Hello. I'm new here. Been reading in various places and am confused. I have a 1986 Ford F250, super duty, long bed, standard cab, with air lift bags. I have been able to determine the center of gravity for whichever Lance camper I add on at 50", and Lance has brouchures online with lots of good info about their campers.

My confusion is in determining how much weight my truck can safely carry (not towing anything now, but at some point might pull a 2-horse straight load that I use for storage). I read on a Ford site that my truck weighs 6,000 lbs (not been to a scale yet to verify it and not sure if that is wet or dry weight -- have 2 gas tanks: 16 & 18 gals). Also read the max payload is 3,890 lbs. (I'm assuming that's how much I can put in the bed of the truck, evenly distributed, of course.) Not at all sure if the 6,000 weight of truck or the 3,890 payload are accurate. Would like to know where to find that info.

Truck's label on driver's side door = GVWR of 8,600 lbs.; Front GAWR = 3,125 lbs.; Rear GAWR = 5,915 lbs. Well, if both axles can carry a total of 9,040 lbs., but the GVWR is only 8,600 lbs. -- that's a 440 lb. safety margin. Not wanting to exceed the GVWR of 8,600 lbs., and supposing the wet weight of the truck is indeed 6,000 lbs.....does that leave me with only 2,600 lbs. for a camper???? That can't be right....almost all campers weigh more than that.

Would having a camper with a shorter center of gravity (thus putting more weight farther ahead of the rear axle) help anything?? Would an extended cab style camper help put more weight farther forward on my standard cab truck??

Is there a simple formula to determine the camper/(payload?) weight my truck can safely carry??

Related: (1) The greater overhead distance on an extended cab style camper seems like it would invite bending, breakdown, and eventually leaking of that overhead (bed) area. Anyone have such problems with them? (2) An 11'3" camper would leave a 3'3" overhang off the back of my truck. Does that overhang need to be supported in some way??

Thanks for any help.

 

That's exactly the way it works. Example: I previously owned 2011 F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel shortbed XLT. GVWR on the truck was 10,000 lbs and the CAT scale weight was ~ 7875......which equals approx 2125 lbs of available payload capacity. The yellow/white sticker on the driver side door post had payload listed at 2148.......so a few lbs of difference there but that could just be the scale +/- tolerance and some stuff I had in the truck. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you have an F250 and they are not generally a heavy enough truck for that type of thing. Air bags do nothing to increase your payload capacity either.

 

Another issue. You didn't say where you live, but if it's someplace where they salt the roads heavily in the winter, and your 30 year old truck's frame has been badly rusting for years, it can no longer safely carry whatever weight it was designed for when it was new.

 

The basic formula for determining payload capacity is to start with the GVWR and subtract curb weight {as-built configuration with gas tank(s) full, but no driver, passenger(s), after-market accessories or other cargo}. In your case, the payload capacity appears to be ~2600 lbs. (8600 - 6000). You might be able to reduce the curb weight by removing the tail gate and perhaps even the rear bumper and the hitch receiver.

You can take your F250 to a CAT scale and have it weighed for ~$12, IIRC. You'll get the weight for each axle and the total.

The 2600 lbs. payload capacity then includes everything you put in- or on the truck: camper, driver, passengers, dog, cooler, tools, camper tie-downs, bed mat, turnbuckles, shore power cord, 7-way cord, hoses, sewer hose, everything!

Common published camper weights are "dry weights". The often don't include the weight of optional accessories, the battery(ies), fresh water (in tank and heater), propane, or other camping stuff (clothes, food, chairs, cooking supplies, etc.). Check out this Payload Match Challenge in Truck Camper magazine.

You're right: 2600 lbs. of payload doesn't necessarily go very far. Our old 2000 F250's GVWR as 880 lbs., and it's curb weight was ~6000 lbs. That left us with 2800 lbs, which wasn't nearly enough for our needs. We sold the 2000 F250 and bought a 2017 F350 with a payload of almost 4000 lbs. Not an inexpensive solution!

