Head Room or Storage?

[rich]

Hi Guys,

The new Tundra has a 23" deep bed instead of the 17" deep bed on the T-100 so I have to build a basement under it to get it over the bed rails. Will need about 7 inches of basement. The easiest option will be to just build one big platform under it with some doors at the end so I can use that space for storage and maybe cut some port holes down into it from inside.

However my camper is an 89 and it only has the 5'10" head room in it. My wife and I are both 5'10" so it is just a bit cramped. I am thinking about cutting out the floor just in the walking section and dropping it down 3" to get 6'1" head room. It would raise the couch height up to about standard house couch height and would make the counter top a bit high. Could cause a tripping hazard coming in and out as well. Not sure if it's worth it but the extra head room sure would be nice!

So any ideas, other issues you can see with dropping the floor or general critiques? If anyone here has built a basement under their camper I'd love to see pictures. There was one F-250 a while back that had done it but I searched like crazy and couldn't find it. I read through a couple of other basement threads but nothing much useful in there either.

 

[kcowyo]

Rich, the F250 you're looking for *may* belong to OutbacKamper/Mark out of Canada... He built it up, including a basement and shipped it to Australia for 9 months...? I just checked his 2 threads on Expedition Portal, but his pic links are all broken (red X hell)...

I know he has since sold that camper and I don't know if he is a member here, but if you're on ExPo too, you might PM him there to see if he has any of his pics saved. It was a smart design to consider while you're doing your research.

Wish I could be of more help, but since you dumped the T100 for a nice new Tundra, I'm not talking to you anymore.
.

 

[rich]

Wish I could be of more help, but since you dumped the T100 for a nice new Tundra, I'm not talking to you anymore.
.



I know KC, I was sad to see it go and seeing all the pics you posted of yours on the pics thread made me miss it. It was a great truck with great memories and the last vehicle that I lived in full time before I got a real job, got married and bought a house ......but wait til you see the new Tundra, you might change your mind

 

[rich]

You are right, the rig I am thinking of was outback camper, it was a pretty sweet set up. I'll PM him on expo.

Thanks!

Anyone here have basement plans or photos to post?

 

[rich]

OutbackKamper is a member here and I remember him posting pics of that basement and rig here. But when you go to his profile page

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/user/42-outbackamper/

It says that he has 64 posts in the FWC forum but when you click on topics or posts it says nothing to display and the google tool comes up with nothing.

DD is there another way to search for posts by him?

Thanks,

Rich

 

[UglyScout]

I'd go with headroom over storage. The beauty of the camper is being able to stand up and stretch a little...

 

[brett13]

I'd go with headroom over storage. The beauty of the camper is being able to stand up and stretch a little...


Being short myself, I feel no empathy for your predicament.

 

[pods8]

OutbackKamper is a member here and I remember him posting pics of that basement and rig here. But when you go to his profile page

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/user/42-outbackamper/

It says that he has 64 posts in the FWC forum but when you click on topics or posts it says nothing to display and the google tool comes up with nothing.

DD is there another way to search for posts by him?

Thanks,

Rich


When the forum switched format all the old posts became really hard to find. If DD has some tips it would be nice.

 

[ski3pin]

Boy Rich, that's an interesting question. I just fit with the headroom in our old Ranger II. When we had the guys at ATC do the new sideliner we asked about the possibility of adding height there. Too much cost. Never thought of adding height from the bottom up. I think with some clever engineering you can do it. Thanks for the creative idea!

 

[rich]

As I noodled on this some more, circled the camper and head scratched my answer came in the form of my wife. She wants this thing road worthy ASAP so we can head out on a trip so I for now I think I am going to build a basic platform basement and run that for a bit because we have some trips coming up quick in November and then think about dropping the floor down.

Current plan for the basement is 3 full length 2x6 stringers set on edge and a 2x6 across the back at the cab end with a top and bottom sheet of plywood on it. At the tailgate end I'll make 2 ply wood doors with locking latches which will give me 2 18" x 8' storage compartments under the camper for shovels, tents, stoves, recovery gear etc... I may box in a small portion at the front to hold canned goods or food and cut a port hole in from the inside of the camper.

I would like to put slides in those compartments so I can make them drawers that I could pull out to access items at the back. I know the make very expensive versions for work trucks but anyone know where I can get my hands on a couple of 8' drawer slides?

 

[BLM]

As I noodled on this some more, circled the camper and head scratched my answer came in the form of my wife. She wants this thing road worthy ASAP so we can head out on a trip so I for now I think I am going to build a basic platform basement and run that for a bit because we have some trips coming up quick in November and then think about dropping the floor down.

Current plan for the basement is 3 full length 2x6 stringers set on edge and a 2x6 across the back at the cab end with a top and bottom sheet of plywood on it. At the tailgate end I'll make 2 ply wood doors with locking latches which will give me 2 18" x 8' storage compartments under the camper for shovels, tents, stoves, recovery gear etc... I may box in a small portion at the front to hold canned goods or food and cut a port hole in from the inside of the camper.

I would like to put slides in those compartments so I can make them drawers that I could pull out to access items at the back. I know the make very expensive versions for work trucks but anyone know where I can get my hands on a couple of 8' drawer slides?

If money wasn't an issue, this toolbox would make a great platform. They are available in 8 7/8" height.

$700-1000

http://www.pickupspe...rat_drawers.htm





Try a CL search for weatherguard or weathergaurd pack rat .

$200 .
http://sfbay.craigsl...2028101756.html

$150 -
http://sfbay.craigsl...2020420848.html

$350
http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/2020705885.html

 

[rich]

Yeah I looked at those and some really expensive Tuffy brand ones but they were either too expensive or not big enough etc...

Found this which is a great simple sollution:

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/tips/custom-truck-bed-extender-tool-storage.aspx

but I can't give up much space so now I have to find some really small casters like 1/2" high tops, not having too much luck in that department.

Found these:

http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/953

Not sure if they would hold up though, but thinking of ordering a few to try them out.

 

[BillM]

Yeah I looked at those and some really expensive Tuffy brand ones but they were either too expensive or not big enough etc...

Found this which is a great simple sollution:

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/tips/custom-truck-bed-extender-tool-storage.aspx

but I can't give up much space so now I have to find some really small casters like 1/2" high tops, not having too much luck in that department.

Found these:

http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/953

Not sure if they would hold up though, but thinking of ordering a few to try them out.


How about mounting your casters or wheels on the inside of the box through the floor. That way you could mount them so that they just penetrate the floor and take away minimal storage height.