Opinion appreciated on living out of a F150

[vanman2300]

Have an opportunity to get a Ford lariat. It's in great condition and low mileage. But what I'm looking for is input about living out of it in the following way or even better ideas. 

It has the super crew cab so if I take out the front passenger seat and put a platform in from front to back it gives more than enough room to sleep in. Rear seat behind driver I can use for sitting and reading or spending time on the computer. Storage under the bed of course and tinted windows or a curtain type set up for privacy. I can put a cap on the bed of the truck to give me more storage space, an extra bed if I need to go super stealthy, and an area to store noxious stuff in like chemicals and laundry etc. Can use the tailgate to cook on at times too.

 

[ArtW]

Well, it's doable, not sure I'd step out of a van to do it, though

 

[bullfrog]

I have seen people doing it in a single cab long bed but unless you are short I think you would have a hard time sleeping in the cab or short bed, but sounds like all you need now is room to get dressed.

 

[DuneElliot]

I have road-tripped extensively in my extended cab F-250. I have a mattress/bed set-up in the back seat. At 5'5" I am barely short enough to lay flat at the widest point but I find it just fine to sleep in with my two dogs, and I sleep well. While I could make do with living in it full time like that, with a cooler, camp-box (stove, cookware etc), cooler, and tote of clothes in the bed, cooking on the tail gate I wouldn't make it permanent by choice even though it is comfortable.

So yes, it's doable, but not sure I'd go that way.

You also don't mention year or model.

 

[Linedog]

On my list for long term dwelling is the ability to stand and walk a few steps. Don't think I would survive in a truck with a canopy. But your mileage may vary.

 

[munchausen]

I moved from my van to a T100 Yoter about 6 months ago. It was definitely a big (to small) change. But everything your saying is pretty much right. I have the ext cab so the bed is 76" and is just barely enough for me to stretch out fully when I lay diagonally since I'm 6'7". But in unique situations I have had to sleep in the cab and, while its not the most comfortable, it is doable. You kinda just have to get used to things, I guess, and that's easier the younger you are it seems. One thing I would suggest is not removing the front seat though. The more people can see inside, and the more normal things look, the better. If you block out the windows, people suspect and if you only have one seat, and a bed, people suspect. But if you block out the back topper, no one is the wiser.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Bob Wells, the owner of this site mentioned in his recent video that he lived in an F150 with a homebuilt cap on the back for 1.5 years

Here's the video link where he talks about it, The part where he brings up the F150 starts at 17:45

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Here's more on Bob's homebuilt rig.  As you can see, it's considerably taller than any commercial cap.

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/build-camper/

 

[plaidcanary]

Have an opportunity to get a Ford lariat. It's in great condition and low mileage. But what I'm looking for is input about living out of it in the following way or even better ideas. 

It has the super crew cab so if I take out the front passenger seat and put a platform in from front to back it gives more than enough room to sleep in. Rear seat behind driver I can use for sitting and reading or spending time on the computer. Storage under the bed of course and tinted windows or a curtain type set up for privacy. I can put a cap on the bed of the truck to give me more storage space, an extra bed if I need to go super stealthy, and an area to store noxious stuff in like chemicals and laundry etc. Can use the tailgate to cook on at times too.

I am currently living out of my F150 with a topper on the back. I think the most important consideration is how you want to live, and where. I chose the F150 because it is a 4x4, and could handle snowy roads if need be. However, if stealth is a big factor I think a van would be more suitable, and comfortable. Right now, I'm really wishing I had a van instead because of stealth factors, as well as room.

 

[akrvbob]

Here's more on Bob's homebuilt rig.  As you can see, it's considerably taller than any commercial cap.

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/build-camper/

Actually, you can get even taller shels than my homebuilt. It was 48 inches tall (one sheet of pywood) but you can get them 48 and even 54 inches tall for this outfit:

http://belairshells.com/wood-n-alum

 

[Canine]

My .02: I tried staying in an f150, super cab with the 6.5' bed. I had a cab high topper on it, built a 3 ' wide, 70" long wooden platform bed (4x4 blocks cut about 8" tall under a 3/4 plywood, screwed down but room enough for low totes to slide in and out, all this on a carpeted piece of 1/2 plywood. Total cost for the wood and carpet and adhesive was about $100. I thought it would work, with excess things in the super cab (the truck isn't wide enough to stretch out and I'm just 5'7...