Another solution is to consider a light-weight pop-up truck camper.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

 

Just remember what truck campers looked like in 1986. They were small, no slides, light (ish) weight, and pretty Spartan. Your 86 truck can handle a reasonable 86 camper. 2018 campers can have three slides and weigh more than your entire truck.
I think if you want to run a TC on your 85, you should. Just pick one that is only about 1,500lbs. A 4 wheel camper/popup is in the right weight ballpark. That are also ultimately easier to haul, have lower wind drag, lower COG, and pose less mechanical stress risk to you rig.

 

Thanks for your reply. ...and just when I found a camper I like and can afford, it's about 200 lbs. overweight, and that's probably the dry weight. Ugh.

 

Thanks for your reply. I don't understand how something hanging farther forward over the cab, and well in front of the rear axle, can cause the COG to move aft (rearward). Could you please explain. I really thought it would help move the COG a bit forward.

....oh, wait, you mean the overhang in the back, don't you?? (Do you?) According to the resources I've discovered so far, the center of gravity on any camper "is what it is" and the overhang front and rear are taken into consideration when determining it. Also, many, but not all, camper makers place the holding tanks in a place that (generally) moves the center of gravity forward (maybe only slightly) when tanks are full.

I had a Lance Squire on it previously (I forget which model it was) that was only a foot or so shorter than the 1995 945 I'm looking at, and the truck handled just fine. The 945 is bigger, and so are it's tanks, so.....clearly a trip to the scales is in order first thing.

 

Thanks for your reply. I'll be doing some snow camping, so a popup is out of the question. Currently looking at a 1995 Lance 945. Per Lance's 1995 online brochure, that camper (probably dry weight) weighs 2,826. Truck sticker gives max payload at 3,890. I guess my dilema remains. Ugh.

 

Thanks for your reply. I plan to do some snow camping, so a popup is out of the question. Currently looking at a 1995 Lance 945 with a dry weight of 2,826 lbs. which is about 1,056 lbs. less than the truck's max payload. But if the truck does actually weigh 6,000 lbs, the GVWR = 8,600, leaving only 2,600 lbs. for a camper & putting the camper I'm looking at about 290 lbs. over the GVWR. Sure looks like I'm gonna be looking for some scales to be safe. And just when I found a camper I like and can afford! Ugh.

 

Thanks for your reply. The truck has not been subjected to salty/icy roads, but is still very old indeed! I am concerned about that. Thanks for the reminder! Maybe I'll have to hire someone/a service to move it for me, park the camper, and look for another truck. Always an issue, isn't there?!

 

could aways run a topper and have a foam mat in it with a sleeping bag, i run a kodiak truck tent and a air mattress, pretty cozy hear good things about them snow camping too, works great getting into remote locations with truck.

 

MsLola,

It's possible that your truck may be lighter than I initially suggested. If so, and if your truck's GVWR is 8800 lbs., then you may have more payload capacity available. So, a quick trip to the scales is in order.

What more can you tell us about your 1996 Ford F250? For example, is is a regular cab, a supercab, or a crewcab? Is it a long bed (8 feet)? four-wheel drive of two? Is is a regular okl' F250, or is is an "F250 HD"? Are there vehicle stickers (certification and or payload) on the driver side "B" pillar, or perhaps somewhere else? Can you take and post pictures?

What size- and load range tires are on the truck? For example, are they 236/85R16E or ??? Is there any info about "maximum load" such as 3084 lbs at 80 psi or ??? The tire sidewalls should have this info. And, how old are the tires?

The 8600 lbs. GVWR suggests to me that it's an F250 HD, and the 3890 lbs. payload suggests you have a regular cab long bed two-wheel drive and load range E tires, all with a curb weight of ~4700 lbs.

The more info we have, the better we can help you figure out that you've got and to safely put it to best use.

 

So we know it is reg. cab, long bed. But is it a 4x4?

adding to the curb weight.

 

Good catch... I'm obviously not fully awake yet...

So, is is an F250 or an F250 HD (heavy duty)? Gas engine or diesel?

Thanks,
Jim / crewzer