In-bed Campers
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Elder User
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From: copperas cove tx
In-bed Campers
Ive been thinkin about a slide-in-bed camper for my f250. How well would it respond to the load? My use of a camper would range from hard to get to off-road locations to the highway with ocationally a trailer with my boss in it. Ive considered other forms of campers and a pull-behind anythin would be tricky in the mountains and I dont have the pulling experiance to double tow trailers.
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250 will handle it fine. My old man had one in an 84 F150 for years..
It was a little white knuckle in strong winds though.
There is a big weight difference between some of them though, so if you're talking about the big 12 footers or ones like that i dont know.
It was a little white knuckle in strong winds though.
There is a big weight difference between some of them though, so if you're talking about the big 12 footers or ones like that i dont know.
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From: Virginia
I have a slide in that I use with my 89. I recommend air bags and a rear sway bar. I had to add helper springs on mine, but wish I had airbags so I could air down when empty for a better ride. Also look into a aftermarket setup to tie the camper to the frame. I used the bed tie downs on the front of the camper, and one of them pulled out of the bed sheetmetal when I left a parking lot that had more of a dip in the entry than most.
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From: Northeast, OK
You should be fine w/the 250 - esp w/the 460 - as long as you go with a reasonable size of camper. I had a '72 250 w/a 390 and it handled our 9 1/2' self-contained camper well. Just make sure you stay w/in the GVWR of the truck and fasten the camper in WELL. Ours bolted through the floor of the camper and the bed of the truck. One time, and one time ONLY, I left one of the bolts out because the holes didn't quite line up. We got into unusually windy conditions and that corner of the camper came up. Never again!
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: copperas cove tx
Thanks, the airbags are a little out of budget but Ill consider them later on. Im not lookin into anythin huge just reasonable for a couple and maybe 1 more. I even think the pop-up style in-bed would be better for mpg. I like the response time on this 1, Im goin for a trainin mission out of state so this is my last post till thanksgivin. Thanks for the help everyone
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From: copperas cove tx
Sorry bout the bump on an old thread, but Im back from my trainin and still have questions. It was brought up in another thread but I dont wanna jack theirs. I want to lift the truck and maintain my usefulness. I want just enough room to fit 35in tires, so I was thinkin of a 2in body lift. With helper springs, would 2in be enough to fit 35s with a loaded camper? Or should I go with a 3in spring block pack?
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From: Virginia
I would save up for some airbags. You are going down the wrong road with a lift, before you have even prepared for or bought a camper yet. You asked about the truck handling the camper. The sway is even worse with a lift, so you need something in the rear to stabilize the truck.
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From: copperas cove tx
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Elder User
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From: copperas cove tx
Ok Im not goin to jack my truck way up I just want enough room to put 35s on. I remember that there was another way to get bout 2 inches out of my truck with out sacrificin alot of stability, I just cant put my finger on it. And Im not goin to get one of the full height campers, I want one that pops up bout a foot or so.
Edit: Franklin why are you tellin me not to lift my truck and put a camper in it when you stated in a related thread that you run 35s, 4in lift and a full height camper? Im just wantin 2 inches
Edit: Franklin why are you tellin me not to lift my truck and put a camper in it when you stated in a related thread that you run 35s, 4in lift and a full height camper? Im just wantin 2 inches
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I had a 1984 F250 w/ 460 and c6, one leaf overload springs and a 1982 Wilderness 10 1/2 foot camper. The sticker in the camper said dry weight was about 1400 ish KG... With that camper loaded, full water tank, camping gear, etc, the truck sat perfectly level and felt like one of those old cadillacs going down the road, quite soft. It was no race vehicle, but I never felt unsafe, minus my worn out front end. PLENTY of power too. I bet you'll do just fine.
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From: copperas cove tx
A ride like that sounds like my old park avenue. Iv been thinkin I got 285/75/16s tires now I here those are bout a 32in. I looked into a 305/70/16 but Im not sure what size those are, coarse I could guess there bout a 33in. I think Ill try a 33in on for size and see how it looks and if i like it I wont modify my truck at all.
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From: Virginia
Edit: Franklin why are you tellin me not to lift my truck and put a camper in it when you stated in a related thread that you run 35s, 4in lift and a full height camper? Im just wantin 2 inches
If you are going to put a large slide-in camper on your truck, I would not purposely put a lift and big tires on it too. If circumstances are unavoidable such as in my case, it will work, but is not ideal.
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From: copperas cove tx
Ok that makes sense, thank you. I wasnt tryin to attack you with that question I was just confused. So if a lift is a real danger, even the smallest. Whats the largest tire I can run on a stock f250, 32-33in? Id be goin no bigger then a 9 1/2ft camper. somethin I can slide in and not have to remove my tailgate for. And no slide-outs, theyr costly and alot of work. Ive even been thinkin that the full height might be what I want also, not the pop-up type. I love how helpful everyone is here, hopefully Ill be one of you guys one day.