I had a 2006 Silverado 3500 DRW Duramax,6 speed Allison, extended cab with 3.73's, and it carried the Bigfoot fairly good.The Duramax had the edge on power and torque, but the F-450 beats it in every other area. With the 19.5" tires and larger brakes, I fell much more confident with the braking performance which is really important when you carry a camper this heavy. I can definetly feel an improvement with the ride, handling and turning radius. I no longer need airbags and there is almost no side-to-side sway when trucks pass me on the interstate. Overall, the F-450 feels much better and I don't feel like I am on the edge of it's limits. BTW, I do have the 4.30's.
Is that a 3000 series Bigfoot I see in your signature?
No, a camper like yours would squish my truck!!! It's our old 2500 10.6 -- we absolutely loved that camper, but I couldn't convince my wife to move up to a DRW, and when I loaded it on the back and the horse trailer on a 28" extension (empty even), we were close to a thousand pounds over the rear 7k lb rating on the axle, let alone being well over the tires' rating (which was even scaryier to me). We now have a 1500 9.5, which is still a Bigfoot in all quality ways, but light enough for our SRW (sure seems small tho... )
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'07 F350 SRW SC/LB, 6.0 PSD/Auto, 4x4 -- SuperHitch w/ custom 16" SuperTruss, Tork Lift Camper Tie-Downs, Rancho RS 9000X Shocks, Air Lift Air Springs, BFG A/Ts 305/65/18E, GO Industries Mud Flaps.
No, a camper like yours would squish my truck!!! It's our old 2500 10.6 -- we absolutely loved that camper, but I couldn't convince my wife to move up to a DRW, and when I loaded it on the back and the horse trailer on a 28" extension (empty even), we were close to a thousand pounds over the rear 7k lb rating on the axle, let alone being well over the tires' rating (which was even scaryier to me). We now have a 1500 9.5, which is still a Bigfoot in all quality ways, but light enough for our SRW (sure seems small tho... )
Our first camper was also a Bigfoot 2500 10.6 on a F-250. It was a great camper, but I agree that is marginal on a 3/4 ton SRW.
Very nice setup, Be sure to get out often and enjoy. Crrious as to why you went with the rear suspension kit? Did you try it before without it? I was surprised, my 350DRW use to drop about 5 inches when I put on our 5ver, My 450 only drops about an inch. Had to adjust the pin box to ride level. It is probably always better to be extra safe than not adding the suspenion kit. Again great combo.
__________________ 2008 F450 4x4 4.30's Dark Toreador red delivery 4-05-07 13.46 mpg mty 8.64mpg towing 16,950# over 4,800 miles
99 F350 V10 DRW 3.73's 5 speed stick traded 11.5mpg
1995 Firehawk 315hp 6 speed 06 Escape 22mpg
93 40th Anv. Vette, 2006 Armada, Kountry Star 5'th wheel 40'
Beautiful rig! I have an '08 F-450 and a Lance 1191. I am about to put on a TorkLift Super Hitch and 48" extension so that I can tow my boat at the same time. It seems that Ford's factory Class V hitch is not compatible with other Class V hitches, so the Reese extension won't fit. And Reese is not yet making a receiver for the 450 pickup, they do make one for the 450 cab and chassis, I almost bought that by mistake.
Are you familiar with the NATCOA (North America Truck Camper Owner's Assoc) forum? It is very similar to this site, but oriented towards truck campers. NATCOA FORUM
Good luck with your rig. It seems that you and I may have the only 2 truck campers east of the Mississippi.
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David '08 F-450 White/Pueblo Gold; Firestone Ride-Rites; Air-Lift compressor; LineX; No ESOF!; set up for '07 Lance 1191 truck camper
'00 Excursion White (White Ex) sold.
'85 F-350 sold; pulled an '85 35' Carriage 5th Wheel.
'79 F-250 sold; carried a '79 Coachman truck camper.
'69 British Land Rover, 88" wheel base, sold.
Beautiful rig! I have an '08 F-450 and a Lance 1191. I am about to put on a TorkLift Super Hitch and 48" extension so that I can tow my boat at the same time. It seems that Ford's factory Class V hitch is not compatible with other Class V hitches, so the Reese extension won't fit. And Reese is not yet making a receiver for the 450 pickup, they do make one for the 450 cab and chassis, I almost bought that by mistake.
Are you familiar with the NATCOA (North America Truck Camper Owner's Assoc) forum? It is very similar to this site, but oriented towards truck campers. NATCOA FORUM
Good luck with your rig. It seems that you and I may have the only 2 truck campers east of the Mississippi.
I'd measure that receiver before I'd switch -- I love the SuperHitch, don't get me wrong, but if a Reese Titan extension would fit, I'd triangulate it with chains and turnbuckles (like the SuperHitch is) and go merryly down the road. Ford builds the strongest stock hitches, period, I don't care what GM rates theirs at -- go read their sites and see what they think of their own hitches!
The dodge and GM hitches are bolted to and rely on the bumper to reach it's full capacity, Ford's are rated seperately, which is nice as you can hook your safety chains to the bumper, and actually be safe... Sorry... owned one too many of the others and saw this issue up close and personal.
If the extension doesn't work, don't think a second thought about the SuperHitch, as it's truly a beast. Buy it on eBay, best price around...
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'07 F350 SRW SC/LB, 6.0 PSD/Auto, 4x4 -- SuperHitch w/ custom 16" SuperTruss, Tork Lift Camper Tie-Downs, Rancho RS 9000X Shocks, Air Lift Air Springs, BFG A/Ts 305/65/18E, GO Industries Mud Flaps.
That is one big sucker of camper looks great together and one beast of truck I know I own one and I have big camper but mine pull behind one and 38ft in length and love how well it pulls.
__________________ 2008 F-450 SD CREW CAB 172" WB LONG BOX 6.4L PSD RED 4.3 REAR END LITERIDER ROLL-UP COVER AND CHORME TUBLER BOARDS 2007 FOREST RIVER SIERRA 38FT TRAVEL TRAILER 10,500LBS OLD TRUCK 06 F-250 SC FX4 ALSO HAVE 2005 F-150 FX4 BLUE CC 139" WB AND ALSO GOING TO HAVE LITERIDER.
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