Steve_in_29
29 Palms (SEMPER FI), CA 92277
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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nny12972 wrote:Steve....do you have the plow-prep package on your 350? If so, how does that ride w/o the TC?
J I have had the snow plow prep on both my 06 and current 07 trucks. I am not sure what you get with it now besides the springs but on mine it included a higher amp alternator (I believe it is standard on all trucks now), a more aggressive programming on the engine fan clutch (helps keep things cooler when hauling a load) and the higher rate springs. The springs help prevent the front end from bottoming out as easily when hitting pothole (etc) at speed.
My truck is a daily driver and while it can be harsh running empty on crappy roads (like the 10 going through Banning) it isn't that noticeable otherwise. Any truck that is capable of hauling a REAL load isn't going to ride like a car. If you are that worried about the ride you could leave about 500lbs of stuff in the bed to give the suspension something to work against which would really smooth the ride out and the truck wouldn't even know its there (at least with the diesel).
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold
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Steve_in_29
29 Palms (SEMPER FI), CA 92277
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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ygur wrote:...We test drove a 2011 F350 last night and it's a nice truck. The only concern I had is that on concrete slab highway the truck was bouncing up and down like crazy. Since most of the time I plan to use it as daily driver empty I am worried about such ride quality.
Is the F250 with the camper package a little smoother? Probably not by much since the camper package gives heavier duty rear springs. The current F250 is basically what the F350 was, pre-2005 (when Ford upped the payloads).
Quote: LB vs. SB makes a difference? Again it depends on the truck. A CC/LB is going to ride different then a CC/SB but an EC/LB will ride basically just like the CC/SB as the length is virtually the same. And an EC/SB will ride different then a CC/SB. All vary by not just the wheelbase but also how the weight is distributed. A CC will have more weight further back in the wheelbase then an EC will.
And then the road will come into the equation as well. What combo rides best on a certain road won't necessarily ride best on every road as it depends on the harmonics between truck/road at the time.
Basically you just need to decide what load capacity you need (NO ONE on here has ever complained they bought TOO much truck). Then decide what bed length will fit the camper you want and what cab configuration will seat the people you have and then just live with any side affects.
* This post was
edited 09/05/10 12:14am by Steve_in_29 *
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TCINTN
USA
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Joined: 01/28/2003
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I remember in talking with the folks at Outfitter that one of the changes would be the interior especially the dinette. What that means I do not know. But they have made and sold at least a dozen or so and all like. Give Bob a holler and he will be more than glad to help you.
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”
Maya Angelou
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Steve_in_29
29 Palms (SEMPER FI), CA 92277
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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Oldtymeflyr wrote:I would look at the gas engine options in the Ford trucks. You do not need a diesel for a TC especially an Outfitter. If you are going to pull a big trailer then maybe. A 250 will work fine with an Outfitter.
I would also do some checking on Fords history with diesels, I think you will find a gas engine much more reliable and much cheaper to operate especially after warranty.
I know the 6.7 is supposed to be new and the best, but my experience with new designs is that its best to wait a couple of years to see how it shakes out.
Good Luck. While I prefer the diesel for its power at elevation and mpg, I might have a hard time pulling the trigger on one with the $8k+ price tag they command now.
An F250 will "work" but an F350 would work better. The Juno is several hundred pounds more then the Apex.
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fishfinder
Colorado, USA
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Joined: 08/14/2003
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If you're interested in serious off-roading, be aware that the Juno will weigh over 2000#. And, Outfitter's Apex series are the tallest pop-up TC's, due to the basement.
Also, the F-series Super Duty trucks have unusually tall cabs, which will force you to add about 3" of wood in the bed to clear the cab, further raising the camper and CG.
I would make two spreadsheets, comparing the dimensions and features of various campers and trucks before buying.
Finally, I agree with others that you don't need a diesel engine for a truck camper. The diesel also eats up precious payload that you will need with 4 passengers and a TC.
fishfinder, Colorado
'08 Chevy K1500 Ext.Cab 5.3L/3.73
'03 Phoenix Pop-Up Truck Camper
'98 Four Winns 18' Fish & Ski Boat
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DonCurley
La Sal, Utah
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Joined: 12/27/2006
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I'll admit that a diesel costs more upfront and adds more weight over the front axle. However, after having had a 2007 5.7L HEMI equipped Dodge Power Wagon and then moved up to a 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 with a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel (both with the very same Outfitter Apex 8 pop-up in their respective beds), available power & torque in the 3500 CTD absolutely blew away what the Dodge gasser could ever deliver on its best day (along with better fuel mileage) with the same camper and load on board. This was especially noticeable with higher altitudes where the turbo diesel compensated and the normally-aspirated gasser just kept losing power the higher we went. I also do a lot of fairly rugged off-road travel & camping, and here again, the turbo diesel really shines in the torque department for the slow going stuff. Anyone can certainly do what they want and buy a gasser if they choose, but you won't ever catch me going backwards after the direct head-to-head experience I had between the two.
