Payload and Towing Help
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 34
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Payload and Towing Help
Just bought a new to me 2017 F250. Gorgeous truck in blue jeans blue and that 6.7 has the torque of a freight train. I'm looking at a truck camper and boat tow setup. Weighed the truck today and it came in at 7,640 lbs. Such a beast. I know GVWR is 10,000 pounds. But my rear GAWR is 6340 lbs. I'm wondering what the limiting factor here is. Is it the wheels and tires? My dream rig is an Arctic Fox 811 slide in camper with a Grady White 225 tournament in tow. Can the truck handle it? I have the diesel 4x4 crew cab. I'm thinking trailer tongue weight is about 500 or so lbs. Camper dry weight is 2873 lbs. Thanks!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
I know GVWR is 10,000 pounds... Weighed the truck today and it came in at 7,640 lbs.
I'm looking at a truck camper and boat tow setup... My dream rig is an Arctic Fox 811 slide in camper with a Grady White 225 tournament in tow... Camper dry weight is 2873 lbs... I'm thinking trailer tongue weight is about 500 or so lbs.... Can the truck handle it?
Frankly, I question the varacity of the 2873 lbs. dry weight, as it likely does not include the weight (595 lbs.) of the mandatory Fox Value Package. Truck Camper Magazine lists significantly higher weights for the AF 811: 3468 lbs. dry, and 4569 lbs. wet (you can probably knock ~400 lbs off the wet weight value if you travel with the fresh water tank and water heater empty).
It’s also possible the the total weight of the truck, the loaded camper, plus driver, passengers, and other “stuff” may approach if not exceed the service brakes’ operational design limit.
If these specs are correct, then this camper may be too heavy for even an F350 SRW diesel. I'd visit a few dealers and/or RV shows and check the campers' cert labels.
Our F350's official payload capacity is 3912 lbs. I wouldn't consider carrying this camper on our truck.
Due to static leveraging (the tow ball hangs out four and one-half feet or more behind the rear axle), the trailer tongue weight on the rear axle may be 600-700 lbs., along with a orresponding 100-200 lbs. reduction on the front axle.
But my rear GAWR is 6340 lbs. I'm wondering what the limiting factor here is. Is it the wheels and tires?
in short, your trucks’s GCWR probably allows for towing the the weight of the truck, passengers, stuff, the camper, the boat, and the trailer (assuming the trailer has brakes). However, the truck’s official GVWR and the rear GAWR are too low for carrying your environed combo.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
Spacious hard-side light-weight truck campers appear to be rare. Our Livin’ Lite Camp Lite 6.8 works well for us (headroom, 3-way fridge, wet bath, relatively light), but it’s not spacious. My understanding is that Thor has shut down the Livin’ Lite brand.
BTW, our camper is supposed to be compatible with a half-ton pickup. Hah!
Truck Camper Magazine’s Camper Chooser might be helpful:
https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/...-truck-camper/
A pop-up camper might be an option.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
BTW, our camper is supposed to be compatible with a half-ton pickup. Hah!
Truck Camper Magazine’s Camper Chooser might be helpful:
https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/...-truck-camper/
A pop-up camper might be an option.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 107
Likes: 6
You might also look into Northstar campers.
2360 is not much to work with.
The truck will pull the weight just fine. But towing a trailer reduces the available payload even more.
Is the truck a long bed or a short bed? If it is a short bed, the camper overhang will require a hitch extension. Won't make things better.
Be wary of the official "dry" weight numbers. Actual weight, loaded, will be significantly higher.
2360 is not much to work with.
The truck will pull the weight just fine. But towing a trailer reduces the available payload even more.
Is the truck a long bed or a short bed? If it is a short bed, the camper overhang will require a hitch extension. Won't make things better.
Be wary of the official "dry" weight numbers. Actual weight, loaded, will be significantly higher.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 105
From: Casper, Wyoming
Unfortunately, a lot of people get into this same position by buying a truck first and then looking at campers, boats etc. that are entirely too big for the truck. I was one of those people an had I possessed the knowledge then that I do now, I would have gone down a different road to begin with.
