I learned over on the Studebaker Truck Talk (STT) site that a N.O.S. Caravan Top bed cover sold on eBay this week. These were factory approved aftermarket Ford (as well as other manufacturer) accessories as shown in the below 1949 Hildy's Blue Book advertisement. The STT link includes the eBay listing, but no doubt the pictures there will be lost as eBay takes down the listing (it sold for almost $1000). So I've saved the pics and include some here. Interesting too, one of the Studebaker guys (sounds like the same guy that bought the N.O.S. one) has made a reproduction. His web site is linked in the STT thread too. Hopefully he'll make copies of the N.O.S. one so others can mount one of these on their stock restoration. First below is the STT link, then the Hildy's and N.O.S. pics. Stu

Studebaker Truck Talk: Who won the caravan top on ebay?-

 

Those are really neat, thanks for posting and saving the pictures.
I could see putting one on my F1 and painting the truck army od green if I was to go that route it would sure make a statement.

 

I love the idea.....this guy too

 

As you might imagine with me bringin' this up, I've thought a lot about it too. I'd forgotten that the member with the F-1 had made a similar one for his truck. I've got to think there was no difference in them brand-to-brand. One of the guys on the STT site commented that the above picture in the Hildy's ad really looks more like a Chevy/GMC than it does a Ford. All the half tons would have had a 6.5' bed, and all the Express beds were 8'. And likely they made them for the F-350 and Chevy/GMC tonners' 9' beds. Stu

 

On the 3rd picture it seems like there is a sheet of metal or am I wrong?
If so,the 4rth picture with the bow set,is missing the sheet metal.
I had the similar idea.I wanted a little utility trailer to put my tools in so I didn't have to load them every time in the back of my truck and unload them after work. I wanted to have the canvas look in the outside but sheet metal under the canvas so nobody could cut the canvas and steal my crap.I made the canvas cover and welded bows but I haven't done the sheet metal.
There is a place in Barstow that sells military grade canvas for 25.00.its a piece of 5' x 25'.all I had to do is sew 2 pieces together.
I used some bows from a military trailer and metal tubes instead of wood.
I will take a pic with the canvas on later.
By the way everything was free I only paid for the canvas, title,vin and licence plates,everything else was sitting in my in-laws big yard just rotting away(wow that was a lot of useless info on my part)

 

The only other structural pieces I didn't post pics of are these. There is no solid metal side or tailgate panel to provide security like you are wanting. Stu

 

that is neat tho.the best part of those is that they were factory approved by Ford.thanks for sharing.

 

Your concern about security says a lot about the different eras. Nobody worried about such things back then, and nobody I'm sure worried about their copper plumbing being ripped out of their house back then. Stu

 

My area is not too bad.just a bunch of kids that break windows or slash tires but I want peace of mind.Plus if take the trailer somewhere else i can leave it closed and not worry about it.
Copper tubing and Copper wire were being ripped out of foreclosed houses in vegas also people would rip them out of electrical poles with their trucks...
In the shop I worked they stole the gas on the truck once.