-'07 Dodge 3500/QC/SB/SRW/4x4/6.7L CTD/6-spd auto/35" Toyo MT's/Ride-Rite air bags/RS9000XL shocks
-'07 Apex 8 fully optioned w/220W solar/2 T-145's/2KW Prosine/Honda EU2000i/Tundra fridge/AC/etc
-'00 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4x4, highly modified w/5.9L Magnum V8
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Steve_in_29
29 Palms (SEMPER FI), CA 92277
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fishfinder wrote:If you're interested in serious off-roading, be aware that the Juno will weigh over 2000#. And, Outfitter's Apex series are the tallest pop-up TC's, due to the basement. NOBODY is going to do what is considered "serious off-roading" with ANY of the larger pop-up TCs (from any brand) on board since the truck itself is more of the limiting factor. But for the trails you can get a 3/4+ton CC/LB truck over, an Outfitter will provide as much comfort as can be gotten that far off the pavement.
Quote:Also, the F-series Super Duty trucks have unusually tall cabs, which will force you to add about 3" of wood in the bed to clear the cab, further raising the camper and CG. Outfitter adds a 2x4 perimeter (wide side attached to camper) under units that will be carried on a Ford. So the added height is 1.5". IIRC I believe the Dodges also got a taller cab during a recent redesign.
With Fords having the highest ground clearance (to the body) the truck will have an easier time getting over trail obstacles despite the taller cab roof. Obstacles on the ground are a MUCH more common hindrance then ones overhead for the average trail runner. Fords can be had with up to a 34" tall tire from the factory and I run a 35" tire on my stock suspension truck (and talked to a guy that fit 37s on his) which also contributes to off-roadability.
Quote:Finally, I agree with others that you don't need a diesel engine for a truck camper. The diesel also eats up precious payload that you will need with 4 passengers and a TC. On Fords at least, the diesel doesn't cut into the payload that much, approx 400lbs between the same truck with/without a diesel. So instead of slightly over 4000lb capacity of a gasser the diesel will be a little over 3600lbs, in an F350 SRW CC 4x4 for example. A more then fair trade off to get the greatly increased torque of the diesel.
To clarify my previous post, I am not against diesel engines in this application and in fact prefer them. I was merely commenting about the increasing cost of the option.
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dadwolf2
Henderson,NV
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Joined: 10/24/2004
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fishfinder wrote:If you're interested in serious off-roading, be aware that the Juno will weigh over 2000#. And, Outfitter's Apex series are the tallest pop-up TC's, due to the basement.
Also, the F-series Super Duty trucks have unusually tall cabs, which will force you to add about 3" of wood in the bed to clear the cab, further raising the camper and CG.
I would make two spreadsheets, comparing the dimensions and features of various campers and trucks before buying.
Finally, I agree with others that you don't need a diesel engine for a truck camper. The diesel also eats up precious payload that you will need with 4 passengers and a TC.
I fully understand that there are degrees/levels of offroading but I've seen pictures/trip reports of trips that Don Curley, Steve_in_29, and Whazoo have made with their Outfitters. Especially Whazoo's, Top of the World trip report he made in Utah. I would say these guys go "offroad" for the vast majority of us. 
I don't understand why some think the basement as a bad thing? We always talk about COG here but it's usually horizontal not vertical. Seems to me that both are important. Maybe it's called something else?? Outfitter IMO has a great combination of big holding tanks and lots of storage which helps make a comfortable offroad camping experience. Yeah, the top doesn't come down quite as far as lets say Four Wheel Camper and Four Wheel Camper is less weight. My wife isn't going to be happy with a Four Wheel Camper and no bathroom!! With the Phoenix, the standard fridge is 2 cu ft and optional is 3. When my wife finds out that Outfitter will put in a 7.5 cu ft Nova Kool for her....game over!
Every RV style is a compromise of some sort. You want to travel the country in big style and comfort go Class A. You want a truck camper that goes offroad and still has a full bathroom and amenities, Outfitter & sibling Hallmark are hard to beat. If you want less weight and don't mind less amenities Four Wheel Camper or Alaskan have a big following. You want a hard side truck camper with or without slide and stay mostly on the road, insert your favorite brand here _____ .
P.S. I apologize if your favorite brand name was not listed because there are a lot of great ones out there depending on what you want and where you go. OH YEAH, and how much you are willing to spend 
* This post was
edited 09/06/10 03:25pm by dadwolf2 *
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD,4X4,NV5600,Pullrite superglide
2005 Skyline Rampage 289
2011 Outfitter Apex 8 (Love it)
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DonCurley
La Sal, Utah
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Joined: 12/27/2006
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dadwolf2 wrote:I fully understand that there are degrees/levels of offroading but I've seen pictures/trip reports of trips that Don Curley, Steve_in_29, and Whazoo have made with their Outfitters. Especially Whazoo's, Top of the World trip report he made in Utah. I would say these guys go "offroad" for the vast majority of us.
