Disclaimer: This is LONG. It also might belong in a differant section, but I would like advice from people who know the truck this will be affecting. (it's a 93 d150 2x4 318 auto single cab, 8 foot bed)

OK,
I have a slight dilema here. I have an 8' bed on my truck. I have a camper top on it. I need more head room, like 2 to 3 foot more.

What I'm thinking, is building a wall down each side and across the front. I would make sure this wall is an inch or so above the roof line of my cab. Then, I would take 10 foot long 2-bys and put on top of that, so they hang over the cab by 2 foot. I would then "floor" in over the cab and about 2 foot over the bed. That would let me knock the window out of my camper top, and build an angled piece to go from the front of the cab to the top of the camper top (this would be bolted and sealed to the topper). I would then have access hatches on either side of the cab to the over-cab storage area, as well as have access through the bed if I need to.

Each side of the original wall would also have hatches that would lead to built in tool boxes, which would go to the floor od the bed. I was thinking if I make the hatches on one side only about 10 inches tall (kind of small I know, but good for small things), I could build a 24-30 inch bench over the toolbox part, and have shallow cabinets on the inside. I would do similar on the other side, but the hatches would be taller, and the bench would be only 18-20 inches there abouts. These would go from the tailgate to about 6&1/2 foot to the front, leaving about a foot and a half. There would be about a 20-24" "walk way" from the tailgate to the front. I might even have a 4 inch rise on the floor there too, to put long bars and the such that won't fit elsewhere - with floor hatches and maybe a rear hatch (possibly covert openings so people don't know it's a storage area also)

I would build a wall there from the floor of the bed to the height of the top of the sides, and have full height access hatches on either side. I would also make slanted walls from the outside top to about 1/3 in. Think of the shape of a 2-lid tool box with the lids open at about 45*. I would build the front part the same as a toolbox, but taking full advantage of the space provided. With the toolbox and the over head storage, I would end up with and upside down triangle-ish shape (4 sided instead of three) where I would either build a thin plywood wall or have it open to the cab rear window.

Basically, I want to build a strong, but as light as possible truck camper in the bed of my truck. Think 1 man hippy camper in a truck. lol.

I'm thinking to start, I'll build just a 2x3, 3 sided wall with some kind of door to put my camper top on. I figure 3/8 inch plywood should stiffen up the walls more than enough to support the camper. I'll build everything else into that as I go along. The side toolboxes would only go into the bed as far as the wheel wells, so from the wheel well toward the center can be used as cabinet or drawer space.

I'd like some input, questions, engineering thoughts and advice from anyone who's done anything similar. I'd especially like comments about the over-cab section as well as the toolbox design ideas.



Please don't mention MPG loss, weight increase, or the raised COG, I know all of this and am used to driving a van camper (van with the extra foot tall roof line) I know I'll get lowered MPG, from the weight if nothing else. That's why I want the over-cab section to be angled to the top of the camper. I figure there should be enough weight in the bed that the center of gravity will be re-lowered *some*, and the camper top isn't all that heavy. I know the shocks will be lowered a bit, the truck might even level out (that'd be a bit of a plus). I've had a regular slip-in camper on the back before and it didn't do too bad. My thing here should end up being quite a bit smaller exterior, more spacious interior and a lot less weight since I'm going kind of spartan on the camping parts.


also, the camper topper is kind of an off silver gray color. I was thinking of trying to mimic the color for the rest of the truck, then paint a wide red stripe down the bed and cab and put a huge Rebel Alliance sticker on the hood... and maybe I can find one of those old McDonalds Play Place acrylic domes, put that on top and paint it up like R2D2

 

holy crap that was longer than I thought.
edit:
I know some of you have some advice, ideas or comments...
wouldn't mind hearing em, even the most rediculous ones (the idea seems a little out there as is anyways)

 

You could lighten it up a bit using aluminum tubing and panels, instead of wood, think semi-trailer. You can buy the panels at a semi truck repair shop, or a race car shop that does bodies. Also may be able to find a fiberglass air deflector off the roof of a truck tractor. There are many different sizes and styles.

 

Thats good ideas.
I didn't think about the fiberglass deflector. I don't have the money for aluminum tubing, or to have it welded together. That sure would be nice.
I can probably get some aluminum trailer home siding, similar to what aluminum camper tops are made of. I'm sure that would lighten it a bit.

I would really like to find an 8' ladder over the roof ladder rack... so 10'? That would give me all the framework for sides and such, but coming by one of those is few and far between down here.