Guys/Gals, I own a 2004 F 350 Crew Cab SWR Lariat Version XLT Off road with Camper Package, all the rest is standard, no mods.
Truck as a 6.0 diesel engine (unfortunately because the EGR system went already 3 times, the last cost me 8K) with 88K miles, original shock and rims.

I am buying a Lance 975 truck camper and I need input in what to look for as far as additions. Tires are brand new same as original E rating. I also plan to tow my boat 6K pounds while carrying the camper and using a weight distribution hitch with an extension coming from the truck under the camper. I have seen them.

I thought about the following:

1- New stronger front and rear shocks
2- rear air bags, and probably front is needed.
3- Installed air compressor in truck so I can adjust pressure from cabin
4- Class IV hitch installed in the front for extra carrying.
5- Stronger anti sway bars front and rear?
6- And whatever else would give more stability for possible off road (boom docking) and road control.

I think I have power because the GCVWR is 20K and the GVWR is about 11K

I need info about what to do and if you know reputable shops in New Jersey besides Camping World that can properly do this type of work.

Thanks for the help

Carlos Goncalves

 

Do you know the weight of the Slide-in Camper with the water tanks full?

If the Camper overhang will force you to mount the ball for the boat trailer further back, approximately how far back from the factory receiver will the ball need to go?

How much weight of gear do you plan to carry in the camper... tools, food, clothing, camping gear?

 

Good Morning Excursion PSD.
The Wet Weight of the camper is 3861 LBS
The length 10.4', therefore I would require a 3' extension towing bar. Extra additional weight I figure to be between 100 and 200 Lbs. The present owner carries this camper with a 3/4 ton swr 7.3 diesel. He claims no problem with it, although he wants to sell it to purchase a smaller camper. I am undecided. Lance Campers claim it can be hauled by a F350 8' bed like mine. Your help and knowledge will be appreciated.

 

Do you know the weight of the Slide-in Camper with the water tanks full?

If the Camper overhang will force you to mount the ball for the boat trailer further back, approximately how far back from the factory receiver will the ball need to go?

How much weight of gear do you plan to carry in the camper... tools, food, clothing, camping gear?



Good Morning Excursion PSD.
The Wet Weight of the camper is 3861 LBS
The length 10.4', therefore I would require a 3' extension towing bar. Extra additional weight I figure to be between 100 and 200 Lbs. The present owner carries this camper with a 3/4 ton swr 7.3 diesel. He claims no problem with it, although he wants to sell it to purchase a smaller camper. I am undecided. Lance Campers claim it can be hauled by a F350 8' bed like mine. Your help and knowledge will be appreciated.[/QUOTE]

 

The wet weight of the camper alone, is pushing your payload capacity, after you have installed air bags, and some of the other beefup equipment you planned on adding. Boats tend to run on the low side of tongue weight, so it is probably reasonable to figure about 10% of the 6,000 pound trailer weight, which would be about 600 pounds. BUT, mounting it on a 3' extension to clear the back of the camper, puts a LOT of stress on the receiver, even with a weight distributing hitch. You should check with a real good trailer hitch shop, or a professional welding shop, as to replacing or reinforcing your stock receiver on your pickup.

With the overhang on the camper, you're probably adding most of its weight to the rear axle of the pickup. Let's pencil up some numbers.

3861 slide-in camper wet weight
. 200 pounds extra equipment
. 175 pounds hitch extension, reinforcing, weight distributing hitch
. 600 pounds tongue weight (more if weight distributing hitch cannot redistribute all weight removed from front truck axle)
========
4836 Total added to rear axle of pickup.

I think your rear axle will be overloaded, but you look at the GAWR on your rear axle, should be shown on the stickers by the drivers door.

---

If truck rear overhang (distance from centerline of rear axle to rear of 2" socket on receiver) on the truck is 51", add 36" for the hitch extension, and the ball will be 87" behind the rear axle. This is about half the length of the truck wheelbase, so 600 pounds tongue weight would lift up 300 pounds from the front axle, and add that 300 pounds to the rear axle. A weight distribution hitch, depending on how far back the axle centerline on the boat trailer, is from the coupler, could redistribute 200 pounds of that weight onto the front axle of the truck, and 100 pounds onto the axle(s) of the trailer.

 

All good points above, it looks like you will have some challenges to getting this combo set up.
Most boat trailers have surge brake systems and do not play well with typical weight distribution hitches. There are exceptions to both rules however, some boat trailer do have electric brakes but they usually don't like salt water much. And there are some options available for WD hitches on surge brake trailers, but they are rare.
For a receiver hitch extension to move the ball back due to camper overhang I would only go with a proven design like Torklift offers with their SuperHitch series of dual receiver hitches SuperHitch Original 20K Frame Mounted Truck Receiver Hitch rated up to 20 Thousand LB Towing Capacity | Torklift International and the matching SuperTruss extension SuperHitch SuperTruss Truck Receiver Extension | Torklift International

 

c1goncalves, load wise, your truck has the hauling/towing power for what you're proposing. IMO, load carrying and hitch extension wise, I think you will have some suspension/handling issues. ExcursionPSD has done an excellent job bringing up the main points you should be thinking about. I too think you're going to be overloaded with the Lance TC you want.