I don't understand why some think the basement as a bad thing? We always talk about COG here but it's usually horizontal not vertical. Seems to me that both are important. Maybe it's called something else?? Outfitter IMO has a great combination of big holding tanks and lots of storage which helps make a comfortable offroad camping experience. Yeah, the top doesn't come down quite as far as lets say Four Wheel Camper and Four Wheel Camper is less weight. My wife isn't going to be happy with a Four Wheel Camper and no bathroom!! With the Phoenix, the standard fridge is 2 cu ft and optional is 3. When my wife finds out that Outfitter will put in a 7.5 cu ft Nova Kool for her....game over!
Every RV style is a compromise of some sort. You want to travel the country in big style and comfort go Class A. You want a truck camper that goes offroad and still has a full bathroom and amenities, Outfitter & sibling Hallmark are hard to beat. If you want less weight and don't mind less amenities Four Wheel Camper or Alaskan have a big following. You want a hard side truck camper with or without slide and stay mostly on the road, insert your favorite brand here _____ .
P.S. I apologize if your favorite brand name was not listed because there are a lot of great ones out there depending on what you want and where you go. OH YEAH, and how much you are willing to spend
Well put Mike. Every TC or other RV style in fact has its upsides & downsides and as I have said numerous times, whatever anyone wants to get in either a TC or truck really doesn't matter to me ... it only counts what matters to them.
In terms of the constant harrange that goes on around here about relative pop-up heights (with one crowd constantly putting down Outfitter's basement and the resultant incremental increase in overall height), I say it's much to do about nothing. I have traveled off-road through a lot of low hanging forest and overgrown brush conditions and I have not pulled-off or otherwise damaged my vent covers, A/C unit, solar panels (with wiring runs), or have done much of anything nasty other than some cosmetic marks on my lowly "rubber roof". As Steve already mentioned, I am far more focused and concerned about off-road obstacles (e.g., rocks, logs, ruts, etc.) associated with the surface of whatever 4x4 trail I am on, which is more about my truck and its set-up for off-road travel (e.g., ground clearance, tires, skid plates, etc.), than it is what specific pop-up is in my bed. Again, to each his own, but the relative pop-up height thing has really been overblown IMO.
Beyond that, I wouldn't have minded on a number of 4x4 trails I have done with my rig, to have had my pop-up end at the tailgate (such as with an Outfitter Caribou), however, both my wife and I wanted a toilet and shower, and there was no viable way to do that without getting some overhang in the rear. However, despite this compromise, we have surprised ourselves numerous times with just how far back in we can get on some pretty nasty trails with our set-up, so it's just about ideal for us. That said, it doesn't necessarily make it ideal for anyone else who might find our set-up too cramped, rough-riding, or what have you. As usual, YMMV.
Don
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fishfinder
Colorado, USA
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Joined: 08/14/2003
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dadwolf2 wrote:fishfinder wrote:If you're interested in serious off-roading, be aware that the Juno will weigh over 2000#. And, Outfitter's Apex series are the tallest pop-up TC's, due to the basement.
Also, the F-series Super Duty trucks have unusually tall cabs, which will force you to add about 3" of wood in the bed to clear the cab, further raising the camper and CG.
I would make two spreadsheets, comparing the dimensions and features of various campers and trucks before buying.
Finally, I agree with others that you don't need a diesel engine for a truck camper. The diesel also eats up precious payload that you will need with 4 passengers and a TC.
I fully understand that there are degrees/levels of offroading but I've seen pictures/trip reports of trips that Don Curley, Steve_in_29, and Whazoo have made with their Outfitters. Especially Whazoo's, Top of the World trip report he made in Utah. I would say these guys go "offroad" for the vast majority of us.
I don't understand why some think the basement as a bad thing? We always talk about COG here but it's usually horizontal not vertical. Seems to me that both are important. Maybe it's called something else?? Outfitter IMO has a great combination of big holding tanks and lots of storage which helps make a comfortable offroad camping experience. Yeah, the top doesn't come down quite as far as lets say Four Wheel Camper and Four Wheel Camper is less weight. My wife isn't going to be happy with a Four Wheel Camper and no bathroom!! With the Phoenix, the standard fridge is 2 cu ft and optional is 3. When my wife finds out that Outfitter will put in a 7.5 cu ft Nova Kool for her....game over!
Every RV style is a compromise of some sort. You want to travel the country in big style and comfort go Class A. You want a truck camper that goes offroad and still has a full bathroom and amenities, Outfitter & sibling Hallmark are hard to beat. If you want less weight and don't mind less amenities Four Wheel Camper or Alaskan have a big following. You want a hard side truck camper with or without slide and stay mostly on the road, insert your favorite brand here _____ .
P.S. I apologize if your favorite brand name was not listed because there are a lot of great ones out there depending on what you want and where you go. OH YEAH, and how much you are willing to spend
Hey dadwolf,
I understand your perspective and I know that the Outfitter is a well built camper. I was only trying to help the OP about some things to watch for when choosing his new step, since he said off-roading was his goal.
For us, the lightest camper was the best choice, since we are almost always in remote, off-road areas.
Not everyone will demand a 7.5cu ft refrigeator in a pop-up camper. Our situation is different because my wife was raised on a ranch in Grand county, Colorado and they only had an outhouse. So, she has no problem with an outdoor shower and cassette toilet while camping. I realize that everyone's situation is different.
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