HI,
I have a 2001 SD 250 4x4 SC with the 5.4 .I am thinking about buying a new aritic fox truck camper that weighs 3300lbs with options. The sales person says my truck will handle it fine. It sounds a little heavy to me. It wil be used for long hauls. Does anybody have any information on load carrying capacity? I can`t seem to find anyplace to weigh my truck. The GRVW IS 8800lbs. If anybody has weighed a simler truck I would like to know what it weighed.
Thanks pwb.

 

The question of if your truck can handle it is really an opinion question but I will say that you will be over the rated payload of the truck. Super duty trucks weigh in the 6000+ range all depending on models and equipment. The payload of a 250 4x4 SC will be in the 2600-2800 range depending on the wheelbase. And when considering payload you must look at any non-standard features on the truck, people in the truck, and other cargo inside. Hope this helps.

 

That is a little heavy. Look into an F350. I'm not sure the payload for a single rear wheel F350 is even that high. The engine can certainly handle the weight, but the springs can't.

 

My Super Duty GVWR 8800lbs is a F250 Crew Cab with V10 Automatic. The weight is as follows:

Dry Weight 6016 lbs.
6.8L engine 188 lbs
AC 41 lbs
Xlt w\rboards 93 lbs
Off Rd Pckg 68 lbs
Spare Tire 117 lbs
Pwr Windows 18 lbs
Hitch Receiver 49 lbs
Sub Total 6665 lbs

Added Topper 175 lbs
Tool Box 80 lbs.
Total weight 6920 lbs.

Now I need to put gas in it.
Not much left is there.

Might want to think F350
Cheers.

 

heck my truck is just over 7600 pounds by itself, 9900 pound limit I can only haul 2300 pounds. with my empty trailer I am 300 lbs over weight. Go F450-550

Justin
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=9313&.jpg
http://66.179.41.42/gen1/build/realgeneral.jpg

2002 F-350 SC LB 4X4 6SPD PSD. 3.73 gears. 2.5" leviling kit. K&N air filter. Rhino lined Bed. Prodigy trailer brake controler. 35x12.5x16.5 BFG A/T. 16.5x10 ultra wheels. pop up gooseneck hitch and firestone airbag spring helpers. Reese fifth wheel hitch for my new toy hauler

 

The camper you have choosen is a tad heavy for a 3/4 ton truck the truck probably could handle 3300 pounds if the load was low and below the box rails but with campers your pretty top heavy. I would consider a smaller camper or get a F-350 truck with some larger power that would be another concern you truck may be a bit underpowered.

The biggest thing is tobe close to legal as possible the truck you have could fit the bill if you beef the suspension up a bit but your not legal.

 

Here's how you can tell if a salesperson is lying; if his lips are moving. They always tell you you can carry what every they are selling. Here's a post I made last year that addresses your question (as you can see, that camper even overloads a F350 dually truck):

I just got back from a hunting trip with my fully optioned out 1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11’10” camper loaded on my 2000 F350 CC 4x4 V10 Lariat 4R100 4.30gear dually pickup. I had the Rancho RS9000 shocks set at 3 on the front and 5 on the rear. My Firestone Ride-rite air bags were pumped up to 70 psi. Also installed on the truck is Torklift frame mounted tie-downs, a Superhitch on the rear and a class 4 hitch on the front.

I came across a weigh station that was closed, so I pulled in. They had all the windows closed off with wooden shutters, but they left the window in the door uncovered and the scale on. So here’s the weights with full fuel and me standing next to the truck:
Left rear 3790
Right rear 3670
Axle total 7460

Left front 2100
Right front 2080
Axle total 4180

Total GVW adds up to 11640, which is a little over Fords recommended 11200 lbs. My front GAWR is 4800 and my rear GAWR is 8250. Not exceeding those. I was curious about individual wheel weights to make sure my weight was evenly distributed. Looks good there also.

After I got home and unloaded the camper, I stopped by the local garbage transfer station. They’ll verbally call out your weight for free if you’re not dumping garbage. Here are the empty truck weights (with me in it, tailgate removed and full fuel):
Front axle 4240
Rear axle 3300

So my total empty weight is 7540 (or 7370 with no driver).

Doing the math tells me that the camper weighs 4270. I didn’t have much stuff along for a long weekend hunt, so the camper weight will go up when the wife and kid are along for a 2-week trip. I’ve never weighed the camper without any gear in it, but the claimed wet weight on the label attached to the side of the camper is 3277. The Western RV ( www.wrv.com ) brochure shows 2900 dry weight for my unit.


Harald

2000 F350 4x4 CC DRW V10 4.30ls Lariat LWB.
Firestone Ride-rite airbags, Rancho RS9000 shocks and Torklift Superhitch.
1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11'10" camper held on by Torklift tie downs.
Remove I_HATE_SPAM_ from email address to email me.

 

I had a 77 F350 Supercab 2wd with a 460 auto and I carried a 13' Huntsman slide in camper and it maxed the truck out and when I encountered a strong cross wind it would get downright scary. The truck definately needed dual rear wheels to help with the stabalization.

 

You can look up the rating at [http://www.fleet.ford.com/ford_links.asp] check out the comercial truck link and look for towing guide on left of screen.
The slide-in camper rating from Ford for the 2002 SD 250 4x4 SC 5.4, 158" WB, With camper package, is = 1712 Lbs. Seems very conservative on Fords part. Remember it's pretty easy to get 500-1000Lbs of stuff in the Camper.

 

My guess is your truck (if 2wd) will weigh about 6000 lbs.(with you in it and gas). This will leave you with a legal load carrying capacity of 2800 lbs. Your camper at 3300 is 500 lbs over, plus any gear you add to it.

Your 250 will easily become a 350 (except legally) by making sure it has a "camper package" which includes a sway bar, overload leaf, and 265 (3415 lb single rear) tires (get the best tires made!). I'm NOT suggesting that you ignore the "legality", just discussing your options. If you were to add load leveling air bags, a rubber bed mat, and Rancho 9000 shocks, you would be amazed how well that truck will haul that camper.

Others may disagree, and Harald is VERY smart about what he knows, but it WILL drive well if you don't overload the "junk" into your camper like most do. Heck, I don't even add WATER in mine until I get where I'm going to keep the weight down. Most of my "Junk" goes in the "supercab" to distribute the weight evenly.

It is better to be safe than sorry, so you might look at a smaller camper, but I've seen a million 3/4 tons out there running more weight than I do on my 350...it just doesn't mean they're right, only they're doing it.:7

 

On my move to Alaska I had a tall Leer fiberglass camper shell, 14 guns, ammo, tv's, 3 motorcycles, luggage, etc. I weighed my truck, it was 9700 lbs.....900 lbs over wt. I drove from S. Cal to Alaska with no problems. I do have the camper package with rear sway bar and extra leaf's. The leafs were bent and the helper spring on top was engaged, but the V10 drove like a champ, No Problemo. I try not to overload the truck too much unless I have to though. Good luck with the camper decision.

Tony in Alaska

 

I have driven a F250 single rear wheel with a 3400 lb slide in camper called the "Bigfoot". I took it from CT to FL then up to North Dakota and back to CT. We were way over weight but the truck has no problems. Obviously a F350 camper package dually is best, the 250 can do it. I would not run it down the highway at 70 if there was a heavy cross wind. I ran stock shocks, but did install Timbrens. (spelling?) In my book, this is a better alternative to expensive airbags.
stonecrusher

 

 

Thank you all very much for the advice. I found a new Lance 820 with a wet weight of 2,775. I bought it and installed air bags. It seems to handle it just fine. I figure if I travel with a partial load of water and watch the extra gear I should be ok. Plan to add some stiffer shocks at some point. The truck has a front sway bar, would a rear bar be of any help? Thanks again.

pwb

 

The rear sway bar is an excellent investment. You will notice the difference in cross winds and winding roads. There are accessory ones available. I think NoMo had one (before he went to the dark side ) on his Ford that was made by Helwig?
Also, the Rancho shocks will REALLY improve the ride...give 'em a try