Enclosed utility bed custom

[1911/F-350]

I am going to buy a new truck and enclosed utility body similar to this except it will be a Ford DRW 4x4:

I travel about 40,000 a year for work and this will be my work truck. I started thinking that the space over the cab was wasted so I started looking for a body with a loft over the cab for a bed to sleep in. I can't find one so it looks that I will have to have one custom built.

I am not a camper (as of yet) but I would love the option of being able to stop somewhere and stay comfortably in my truck instead of a hotel. Not to mention that I could turn it in on my expense report and get paid to sleep in it.

With that said; after searching hundreds of pages on the interweb and not seeing one it makes me wonder if there is a reason. Have any of you seen a body like what I described?

Thank you,
Travis

 

[pappawheely]

I have not seen anything like that but I have seen toyhauler slide-in campers.

http://s001.radikal.ru/i194/1211/02/f577f00b1176.jpg

 

[ripperj]

Most work trucks I have seen have the bed full of work stuff, tools, parts ect. Not much room for comforts??

 

[Sock Puppet]

I've never seen one, either, but can't imagine it would be too difficult to have built. Cost shouldn't be prohibitive if you specify that you don't require the over-cab portion to have a high weight load. I would certainly have them add a roof vent above your sleeping compartment, and maybe a small side window or two for ventilation and light.

I like your concept!

Edit: Have you looked at these? http://ultimatetruckbody.com/

 

[1911/F-350]

I have not seen anything like that but I have seen toyhauler slide-in campers.

http://s001.radikal.ru/i194/1211/02/f577f00b1176.jpg

If I have one made I will post a pic. From all of my searching it will apparently be the first one.:Wow1:

Most work trucks I have seen have the bed full of work stuff, tools, parts ect. Not much room for comforts??

I am currently working out of a super cab F-250. I think with all the compartments in the utility box it will leave the inside mostly empty unless I am doing a big project.

I've never seen one, either, but can't imagine it would be too difficult to have built. Cost shouldn't be prohibitive if you specify that you don't require the over-cab portion to have a high weight load. I would certainly have them add a roof vent above your sleeping compartment, and maybe a small side window or two for ventilation and light.

I like your concept!

Edit: Have you looked at these? http://ultimatetruckbody.com/

Thanks for the link and yes I saw those. I am set on a steel or aluminum body with utility boxes.

As for vents; I have found a new favorite site to read and learn here. I am starting to think that I might start to be an interstate camper.:sombrero:

 

[BurbanAZ]

hopefully u can get it built and post up some pics, i dont think ive seen something like it before.

 

[1911/F-350]

Thanks Burban, has anyone delt with TruckBeds.com?

I spoke with knapheide and they said that they custom build but options are always good.

I figure I will wear the truck out in about 7 years and would like to Be able to swap the bed on to a new truck chassis after that so I am more concerned about the bed than the truck.

The rep at truckbeds.com is off until the 8th of this month so it will be next week until I get in touch with them. I sent emails but for some reason I don't show any sent emails to them in my box. I will call them just to make sure we make contact.

 

[Zuber]

There was a 'low' utility bed that allowed a slide-in camper, like the Four Wheel or Phonex (sp?) pop-up. Much better mileage.

Here's the thread> http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/64957-utility-body-4-wheel-camper

 

[1911/F-350]

There was a 'low' utility bed that allowed a slide-in camper, like the Four Wheel or Phonex (sp?) pop-up. Much better mileage.

Here's the thread> http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/64957-utility-body-4-wheel-camper

I am not worried about mileage and at times I will need to have 1,000 + lbs in the bed. I will have to build a jack lifting system or ramp/winch to load and unload a Roto Jet style pump in and out of my truck.

I don't trust a plant forklift operator to load/unload out of the enclosed body of my truck.

They beat the hell out of my regular truck bed now! :smiley:

 

[Zuber]

Yeah, gottcha. How about ARE? Are they still in business? They had a cabover 'shell' that sit on top of the bed with double doors, all alum. Maybe they could do one for a util--bed.

Too bad Gem-Top doesn't do cab-overs. I really liked my contractors cap with the swing up side doors for camping.

 

[Plannerman]

You may also want to insulate the can-over sleeping compartment. We occasionally sleep in the tack room over our gooseneck horse trailer and the condensation is annoying.


Sent via fat thumb

 

[98roamer]

I know you mentioned that you're not a "camper" but if you could do a crew cab or maybe an extended cab, you could do a RRT attached to the cab.
http://www.autohomeus.com/
http://store.arbusa.com/Touring-Camping-Gear-C18.aspx

Could the passenger seat lay flat enough to make a bed (doesn't sound comfortable) or the entire back seat of a crew cab be exchanged for a bed platform?

 

[BCHauler]

Maybe check these guys out. I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know that their units are highly sought after used. Formerly called Fibermold.
http://www.tufport.com/

 

[1911/F-350]

Yeah, gottcha. How about ARE? Are they still in business? They had a cabover 'shell' that sit on top of the bed with double doors, all alum. Maybe they could do one for a util--bed.

Too bad Gem-Top doesn't do cab-overs. I really liked my contractors cap with the swing up side doors for camping.

I will look into ARE, thanks.

You may also want to insulate the can-over sleeping compartment. We occasionally sleep in the tack room over our gooseneck horse trailer and the condensation is annoying.


Sent via fat thumb

I do plan to insulate the entire inside of the body.

I know you mentioned that you're not a "camper" but if you could do a crew cab or maybe an extended cab, you could do a RRT attached to the cab.
http://www.autohomeus.com/
http://store.arbusa.com/Touring-Camping-Gear-C18.aspx

Could the passenger seat lay flat enough to make a bed (doesn't sound comfortable) or the entire back seat of a crew cab be exchanged for a bed platform?

As I was driving to OH today I was thinking that it would be nice to be able to stop for the night when I feel like it, not have to search for a hotel, not have to eat whatever is open and hope that it isn't McDonalds.

The more I think about this the more I want this utility body with a camper like setup in it.

Maybe check these guys out. I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know that their units are highly sought after used. Formerly called Fibermold.
http://www.tufport.com/

Thanks for the links but I am going to stick to my plan of steel or aluminum.

If all else fails I will just buy a Knapheide and build the sleeper over the cab myself.

I emailed a place Saturday but they haven't gotten back to me. I hope to have time to try to contact Truckbeds and Knapheide tomorrow.

 

[98roamer]

You make a good points about where to eat and sleep. With that many miles on the road, I would image that "making do" gets old, so a slide in camper on a utility bed makes good sense. There are many proven examples out there and if MPG is a consideration you might look at a low profile camper such as
http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/
This is what my wife and I are planning for our final expo vehicle, but it could grow as we get older. F350 w/ utility or a flatbed with a slide in/on camper.

There's some cool additions such as solar, awnings, and a rear porch/work area that can be added similar to this:

http://xtremecampers.com/home.html