I have a 73 F-250 camper special (not a super camper) with the 7,500 gross weight (and 3,850 basic weight), but isn't that the same for the regular F250s? I thought the CS package has heavy springs front and back along with heavy shocks, so how much weight can my rig really carry?

Sam

 

3650lbs, but you have to deduct fuel weight and passengers. Pretty much any thing that isn't the truck. This is how much weight you can have on the truck if you start pulling trailers you can tow more.
-John

 

Ok, thanks, what I was trying to ask is why I don't have the heaviest gvwr for an F-250, wikipedia puts it at 8,100. I would think the camper special package would put the gvwr right about there, but I guess not. Still, that's a lot of weight!

One more question, dos anyone know if there is anything different about the camper special's brake master cylinder? It has power assist brakes and those huge disks up front.

Sam

 

What's your rear GAWR?? The heaviest rating you could get on a Dana 60 rear axle is 5300 pounds. So, if your springs are rated less than that.....you could add heavier springs and safely carry up to 5300 pounds.

If you really wanna get technical, Ford slightly under-rated the Dana 60. The manufacturer actually rates it at around 5900 pounds. So, with a heavy enough spring, you could probably carry up to 5900 pounds on the rear axle without damaging anything. For comparison, the F-350 Super Camper Special uses a Dana 70 rear axle. They are rated at 7500 pounds.

I just got a Dana 70 HD for my F-350 4x4. It's rated for 10,000 pounds!! But that's way more weight than my tires or frame could handle.....

 

The truck with the most towing capacity will generally be that with the lowest curb weight..., ie a regular cab 2wd. And with ford they rated theirs based on the axles in them too. I had a 91 diesel F250 that had a pretty low GVWR cause it had stupidly high gears in it (2.56 or something).

 

Ok, thanks. I think I have a rear GVWR of 5140, but I'm not a 100% sure. The sticker in the door jamb says the GVWR of the truck is 7500, but some old paperwork I found in the truck says its GVWR is 6000... The papers (about 12 of them from various years) all have my grandpa's name on them and he bought the truck new, so I'm not sure which one to believe.

Sam

BTW: the same VIN is on the papers and on the sticker

 

My 79 F250 is 8400 but it seems to be heavier than most. I have no idea why they differ from one another, I was really surprised when I read a thread about a 79 F250 super cab 2x4 with a 460 that was only 6450. I thought for sure the 2x4 with the longer wheel base, bigger engine and lower center of gravity would be higher than mine. I am guessing it has to do mostly with spring rates and braking.
-John

 

I found something, the original order sheet! Not a build sheet, but the paper filled out at the dealership when he ordered the truck! And a GVWR of 7500 is listed on the the options section, so I definately have that, and (separately listed) is the camper special package. So is it possible that I have heavier springs and that they weren't factored into the GVWR? Or am I just being hopeful?

Sam

 

One more question, how do I figure out for sure what rear axle I've got? Could I find that out from the door tag?

Sam

 

Your just being hopeful, your GVWR is what is listed on the door tag the package might have a special GVWR with the package but it will match the door.
-John

 

Ok, good to know. I might look into some heavier springs, but, I have a long list of stuff to do before I could look into doing that.

Sam

 

See my post above.... You have a Dana 60 rear axle. The ratio is on the door tag.