I had a 2016 F250 with the 6.2 gas engine that had a payload of 2496 lbs. I went out a bought a camper that had a dry weight of about 2750 lbs and a wet weight of about 3700 lbs. I went with the dealers recommendation and trusted them.
Long story short, I traded the truck with 10,000 miles on it and less than a year old for what I have now, which is a 2017 Ford F350 with the 6.2 gas engine and a 4226 lb payload. I now have plenty of capability to "SAFELY" haul my camper and tow my ATV trailer while still being under the weight limits posted for the truck.
Could my 2016 F250 handle it? Of course it would but if I get into accident, whether my fault or not, somewhere down the road I am not willing to trust or believe the lawyers will not come after me for hauling a camper that was too heavy for the truck I was driving. Take the risk is you want to but I am just not willing to do so.
I had a 2016 F250 with the 6.2 gas engine that had a payload of 2496 lbs. I went out a bought a camper that had a dry weight of about 2750 lbs and a wet weight of about 3700 lbs. I went with the dealers recommendation and trusted them.
Long story short, I traded the truck with 10,000 miles on it and less than a year old for what I have now, which is a 2017 Ford F350 with the 6.2 gas engine and a 4226 lb payload. I now have plenty of capability to "SAFELY" haul my camper and tow my ATV trailer while still being under the weight limits posted for the truck.
Could my 2016 F250 handle it? Of course it would but if I get into accident, whether my fault or not, somewhere down the road I am not willing to trust or believe the lawyers will not come after me for hauling a camper that was too heavy for the truck I was driving. Take the risk is you want to but I am just not willing to do so.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 932
Likes: 10
From: Tampa
The difference between your F250 and a comparable F350 is the Spring Ratings. I've been around Truck Campers since the early 60's. In the last 10 yrs I've owned 4 new Lance campers. Every truck carrying a Camper will exhibit Sway. I carried a Lance 1172 on my 16' F350 & 16' F450 Dually's. I still added a Helwig BigWig Rear Sway Bar, Rancho 9000 Shocks, Air Bags and Torklift Lower Stableloads. (the 450 was Upper Stableloads) I currently have a 17' F350 SRW Truck and carry a Lance 975. I've done these same Suspension upgrades, plus a set of Nitto Tires. It drives excellent. These upgrades are pretty much the standard recipe across the board for all Pickups that carry a Truck Camper.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Fairbanks, AK
I've been down this road with an F150. Figured out after buying the truck that we really like having a slide-in camper, so we didn't mess around on upgrading and went right to the current F350 DRW and gas engine. If you want space and any luxury at all in a truck camper, while towing some other toy behind, you should seriously consider a dually.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 56
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From: Rayland,Ohio
My belief is everyone is over weight, but with suspension upgrades you can haul that camper. A hellwig swaybar and upper and lower Torklift stabile loads. A 5000lb air airbags, and Rancho adjustable schocks. Good luck sir
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 180
Likes: 8
The most important thing is that you don't overload your tires.
While that is too much camper for your truck, as greendragon says, with the proper upgrades you could haul it. In addition to the Hellwig BigWig sway bars (front and rear) and airbags you will also need a substantial increase in tire/wheel capacity. I suggest American Force Beast 19.5 wheels and 245/70R19.5 tires in whatever flavor you like.
I have a modest pop-up NorthStar TC800 (no wet bath) on a similarly equipped SRW F-350. I believe you would be fine with that setup assuming your truck has the upper overload springs that come with the camper package (I think the max tow package has this as well).
While that is too much camper for your truck, as greendragon says, with the proper upgrades you could haul it. In addition to the Hellwig BigWig sway bars (front and rear) and airbags you will also need a substantial increase in tire/wheel capacity. I suggest American Force Beast 19.5 wheels and 245/70R19.5 tires in whatever flavor you like.
I have a modest pop-up NorthStar TC800 (no wet bath) on a similarly equipped SRW F-350. I believe you would be fine with that setup assuming your truck has the upper overload springs that come with the camper package (I think the max tow package has this as well).
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