Inspired by Runaway Roses, we dig into what to consider before deciding on a flatbed truck camper rig. With significantly more space and exterior storage comes a few challenges and potential trade-offs.
Runaway Roses have not only gone through the flatbed process, but they have generously made a video showcasing their result detailing the pros and cons of their flatbed decisions. If you’re even considering a flatbed camper, I highly recommend watching their video and taking a few notes along the way. I sure did.
A lot of what’s covered goes under the category of important details that are easy to overlook in the macro truck, camper, and flatbed fitment design stages. For example, how are you going to incorporate tie-downs, what length turnbuckles will you need, and where will they attach on the flatbed? Where will the camper plug into the truck? How will you center the camper and how will you prevent side-to-side movement? As stated in the video, “You have to figure out the whole set-up.”
Why Campers Use Pickup Beds
Given the inherent space and storage advantages of a flatbed, why are the majority of truck campers designed for a pickup bed? The answers aren’t sexy, but define the foundation of the truck camper industry and marketplace; pickup bed popularity and uniformity.
Pickup beds are simply more popular among truck owners than flatbeds, especially outside of commercial applications. In order to scale production, truck campers have to be manufactured to fit the widest number of truck beds. For example, long bed pickup beds are eight feet long, standard beds are six and a half feet long, and short beds are typically—but not always—5 feet 8 inches long. Yes, there are important variations between truck brands on the exact bed dimensions, but there are uniform bed sizes the camper manufacturers can build to.
Truth be told, truck manufacturers are starting to push the limits of the decades-old pickup bed uniformity, especially with their anything-goes electric truck designs. If that trend takes hold, the future for truck campers could be challenging.
The important takeaway is this; the overwhelming majority of truck owners and truck camper enthusiasts prefer a pickup bed. If you choose to pursue a flatbed truck and camper, be aware that you will lose the popularity and uniformity that brought most truck camper owners to our niche in the first place.
That could translate to challenges with resale or changing your truck or camper in the future. Of course, it could also mean your rig will stand out from the pickup camper crowd and sell faster and/or at a premium.
A Flatbed Is Not A Flatbed Is Not A Flatbed
In our article, “How To Match A Truck and Truck Camper”, we recommend measuring a pickup truck’s exterior dimensions for fit compatibility before loading a camper for the first time. We make this recommendation because every truck camper is not designed to fit every pickup truck.
For example, matching an older truck to a new camper, or an older camper with a new truck, is never guaranteed to work. Even new campers and new trucks should be measured before loading the first time, or at least carefully watched during the initial loading process. The important measurements are the bed length, bed width, rail height, cab height, tailgate opening, and the bumper.
Assuming a match can cost you a brake light or worse. That stated, if you purchase a late-model truck and camper, it’s unusual that you will run into any fitment issues much beyond a simple bed riser.
With a flatbed, truck, and camper fitment is equally important, and a different story entirely. Now instead of the truck and camper being your variables, you also have a flatbed.
Like trucks and campers, there are a myriad of flatbeds available including custom-built options. To ensure a successful rig outcome, the first recommendation is to nail down your exact truck and camper choices before you purchase a flatbed. Without knowing what truck and camper you want, it will be nearly impossible to select a compatible flatbed.
We’ve known at least a dozen truck camper owners over the years who went through the process of purchasing a flatbed only to find there was a physical obstruction when they attempted to load their camper. Sometimes this is an easy fix, but sometimes it’s a major problem incurring additional costs and headaches.
The number one way to avoid this is to have the truck and camper nailed down first, and then take detailed in-person measurements of both. The second way to avoid this outcome is to physically have the truck and camper at the pre-made flatbed vendor or custom flatbed builder prior to purchase. A lot of the uh-oh stories happened when this process was made with assumptions, and over the internet.
Adding to this situation, there are a myriad of different flatbed designs available from pre-made commercial flatbeds to custom-made truck camper-specific flatbeds. Our highest recommendation for choosing a flatbed is to talk to the manufacturer of your selected camper about what flatbeds they’ve seen work (and not work) in the past.
The camper companies that sell direct will likely have the most feedback, but it’s worth asking the production camper companies as well. Also talk to your camper dealer—if you have one—and search the web for examples of flatbed rigs with the camper you’ve selected. If you don’t have to reinvent the flatbed wheel, don’t.
If none of that brings an answer, start with your truck and camper measurements, and your flatbed requirements (length, storage, side rails, tailgate, tie-downs, plug-in location, headache rack, etc.) and begin your research.
Like with truck campers, one of the first decisions will be custom-built versus production-built. If you decide you want a custom bed, the builder will work with you on fitment and options. If you decide to go with production built, the dealer/installer may still work with you on fitment and options, but the end result will ultimately be your responsibility. Measure, measure, measure.
Flatbeds Are Not Light
One assumption future flatbed owners sometimes make is the weight of a pickup bed is on par or even more than a flatbed. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case, especially if the flatbed is made of steel, and/or adorned with a number of storage boxes. As a rule, flatbeds usually weigh more than a pickup bed. This needs to be factored into your truck and camper matching math or you could wind up over payload.
Like everything else in the flatbed decision process, the flatbed weight is not a big deal, but it’s something you need to be mindful of. The truck manufacturer, camper manufacturer, and flatbed manufacturer probably didn’t have your combination in mind when they designed their products. You’re pioneering a new creation.
Other Important Considerations
Several flatbed fitment factors can push a truck camper back impacting the rig’s aesthetic and center of gravity. Commercial flatbeds often come with headache racks that force your camper back and could impede the camper itself. Cab and chassis trucks come in a range of lengths that don’t necessarily conform to pickup bed standards.
Hopefully, you’re able to get flatbed advice from your camper manufacturer, dealer, or fellow truck camper who has already gone through the process and dealt with these issues. If not, headache racks can be potential headaches, and cab and chassis bed lengths can really set your center of gravity back. Add both into your calculations.
Thank You, Runaway Roses
I really enjoyed Runaway Roses’ presentation as they focused on the pros and cons of flatbed camper ownership. From their perspectives, I wanted to add some important points on the truck, camper, and flatbed fitment and matching process. The result is hopefully a good primer to know where the potential challenges are, and how to navigate them.
Angela and I have long talked about a flatbed truck; not just for the exterior storage, but for the footprint it would allow for our preferred non-slide camper approach. Runaway Roses have stirred those thoughts once more. We will probably stay with a traditional pickup bed, but the dream of a flatbed with all that exterior storage is truly enticing.
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