Flatbed Truck Rails / Tons of Storage / Truck Camper Ready

As you know from our our most recent videos if you've seen them, one reason we upgraded our truck was because of the weight rating but there's another big benefit that we also considered, more storage. A truck camper has it's positives and negatives but the biggest negative is storage space for outdoor items. In this video Todd talks about what he's done to help solve this issue and it looks great too.
As always, we hope you find the video useful and informative! If you have questions about anything in our videos, you can reach us at [e-mail]
Thanks for watching!
The Runaway Roses
#RunawayRoses #FlatbedTruckCamper #BigfootTruckCamper #BigfootRV #TruckCamperLife #RAM4500 #RAM3500 #BigfootCamperTour
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►►►►►►LIST OF OUR CAMPERS (PRESENT AND PAST)◄◄◄◄◄◄
►2020 Bigfoot 10.4 Truck Camper - We got our 2020 Bigfoot 10.4 Truck Camper in October 2021. We were contacted by a couple of subscribers (now good friends) who had theirs up for sale in Upstate New York so we headed out on an adventure. We sold our 2014 Bigfoot 10.4 within one day of listing it online.
►2014 Bigfoot 10.4 Truck Camper - We got our 2014 Bigfoot 10.4 in August 2021 from RVOne near Charlotte, NC. Todd was headed to buy a brand new Bigfoot 10.4 just before we got the Lance 975 but when he got to Southland RV, it was sold. That's when we decided to go to the Lance 975. We knew at some point in the future we'd have a Bigfoot again and here it is.
►2021 Lance 975 - We got our new 2021 Lance 975 from Chattanooga Fish n Fun in Hixson, TN in August 2020. After looking at several models, we decided on the Lance 975 (Check out Brad's channel from Chattanooga Fish n Fun, he gives great, thorough overviews of some really nice boats and campers.) We sold the Lance 975 in August 2021.
►2019 Northern Lite 10-2 Truck Camper - Bought and delivered from Mountain Motors in Troy, MO on 12/2019 and sold it in 01/2020.
►2005 Northern Lite 10-2 Truck Camper - Picked up on 8/10/2019 we did major repairs, maintenance and renovations to this one and sold it in 12/2019.
2008 Bigfoot 21RB - Sold 12/2019, we went across country to purchase from a dealer in Pueblo Colorado.
►2006 Casita Spirit Deluxe - Sold 07/2018 when we bought our Bigfoot.
►2002 A-liner - Sold 05/2017 when bought our 2006 Casita Spirit Deluxe.

[@doodles2814]

You've got some mad skills going on, Todd! I think it looks better with the rails instead of storage boxes, and probably provides more storage space.

[@brentmcmahon8188]

Looks pretty sharp but sooner or later you will have alum box’s made it’s just the way things go and when you see one decked out you will be there !

[@TravelswithDelaney]

Those look great Todd! Love that coloring of stain you put on them. Well done.

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks TWD! We're glad that we picked this color, it goes well with our set-up! Hope you guys are out having fund camping!

[@phillords8377]

I like the black stain... it breaks up the white and makes our rig pop! I don't know if I could ever give up my truck. Great Job!

[@toddramsay977]

Very nice setup! The stable camper boxes just bolt in. You can unscrew them and take off the boxes. No need to get under the truck from what I under stand.

[@mustang1191]

Your build looks great, very professional.

[@kturnington]

Awesome set-up.....envious for sure 👏 great work 👍

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks so much and thanks for watching!

[@e-square9976]

Nice job Todd. Nice Jeep as well.

[@ibrahimaldossri2646]

Hey…… looks cool specially with wood collar. This is reminds me of old trucks from the forties of the last century. Thanks 🙏keep it up 👍

[@irapickard6775]

That is a great looking rig

[@edwilson9243]

Looks awesome Todd. Great job buddy

[@glenstratton9363]

well done!! looks like you got plenty of storage and the unit looks complete. I agree that storage boxes would reduce the versatility of the truck. Keep on truckin!!

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks Glen, It will definitely make the truck more usable around the house as well. I hope you’re doing well. Thanks for watching!

[@paulrouis3298]

Looks like you have a first class rolling wood shed to keep you fire wood dry Todd! Would be a great place to store a propane fire pit and/or BBQ too. As far as a suggestion if you made some brackets or legs you could deploy the camp side one flat and have a half covered table or bar set up for tailgating.

[@kenmatthews6476]

That looks good! Great job and very practical.

[@iglapsu88]

That is one beautiful truck. Great job on the bed walls!

[@kabzak]

Nicely done! Looks great.

[@theartsunnyshow2748]

I like the stained black. And it looks very functional. Truck looks good ..

