2017 Ford F-250 Platinum, Crew Cab, SB
6.7L Powerstroke Diesel, 3.31 Gears, 4x4
RoyB
Dartmouth, MA
2021 RAM 2500 4X4 6.4L
2011 Forest River Grey Wolf Cherokee 19RR
520 w solar-200ah Renogy Li-Epever MPPT
Truck Camper Magazine is a good place to start. click on buyers guide be sure to check out the weights shown.
2022 Ford F150
Sold: 2016 Arctic Fox 990, 2018 Ram 3500, 2011 Open Range
Sold Forest River Forester 2401R Mercedes Benz. when campsites went from $90 to $190 per night.
2011 F350 6.7L Diesel 4x4 CrewCab longbed Dually, 2019 Lance 1062, Torqlift Talons, Fast Guns, upper and lower Stable Loads, Super Hitch, 48" Super Truss, Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreme airbags
Fortunately for you, you have not purchased the truck yet. You still have time to explore camper weights and run the numbers. Check back with this forum with any questions.
The single slide camper (with all our food, water, refreshments, etc.) in my signature max's out the trucks payload capacity at 14,000 pounds.
2021 Arctic Fox 1150
'15 F350 6.7 diesel dually long bed
Eagle Cap Owners
“The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity." -Yeats
Chevy Sonic 1.8-Honda Passport C70B-Host Mammoth 11.5-Interstate Car Carrier 20-Joyner SandViper 250-Kawasaki Concours ZG1000-Paros 8' flatbed-Pelican Decker DLX 8.75-Ram 5500 HD
For over 12 years I hauled my 4200 lb non slide 11.5 ft TC, no basement, on my SRW Dodge 2500 2WD. Using 4 foot extension, I flat towed my Samurai. It required lots of mods and 19.5s before the truck handled well.
A trailer instead of flat tow would have been too much. A TC with a slide would have been too much. A TC with a basement would have also compromised stability.
For more creature comfort, last year I bought a '04 Dodge 4WD Quad Cab 3500. I added a sway bar only, and as pleased as I am with the way my SRW carried my TC, hands down the DRW is without question much better. This is with stock tires. If you are a door sticker fan, my weight is about 500 lbs under the sticker. My '04 is my new toy, and as such I have added airbags and a Curt hitch I would only use if I ever decide to pull a trailer with a 3 or 4 foot extension. I do have a 19' 5th wheel.
Using a dually as a daily driver is a personal thing. For 5 years, I drove my SRW with the 11.5 ft x 8 ft wide TC (same width as dually) as my daily driver. Most of my driving was in the bay area. I certainly did not drive it the way I drive my Samurai, but I never had a problem even in shopping centers. For your intended use, I would definitely go with a Dually. If you don't, it will not take you long to realize you should have. If you are concerned the ride would be too harsh, don't be. My '04 Dodge 4x4 Dually is as smooth as any vehicle I have ever owned, and my bet other makes are just as smooth. You need to do a test drive.
I have a Northstar Igloo 9.5 with no slides. Here are my weights fully loaded: Cat scale weight with camper, full fuel, water, 2 dogs, Helen on 20170201 at Fackler, AL 12,420 pounds.
Rawr 6936
Fawr 5484
I am just under 1,000 pounds over my GVWR but under my front and rear axle WR (just barely). My tires are rated for 3,750 pounds each so I am also under my tire ratings.
I have been very comfortable with my setup - over 15,000 miles last year over all kinds of roads and terrain without a hiccup. Again, others might be uncomfortable being over their GVWR at all. There are all kinds of options to make your choice in trucks and campers "work" but only you can judge what you are comfortable with.
There is a common saying here - you can never have too much truck. Keep that in mind as you explore your options. I wouldn't go any heavier than where I am - others far exceed where I am. Keep us posted on how you end up.
Shawn
2013 Ford F350 6.7 CCLB Ruby Red SRW, sway bar, Bilsteins, etc
2007 Cyclone toyhauler, 18,000 GVWR
Northstar Igloo 9.5
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2J3zF6J/0/M/i-2J3zF6J-M.jpg
US Army retired
As far as the new SD's go, they are nice rigs. I love mine and the ride is fine. 100x better than the truck it replaced. I went from a 2000 F350 CCLB dually to an F350 CCLB SRW with 4200lbs of payload. We briefly thought about a new slide in but decided against it and kept the popup FWC for the times we have boat with us and went with a trailer for the rest of the time.
Having a dually as a daily driver isn't that big of a deal but it can be a pain. I daily drove mine, then had a commuter rig, and now back to daily driving my f350.
2017 F350, CCLB, XLT, 6.2L, 4.30's
2005 Four Wheel Camper - Grandby
2020 GD Reflection 337RLS 5'er (for sale)
Going back to a truck camper...
2017 Ford F350 XLT Premium CCSB 4x4 6.2 gas 3.73 rear end, 4226 lbs payload
2017 Northern Lite QC 8.11 SE
Torklift tie downs, Torklift Fast Guns, Torklift Upper Stableloads, Airlift 5000 Ultimate air bags, Airlift WirelessAIR onboard compressor system
Dually is far nicer, in my opinion. Better stability and all the rest.
The true test and endorsement comes from the passenger seat, when she tells people to get a dually to carry a big camper. "It rides so much nicer, and is more stable on the gravel roads that we have travelled."
This without prompting from me.
As far as daily driver, I don't work anymore, but I still have my Nissan Versa. It sips fuel rides nicely and at times thinks it is a truck when I load tools and stuff into it. When I was working , it used about $45.00 per month in fuel, whereas the truck would have gone through $150 in the same time frame.
