new camper

Wet Willie · 07-10-2006, 04:54 PM

I am looking at new campers. I have a f-350 long box. I know its rated for 4000lbs payload.
My question is for those guys out there who are pushing the limit. How much extra are you getting away with ? I have done a search here and have seen a few posts about rims/tire upgrades and airbags.

jimh · 07-10-2006, 04:56 PM

I've heard of people being as much as 2000 over. One of the truck camper sites can give you more examples. Of course, this isn't a recommendation to do this.

If you figure 3000-3500 for the camper and 1000 more for water, food, people, etc, you'd be pushing 4500 or about 500 over given the 4000 payload. Mostly, this means a 9 1/2 foot camper or less.

SeanD · 07-10-2006, 05:55 PM

Two of my buddies are each running 11.5 footers on lifted F350 crew cabs LB's with airbags. I dont know the weight, but one camper is a artic fox 2004 w/slide and one is a 1991 if that helps.

elklaker · 07-10-2006, 06:48 PM

Its ok to over load your truck as long as you don't mind replacing brakes often as well as having to fix all the transmission parts and axles regularly. You can beef up the suspension all you want. This comes from experience not with a camper but hauling sheetrock at 1500 over the trucks rating.

pksgundogs · 07-10-2006, 07:35 PM

I am on my second Ford diesel 4x4 pickup, both with 8ft beds (dont understand why anyone would bother with a shortbed full size truck...), both with manual transmissions, both hauling a 8'6''Lance camper, and towing either a jetboat or a tandem axle flatbed with jeep or other eqt. Current is a modified F350, previous was an F250. I think GVW is a very real potential concern with the larger campers and tow combinations in the 3/4 ton and nondually 1 tons. I do see some pretty sketchy truck/camper rigs towing boat trailers down the road that visibly look poorly balanced and overloaded.

ICHTHYDEMON · 07-11-2006, 06:14 AM

Quote:

I am looking at new campers. I have a f-350 long box. I know its rated for 4000lbs payload.

Is it a SRW or DRW? Diesel or Gas?

Unless you've actually weighed the truck,I'll bet you don't have the payload you think you do.

The problem with diesel powered P/Us is they weigh so much they eat into the GVWR of the truck.

My brother bought a Ford Super Duty F250 with the Powerstroke to haul a camper. The F250 had a 8800lb GVWR. When he took it to the scales it weighed 7200lbs empty. He had 1600lbs left to haul a camper. Then he had to add his family,gear,food,ect. He would have had to get a really small camper.

We looked at campers last week. There are very few "nice" campers on the lots that weigh less than 3000lbs. Every Arctic Fox that was more than 8' weighed at least 31-3200lbs. Those are empty weights at that.

Go_Getter · 07-11-2006, 07:19 AM

I have owned 2 F350 single rw f350's. They both packed a Lance 11'3" just fine and I towed a 3-horse trailer with 2 horses and gear behind it. You MUST use a class V hitch to do this. Both trucks were traded with over 125000 k and never any major trouble of any kind. I also used ride rite air bags, much more stable. If you were to have a blow out you are in serious trouble.

If you plan to use it allot for towing and hauling the camper then I would buy a dual rear wheel. I tow a living quarters horse trailer now and the last 3 tucks have been dually's and I will never go back, much more stable and safe.

If I were buying a camper that I was going to tow behind I would not buy one any larger than a 9 1/2 foot. This will be a lot more comfortable for you and you don't need near as long of a hitch. You total load will be much more balaced and you will happy for that!

As far as campers go I would look at Lance and Artic Fox. 1 I would not ever buy is Host! They are a lying company that will not stand behind their product. My parents own one, they purchased it new from Curtis trailer in Portland in the summer of 04. On their first trip they found a major leak! They called Curtis and were told sorry we are not dealers for them any longer you will need to contact the factory. So after contacting Host they took it to Bend to be repaired. Seems it had been leaking for a while. Repairs were done and they were sent on their way. I personally questioned them about water damage and ask if the side should be replaced..."oh no it's fine and we fixed it, if there is ever any trouble bring it back and we will take care of it". 3 months later yup a leak again over the stove, took it back again "no big deal, we have more of this gum we will patch it up again. I then ask what about dry rot and extended damage. "Oh it's fine and if they ever have trouble we will take care of it no problem". So here we are summer 2006. The camper has been stored inside in my shop with heat since the end of the summer of 04 until now. Never even taken out because my father had some health problems and they were unable to travel. My mom goes to get it ready for some fishing trips and notices some "bulging in the walls where the leaks were. Contact Host. "Oh that is out of warranty and it will cost between $6000 and $8000 to replace the wall, this kind of construction can't be fixed it needs to be replaced".

This is damage caused from the leaks they "fixed" on construction that could not be fixed.