[@user-tv5dt3nm9y]

Looks good. Wolmanized lumber is popular for many projects, yet this lumber is intended for use on or near dirt in a permanent installation. Staining the lumber will give it all the protection it needs.

[@chuanvo2646]

I really love this truck with the camper, I can live with ở . Awesome job 🎉

[@jonathangoodman8726]

You have done an amazing job… thumbs up!!

[@mjl9702]

looks great!!! the wonderful thing about having a flatbed is if you decide that you need the sides flush with the bed instead of the side rail, you can simply build another set of side rails that are flush with no problem.

[@RickySlatton]

You may want to dab those holes with some paint so your bed don’t rust. Nice truck and good job on those rails.

[@wink515]

Nicely done. We did something very similar with our F350 flatbed (we also carry a NL10.2). We did end up changing from 3 treated 5/4 deck boards to 4 treated 1x4s due to the weight. I also cut the sides in half (vertically between the inner stake pockets) so we can each handle them to remove/replace a section/side at a time. I found some gate hardware that keeps the sides locked together when they are in place. Your tailgate is a nice touch!!

[@Handydam]

I think it looks sharp! And doing the rails makes it more flexible!

[@bob_frazier]

Looks great! Some cap nuts on those screws might keep stuff from getting scratched up, like your forearms. I'd like to have a place for rugs and chairs just like you said, the basement access isn't the easiest place to get in and out of. I'm in my 10.6 right now, camping. I should put this phone down, but your vids are an exception!

[@RunawayRoses]

Hi Bob, That is is a good idea on caps for the screws. I’m going to look into that. Have Fun camping and thanks for watching! Todd

[@slmjake]

Great job and great looking rig now! You made this a usable bed now! Even on half ton trucks I find the bed height as too much...i.e. you can't access cargo from the sides. It drives up vehicle weight and cost and now we have these fancy tailgates lol! I love my old 2004 ranger which despite 4 wheel drive is low enough to allow full access. Aftermarket companies are offering more solutions to buck the trend if super high new pickups with big show fires and lifts and useless beds from a work perspective.

[@JasonB33]

Thanks for sharing your build. I will definitely be inspired by your build for my own to go on my Hillsboro flatbed.

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

I have a 3500 ram with the dully bed and i hate it i wonted a 4500 or 5500 flatbed, but the insurance was double the price, but my plan was to one day put a flatbed on the truck but the dully is a pain to get anything out of it and only one way to load it but the flat bed you can load it from either side or the back and it easy to onload and you can put side box's on it. yours looks sharp.

[@myjavadogs]

I know you have a new rig now, but I love this set up! I've been trying to find a way to have more storage when we get our set up and this is the perfect idea!

[@jamesdvancleave4405]

Cool build. I like the stain. I'll be doing that to my flatbed. Camper looks great also

[@texasproud3332]

Looks sharp like the stake bed look

[@virgilcresswell4994]

Hey Todd yeah that looks good and that's a good idea to keep them boards to the outside that way you got that space for tie down onto rubrail. Or top boards would get broken.

[@Durataur]

Wow it looks fantastic! Did you think of putting hinges on the stakes or somewhere so you could fold down the side when the camper is on? I feel like that would be the best of both worlds for when you have the camper on and you want the storage!

[@stanfordbanks3399]

Perfect looks great

[@scottkarjala]

I have rails like that on my small trailer, i went with nylon insert nuts on the carriage bolts to keep them in place.

[@miguelrubio8243]

This was built very well , great job man 👌🏼

[@geraldekstrom5340]

Looking good. I love yours videos. Have a blessed day. Jerry.

[@ezbuilding]

Well Done!! Great ideas...

[@kengroves49]

looks good 👍 I like it

[@standingmannequin7911]

I like it, stay classy.

[@stinger4583]

Good job. It's a clean look. Do the side rails come off with the camper on?

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks, yes I can take the side rails off with the camper on. Thanks for watching!

[@bobmclemore]

Looks great, Are you also going to stain the bumper black to match

[@RunawayRoses]

Yes, we'll probably end up staining the bumper. Thanks for watching!

[@billblecher9215]

Really looks good nice job just turn them lag bolts on your hand Jess so it matches LOL

[@scottkarjala]

next upgrade, sherptek bed!

[@tonyspicer6745]

👍

[@doughutchison6382]

Nice job and it looks great! Does the top of the bed sit much higher than your stock truck bed or about the same?

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks and yes the top of the flatbed is about 6 inches taller than our pickup was. Thanks for watching!

[@patriot8087]

I have watch several of your videos, I'm sure you have mentioned in one of your videos why you got rid of your Lance 975 and bought the Big foot with no slides. To each is owns. just curious why someone would do that.

