Center of gravity question

[mtlangst]

I cant find the answer by searching and have read conflicting info on the internet. Which has a lower CG and is better for offroading? A flatbed or slide in?

 

[pvstoy]

Depends where your weight is located in elevation.

Slide in the water heater and refrigerator and other stuff is above the bed rails of the truck.

Flat bed most of those items are sitting at deck height.

Just need to see where in elevation you mass weights are between the two.

 

[rando]

I would agree with pvstoy that the flatbed has a lower center of gravity, but on the flip side (haha) the flatbeds are heavier than the slide ins, so it may be a wash in the end.

 

[mtlangst]

I would agree with pvstoy that the flatbed has a lower center of gravity, but on the flip side (haha) the flatbeds are heavier than the slide ins, so it may be a wash in the end.

Hmmm you should be a politician

 

[smlobx]

The actual height of the flatbed is usually several inches higher than a pick up bed so who knows...

 

[fuzzymarindave]

The actual height of the flatbed is usually several inches higher than a pick up bed so who knows...

It looks like at least one company can fabricate a flatbed that is no higher than the stock pickup bed.


https://sherptek.com/truckbed

 

[DavidinPhx]

I'm about to buy a used flatbed Hawk rig and this is a big question for me. I'm particularly concerned with the tippy factor on off-camber trails.

I just posted this on Expedition Portal, https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/about-to-buy-a-flatbed-fwc-hawk-norweld-rig-need-advice-on-off-road-capability.220255/

The short story, is I'm coming from a non-camper Tacoma that's well built and we're used to doing some pretty serious trails, though less so lately.

Sure would appreciate feedback from anyone with a flatbed on the Norweld tray as to how their rig handles the COG on unlevel stretches of trail, not just FS roads, etc.

 

[rando]

I think the definition of 'pretty serious' trail varies greatly from person to person, but I can give you my experience with a fleet flatbed on a Tacoma over the past 4.5 years. I would not consider myself a 'four wheel driver' in the sense that the driving is the goal, but often to access remote places, you need to drive rough roads.

I have never found tipy-ness in terms of roll over to be a limiting factor, but I have found bulk coupled with off camber to be an issue. We have taken our last camper over Elephant Hill and into the Needles district of Canyonlands, but I would not do this with the FWC. Not so much because of Elephant Hill itself, but because of the 'squeeze' that comes after it, where you need to drive through a very narrow canyon, and it is off camber - the camper would likely hit the walls. I notice this with trees as well.

You also notice that you are heavy, it takes more traction to get you up a loose slope than without the camper - particularly with the Norweld, it is heavy! The weight also increases the likelihood of breaking something - it just takes more torque to get going and everything is working harder. So far we have been lucky, but it is something I think about, and I am much more likely to turn around with the FWC.

So in short, if I were seeking out four wheel driving for the sake of it I would look for something smaller and lighter. The FWC does add stress to really rough roads.

 

[WillTheThri11]

I'm about to buy a used flatbed Hawk rig and this is a big question for me. I'm particularly concerned with the tippy factor on off-camber trails.

I just posted this on Expedition Portal, https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/about-to-buy-a-flatbed-fwc-hawk-norweld-rig-need-advice-on-off-road-capability.220255/

The short story, is I'm coming from a non-camper Tacoma that's well built and we're used to doing some pretty serious trails, though less so lately.

Sure would appreciate feedback from anyone with a flatbed on the Norweld tray as to how their rig handles the COG on unlevel stretches of trail, not just FS roads, etc.

You might check out this thread on Tacomaworld.com

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/taking-a-tacoma-around-the-world-need-advice.585792/

There are other resources there as well. I personally have put a slide in on my Tacoma and you can tell it's heavy back there. I'm nervous on more technical trails. I only have airbags but am in the process of upgrading springs and shocks hoping for more confidence on the rougher trails. The link above and their website I think show a few trip reports that were helpful in making me think that I can setup my truck to suit my needs.

 

[ntsqd]

If you had two willing owners of similar campers & trucks except for slid-in vs. flatbed you could find the CG of each for comparison's sake. Simplest way that I've seen it done is to weigh the truck on flat ground. You'll need all four corner weights, not just F/R weights. Then do so again except with the trucks either nose or tail high by a significant amount. Then it's a trig problem, but it beats finding the weight of each component and it's coordinate distance from some reference point, and then doing that math.

After all of that work, either way, you'll only know the CG for those two rigs. All others will be a partly educated guess.

 

[DavidinPhx]

Thanks Rando and WilltheThri11, helpful info.

The rig I’m buying is on a well dialed in ‘12 Power Wagon (2 years before they went to rear coils) with HD leaf springs and airbags, so hopefully pretty stable and tough …but sure bulky compared to my Tacoma! Not looking to rock crawl, but as a photographer, just want to get where I need to be, which is often on a rough trail.

Having done Elephant Hill in my 2nd gen Tacoma, theres no way I’d think about it with a Flatbed Hawk!

Glad to hear other factors come into play before “tippyness”!

 

[ntsqd]

Badlands 4x4 driving school has an exercise in side-hill driving that is very illustrative. Coming into the class with ~20 years of off road driving under my belt I still learned a lot. Recommended.

 

[Wango]

Not sure if this will help but here goes.
Previous setup was 2003 f250 xcab long bed with 8 foot litecraft regular slide in camper.
Current setup is 2016 f350 cc long bed with 9 foot aluminum flatbed, atc flatbed 7w x 9 l
Have driven the same kinds of trails in both, even rougher ones in newer unit.
Bed height is 5plus inches higher with the flatbed then regular bed, when building the next flatbed i will try to go with a company that can lower my bed.
Camper was built with all weight low and forward to help offset cog issues. Hasn't really felt super tippy on off camber trails, but i am realistic that i am going to be limited at times due to size. Elephant hill is a great example.
It is what it is I'm afraid.
All this being said, most of us who switch to flatbeds, would never go back.
Enjoy