Good afternoon.

As the title states, I am interested in ordering a 2025 chassis cab 450/550 7.3 when they are available. I will be hauling a truck camper and am not interested in getting the diesel as I feel there will be some payload issues, which steer me away from the 450. (No 350 as I believe the 450 pickup is better suited for hauling, plus the wide track front end and few beef ups)

That leads me to my inquiry. I want a pickup bed for my use. There are 2 companies that I know of that make them for the chassis cab. (Extended length and narrow frame) One of them is close to the plant in Kentucky. The work I have seen from them has a visible seem where a patch panel is introduced. The second is from EOG out west. In talking with them, they do not do a la carte. That means I would get a bed and suspension I wouldn’t necessarily want for the low price of $130k +|-.

Does anyone have any knowledge of other reputable companies that repurpose take off beds for chassis cabs? Preferably with new bed sides and a clean seam filler.

BTW this is a new account as you can see. I have been a part of this community since 2015 but no longer have access to my old email to figure out that login.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I don't have any firsthand knowledge company that doesn't.

But please be aware that the frames are completely different between a C&C and a regular pickup truck. In other words, you just don't add few inches to the front and call it good

C&C have narrow flat frames.

It seems that you've been doing your research. Just been FYI if you did not know. You wouldn't be the first to do the research and not realize that.

 

I appreciate reaching out with the information. Yes I am aware of the frame differences. Thus the question. I know it is hard to get everything you want and nothing you don’t nowadays. (Been a while)

 

How much will your camper weigh?

So much cheaper to just get a 350 drw

i have a gasser 350 drw in my fleet and it has a 6540-lb payload with around 4500lbs permanently affixed in the bed

I picked it up and drove it 1500 miles straight through the night and it had not a single issue handling the weight. Highway speeds in and around tractor trailers, expansion joints, bumps & potholes and speeds up to 80mph. Zero sway and rode great I was impressed.

I’m not sure what you’re camper will weigh but I can attest the 350s have zero issue with 4500+lbs in the bed and it still technically leaves me with 2k more in available payload in a nutshell as long as it doesn’t overload the rear axle

my only thing about it is the fuel mileage wasn’t as good as I’m used to with a diesel and it misses the effortless acceleration of the diesel but all in all it handled itself very well and I personally would never pay the increase for a 550 and a custom bed etc for anything near this ballpark of weight when the 350 carries it without breaking a sweat

 

Yeah some company in colorado does the 550 pickup thing but they sell the whole truck.

Just get 2 take off beds and make one?

You would need to run super single rear because the axle is too skinny on the c&c.


Another thought is just get a 450 XL at about $70k with 4x4. Would also add rapid heat, 360 cameras, chrome package, led bed lights, sliding rear window with defrost for a couple grand more. Heck of a lot better deal, easier to negotiate on, cheaper insurance/registration.

 

something about the wide track front end and larger hardware(brakes,leafs,4.88) that gets me.

 

Just a suggestion, but lots of people run truck campers on a flatbed. Here's one of many examples on youtube:
If you don't yet have your camper, you can even get a flatbed-specific camper that has more floor space, since it doesn't have the fender/bedside indents.

 

Can you take it to a body shop after getting it installed to fix the seam? What's the name of the company?

 

I’m not sure about the body shop. Last photo I saw of one that they did was a 2017 model and it appeared to be a patch panel was installed in front of the bed to make up the slack cosmetically. I’m not sure about the bed mounting but I presume the frame is nipped as with elevation off grid. This company is manning in Louisville Kentucky. I have an inquiry out for them yo send a modern photo of the bed if they still do them.

 

You get the 4.88 but you have a skinner width rear axle that probably won’t work with a pickup bed. Go play with the build and price site too, 550 crew cab 7.3 4x4 4.88 limited slip and NO other options is $62,600 and a 450 pickup crew cab 6.7 4x4 4.30 limited slip and NO other options is $69,900.

For $7,300 you get a bed, aluminum wheels, and 6.7 powerstroke. Unless you need the little extra cab to axle space or over 9,900lbs rear GAWR this is a way better deal. You can also negotiate more and use regular auto insurance and registration.

I almost ordered a 450 7.3 super cab 4x4 when I sold my f350 dually 6.7 2wd and found the pickup would be the way to go. But I just fixed up my 250 and committed myself to pulling a trailer as needed.


Yeah and you can fill the void in the sides with tool boxes as well. Nice set up.

 

Yeah its Elevation Offgrid. I know this because one of my workers put a flatbed on a 350 dually King Ranch and basically gave me the bed and I called them and offered to sell it to them, but it sold locally first (complete). This branch was in Colorado.

They were doing a 550 pickup at one point. Looked at their page and it looks like they are working off the 450 pickup now with the new 23/24 trucks?

 

Wanting a 450/500 gas so that payload won't be an issue? What in the world kind of camper are you hauling?

 

just prefer a gas rig with the wide track front end. Truck camper will be in the 4500 range dry. I know the 450 diesel will handle that no problem and could do a different rear suspension setup to accommodate the weight otherwise. Most of the 450 pickup added weight is unsprung vs the 350. I just prefer the gas. The 4.88 I could also do on the 450 pickup to allow for close to a 4.10 with 34-35” tires. (Nothing crazy just to get outside of the limitations of the 19.5) just don’t want or need a diesel

 

This is what the manning looks like. Feels a little off with the hitch. Elevation off grid is different but they also shorten the frame for the introduction of the bed and liquid spring, thus using a different hitch setup. You can see the patch panel (spacer) if you look forward of the bed behind the cab.

 

Did you figure it out.