I am a truck and camper newbie so excuse my ignorance - but I just signed for a F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 Short Bed which I plan to use with a truck camper. The guys at the Arctic Fox camper dealer told me a 250 will work fine. The folks at the Ford dealer were not very familiar with truck camper ratings. It has been a challenge to get a straight answer so hoping someone here can advise.

Trucks GVRW = 10,000 lbs
Camper = Arctic Fox 811 (for shortbed)
Camper weight = 3100 lbs
plan to use air lifts for leveling the load

Am I OK or do I need a heavier rated truck like a 350?

I also plan to tow a small boat that is not all that heavy - probably a 200# tongue weight and total weight of maybe 1000 lbs.

Thanks for advice and answeres

 

This question is almost always always answered by two views, if you take the legal "payload" rating of your truck - subtract the dry weight(3100) of camper, subtract approx 1000lbs for fuel, food, people, hitch weight of boat trailer (200) - you should be still a few lbs to the good. I doubt that you will assuming you have a 6.4l diesel. This is not the end of the world and you are not alone, if you check out http://www.rv.net you will see numerous threads in the camper forum on this topic. Note - adding airbags will improve ride but not increase your legal payload rating of your truck. I think you will be overweight but just fine with airbags.

 

The truck and a 3100# camper alone would exceed the 10K GVWR of a F-250 and that is before you take in consideration for fuel, people, etc.

Here is the '08 Ford camper chart...

http://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/r...ideinAug07.pdf

 

Short answer: 3100 pounds of camper is too much for an F-250.

Long answer: It'll work, but you'll need to upgrade your suspension to handle the load. Technically you will be exceeding the GVRW of your F-250. Air bags and possibly heavier rear tires to handle the load will be a good start.

Additional Comment: RV Salesmen will tell you ANYTHING to move an RV off of the lot. You need to stop seeking advice from idiots and start researching to find out what your truck will and will not do.

 

that would be a handfull with the stock suspension (trust me i know) but with some upgrades it will be fine. get a pair or rear airbags (firestone superduties or equivalent) a rear antisway bar (if it doesnt alread have one) and rancho rs9000 adjustabe shocks at all for coners. i have been runnig that set up for 6 years and towing my 4000# boat, it works so well the wife will even drive...lol

 

I have a full size truck camper since 1990 and started out with a F-150 and had no problems. I added some extra leafs to that truck. The only problem ever was from the engine, a 302 was quite small. I moved up to a F-350 .7.3 diesiel and it is too much truck for just the camper, I bought a 350 because I also pull a 24 foot four winns boat along with the camper on top. Your F-250 will have no problems whatsoever with the camper and the pulling a 1000lb boat. I would put the camper on and drive it stock before dumping money into the suspension. I had 180.000 miles on the F-150 and have 230.000 miles on the f-350. I use my camper 4 times a year and pull this crap all over Michigan.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Really appreciate your help. My Arctic Fox guy is very knowledgeable (it seems - and I am an engineer for what that's worth) and he says AF has a chart of guaranteed truck capability that will show the 250 will be OK. I go to see them on Monday. Thanks for that link PowerStrokeHD! - that is a newer version than one I'd seen. Now, I realize I did not get that Camper Option from Ford (high pressure take it or leave it deal but it was really good so I took it without realizing the camper option was not included) and wondering if I should demand it as an add-on now. I am within the 3-day "buyers remorse" return period so we'll see what Ford will do but wonder if it is really necessary or better to add an aftermarket solution that would perform better.

Thanks everyone.

 

You need an F350 to be within the payload capacity. I don't believe that truck is rated with a payload of 3100. I would buy an F350. The F250 with camper package will have the overload springs (which you should have for the camper), but without the camper package you'll want it added. An F350 will come stock slightly taller, so the truck doesn't squat so much, will have the overload spring, and will have a payload rating that would allow for that camper.

 

Cast2way,
Lots of responses on F-250 Superduty and Slide in Campers. Everyone is right too I might add. Legally you will be well over the GVWR with the combination you are planning. Load wise the F-250 can handle the 3100 plus pounds. However, for example I run an F250 with Camper package, but I took the skimpy stock overload Springs off and put 2700 pounds of additional Leaf springs under the Rear and X Code Springs under the Front.....and guess what with the Northland 3400 pound Camper I still need Airbags.....The truck is very stable on the road but legally over loaded. I have the Sway bar and the Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. My Truck and camper has been all over the west and southwest, even hauling a boat behind. been hauling campers around for twenty years and all on FORDS. Absolutely the the F350 would be better, but would still need aftermarket add ons with that load hanging out the back of a shortbed.
Good Luck....
Gary
Stanley, IDAHO

 

True. Either way, you'll probably want airbags.