How to choose a flatbed for your truck camper

Picking a flatbed is mostly a process of elimination. Your truck decides the length, your camper decides the accessories, and your load decides whether you need the heavy duty platform. Work in that order and the choice gets simple.

Start with the truck, not the camper

The tray bolts to the truck, so the truck sets the options. A 3/4 ton or 1 ton short box takes the 6.75'. A 3/4 ton or 1 ton with an 8 foot long box takes the 8'. A 1 ton chassis cab with a 60 inch cab to axle measurement takes the HD-60 or the HD-60-HC.

If your chassis cab measures 84 inches cab to axle, the HD-84 is the one to watch. It is in development as the 2027 model, the first one is being built now, and its price and ratings are published once the factory signs them off.

Cab to axle is the measurement from the back of the cab to the center of the rear axle. On a chassis cab it is usually published by the manufacturer. If you are not sure what yours is, measure it before you order anything.

We do not build for midsize trucks, so no Tacoma, Ranger, Gladiator or Colorado. There is no tray for the Toyota Tundra either.

Then check the load rating against your real weight

The 6.75' and 8' are rated to 3,000 lbs evenly distributed. The HD-60 and HD-60-HC are rated to 5,000 lbs evenly distributed.

Evenly distributed is the part people skip. The rating assumes the load spreads across the deck. A heavy camper that concentrates weight over a short span is a different loading case than the same total weight spread end to end, and it is not what the rating describes.

Weigh your camper wet, not dry. Full water, full fuel, batteries, gear, and everything you actually travel with. Dry weight on a brochure is not the number that sits on your tray.

Bulkhead is a real decision, not a trim level

The bulkhead is the wall behind the cab. It carries your fuel and DEF fills, it can store folding stairs, and on most models it is a separate line item rather than part of the starting price.

• 6.75': 7 inch tapered or 14 inch rectangular
• 8': 7 inch tapered, 14 inch rectangular, or 25 inch
• HD-60: 7 inch tapered, full width at 84 inches, included in the price
• HD-60-HC: 15 inch rectangular on the driver side, included in the price. The passenger side takes a matching 15 inch box or a 14.5 inch spare tire carrier

The tapered 7 inch follows the shape of the cab and keeps the profile low. The taller rectangular options give you more enclosed storage but take deck length away from the camper. Measure your camper's footprint against the deck before choosing.

Budget for the required kit

Two items are required on every build regardless of model. The tray to chassis mounting kit is $1,166 USD and is specific to your truck. The fuel kit is $290 for gas, $290 for diesel without DEF, or $542 for diesel with DEF.

If your truck is a dual rear wheel, the dually fender extension is also required at $2,268 USD on the 8', HD-60 and HD-60-HC. It includes the fenders, a stair mount extender and jack extensions for the front jacks.

None of that is bundled into the starting price, so price your build as the tray plus the required items plus whatever options you actually want.

Options worth deciding early

• Rear drawer: 36 inch fits Ram, 72 inch fits Ford and GM. Both are fully sealed.
• 14 gallon auxiliary fresh water tank, mounts under the tray between the sill rails.
• 20 gallon gray water tank, which replaces the driver side rear storage box. It is a no charge option but you give up a box.
• Folding aluminum stairs. The side mount set is available on all four models. The front mount set is available on the 6.75' and 8' only.
• 12 inch removable perimeter fence that bolts to the L-Track.

Last thing: confirm camper fit with a person

Most hard side slide-in and flatbed campers work on an Aluma Tray, but fit depends on the camper, not just the truck. Send us or your dealer the make, model and dimensions of your camper before you order. It takes one conversation and it is cheaper than a wrong tray.