I'm wondering if I understand ExPSD's math correctly. If you have an 8' bed, and the TC is 10'4", doesn't that make the overhang more like 28" and not 51"?

You might want to head over to rv.net and access the expertise in the Truck Camper forum. Just like here at FTE, lots of great people there (some with the specific TC you are looking at) who know there stuff and are willing to share it. Kudos for doing your homework first ... many don't. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing.

 

I was referring to the term "overhang" that would be found in the truck exterior specifications. 51" of overhang, being the distance from the centerline of the rear axle to the rear side of the hitch receiver 2" square socket. Adding 36" of extension for the trailer ball, and the tongue weight has 87" of leverage trying to lift weight off the front axle of the truck.

 

Presuming this holds true, might want to look into the 6.0 section for addressing durability items on the motor. For a while, my local mechanic was very busy with 6.0's to either get ahead of (or usually fix) that motor. That motor was the reason my neighbor (in the construction business) went over to GM.

Point is, while shopping for a camper and evaluating the suspension needs, (if not already done) might want to consider the budget for hardening the powertrain.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

Maybe talk to OK Auto, 4WD & Tire ? OE, 4x4, and Performance Specialist for Cars, Jeeps, Trucks, and SUV?s! they seem to be one of the few shops in NJ that deal with truck suspensions?

 

Thank you all that took time to answer my question. I took some time to answer because things took a little different turn.
Tfalk, Sunuvabug, JayTheCPA, Excursion PSD, WE3ZS thanks to all.

Here is the story:

2004 F350 6.0 Powerstroke SWR, FX4, Lariat, tow package E rated tires (new 3000 miles), truck camper package (rear anti sway bar) original equipment.
Rear GAWR 6380 Lbs, Front GAWR 5200 Lbs GVWR 9900 Lbs.

Mods: New Hellwig heavy duty shocks front and rear. Rear Air bags with 200 psi compressor, cab remote.

Truck Camper: 2016 Lance 1062. Wet weight 4061 Lbs. Extra garbage 250 Lbs.
My fat ***, wife and dog 400 Lbs Total 4750 to 5000 Lbs.
Length 10'11" 2 feet overhang. Plus weight of gun load ??? LOL.

Drove from place of purchase NH to NJ without a problem. No sway speed averaged 65 mph. Have reached 75 until my wife started screaming.

Plans to tow: 25' boat trailer weighting about 5000 Lbs total with dual axles. Tongue weight ??? I can lift it alone all the way up until the out drive hits the
ground. So I figure 150 to 200 Lbs. 3' tow hitch extension to be able to carry the camper and tow the boat. Or have a Torklift super hitch weight distributing.
Also installing a class IV front hitch to carry a platform for possible garbage needed.

Your input, help, knowledge, criticism etc will be appreciated including any mods you think will be beneficial to install.

Thank you for your help.

 

Couple thoughts. Have been researching truck campers for months because we are in the process of buying.

That Lance 975 specs at 3,398 dry. Conventional truck camper wisdom which you can find at places like TruckCamper magazine suggests a standard addition of 1,000 pounds to the dry weight and that does not include any options. That means no air conditioner, no awnings, etc. Lances are quite often optioned and run heavy.

The truck camper manufacturers are ridiculously optimistic in terms of their weights which is why they go overboard to stress staying within the truck manufacturer's limits in terms of payload in their literature. They dump all the liability back on the consumer. My guess would be that truck camper wet weight and loaded is closer to 4,400 pounds than Lance's stated 3,861. A CAT scale would give you that number. As the saying goes, "camper manufacturers' weights are not what a truck camper weighs, they are what they wish it would weigh."

Although folks place tremendous focus on what it will take to carry truck campers, one of the real danger points is what it takes to stop one in an emergency. Unlike other RVs, when you are hauling a truck camper the only set of brakes you have are the ones on the truck and that weight in the bed really increases stopping distances. When running overweight, towables are likely safer than truck campers.

My F350 gasser SRW with camper package and plow packages CAT scales right at 7,600 pounds with the same GVWR you have. That is with the tail gate still on so I will pick up about 65 pounds when I remove it, but my tie dows and turn buckles add some back on. You diesel will weigh more.

That give me a payload of about 3,400 - 3,500 pounds (wet) and leaves me shopping for a camper at 2,400 pounds or less dry. And yes, that means slim picking in terms of choices if I want to stay within my ratings. Some of that weight is likely carried on the front axle as the COG (center of gravity) is normally ahead of the rear axle on truck campers.

Not trying to tell you what to do. If you post in the "slide-in" tread of this section, you will reach the guys with truck campers. Good luck with your camper.

Steve

 

Sorry for my first post. I did not see that you switched campers. I would ignore Lance's weights. I bet that camper CAT scales at 4,500 or more, just guessing.

Steve

 

New Developments:

I weighted my truck (curb weight) 8100 Lbs with me in it (250 Lbs)
I also weighted just the rear axle 3240 Lbs.

So following your advice I went out and got 5 Vision cast aluminum type 81 19,5" wheels weight rating 4500 Lbs and Hankook DH07 245/70R 19,5" load range H tires to match

The truck came with a rear anti way bar from the factory. We will see how it performs. Should the engine last 10 miles (6.0 and all, knock on wood) you guys think I am ready to travel.
Please let me know your thoughts