Brian
2014 Chevrolet 3500 CC 4X4 Duramax, Tork Lift Tiedowns, TorkLift Fastguns, Superhitch and supertruss
2009 Jayco 213 SOLD
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
'11 GMC 3500hd SLT DRW D/A 4x4 Spray-in, Air Bags w/comp & controls, TL, Superhitch, 48" Supertruss, 9.5t Warn, front rcvr, Fox Shocks, '11 AF 1140, DB, AC, Gen, Solar, Thermal Windows, Wardrobe, Rear & Side Awnings, 18' Lund/40hp Honda 4 stroke
An 8.5’ model with slide should easily be under 4K. Skip heavy options like A/C, generator and microwave to lighten it even more. Run with the water tank less than full (240lbs on that Lance). You also may not need an extension to tow, particularly with a longer tongue on a boat trailer that also tend to have lighter tongue weight.
Do pay attention to the listed weights in brochures as they usually say “with standard features.” Options can add plenty of weight.
Would a dually be better...sure and I’ll recommend one but I’m not convinced it’s a requirement. A lot depends upon the camper, truck and driver’s comfort level.
Rbertalotto wrote:
Go BIG or go home the saying goes. Buy the 350 and don’t look back and don’t regret that you should have bought s bigger truck.
Go BIG or go home the saying goes. Buy the 350 and don’t look back and don’t regret that you should have bought s bigger truck.
X4700
Buy once and don't look back - get a 350 / 3500.
Towing that much weight and hauling a truck camper, I'd go dually, but since it is your daily driver, a dually might not be practical.
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Truck camper, towing 5000 you are going to want a dually. For one you will probably be over the tire load ratings of a SRW on the rear axle. I had a F350 SRW and towed my horse trailer behind my TC and I had to upgrade to 19.5 commercial truck tires and wheels to not be over the tire rating. I now have a F350 DRW and the handling is so much better that there is now way I would ever go back to a SRW.
Truck camper, towing 5000 you are going to want a dually. For one you will probably be over the tire load ratings of a SRW on the rear axle. I had a F350 SRW and towed my horse trailer behind my TC and I had to upgrade to 19.5 commercial truck tires and wheels to not be over the tire rating. I now have a F350 DRW and the handling is so much better that there is now way I would ever go back to a SRW.
X2. Never will go back to a SRW truck.
billyray50 wrote:
X2. Never will go back to a SRW truck.
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Truck camper, towing 5000 you are going to want a dually. For one you will probably be over the tire load ratings of a SRW on the rear axle. I had a F350 SRW and towed my horse trailer behind my TC and I had to upgrade to 19.5 commercial truck tires and wheels to not be over the tire rating. I now have a F350 DRW and the handling is so much better that there is now way I would ever go back to a SRW.
Truck camper, towing 5000 you are going to want a dually. For one you will probably be over the tire load ratings of a SRW on the rear axle. I had a F350 SRW and towed my horse trailer behind my TC and I had to upgrade to 19.5 commercial truck tires and wheels to not be over the tire rating. I now have a F350 DRW and the handling is so much better that there is now way I would ever go back to a SRW.
X2. Never will go back to a SRW truck.
And Bill's got a great truck (I have same one, even same color)
Ranger Tim
2006 F-350 Super Crew King Ranch SRW Bulletproofed
2016 Wolf Creek 840
Upper and Lower StableLoads
I either sell the cabover, and lose about $2500 or trade the Ram in on a dually and probably lose $10,000+.
Don't do like me.
2018 Ram 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4 Cummins Aisin Laramie Pearl White
2018 Landmark Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
2014 NauticStar 21 ShallowBay 150HP Yamaha
2016 GoDevil 18X44 35HP Surface Drive
towpro wrote:
And Bill's got a great truck (I have same one, even same color)
billyray50 wrote:
X2. Never will go back to a SRW truck.
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Truck camper, towing 5000 you are going to want a dually. For one you will probably be over the tire load ratings of a SRW on the rear axle. I had a F350 SRW and towed my horse trailer behind my TC and I had to upgrade to 19.5 commercial truck tires and wheels to not be over the tire rating. I now have a F350 DRW and the handling is so much better that there is now way I would ever go back to a SRW.
Truck camper, towing 5000 you are going to want a dually. For one you will probably be over the tire load ratings of a SRW on the rear axle. I had a F350 SRW and towed my horse trailer behind my TC and I had to upgrade to 19.5 commercial truck tires and wheels to not be over the tire rating. I now have a F350 DRW and the handling is so much better that there is now way I would ever go back to a SRW.
X2. Never will go back to a SRW truck.
And Bill's got a great truck (I have same one, even same color)
Thanks towpro but I traded up to a 2017 Ram 3500 CTD Laramie 4x4 longbed with the Delmonico red paint now.
So, you might as well get the F350, in the options you want (or settle for), if it's available.
My problem was that in the options I wanted, I could only find an F250 in 2016, in the time frame that I had available due to an accident.
So, I got it, understanding that it will be quote unquote overloaded with a nonslide Lance 820 (quote unquote overloaded according to the self-appointed quote unquote weight police)....
That being said, I'm under the tire ratings in the front and back, and I have the truck camper package with the upper and lower Torqlift stableloads. This is despite being 1000 lbs over the GVWR, but I'm registered for 12k lbs in my state, which is all the cops care about.
I would say if you're going to tow a boat, you want a longbed F350 if possible. With the truck camper package, the only difference between the F250 and the F350 is 2 inch vs. 4 inch blocks, and maybe on the 2017 and up, the axle.
It's tough to find what you want in left-over model year trucks sometimes.
2016 F250 CCSB 4x4 6.2L
2001 Lance 820