I have a sweet 1098 Lance 195 truck camper, dry weight is almost 2600 lb. and will need a pickup with at least 3500 lb payload and 8ft bed. On top of that I want a supercab (NOT crew), 4X4 and am trying to stay in the $10,000 range. It appears it may be possible to do some modifications to the F-250 to get to that payload, like tires and rims, and suspension add ons, but I guess it would be more simple just to limit my search to the F-350. So far it seems that the '99-'03 models might be in the price range I need. The 8 ft bed has been a tough find, but this camper hangs down off the end of an 8ft bed, so it doesn't seem like a 63/4 would do it. I have been an F-150 guy for many years, but moved into town and have not had a truck for 7 years. I am not going RVing full time for at least the next two years, but if I get the bug, I will be retired then and it could happen. I am mechanically inclined and have done nearly every type or repair including complete engine rebuilds (4 cylinders), clutch replacements, brakes, suspensions, rear ends,manifolds etc. mostly on my back in the gravel :-). I would really appreciate suggestions and insights. Thanks, Barham56

 

There's nothing you can do to increase the payload apart from removing weight from the vehicle. Anything you add, air bags, assist springs etc, will help to level the truck but actually decreases the payload which is a finite number that's on your door sticker.
The difference between that number & what your truck actually weighs with you, your stuff & fuel is what's left for payload.

 

You can do a lot to increase payload capacity, and how well the truck handles the weight. It is just that DOT does not see anything bit the oem sticker. :-(

 

Ideally it sounds like a dually 350 would be the way to go. It will be nore stable with the weight and height of that unit, especially in turns, and high cross winds

 

Theoretically there are a number of DRW Superduties with that kind of payload but you should weigh anything before buying, I was surprised to find my factory specified 2,930 lbs of payload has shrunk to about 1,700 after adding a camper shell and kit, bigger wheel/tires, on board air and whatever else I have added over the years. Throw in 2 adults, a full tank of fuel and some luggage and I only have about 1K of payload left. It goes quick. I would not even think about hauling that camper with a SRW.

 

You would be surprised what you can manage in a srw, not thay dot see it as legal, but in reality 2,600 pounds is really not that much weight to haul around. I do wayyy more then that all the time, like daily.

For instance, (not recommended for distance driving) 2000 F250 srw utility bed about 9,000 lbs, has 9 rear leaf springs and airbags, 3hd front springs. Plow is 1,200lbs spreader is 800lbs, I am about to load 6,000+lbs of wet 1b stone into the spreader. That puts me at least at 17,000. It does this daily sometimes running 20hrs+ straight. (Yes I need a 550)
In the summer an extended height enclosure with 12' long ladder racks goes on, a bed slide goes in and loaded with tools. That puts me at a minumum of 10,500lbs every day, then I tow an 8k+ enclosed job trailer or a dump that when loaded gets up to 12k. 290,000 miles, zero issues from the weight.
The 1999 f350 srw has hauled the 12k camper for 19years, no issue from king pin weight, amd it is getting an auxilary fuel tank soon.

 

a 2,600 lb camper dry will easily go to 3,500 when loaded for a trip and it is high profile to boot. I once hauled an 11.5 foot Lance with a SRW extended cab 2WD truck 2 adults and 4 kids and it was doable yes but not too stable, had to keep it under 60 and the wind and passing trucks pushed it around pretty good. I wouldn't do it again.

 

I agree, not ideal. Airbags directly over rear leaf springs and hellwig hd sway bars make that type of load a lot more stable. But if no truck owned yet, a dually is the most ideal to shop for. I wanted a dually, was looking at a sweet one for $19k, but when I saw (and got) the 74,000 miles centurion f350 AND the 5th wheel together for $16k last year, my desire for a dually went out the window :-)

 

As mentioned above airbags and a rear sway bar help a lot with a load like that. Pulling a 5er the load is low on the bed, but with a camper the center of gravity is much higher. I've done both with different trucks/campers. With those mods I believe a F350 would handle great. Put stiffer springs in the F250 and it would be fine too. There is really not much difference between a F250 and a F350.

These old 7.3 trucks are fairly easy to work on, parts are readily available, and plenty of help and info is here on this forum. The learning curve can be steep at first gas vs diesel. But if this is your first diesel that's a good thing because the 7.3 is a bit weird. The scary part is they are different. The great part is they are simple once you get your head around it.

Show us some listings you are looking at and we can help you pick a good'un.

 

Sure appreciate all the help. These are hard to come by for sure. I did find this though:


 

Big +1 to the bit about how quickly that payload number gets eaten up and how much these trucks can actually handle. It’s a bit of a shame they’re rated what they are. There’s 25+ year olds compact cars that can hold the amount of weight my truck can, configured the way it is.

I have an old Ranch Hand Legend bumper, 33” tires, a gooseneck in the bed, and that’s it other than some personal effects in the cab... and with 200 lbs me sitting in it I tip the scales at just over 8000 lbs. Door tag says 8800 lbs GVW, and an F350 wouldn’t be all that much better considering how much they’re supposed to handle, never mind what they can actually reasonably and safely handle in normal day to day use.

 

Like ESwift said, my 00 f250 5.4 2wd single cab with utility bed weights in at 11k when fully loaded.
Can the truck take it? Yup
is it legal to do it? Not according to DOT.
In your case a Dually will suit your needs best.