Custom Truck Body?

[Foiled Again]

The Mother Truck got dinged... AGAIN. I'm approaching an intersection in the left of two left turn lanes with a solid white line separating me from the next lane when "crunch-whack!" happens and it feels like I've run over a metal garbage can. I stop quickly and there slightly behind me is a little old Greek lady who gets very angry at me and starts shouting "I turned on my turn signal and you didn't slow down to let me in". Police came. Pointed out solid line. Other lady remains stoutly convinced that it was my fault for not letting her move over. Nationwide, her carrier, disagreed with her analysis and I'm now in possession of a decent sized check.

This is the second time someone changed lanes and sideswiped me. NOTE: I have a Chevy 2500 Silverado, RED, Quad Cab, Long bed - the size of the Great Wall of China - and a compact car and compact truck have both hit my right side. There are three areas of minor damage that I found when I walked out of a store and came up to the vehicle.
One time I backed into a derelict mailbox, and another time put a minor dink in the rear bumper when I hit an upright pipe which was used to designate a parking space.

So.... Next truck WILL have a backup camera!

So, I'm musing, should I just replace the entire bed with a custom truckbed. I'm thinking diamond plate so that my truck body will become a giant cheese grater for the lane changers! What kind of cash are we talking about for this? There's one guy who has one at the campground - with a cabinet for his generator - can be run while ON the bed, and obviously an easy place to stow his hitch, etc. Ideas?

Paula

[memgrove2000]

TRUCK BODY | SERVICE BODIES | TRUCK BEDS | UTILITY BODY | ALUMINUM TRUCK BODIES These look cool but I do not believe the $6000.00 per year fuel savings.

[Aage]

Sorry to hear that you have had such a tough time with other drivers, Paula. I hope that what you are experiencing is not the norm, though.

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

One time I backed into a derelict mailbox, and another time put a minor dink in the rear bumper when I hit an upright pipe which was used to designate a parking space.

Just curious: what is a "derelict" mailbox? One that lost its job in the recession, maybe started drinking and lost its home?

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

So.... Next truck WILL have a backup camera!

Why wait? There are "stick-on" ones that are fairly inexpensive. They also help with hitching up.

By stick on, I mean that the rear camera is wireless, and only needs one wire to connect to a back-up light. The monitor in the fron can be wired in, or just plugged into the cigarette lighter.

[Foiled Again]

Looked for a custom truck body on e-bay then wandered.... I should stay off of e-bay. Look what I spotted. A bit overdone on the fabric, but my goodness the woodwork! Anyone in the north west know this unit?


Classic 1970 Airstream Tradewind Artistically Redesigned Classic 1970 Airstream Tradewind Artistically Redesigned | eBay


Back on topic - Derelict mailbox - I was exploring some land to buy and there were some old abandoned farm buildings and in some overgrown weeds I backed into - wham!

I probably will get a backup camera. Friend has one and it took me all of 3 seconds to start thinking - I want this!

Paula

[overlander63]

I think the problem is more the color of the truck. Red vehicles seem to be more prone to getting run into than most other colors. Red is an angry color, and people seem to aim for it. My first new car was red, and got hit and totaled 5 minutes after I bought it. I had a red truck that got rear-ended 3 times in 3 months, and the little motorcycle-thing I got creamed on was red.
So, paint your truck... or buy a Bradley assault vehicle.

[Aage]

Whoa, that '70 TW is fanTAStic! Really nice job inside! Yum!

[kevin242]

Wow. $26k bid. I'm lovin' my '77 Tradewind right now!

[SmokelessJoe]

Paula,

The specific interest page from Mike's post above is this one:

RV Haulers, RV Toters, RV Pullers, and RV Tow Bodies.

Cost, around 15K.

Sergei


(This is a very cool website, by the way).

[jdalrymple]

I have often thought a service body would be a great choice for a full time TV. All that cabinet space seems handy.

JD

[phbarnhart]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

Looked for a custom truck body on e-bay then wandered.... I should stay off of e-bay. Look what I spotted. A bit overdone on the fabric, but my goodness the woodwork! Anyone in the north west know this unit?


Classic 1970 Airstream Tradewind Artistically Redesigned Classic 1970 Airstream Tradewind Artistically Redesigned | eBay


Paula

Wow, that's quite the Airstream and, apparently, it's in Eugene! Dangerous.

[SmokelessJoe]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

I have often thought a service body would be a great choice for a full time TV. All that cabinet space seems handy.

JD

Absolutely correct; especially if its in aluminum.


Sergei

[JazzDad]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

I have often thought a service body would be a great choice for a full time TV.

Unfortunately, your insurance carrier may think your TV is now a commercial vehicle, and charge rates commensurate.

[SmokelessJoe]

Not so likely if your insurance company and/or broker know that you are a camper, not an electrician or plumbing contractor.





My somewhat similar special hauler is insured at regular rates, with the liability portion removed while is storage.

Sergei

[phbarnhart]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Not so likely if your insurance company and/or broker know that you are a camper, not an electrician or plumbing contractor.

My somewhat similar special hauler is insured at regular rates, with the liability portion removed while is storage.

Sergei

Now that is quite the set-up!

[slowmover]

An aluminum service body (kept within truck body lines so as not to adversely affect aerodynamics; nay, improve them some) would be one of those Won the Lotto projects. They are quite expensive, overall.

The budget should start at around $6k and go north of $30k for all out custom.

I don't know what difference would be made for accident avoidance. They're also expensive to fix. But being able to integrate space for tools, supplies, generator, extra fuel, etc, would be great.

Sorry for the frustration.

.