F450 pickup bed
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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F450 pickup bed
Has anyone had any experience putting a slide in camper on an F450 Supercab DRW? Distance from Cab to axle is 60" instead of 56" as on F250 or 350. Short of buying a really expensive aftermarket bed, I would be interested in any suggestions. Can I put a 350 DRW bed on the frame if I set it back 4" from the cab? If so, anysuggestions for taking up the gap? Center of gravity on this 4600lb camper is 52"? Any forseeable problems there? Sure could use some expert advice. This application apparently hasn't been done much in the past. With the heavier slide ins coming on the market its going to be a continuing issue until Ford produces an actual pickup package on the F450. Any help will be appreciated!
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 610
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F450 pickup bed
There's a couple of ways to put a pickup bed on the 450's. One is to put the bed set back like you were saying, and then there is a filler piece you put between the bed and the cab to fill the 4" gap. Its contoured to match, so it's hardly noticeable. The other way is to cut the the last 4" of the frame,and relocate the axle 4" forward. Sounds complicated, but conversion shops do it all the time. Check out roll-a-long and centurion's web pages to see it with the filler, and Classy Chassis to see the bed with the frame shortened. I believe centurion also has it without the filler piece.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 772
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From: Victoria Canada
F450 pickup bed
Check out: www.irv2.com Look in the "Slide-in" forum. I was browsing earlier and found a few F450 setups.
The body shop next to my son-in-laws shop is doing an F550 pick-up conversion right know. They're in the process of moving the F350 rear wheel wells back to fit the F550 wheelbase.
A mod like that would look better than a four inch gap, and probably be cheaper than an aftermarket box.
Good Luck,
Rick
Edit: Sportscraft got his post up before I could, I didn't realize a filler piece was available.
The body shop next to my son-in-laws shop is doing an F550 pick-up conversion right know. They're in the process of moving the F350 rear wheel wells back to fit the F550 wheelbase.
A mod like that would look better than a four inch gap, and probably be cheaper than an aftermarket box.
Good Luck,
Rick
Edit: Sportscraft got his post up before I could, I didn't realize a filler piece was available.
Last edited by Karic; Aug 7, 2003 at 03:26 PM.
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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F450 pickup bed
Wow! That is one great idea! I have a diesel, but I have been using a Generac Propane generator which runs of the camper supply. I would much prefer to have a gasoline powered Onan!
Definetly food for thought. Also have limited holding tank (25 gal)
in the camper for water. A stainless tank would accomadate either one. Gotta figure how many gallons it would hold. It would probably come close to the old style Chev-GMC tank they used to install behind the drivers seat. Not so sure I would want to put gasoline there, but water is usually what I have the least of.
Thanks!
Definetly food for thought. Also have limited holding tank (25 gal)
in the camper for water. A stainless tank would accomadate either one. Gotta figure how many gallons it would hold. It would probably come close to the old style Chev-GMC tank they used to install behind the drivers seat. Not so sure I would want to put gasoline there, but water is usually what I have the least of.
Thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Broussard USA
F450 pickup bed
I go camping all the time my last held 30 gallons this one holde 96! So when you said slide in water was my first thought!
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 772
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From: Victoria Canada
F450 pickup bed
Bill;
Here's one I found on the irv2 site. It's a Bigfoot 3000 series camper on an F450 conversion:
http://home.tnt21.com/~stankern/camper.html
If you look closely at the last two pix, you can see the filler piece.
Good Luck,
Rick
Edit; Just bought a new 9'6" Adventurer camper with a slide-out dinette. I'll get some pix up next week. Might be an idea for a Saturday morning "Show and Shine" on-line.
Here's one I found on the irv2 site. It's a Bigfoot 3000 series camper on an F450 conversion:
http://home.tnt21.com/~stankern/camper.html
If you look closely at the last two pix, you can see the filler piece.
Good Luck,
Rick
Edit; Just bought a new 9'6" Adventurer camper with a slide-out dinette. I'll get some pix up next week. Might be an idea for a Saturday morning "Show and Shine" on-line.
Last edited by Karic; Aug 8, 2003 at 01:34 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 40
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F450 pickup bed
Thanks! This is the best looking conversion I've seen yet. Will contact and try to get more details.
Thanks again..
