Good morning board,

I currently have a payload of 3220lbs in our 2003 Ram 2500. Considering upgrading to the new SD by the end of the year.

It's important, as we are a camper family to not have less payload or towing capability than I do today. I'm considering a 250, however may just move the 350, with the 6.2L.

My question, when looking at payload, does the Camper Package increase payload on the 250? If not, is there any option for the 6.2L that does?

Cheers!

 

Your driveline/engine configuration, option levels, wheelbase and bed length in relation to your GVRW have more to do with rated payload than adding the camper package. Both the 250 and 350 can be had with the higher GVWR and camper package, depending on where you plan on registering the vehicle, there may be commercial restrictions on the 350 and certain levels of GVWRs so that part is up to you.

 

I've been wondering about this too. The association between payload, GVWR, and options appears to be somewhat loose. If you pick the no cost 9.900 GVWR on a F250, adding the camper package will not increase your payload or GVWR technically; as it is a licensing limit. The actual truck would certainly be more capable.

On a F350, I'm not sure it would raise the GVWR as the F350 may already have the springs. The Camper Package might only get the F350 the anti-roll bar.

But, if you do not check that option on a F250, it would seem reasonable that the camper package WOULD increase your payload and GVWR. There is plenty of axle rating to increase the overall GVWR.

 

My take from the various Ford documents is that the camper packages do not increase rated payload capacity. Specifically, I don't believe there's any way to "officially" increase the F250's GVWR above 10,000 lbs. The F250 CP adds a rear spring leaf, a rear sway bar, stiffer front springs, and the camper certification. I believe the largest rear spring packs for the F-250 are four-leaf, including the CP's extra leaf. Tire size, tire pressure, and/or official axle ratings also serve to limit the F250's GVWR, if only on paper.

The camper package doesn't officially increase the F350's GVWR or payload either. The F350 SRW CP just adds a rear sway bar, stiffer front springs, and the camper certification. Most F350's already come with five-leaf rear spring packs, which are the largest available. However, other options such as 4x4 and larger wheels and A/T tires do.

If you're going for a high payload rating, then you may want to consider something like an F350 6.2 4x4 SRW CCSB with 18" wheels and A/T tires. The GVWR for this configuration is 11,300 lbs., and the official maximum payload (before reductions for options) is 4,470 lbs. You'll get the highest maximum trailer weight rating by specifying the 4.30 axle ratio.

Examples.

The F250 6.2 is fitted with the 6R100 automatic transmission which looks good on paper but is new for this year. The F350 is fitted with the proven 6R140 AT.

The GVWR for our F350 6.2 4x2 CCSB w/ A/S tires and the CP is 10,600 lbs. Here's a picture of the as-built payload sticker:




HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

Jim is correct, no matter what you do, a F250 is rated to 10k GVWR.

 

Why the heck do they offer the 9,900 then? Just so it is below 10,000?

It does seem crazy the the lowest spring configuration and the highest spring configuration have the same GVWR. It defies logic.

By the way, I'm not arguing with you. Just seems nuts.

 

I went from an F250 to an F350 because I needed more payload. MY F250 had the camper package as does my new F350. The camper package alone does not increase your payload.
My F250 had a payload capacity of 2496 lbs. My F350, as you see in my signature, has a payload capacity of 4226 lbs.
We have a slide in truck camper and I wanted/needed all the payload I could get and with our truck camper I am under all of payload, axle and GVWR ratings.

 

For insurance and registration purposes.

 

x2........

 

If anything, the CP lowers the effective weight that can be carried. The sway bars have weight as do all of the components of the CP, minimal weight, but weight nonetheless. The more the base vehicle weighs, the less that can be loaded, arriving at the GVWR.

 

Yeah, mathematically that's true. Largely because the 10K GVWR is fixed no matter how the truck is configured. Crazy.

 

Is that a Northern Lite/Bigfoot camper? We want to get an 8.11 QSE next year, and configured our ordered F350 similarly to yours.

 

there was a post a while back where a bunch posted the sticker with how the truck was optioned.
To your camper package question as I recall, it does up spring rate if not already up'd by other options, but it will not up GVW.
I can add that changing from my 01 truck to the 17 and making dam sure I had plenty of payload (350 DRW) it makes traveling with my 3400# camper a pleasure. I can even collect rocks now and not be over. My happy meter is pegged

 

Johnnyhiker, it is a Northern Lite 8.11 Q SE. I made the decision to step up the 1 ton in the XLT package in order to maximize my payload. Our camper is 3200 lbs wet, full of water, groceries etc. After loading it up and with a full tank of gas in the truck I am under all of my weight ratings by a good amount so I now feel very good that this truck is more than adequate and safe to haul this camper.

 

Nice! I did my calcs, and chose a 350 with all the old man driver protection (BLIS, Trailer Tow, Adaptive cruise) so I can have the camper on and still tow my 24' boat (5200 lb, 520 lb tongue) at the same time. 3200 is 300 less than I figured, so thanks for the real time info!