After getting back from camping in the TT, the wife and I REALLY wished we had our boat with us. Since it's just the 2 of us I think a camper with a slide might be big enough, maybe. Now I don't know much about campers, but have heard that without a dually you may be over weight with most, so figured I would probably be looking 8-9'? My question is how do I figure out how big/heavy of a camper can i get for MY setup and be legal and or safe? My boat and trailer only weigh about 2k lbs. total.

F250 4X4 Auto EC LB
Extra leaf in the front, airbags in the back
305X70X16 BFG all terrains, 8.5 wide rim- Load range E 3525 lbs. they say on the sidewall.

Thanks for any input!

 

You won't find a t/c light enough with a slide to be safely carried by an F-250. If you don't want to change trucks, stay with one in the 2000-2500 lbs. range.
I carried my Lance 1010 out west a couple times with the F-350 srw I had, it was ok but the wife did not like driving it. It weighs 3300-3400 loaded. Handles much better with a dually believe me.

 

To answer your question, your gvwr is 8800 for a 3/4 ton, should be on your door sticker. Go weigh it empty with a full tank of fuel, the difference is your cargo capacity. Don't be surprised if it's only 1500-1700 lbs. You have air bags and e-rated tires I would not worry about it. But you do so at your own risk. I carried a Lance Squire on a '93 F-250 a few years and it handled it fine. Just my opinon..

 

OK, so it looks like the ones i'm looking at are about 9' and 3k dry. So not technically legal but probably an OK ride with my setup? I guess I need to figure out a way to weigh my truck for starters....

 

You can weigh at any CAT scale at any truck stop. Takes only a minute or so.

 

I have a 10.5 camper and it weighs in at about 4000lbs loaded and I also pull my small zodiac jet boat that weighs in at under 1000lbs and have no problem. I do have rear air bags and an add-a-leaf in the front and front and rear sway bars. No issues at all. Roy.

 

My 2001 F-350 Crew Cab 7.3L non-dually 4X4 weighed 7,220 pounds empty with 3/4 fuel the day I bought it.

Ten years later, with all the crap I've added and carry in it on a daily basis, it weighed 7,740 pounds empty with 5/8 fuel.

My 2004 9 1/2 foot Arctic Fox lists at 2,900 pounds dry. Full of water, propane, and crap I figure it's at least 3,400 pounds heading out on a trip. That puts me at a little over 11,000 pounds, not counting people, going down the road. With a family of four and all their clothes and toys I'm probably pushing 12 grand.

The truck is rated by Ford at 10,000.

But....I have airbags, overloads, upgraded shocks, uprated tires, and I drive it carefully.

Another good source for a free weighing is a rockery. My local outfit lets me weigh whenever I want - I just pop in and ask if I can run something onto their scale.

I just put the camper on the truck today, and maybe I'll hit the scale with it tomorrow.

 

Most larger municipal landfills will weigh you, also metal recyclers.

 

I'm looking at a 9'6" right now at about 2900 lbs. Not sure when I can weigh it (Truck) but sounds like I will be over for sure. So I guess legally I will be over weight, but with my setup be in pretty good shape....Stressing out.

 

No need to stress.You have basiclly the same truck as me and i have no issues and my camper is heavier than the one your looking at. Your truck will have no problem. Go have fun. I just replaced all my sway bar and track bar bushings and that firmed everything up nicely. If you have not done that you might think about it.

 

Another option you might consider is Tork-Lift stable loads for your rear springs. What they are is oversize bump stops for the overload springs, allowing them to engage sooner, giving you a better ride.

 

Any more input from "camper" guys would be appreciated.
So we have a deal potentially worked out with a Camper. It's a 2004 Snowriver 906 9'6" with a slide made in Canada. Anyone know anything about these? From what I have read they are a higher end well built camper comparable to Arctic Fox that were discontinued in 2008. Still not sure 100% on the weight.

Also, it's going to include the superhitch from the owners Dodge. Will this fit my Ford? Any tips or info on this or tie downs I will need (know nothing about them or cost and installation) would be great.

 

I suggest crosssing over to the rv.net site, go to the Truck Camper forum and ask away. Very knowleadgable crowd and very expereinced with the question you are asking about.

I'm sure you'll get the answers you want.

Here's a thread whcih I posted there which will get you going.

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Best Truck Camper - Opinions and Advice Wanted

Good Luck. ~ Bugjr ~

 

It sounds like that camper is at least as heavy as our Artic Fox 811S which weighs in about 4500lb loaded with everything to go camping .these high end campers are heavy, with slides.the truck in my signature was reduced to a Whimp before installing suspension aids.I installed Tork lift super hitch reciever hitch & tie down system,super truss extension,stable loads.Rancho 9000xl shocks. Firestone Ride Rite air bags.Hellwig 1 1/2 dia. front swaybar.which has made the truck a lot more stable,but still considering upgrading rear sway bar.I would have been better off with a Dually but that wasnt what I had or wanted the other 95% of the time.from what I read you can add the f-350 overloads or aftermarket ones and make it just as capable if your ok with it still rated for f-250 .

 

Arctic Fox 992 and Centurion T-5 Air Warrior. I have Firestone ride rites, Tork lift overload bumpers, Tork lift frame mounted tie downs, Superhitch extension and a combo of Bilstien 5100 and Rancho 9000XL shocks. I was running 4 ranchos but the front ones went bad and am trying out the bilstiens. I can't remember off hand what the camper weighs, but I am thinking around 4500. The whole set up rides down the road nice! I don't get alot of sway and it feels under control. I make sure I pay attention to the speed limit on curves and increase following distance. I am going to try to remember to weigh the whole setup on the way back from Lake Roosevelt next week.