I have a couple questions about my 2008 250 SD and camper hauling, and I am sure the brain trust here can help me. First, the truck did not come stock with the Ford "camper package", and the glovebox certificate says my truck is not recommended for carrying slide in truck campers. Because I have a "pop-up" truck camper with a dry weight of less than a 1000 lbs. and because I used to use a 1984 F150 to haul it around, I'm pretty sure my 9200 GVWR 250 can handle the weight - Am I missing something here? What does the camper package consist of, and should I be adding anything like a sway bar?

Second, when I have the camper aboard (not till spring) should I be using "tow/haul" mode all the time?

Thanks in advance for some answers.

 

I sure you will be just fine hauling your pop-up slide in in your '08. As for using the tow/haul mode, I only use it when I encounter hilly or mountain roads while towing my trailer (sig). I find that on relatively flat roads, my SD seems to shift normally through the gears when under a load.

 

Camper package includes: HD Front springs (1 up), Rear stabilizer bar, Slide-in camper certification, and rear auxiliary springs. That's from the order guide. I don't think that you will have any trouble, though, with your camper from the weight you described. As you said, though, you may want to think about adding a stabilizer bar if you notice a lot of sway, etc. If the weight starts to squat the truck too much, you could easily add auxiliary springs such as Super Springs or equivalent.

As far as the tow/haul mode goes, try it both ways and see how your tranny reacts with the weight on board. I've used the T/H both loaded and unloaded and it won't hurt anything to use it.

 

My camper is almost 5,000 lbs fully loaded, and I have Firestone airbags, Bilstein shocks and Tork overload bumpers. I have a very high center of gravity (camper has a 'basement' and cabover, and the camper package helps with stability, along with the dually wheels. I only use tow haul for going down hills, and would use it if it starting hunting gears going up hills, but with a diesel that hasn't happened yet.