearance is quite common. It can either be for cab clearance or bedrails.

I have seen some build a framework using 2x4’s, and plywood, to just stacking bed mats , or sheets of plywood to get the correct clearance.

Using plywood can get expensive, and add a lot of weight.

87_Alpine10 · 09-12-2022, 11:09 AM

When I got my setup, p.o. had a 1" rubber stall mat underneath to barely make clearance. Since I rebuilt the cabover section, it raised up a little, but I still wanted more clearance. I now have a stack of 4' x 8' extruded polystyrene sheets and they are very light and durable. Compression strength of these sheets are impressive. My $ .02

-m

rgvtexan · 09-12-2022, 09:10 PM

I hauled a 9' Lance in a 05 Ford F350 that had 5th wheel rails. I used 2" pink Foumular NGX foam, 2 ea. 2' by 8' sheets. The camper weight only left slight indications of the bed in the foam, it is a large footprint with a light pound per square foot camper <100lb/sq ft . It is available with up to 100 psi/sq. inch. The foam adds virtually no weight to the truck, and the camper doesn't slide on the foam. It is closed cell, so doesn't absorb water, or rot. ~$50.

Happy Trails!

Bobertgoes · 09-24-2022, 05:37 PM

As my Long Island friend would say, Bwards!
Stack up a home-made wooden block of whatever, but something sturdy.
The outer edges need the most sturdy as they keep the TC from rocking side to side, only need enough in the center to support the floor, or Flwoor as NY would say...