It’s called the Ford Flophouse, but could have been named the Mopar Mansion. This 50 foot square truck bed RV was originally constructed to fit a vintage Dodge 1977 D-100.
Retrofitted to sit in the bed of a newer Ford F-250, it had one purpose: provide living quarters for an epic road trip in the summer of 2015.
Many truck campers are built to keep cost extremely low, with plywood shells and 2×2 framing for stability.
The Ford Flophouse is engineered from the ground up to be stable, sturdy and serviceable. It’s really more of a pickup bed cabin than a camper.
With its rustic charm, the Ford Flophouse feels somehow much older than it is.
The Ford Flophouse weighs in around 1,400 pounds, according to the backhoe operator that craned it onto its truck. Total cost to build was around $4,000, not a bad price tag for a camper this well thought out.
Construction took about six months, working on and off to get it put together in time for a 10,000 mile plus road trip from coast to coast (twice) and then around the Southwest region of the United States.
The Ford Flophouse under construction, showing exposed framing.
Construction started with a welded crane frame that forms the central gable of the roof (with an integrated eyebolt for lifting the camper).
Surrounding the central steel girder is a heavy duty 2×4 frame, reminiscent to coded home framing. The roof was first to be finished. It features wood shingles and large skylights that double as lighting and ventilation sources.
Here’s a 3D image of the design, including the crane hook.
The backhoe ready to lift the Ford Flophouse onto the truck bed.
A traditional house-style wooden door with a half light was custom built to fit the camper. Two divided light windows were installed in the back wall.
Under the gabled roof, they give the camper the appearance of a weekend cottage rental in your favorite East Coast state park. The remainder of the exterior is sided in cedar shingles for a decidedly New England flare.
Side view of the Flophouse on top of the Ford F-250.
Interior view of the built-in bunk with a skylight overhead.
The inside was minimally finished, with exposed rafters and plywood paneling. A double platform bed takes up the nose of the camper against the cab, leaving plenty of room for living space at the tail.
There’s only one image of the interior, but it’s easy to see from the side photos that the interior is roomy, with at least 8 feet from the rear door to the bed platform.
This map details the Ford Flophouse’s journey in summer 2015.
It’s hard to argue with success, and a 10,000 mile maiden voyage is definitely enough to prove that this rustic design was capable of standing up to the demands of the road.
It’s a great looking camper and you could do much worse for inspiration if you are thinking of building your own truck bed mansion. As of publishing, the camper is for sale here.
A rear view of the Ford Flophouse with its New England cottage good looks.
Visit this YouTube playlist for videos on the construction and road trip.
