Removing the spacer between the bed and frame.

[tarnx]

I want to put a shelter on my M35. I am thinking if the spacer is removed and wheel wells cut into the lowered bed I can get about a foot less height. I am thinking this will help aerodynamically and help handling as well. What do you think?

 

[Recovry4x4]

Going to have to chop the shelter too.

 

[Bill W]

M-35 and Aerodynamic cannot be used in the same sentence!, it goes against the laws of nature!!

 

[M35a2duece]

Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Mite be easier at that point to ditch the box and make the shelter attach to the frame and put wheel wells in it

 

[VPed]

Remember that there are a bunch of rivet heads protruding above the frame that will still need a spacer to prevent rubbing.

 

[teletech]

Do you really use it as a cargo truck? Chopping the shelter to match will be annoying and then you have to lift it straight off the back.
Why not just drop a 109 or water purification body on and have something with wheel-wells to start with (not that they aren't tall as well, but chopping a 109 body should be do-able if you don't mind the lower ceilings.)
Or, just remove the cargo bed, buy a civvy box and cut to size? It might not be that much harder to swap a box and the cargo bed than lifting out your custom shelter, should you ever want it a cargo truck again.

 

[tarnx]

I wanted a dedicated shelter made low for a lower center of gravity. The truck is quite tall with a shelter on it. I would set it up so that if I wanted to swap it with a cargo bed I could roll it off on a loading dock and then roll the other on it. I checked on line and they will make me a box to my dimensions for a very reasonable price. The bed was going to be the floor of the box instead of having an additional floor with its weight. I also figured it to be completely self contained so I can live in it while I am using the truck for something else. My biggest problem is that I don't have one available for hands on. I have to go with pictures at present. Thanks I didn't know about the rivets on the frame. That is probably a game buster.

 

[98G]

I wanted a dedicated shelter made low for a lower center of gravity. The truck is quite tall with a shelter on it. I would set it up so that if I wanted to swap it with a cargo bed I could roll it off on a loading dock and then roll the other on it. I checked on line and they will make me a box to my dimensions for a very reasonable price. The bed was going to be the floor of the box instead of having an additional floor with its weight. I also figured it to be completely self contained so I can live in it while I am using the truck for something else. My biggest problem is that I don't have one available for hands on. I have to go with pictures at present. Thanks I didn't know about the rivets on the frame. That is probably a game buster.

You're trying to reinvent the wheel. There's a gob of existing shelter designs out there, specifically designed to work with the truck as designed. Unless you have very specific needs, grabbing one "off the shelf" is almost certainly going to be both better and less expensive.

Take a look at Peashooter's M109A3 camper conversion..

Edit - https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?108671-PEASHOOTER-s-M109A3-CAMPER-Build-Thread

 

[98G]

I'll bet this is close to exactly what you're looking for -

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showt...er-Hard-Cargo-Cover-for-M35A2-M35A2-M800-M923

 

[tarnx]

Wow the second one is what I am looking for. I have tried to find every shelter build on the site but apparently I missed Peashooters. I was at first thinking of what I think they call an Alaskan pop up. That would work for what I want nicely. I wouldn't even have to mess with the bed. Thanks I didn't even know they made them.

 

[59apache]

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?77420-Shelter-to-Camper-Conversion
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?98332-Shelter-Lifter
maybe interresting for you.

 

[tarnx]

59apache that is an awesome build. Very well done and the jacks are an inspiration. My problem is that I not yet know what question to ask. I am still gelling my ideas based on what is available. Unfortunately I think I am a bit late for the cheap deals on the trucks. Most for the price I can afford are being parted out and replacing what is gone would be expensive. Still I am keeping an eye out for one near my home.

 

[59apache]

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?54442-Camper-M109-Spacial-Transformations-style
Thank you!

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?69986-Extreme-RV-from-M36a2
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?129292-Survival-109-build
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?108671-PEASHOOTER-s-M109A3-CAMPER-Build-Thread
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showt...-shell-on-a-deuce-instead-of-modifying-a-M109
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?65540-Inexpensive-camper-utiliy-box-for-m35a2

more stuff to read

 

[59apache]

Why not buy an old camper, part it out and built your own box? in exactly the dimensions you want?
For example:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6uq0onu8i7x1299/AAAkqMx7IgoRV72xU-KeqF5ba?dl=0
Not my built

 

[tarnx]

Thank you 59apache those are some awesome threads. I really like the high low trailer thread that uncle Mikey used for a shelter. They do make a cargo bay cover for the Deuce. It jacks up and down. It bolts to the bed and has no floor. There is a link in an earlier post on this thread. They are rigid, strong enough to stand on, and are insulated. They lower to be able to be shipped on an airplane. I like the idea as they would not lower your Mpg much. They are also quite a bit lighter than a shelter and they have nothing installed. A blank pallet if you please.

I am an older fellow and I was interested in a cheap way of travel. I could tent camp but that is iffy anymore as most campgrounds aren't set up for tents. I like to go on the roads less traveled although I am not interested in seeing what I might be able to overcome. I just want to get to my destination. I would rather dodge a river than try to cross one. I do like the six wheel drive idea. Still funds are limited. Weight and aerodynamics directly affect mpg. I only get 15 mpg with my F150. If I can get 11 or twelve mpg with a Deuce with a home on itI can deal with it.

 

[59apache]

12mpg with a deuce? I'm in doubt about it. With the bed only i get about 10.7 to 9.8mpg. With the shelter it drops to 8.4mpg or less.... for my honest opinion you should try to get an old moving van - truck.
They are closer to what you need , more comfortable , easier to maintain and repair while travelling. Or buy a pop up camper for your F150.

Greetings Juergen