Bill
Lance 10-10 1999 w/gen
99' F-250 supercab 4x4 diesel 6 speed 7.3 diesel (55k)
Firestone Ride Rite Air Bag/ Camper package/Titan V Hitch
Coming soon.. Lance 1161 w/all options
F450 Supercab 4x4 6.0l diesel 6 speed with bed?
Thanks again..
Bill
Lance 10-10 1999 w/gen
99' F-250 supercab 4x4 diesel 6 speed 7.3 diesel (55k)
Firestone Ride Rite Air Bag/ Camper package/Titan V Hitch
Coming soon.. Lance 1161 w/all options
F450 Supercab 4x4 6.0l diesel 6 speed with bed?
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6
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F450 pickup bed
Can you tell me why you would go to the trouble of making a F450 work? Wouldnt an F350 haul a slide in camper without a problem? What are the differences between the 450 and 350 to make you want to do this? Sorry for all the questions but am deciding on what truck to buy for myself in the spring.
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Freshman User
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F450 pickup bed
Ron. The camper I am currently dealing with nets at about 4600 to 5000lbs fully loaded. Lance 1161 The max payload capacity on an F350 DRW diesel supercab is around 3200 lbs. Will it handle the payload of the camper? Probably. A lot of people use them. Are they riding on the edge? You bet! Add a camper package, air bags, rancho shocks, good driving skills,and some luck and you'll probably never have a problem. Over grossed? Yep! For me personally, I'm tired of driving on the edge. I currently have a 1999 F250 supercab 4x4 7.3 ltr diesel w/6speed. My current camper is a 99' Lance 10-10 fully loaded incl generator. Dry weight is 3200 and fully loaded about 3800. I have air bags, heavy duty shocks and a factory camper package. For the last five years I've also hauled horses (another 4000lbs) behind the rig. High profile...top heavy...overweight for the truck, handles bad in cross winds. The 1161 and F350, its all relative. Same problems. F450? I'm about 1600 lbs under payload!
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Freshman User
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F450 pickup bed
Ron.. Couldn't get it all in on the last post.. Anyway... Look at the final gross weight of every thing. Holding tanks full, equip, food, clothes, etc. My wife puts in at least 1000 lbs of food ( it seems). Look at the GVWR of the vehicle you intend to buy. The GVWR includes the weight of the truck and payload combined. Many people will tell you that as long as you don't exceed the GVRW you're ok. Talk to the truck dealer. Crunch some numbers and do the math. The F350 will support the 1161 going down the road provided the truck has all the recommended (modifications. Thats generally what people put under them. There are just a few of us retired big rig drivers who like to have the "extra" leeway. Bill
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
F450 pickup bed
Try Ford.
http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/r...02_default.asp
http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/r...D_F350_550.pdf
http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/r...ering_tips.pdf
http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/r...02_default.asp
http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/r...D_F350_550.pdf
http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/r...ering_tips.pdf
Last edited by Mattsbox99; Aug 9, 2003 at 11:58 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
F450 pickup bed
I just picked up a stack of old Hot Rod magazines yesterday and was reading an ad for the all new 77 F-250 4x4. It has a maximum payload capacity of 3665 with the 8400 GVW, according to this ad. That F-350 dually must be one heavy truck if its GVW is used all but 3200 lb left for cargo. That kind of defeats the purpose of a dually it seems. No wonder you need a 450. The next time you trade you may need a F-650 if the carrying capacity keeps going down. That's probably why you see all those little freightliners and kenworths being used like a pickup to pull a camper.
And yet they will build a class c motorhome on an F-350 chassis that can easily go 14,000 with the thing loaded for action. Or overloaded I should say.
I have seen the prices on those new slide ins and wonder why you don't just buy a motorhome. I have seen nice 3-4 year old motorhomes with low mileage that would leave change in your pocket compared to the slide-in. I'm not trying to be insulting just wondering what your criteria was for your decision.
And yet they will build a class c motorhome on an F-350 chassis that can easily go 14,000 with the thing loaded for action. Or overloaded I should say.
I have seen the prices on those new slide ins and wonder why you don't just buy a motorhome. I have seen nice 3-4 year old motorhomes with low mileage that would leave change in your pocket compared to the slide-in. I'm not trying to be insulting just wondering what your criteria was for your decision.