Slide in camper length
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
I've seen 9 footers on shortbed trucks before. Don't think I've seen anything longer than that. Personally, I wouldn't want anything longer than 8 foot on a short bed, but I also tow a trailer so hitch length would be an issue for me. I have an 8' camper on an 8' bed, so it works perfect for me.
A 10 foot camper in a 6 foot box would mean that almost 50% of the camper is hanging out the back of the truck! That's a scary thought....
There are campers that are made specifically for shortbed trucks. Many companies make them, including Six Pac, www.six-pac.com. They have the placement of the tanks and appliances and the rest of the camper designed to put the center of gravity farther forward than a normal longbed camper so shortbed trucks can handle them better. Might want to check out a few of those
.
A 10 foot camper in a 6 foot box would mean that almost 50% of the camper is hanging out the back of the truck! That's a scary thought....
There are campers that are made specifically for shortbed trucks. Many companies make them, including Six Pac, www.six-pac.com. They have the placement of the tanks and appliances and the rest of the camper designed to put the center of gravity farther forward than a normal longbed camper so shortbed trucks can handle them better. Might want to check out a few of those
.
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 16
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From: Pitt Meadows, B.C. Canada
Another thing with the slide ins. My friend bought a 97 150 Flareside and then went camper shopping. The width of the flareside box is the problem, I believe it is only 44" wide (might be a little bigger). The only slide in's he was able to fit were the ones made for Dodge Dakota's. As for length, the slide in should have its center of gravity clearly marked. I wouldn't put a slide in on my truck that didn't have the COG in front of the rear axle (not even over top of it).
Why didn't my friend know about the width difference ? Simple, he went for looks rather than function. Myself, we bought a used F250LD to tow our Coleman popup (3500 lbs) and then put a canopy on the box (excellent dog house and lockable cooler storage at night). I finally have a vehicle that is more than my needs as I finally figured out function over fashion results in a happier purchase.
Keith
Why didn't my friend know about the width difference ? Simple, he went for looks rather than function. Myself, we bought a used F250LD to tow our Coleman popup (3500 lbs) and then put a canopy on the box (excellent dog house and lockable cooler storage at night). I finally have a vehicle that is more than my needs as I finally figured out function over fashion results in a happier purchase.
Keith
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: North Dakota
caoman,
Now is your F250 a Super Duty or the light duty? The super duty bed is 6.75' long so with 9ft camper you olny have 2.25ft hanging out. the CG is important but one way to think about it is its kinda like driving with a load of 10ft 2x4's hanging out the back. I would recomend a good Tie Down sytem like the tork lift system but you will have to change the tie down point on the camper. Also some E rated tires would be nice although I only have D's and Have yet to have a problem. You can also get a hitch extention but there again there are special hitches to acomidate the extra length/weight issue (Superhitch). When extending a receiver by 2 ft you create a long candleaver which puts some serious stress on the receiver itself. Its kinda like using a long cheater/breaker bar on a wrench. also depending on how heavy the camper is I would also recomened a set of air bags or timbrin load leveling springs. with the extra weight hanging out they tend to pull the bed down quite abit. Good Luck.
Now is your F250 a Super Duty or the light duty? The super duty bed is 6.75' long so with 9ft camper you olny have 2.25ft hanging out. the CG is important but one way to think about it is its kinda like driving with a load of 10ft 2x4's hanging out the back. I would recomend a good Tie Down sytem like the tork lift system but you will have to change the tie down point on the camper. Also some E rated tires would be nice although I only have D's and Have yet to have a problem. You can also get a hitch extention but there again there are special hitches to acomidate the extra length/weight issue (Superhitch). When extending a receiver by 2 ft you create a long candleaver which puts some serious stress on the receiver itself. Its kinda like using a long cheater/breaker bar on a wrench. also depending on how heavy the camper is I would also recomened a set of air bags or timbrin load leveling springs. with the extra weight hanging out they tend to pull the bed down quite abit. Good Luck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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I think you have to worry about how much of the weight is behind the rear wheels, rather than how far it sticks out from the bed. The rear axle will become the fulcrum and if more weight of the slide-in is behind the rear wheels, it will lift the front end up, causing handling problems..
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,708
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From: North Dakota
It would have to lift quite a bit to cause any major problems, A 10ftr might do it but I know a 9ftr won't. My front axle weight is 4020lbs and the rear axle weight is 3000lbs, this is unloaded of course. you have to figure the overhang and that will help add to the front even though the back will act like a candleaver counteracting whaterver the overhang is doing. I think the best thing to do is to put that camper on and then run it over a scale and make sure the axle weights are some what balenced. then take it on a little test drive and check the handleing (of course no where near anything or anybody). Also watch carefully how you load you're coolers and gear in the camper.
Last edited by SLE; May 6, 2005 at 04:12 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Snohomish, Washington
The COG for every Superduty is in the owners manual/paperwork or the Ford dealer can tell you what it is. I would not put a 10 ft camper on a short bed truck unless the COG is within Ford specifications. Every camper has a different COG so one 10 ft camper may work while another one won't. My buddy put a 9 ft 10" camper in his shortbed Dodge and it is just fine. By now though you have already figured that out.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Wayland, MI
You would take to much weight off of the front end, this would also give you unsafe steering and braking. I would highly recommend not doing this. A 9 foot camper is the largest you are able to safely put in the bed of your truck.
If you are still wanting the 10 foot camper, go first and look at the differences in the floor plans you will find that the extra 12" won't gain you that much.
Toyman
If you are still wanting the 10 foot camper, go first and look at the differences in the floor plans you will find that the extra 12" won't gain you that much.
Toyman
Last edited by Toyman; Sep 19, 2005 at 08:21 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Snohomish, Washington
Toyman, I disagree in bedsize, bathroom, accessories and of course storage. I have an 11.5 and the dinette bed is long enough for a 6'+person to sleep comfortably. the 9' 10" one my friend has will not do that. Also I have to have his door open to use the bathroom with one leg out the door and in mine I am fine in addition to my on board generator which was not possible due to the fact if he ever wanted to put it on a long bed it wouldn't fit. I am not saying that you need those things but I did due to where we camp up in the mountains.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 327
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From: Columbia, MO
caoman, you really need to look at what your weight ratings are. Many 10ft campers will put you over your GVWR by the time you get all your gear, water, etc loaded into your camper. Also as jasfaa said be sure to check where the center or gravity is on any camper you buy to be sure that it will be infront of the rear wheels. (The 10 footers and up go real well on DRW LWB F-350's) 
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