[@RunawayRoses]

That is a loaded question and we plan on making a video about that. The short answer is we love fiberglass campers and wanted to go back to that. Thanks for watching!

[@randyprince9913]

Hey Todd, can you provide a comparison of the ride quality of the 3500 vs 4500, both loaded and empty? I'm looking at trucks right now and trying to decide between these two. Thanks. Randy

[@flynseek4363]

It looks great. Nice job. Just a question? How come you got ride if the Lance & kept the Bigfoot ? Reason for doing this…. Thanks.

[@Goandseetv]

Great video and great looking flatbed! Quick question, did you just drill out those holes for the tiedowns (in the rail) yourself? Was wondering how they've held up so far? Is there any flex or wiggle? I'm guessing the flatbed is solidly connected to your truck frame. I always wondered how people secured their tiedowns to flatbeds, I guess another alternative would be to weld something to the flatbed. If you could give an idea of how your rails and tiedowns are holding up would be great, thanks!

[@RunawayRoses]

The holes I drilled in the rub rail on the flat bed have worked out great to connect the tie downs too. The rail hasn't flexed or cracked at all. It's supper strong and welled at several locations. Of course it is a steel bed so it's very strong. It was hard to drill through and I think I went through 3 drill bits. Thanks for watching!

[@Goandseetv]

@@RunawayRoses Thanks for the update 👍 Looking forward to your next video!

[@brianhendew4526]

How do you get to the space back there with the camper on? I am going to assume you left just enough space to slide the rails up and out . It would be slick to have a locking hinge pin on the back side of the rail so you just pull a hitch type pin and the rails would fold down out flat to get to anything stored back behind.

[@RunawayRoses]

Hi Brian, yes I made them so I can just lift them up and out with the camper on. I had thought about making something with a hinge that folded down but decided to do what I did to give it a more classic look. Either way would be great. Thanks for watching!

[@nathansmith592]

Nice upgrade on the truck and camper. Do you have to have commercial insurance on the 4500?

[@RunawayRoses]

Hi Nathan, thanks for watching. We discuss this in a video we're releasing tomorrow so stay tuned!

[@ronnietucker4943]

When did sideboards become rails?

[@misterbulger]

How wide is your bed? Will most slide-in campers clear my 8ft wide flatbed on my 99 F350? It's a dump bed flatbed so it sits a tad higher as well. It has 24" tall sides but they're removable. Just wanna know if I need to modify the jacks at all... may have to cut the headache rack down a little too mine sticks up taller than yours.

[@geofschwer1625]

Todd, I have an opportunity to make a great deal on a Ram 3500 chassis cab, but there’s a problem you may be able to help me solve. The cab is a regular, 2-door and not a 4-door crew cab. No matter how I look at it, the frame rails are going to be too long. So, I’m open to suggestions.

[@pedalingthru2719]

Todd which model p&j bed is that ? I have to order one later this week and I am worried about the length. Local dealer is not knowledgeable about truck campers on flat beds. The camper I have on order is a bigfoot 10-4

[@RunawayRoses]

We had a PJ skirted flatbed that was 9’4” long on our CC Ram 4500. You will need to make a custom bumper like I did for the Bigfoot 10.4 to rest against. It can’t go all the way forward because it will hit so it has to sit back 10 or 11 inches off the headache rack. The sides of the camper hang down just enough to hit which is why it needs to sit back. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.

[@pedalingthru2719]

@@RunawayRoses it is a great help. Thank you

[@slmjake]

Todd did already do a video on new rig mpgs and handling empty and wirh camper compared to the other truck?

[@RunawayRoses]

Not yet but I should probably do that, good idea. Thanks

[@slmjake]

@@RunawayRoses todd I find your videos very thoughtful and calming and peaceful. Like Kenny of all trades and the couple from Michigan. Very relaxing to watch normal folks visit cool places or do exceptional things versus teasers and bait and switch crap

[@ret96b]

Did you get around to weighing this new rig?

[@RunawayRoses]

Not yet with the camper on it, but that may be in the near future. Thanks for watching!

[@joedasilva8887]

I have to ask did you use treated 2x6 or was it regular 2x6 or did you use 2x4? Thanks

[@RunawayRoses]

I used pressure treated deck boards. Worked great but it is kind of heavy. Thanks for watching!

[@stephendolak9293]

What did you use behind your 2x10 bump stop that you built? Are they 4x4’s or cut to size 6x6?

[@RunawayRoses]

I used a cut to size 6x6. I don’t remember the exact size but it turned out to be about 6 x 4 1/2 or so. Thanks for watching!