I've been wondering about this '77 F250 I bought: It has two tanks, is set up for second battery, has trailer wiring and brake controller, and has an electrical connector for a camper dangling into the front corner of the bed. It has that handy toolbox on the outside right front of the bed; I know that was common to many Camper Specials.

It was described to me as a Camper Special. But I couldn't get over the door VIN label saying 6800 GVWR. Assuming that door has not been replaced, the VIN decoder says it left the factory with a 351M and 06800 GVWR. I'd have expected more like 8600 for a Camper Special. And I noticed it says F250 Custom on the sides of the cab, between door and hood. Looking closer, I believe the solenoid that picks up the second battery is an aftermarket installation; certainly the present wiring for that solenoid is a home job.

I can't see any writing on the alternator, but to my eye its frame size is very similar to standard Delco of the late 60's and early 70's. I'd expect a Camper Special to have a BIG alternator. The radiator looks like a pretty big heavy duty job, but it also looks much younger than the truck. And since the truck had A/C (presently no belt, and the bearing is shot on the idler -- no idea on condition of the rest of that system), a large radiator would be expected. The Draw-Tite 10,000 lb. rated receiver on the back (part # 41002) is obviously a comparatively recent addition.

Given what I've described above, is it likely this was a very basic 3/4 ton Ford, and a former owner modified it for camper and trailer use?

Is that handy external toobox on the right front outside of the bed simply an option, and not something unique to Camper Specials?

BTW, my old high school bro. who is a Ford nut, is already offering me a 429/460 engine. He says the 351M/400 engine is a POS, and I should toss it. But right now, it runs. And money is tight. So if it ain't broke, I ain't gonna fix it.

Lane

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...amper+special+

This might get you started. Several guys know more about these than me, but for what it's worth: my '79 CS has the electrical connector on the left wheelwell; GVW 7700 lbs; Ranger trim package; 460, C-6, 3.54 Dana 60. Dual tanks were common on Ford trucks. Nothing wrong with 351M/400 engines although I think the 400 pulls better than the 351.

 

Thanks. At this point, I'm pretty sure mine is NOT a Camper Special. The guy who sold it to me was pointing out things like the dual battery setup and the little anchors in front of the windshield corners where camper sway controls tied on. But it looks like this was all done by a former owner.

Oh well, it's all interesting. And it's a perfectly good truck, whatever model it is.

Lane

 

If it were really a camper special, the enormous disc brakes in the front would put you through the windsheild if you hit them hard when running empty.

 

[Originally Posted by Lane Dexter]
Oh well, it's all interesting. And it's a perfectly good truck, whatever model it is.

Amen to that, man. If there's an F in front of the numbers, it's a good'n.

 

LOL! I suppose you'd think me REALLY old if I told you we used to have an F-6 on the farm. When Dad bought the 1948 F-6, it had an 18 foot mobile shop on it. Though the shop was for a logging company, it had been fabricated in Boeing's Renton Washington plant. The frame of the F-6 had been lengthened 38 inches in the middle, and the rear extended a bit. I helped Dad build a 16 foot stock bed, and that F-6 with its vacuum two speed axle and flathead 6 hauled horses for our packer and guide service for years.

And my sister dated a guy who was hotrodding his F-1.

But I guess you're right: If it has an F in front of it......

Lane

 

Funny you'd say that. I hadn't thought about it because I've always driven half-tons, but one thing I noticed with my F-250 is that it brakes harder. When you have to sit it down kinda hard (like, some cloghead pulls out in front of you in traffic) the rear end will almost hop around. I figured either a rear brake is sticking, or maybe it's just because a 3/4-ton has a lot heavier brakes than the 1/2-tons I've had before. Do C/S have heavier brakes than regular 3/4-ton pickups?

 

[Originally Posted by Lane Dexter]
LOL! I suppose you'd think me REALLY old if I told you we used to have an F-6 on the farm.
And my sister dated a guy who was hotrodding his F-1.

But I guess you're right: If it has an F in front of it......

I'm thinkin' that maybe the F-0 was used by Alexander the Great during his conquests . . . but only cuz the chariots were being serviced.

 

I have a 73 Camper Special. Was servicing rear brakes once and needed wheel cylinder kits. Turns out, my cylinders had a 1-inch bore, which the parts book indicated was for the F-350. So, it uses brakes designed for the 1-ton. Don't recall the shoe width, however.

The front brakes, which perform about 70% of the braking, have the big ol' dual-piston calipers. The truck will stop quickly . . .

 

Two sets of rear brake kits,one for 6400lbs and one for 7800 lbs(I think these numbers are right).Look at the tag at the driver's door sill.Same for the front brake hose.I went through this doing my brakes on my 79 T/S.Big a## brakes..............