Maybe it was just 61 yr old overweight me but crawling in and out of the truck bed, especially when I needed to relocate at night, was too much. Yes it could be a bit more stealthy than a blacked out van (but all cargo vans are pretty windowless) however getting in and out is noisy and I couldn't figure out how to secure the topper while I was inside. No security. Solar panels are very evident and who puts a vent on a topper?

One night it poured and I wanted to leave where I was so out in the mud I slipped. That and the general dislike of how it was going convinced me a van was better. Took about 2 weeks...

I would have liked a 4' topper, however I couldn't find one, and all the problems of entry and exit remain. If you are a dedicated fisherman or hiker and absolutely have to have the 4x4 then fine, make it work but I never ventured off a FS road so it wasn't needed.

Just my experience. Stay young and fit then you have more options...

 

[poncho62]

I have been thinking about going this route too for traveling. I like Bob's idea, but I would likely try and pick up a used popup camper for the back of my truck. You can get ones that weigh under 1500 lbs. It would not be stealthy, but you could sleep in it without the roof raised if you had to.

 

[bullfrog]

Most of us wouldn't have the money for a 4 wheel camper, but if you can hold a paint brush, drill and pickup a piece of 2" thick sheet of foam by taking a look at the topper in the foamies section of tntt trailers you see someone that has a topper that works and has for almost a year now.

 

[poncho62]

Most of us wouldn't have the money for a 4 wheel camper, but if you can hold a paint brush, drill and pickup a piece of 2" thick sheet of foam by taking a look at the topper in the foamies section of tntt trailers you see someone that has a topper that works and has for almost a year now.

I have to agree....probably put up a couple of bad pics there to show my point. I have been looking around locally and a decent used popup can be had for $1500-$2500 around here, might need some work.......Those new 4 Wheel ones are upwards of 20 Gs....way out of my price range.

 

[masterplumber]

When I sold my Four Wheel Pop Up 4 1/2 years ago I sold it for $900, and it was in really good shape for the age. The older ones are much cheaper than the ones build in the last 10 to 15 years and are generally built just as well. They have an issue though - because of their bottom section design that makes the most use of space - the older ones don't fit the newer trucks with a tapered bed. That is the one and only reason I sold mine, as I loved it. BTW, the older gentleman that bought mine put it on a 1995 F150. It handled it fine empty, but he didn't have a lot of payload left to load it up - fine for him as he was just a weekend fisherman, but if you want to travel full time you probably should have an F 350. And yes, I often overnighted in stealth mode by leaving the top down and sleeping on the bottom couch - never was bothered as it just looked like a parked truck.

 

[DLTooley]

I lived out of a 6' bed Ranger for 3+ years.  I sleep on 1/2 the bed, with a bedroll type setup and cook off the tailgate.  Cooler, propane tank and water store in the space opened up when the bed is 'rolled' up.  

It isn't stealthy and dealing with rain is an issue.  If I am pointed into the wind and don't have anything else setup my feet can get wet.  Since I'm not stealthy I am usually in a place where changing standing up is not a problem - the RTR being the major exception!

I am not full time any more, but the rig, with near 300k miles, remains good to go and I use it a lot.  A cargo trailer would be the easiest way to get stealth and space, including standup.

-Doug

 

[OutdoorFT]

Even in my F350 crew cab long bed I dont think I could do it. Sure, doablr. B ut, what are your plans? Van will do it better.

 

[DLTooley]

Here's my setup for a Ranger, at Muley Point, just across the Navajo Reservation from Flagstaff.  It took a while to pare things down and get it organized, but I can be very comfortable.  My next upgrade is more solar and the right sized 12v compressor freezer.  I'll use the freezer for storage and ice in the 'refrigerator' ice chest.

[video=youtube]

 

[Cammalu]

First off..... get away from the edge you are making me dizzy!!!!!

Have you ever thought about radio or voice over work? Great voice for it.


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[DLTooley]

First off.....  get away from the edge you are making me dizzy!!!!!  

Have you ever thought about radio or voice over work?  Great voice for it.  


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And the Face!   :dodgy: