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Hi guys
I bought a 2022 F-350 7.3 CCSB about 6 months ago with the intention of pulling a 5th wheel. Lately I have been looking at some slide in campers. My questions are
1. Is this still possible since I didn’t order the camper package .
2 I am running the factory 20 in wheels, does this affect me too.
3. I know it wouldn’t have Fords certification or could you get one if you upgraded parts?
Can I still use a slide in in this truck and if so what upgrades would I need to do yet.
And I do know that I am or would be limited to lighter and smaller campers, my payload is 3900 pounds.
Really liking the Lance 855s
Thank you for any replies that you may have. Worst case scenario is I just keep my 5th wheel plans
I had a Northern Lite 8.11 SE on the truck in my signature for 5 years until I sold it last year. Fully loaded and wet my camper weighed between 3600-3800 lbs. My truck hauled it beautifully. I loved that camper and so did my wife but after having a hard side camper, I really felt limited as to where I could take it. I do a lot of hunting, fishing etc. and there are a lot of places I go that I could just not get to with the hard side camper.
Ideally, I would like to get a 4 Wheel Camper or a Hallmark as my next one and then I would leave it on full time and never take it off. A pop up and a 5th wheel are miles apart in comfort and amenities and if your wife is like mine, you will probably be getting a 5th wheel.
Just some food for thought as it is something I am looking at doing. A 4 Wheel camper does not extend past the end of your bed. So, you could easily get a pop up and then pull a 25-30 foot camper at the same time with your truck without any problems. You would satisfy your wife as well as yourself. Just something to think about.
Hi guys
I bought a 2022 F-350 7.3 CCSB about 6 months ago with the intention of pulling a 5th wheel. Lately I have been looking at some slide in campers. My questions are
1. Is this still possible since I didn’t order the camper package .
2 I am running the factory 20 in wheels, does this affect me too.
3. I know it wouldn’t have Fords certification or could you get one if you upgraded parts?
Can I still use a slide in in this truck and if so what upgrades would I need to do yet.
And I do know that I am or would be limited to lighter and smaller campers, my payload is 3900 pounds.
Really liking the Lance 855s
Thank you for any replies that you may have. Worst case scenario is I just keep my 5th wheel plans
Been down that road, same truck, same color, same wheels, but I did have the 6.7 diesel. I too went from 5th wheel to slide in.
Your expected payload is 3900 lbs. My experience with TCs x2 over almost 20 years is that you load out weight (me + wife+ will add about 800 lbs of travel load taking you out to 4700 lbs +/-.
To get my F 350 SRW to handle that I did this:
Heavy Duty Rear sway bar. YOU NEED THIS!!!!!!
F 350 OEM Rear sway bar Vs Hellwig Big Wig YOU NEED THIS!!!!!!
Rear Stable Loads, UPPERS ONLY! NO AIRBAGS!!!!! It's RARE you would ever NEED AIrbags, they do not solve a problem they create one. Just ask me, I have run them.
That 7.3 gasser will do the job, diesel better but 7.3 will work
OK, some asked, what is the problem with Air Bags?
OK. Don't have run them and I will recommend them to certain clients, such as: F 350 SRW, pulling a 43 ft horse trailer. This was a horse trailer outfitted for Horse shows. Meaning it had a 300 gallon water storage tank. It was located on the passenger side and forward. Weight when full and traveling: 2,502 lbs on the passenger side. Think that F 350 had a ghetto lean? BET ON IT. Air Bags to the rescue. Air Bags address LATERAL leans. GOT IT?
What impact do air bags have on a vehicle? To find the answer we look at the install. Bottom of bag is on the rear axle outer sides. Top of air bags are on the bottom of the frame...dwell upon this for a moment.
The result is air bags LIFT the frame, which transfers weight FORWARD to the FRONT axle whcih is already loaded down from CoG forward and the front axle weight is somewhat static Vs the rear axle which is your drive axle and carries the most weight. My 450 has the Snow plow option and it a up spring rate at 6000 lbs max.
Front axle loading based upon configuration. Note how it goes down as my Paylad (TC @5990 lb) and TC + Trailer. Add in pumped up Air Bags to give you that smooth ride and might yourself with over weight front axle, causing braking issues, especially on F 250/350 with its smaller brakes vs the F 450 brakes. Handling issues, lane changing issues at hwy speeds.
Before you add bags get some CAT scale numbers!
Truck (F 450 King Ranch), Me 175 lbs and 46 gallons of diesel and TC Host Mammoth loaded
Plus, in my experience, air bags remove weight from the steel springs and suspends the weight on "balloons" (yes, I know there's much more to it than that). For me, I prefer the stability of the steel springs. Much less body roll and much more stable ride.
Plus, in my experience, air bags remove weight from the steel springs and suspends the weight on "balloons" (yes, I know there's much more to it than that). For me, I prefer the stability of the steel springs. Much less body roll and much more stable ride.
There is a place and a time and if the shoe fits they wear it, but my ex with pulling trailier etcl loaded with horses and hay and you name it is Air Bags are only needed under lateral leveling otherwise you are just fooled by a feeling...
There is a place and a time and if the shoe fits they wear it, but my ex with pulling trailier etcl loaded with horses and hay and you name it is Air Bags are only needed under lateral leveling otherwise you are just fooled by a feeling...
I do have the AirLift bags sitting in a box to install ,lol I have used them in the past and I was planning on installing when I used the 35ft 5th wheel.
Hi guys
I bought a 2022 F-350 7.3 CCSB about 6 months ago with the intention of pulling a 5th wheel. Lately I have been looking at some slide in campers. My questions are
1. Is this still possible since I didn’t order the camper package .
You can still do a slide in without the camper package. Hellwig big wig anti sway bar and in bed 7 way connector would be a good modification for truck camper or 5th wheel.
2 I am running the factory 20 in wheels, does this affect me too.
The 20”wheels generally have less weight ratings than some other sizes. I see guys use them all the time. Best to know what the wheel and tire weight ratings are. The wheels used to have a weight rating inside the wheel after the tire is removed. Maybe someone here could let you know the weight ratings for the 20”.
3. I know it wouldn’t have Fords certification or could you get one if you upgraded parts?
I do not think so. I know mine is truck camper ready weather Ford gave me one or not.
Can I still use a slide in in this truck and if so what upgrades would I need to do yet.
Truck camper tie down system, frame mount with a connector like Torklift Fast Guns. Tires that have weight ratings to handle the truck and camper. My stock 18” tires are rated over 3,700 pounds each.
And I do know that I am or would be limited to lighter and smaller campers, my payload is 3900 pounds.
Really liking the Lance 855s
The Lance 855s is a nice camper and heavy. Even a 5th wheel will test the trucks ability for SRW depending on size and weight. Maybe you could test drive one or ride with someone to see how it feels.
Thank you for any replies that you may have. Worst case scenario is I just keep my 5th wheel plans
With tie downs and all your stuff will put it over 4,000.
I have been running ride rite air bags and hellwig sway bars since 2016 , I covered 45 us states all of Canada, Baja and main land Mexico. The camper weights in at about 3000 Lbs. fully loaded for a 6 month trip. I have about 200000 miles on 2 trucks and have had no problems
Seems to me the camper package offers little more than a factory rear sway-bar and slightly upgraded front springs. The big-wig posted above looks like a must if your truck lacks a sway bar. A camper load sits with its load almost entirely (if not more) on the rear axle, so the front spring upgrade seems of little or no value. And with the short bed, your centre of gravity may end up slightly behind your rear axle, taking some load off the front axle. I suggest you scale your rear axle to see exactly how much capacity you have, since your stated payload includes both front and rear capacity.
Perhaps the 2024 order sheet will help the OP with what happens to the factory build for the camper certification. I've grabbed 3 cuts from the order guide shown below.