Now that it's not their wallet they want to fix it right on my parents check book. When you spend $32,000 for a camper, buy an Oregon made product and then get shafted like this you have got to ask why? My parents are both in their 80's and don't want to fight them. I on the other hand would like to hire a helicopter and drop it right through the Host factory roof. My parents used this camper a total of 6 times (2 of them were the trips to get it repaired) now they have a 32k piece of junk.

So I say again please Don't buy Host

Sorry for the rant but this kind of treatment by a manufacturer really bothers me, I feel they are just taking advantage of my parents because they are elderly. And yes I will sign my name because of the product review.

What ever you buy enjoy it.

Thanks ifishers for your support,
Sincerely,
Yale Fogarty

Tagster · 07-12-2006, 09:16 AM

1993 F250 longbed 4X4 with a gas 460...some modifications...headers/radiator/transmission cooler/ride rite air bags/10 ply tires/Reese Class V hitch with a 36" extension...etc.

Truck 6700 lbs
Lance 11'3" Squire camper 3300 lbs dry
24' Seahawk with offshore bracket 6700 pounds with gas

Towed it all over the west with NO issues.

jvp · 07-12-2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

I am on my second Ford diesel 4x4 pickup, both with 8ft beds (dont understand why anyone would bother with a shortbed full size truck...),

so i can stuff that trailer around the corner of my house without hitting the tree

ORrinker · 07-12-2006, 09:25 AM

I know that this is slightly off topic but if you are going to buy a camper you need to be aware of what bit me. Campers will lose a lot of value when you take it from the dealership. If you buy a left over model it can be especially bad. I bought a 1997 at the end of 1998 and thought I was getting a screaming deal since they knocked a few thousand off. Problem is that it was essentially almost a 2 year old camper when I left with it and thus was booked as such even though it was new. If you buy a left over make sure you do not pay any more than the used book price for it. Just a lesson that I learned the hard way

Randy

Lou · 07-12-2006, 09:58 AM

I have a Fox with my 04 F350. It's a 10.5 and I pull
my Arima, with no problems. I did add air bags,
but I wonder what it would be like without them.
It's a tuff truck and 14 mpg with the diesel is
the best part. I'm at 55% on the brakes at 25K.
I hope that helps,
Lou

Wet Willie · 07-12-2006, 02:46 PM

Thanks for the response. I have the srw and was looking at the Ford spec book for the payload. So I'm pretty sure the vehicle weight and the deisel engine were taken into account.
We are looking at a 9 1/2' Lance with a slide-out. It sure is amazing how much more storage you get with 1-2 more feet.

Lou · 07-12-2006, 02:51 PM

I was surprised how much the spay in liner weighs.
It is quite a bit. If you haven't done it yet,
you might think not to-to save weight.

MacFish · 07-12-2006, 03:28 PM

almost all the payloads for an '06 F-350 single rear wheel diesel PU are between 3200 and 3600 pounds, the only ones that go to 4000 in the single rear are the regular cabs, so you may be working with a little less capacity than you thought.

Go_Getter · 07-14-2006, 07:32 AM

Sounds to me like a really good pair. F350 + a lance 9.5. Get Firestone ride-rites in the package and you won't regret it. I'd get the on board gen but you loose storage...?

Check with Larry's RV in Bend. They will smoke you a deal if you let them know you are not from there and are shopping. Plus they are just an awesome dealer, you will get the best care a true professional service and support. there just isn't many dealers like them any more.

Good luck!

WaterDog · 07-14-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

I have the srw and was looking at the Ford spec book for the payload. So I'm pretty sure the vehicle weight and the deisel engine were taken into account.
We are looking at a 9 1/2' Lance with a slide-out. It sure is amazing how much more storage you get with 1-2 more feet.

The only way you'll know your payload is to weigh the truck full of fuel, passengers, and whatever else you stuff behind the seat. Subtract that weight from the GVWR and that is the payload. It is not what is printed in the books. Most campers will give you dry weight, not wet. When you fill the water tank, fill the fridge, and pack all of your gear you might be surprised.

I've got a 9.5 foot camper that comes in at 4000lbs wet. Even with my dually, I'm 1000lbs over GVWR. Campers with slides will weigh more. With a single rear wheel you'll probably be a couple thousand over. Is it a big deal? Probably not with the right equipment and tires.

Happy Rv'ing.......

Half fast Toyn · 07-14-2006, 09:23 AM

I have a F250 short bed crewcab diesel with airbags. I haul a Eagle Cap camper that has a dry weight of 2200 lbs. Also haul a 4000 lbs boat with this combo. The weight on my rear axles is about 500 lbs above the recomended stated in the Ford manual. GVRW is also a little over. So far all Ive had to replace is a rear wheel seal after it started leaking.