Camper in my 83 F150 4x4
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Elmma, WA, USA
Camper in my 83 F150 4x4
Can my 1983 F150 4x4 w/8ft bed handle an old camper? It has a 300 I6 with a NP435. I do not know how much the camper weighs.
If so, what do I need to do in order to make it safe?
Robert
If so, what do I need to do in order to make it safe?
Robert
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
PRobably more weight than a 150 should carry, helper springs, air shocks... would help but the rear axle might be overloaded. Do you have any pics of the camper? Maybe someone could guesstimate the weight.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 509
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From: Casper, Wyoming
I've had several campers in my '84 with a 6 cylinder for years. It's not fast uphill, but it carries it okay. I've installed Firestone air bags and they're a big help. It sways in the wind, and it's a little tippy, but I've learned to live with it.
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From: Virginia
The engine and the tranny are not the problem. It's the soft springs and rear axle rating. They do make slide in campers for f150's, but they stop even with the tailgate, and they are lightweight with not many creature comforts inside. That being said, I have a slide in that is short, but still very heavy. It has a full kitchen and bathroom/shower with a large holding tank, and it taxes my f250.
You can beef up the springs to help it out, but the tires and the axle may not like it.
One of the full featured campers that requires the tailgate be removed(long ones) require a f250 or 350.
You can beef up the springs to help it out, but the tires and the axle may not like it.
One of the full featured campers that requires the tailgate be removed(long ones) require a f250 or 350.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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The engine and the tranny are not the problem. It's the soft springs and rear axle rating. They do make slide in campers for f150's, but they stop even with the tailgate, and they are lightweight with not many creature comforts inside. That being said, I have a slide in that is short, but still very heavy. It has a full kitchen and bathroom/shower with a large holding tank, and it taxes my f250.
You can beef up the springs to help it out, but the tires and the axle may not like it.
One of the full featured campers that requires the tailgate be removed(long ones) require a f250 or 350.
You can beef up the springs to help it out, but the tires and the axle may not like it.
One of the full featured campers that requires the tailgate be removed(long ones) require a f250 or 350.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
The engine and the tranny are not the problem. It's the soft springs and rear axle rating. They do make slide in campers for f150's, but they stop even with the tailgate, and they are lightweight with not many creature comforts inside. That being said, I have a slide in that is short, but still very heavy. It has a full kitchen and bathroom/shower with a large holding tank, and it taxes my f250.
You can beef up the springs to help it out, but the tires and the axle may not like it.
One of the full featured campers that requires the tailgate be removed(long ones) require a f250 or 350.
You can beef up the springs to help it out, but the tires and the axle may not like it.
One of the full featured campers that requires the tailgate be removed(long ones) require a f250 or 350.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
If you want to carefully put one of these campers on a f150 and run it about a max of about a hour trip, I guess you could do it. I went for a 2000 mile trip, and when I first tested the camper before I left home, it sagged the rearend of my f250 too much. So I installed helper springs to level it back up and stiffen the ride to get rid of some of the sway. But I should have installed a sway bar. Interstates are fine, but when you get on a narrower two lane road that has dips in the pavement near the edge, it really wallows around and you have to fight it a little bit.
And I also found out the tie downs to hold it to the truck really need to go down to the frame. I had pretty beefy brackets that bolted to the stake pockets, and then used turn-buckels to tighten the camper to the truck, but about halfway through the trip I was leaving a parking lot with a dip at the entryway, and it pulled the bracket completely out of the stake pocket.
The camper I have has a queen size bed over the cab of the truck.
And I also found out the tie downs to hold it to the truck really need to go down to the frame. I had pretty beefy brackets that bolted to the stake pockets, and then used turn-buckels to tighten the camper to the truck, but about halfway through the trip I was leaving a parking lot with a dip at the entryway, and it pulled the bracket completely out of the stake pocket.
The camper I have has a queen size bed over the cab of the truck.
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Elmma, WA, USA
The camper is a "Travel Queen" made in Riverside, CA. I cannot find anything on the Internet about them so they must be gone. It has a "full" size bed over the cab and the floor is 10 ft long. It is the normal wood and sheet aluminum construction.
I will end up doing some work on it as the first foot of the floor is rotted out in the back where the door is. The PO left it sitting on the ground for many years. The end wall will also need to be worked on as the bottom is attached to the floor and will have rot. There is NO mold or mildew. The inside is very nice. No leaks in the rest of the thing. The price was right
I redid a popup camper two years ago so I have some experience in removing and rebuilding these things.
I will end up doing some work on it as the first foot of the floor is rotted out in the back where the door is. The PO left it sitting on the ground for many years. The end wall will also need to be worked on as the bottom is attached to the floor and will have rot. There is NO mold or mildew. The inside is very nice. No leaks in the rest of the thing. The price was right
I redid a popup camper two years ago so I have some experience in removing and rebuilding these things.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 509
Likes: 4
From: Casper, Wyoming
The camper is a "Travel Queen" made in Riverside, CA. I cannot find anything on the Internet about them so they must be gone. It has a "full" size bed over the cab and the floor is 10 ft long. It is the normal wood and sheet aluminum construction.
I will end up doing some work on it as the first foot of the floor is rotted out in the back where the door is. The PO left it sitting on the ground for many years. The end wall will also need to be worked on as the bottom is attached to the floor and will have rot. There is NO mold or mildew. The inside is very nice. No leaks in the rest of the thing. The price was right
I redid a popup camper two years ago so I have some experience in removing and rebuilding these things.
I will end up doing some work on it as the first foot of the floor is rotted out in the back where the door is. The PO left it sitting on the ground for many years. The end wall will also need to be worked on as the bottom is attached to the floor and will have rot. There is NO mold or mildew. The inside is very nice. No leaks in the rest of the thing. The price was right
I redid a popup camper two years ago so I have some experience in removing and rebuilding these things.
Frank
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
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From: Lost
I agree. These things are just too much weight for the rear axle. Even if you beef up the springs, the axle won't hold up long, and you'll have issues with brakes that don't want to stop you very well.
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 32
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From: Elmma, WA, USA
Thanks for the advise.
I guess I'm going to either get a bigger truck or smaller camper.
I love the truck so it's going to be a smaller camper. Maybe I'll cut this one up and make one that fits. Bare bones kind of thing.
I guess I'm going to either get a bigger truck or smaller camper.
I love the truck so it's going to be a smaller camper. Maybe I'll cut this one up and make one that fits. Bare bones kind of thing.