Sliding-into-home
PDX
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Joined: 11/18/2018
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Hi All,
New member here, excited to be joining your ranks. Less exciting is the prospect of wrecking my new truck and TC.
I have the truck (2017 F-350, CC, SRW, 6.7l, FX4), but not the TC. Reason being the safety factor.
I understand that AF990's weight is roughly 4k lbs. I'll never be carrying more than 1 day of water or LPG. Also opting not to get AC, Fox landing, solar, or any side awnings. I don't need any of the above, and all would save some weight (although I've heard carrying a bit more water can improve handling).
I'll do whatever I need to do on the truck (independent air bags at minimum). I plan on running Nokian LT2 studs (e-rated, and roughly 3600lb per tire). I don't care if they're destined to last only 15k miles, as I feel there's no safer way to transport my family in winter conditions.
Speaking of that, this camper will be used 99% of the time to overnight up on the mountain (5400ft climb from my house). I will have to make the drive every weekend, all winter, regardless of conditions (the first 2/3rds is essentially never snowy, and the last 3rd is highly variable (Mt. Hood, OR).
All of the above brings me to my hang-up. I know I could put everything together in such a way that I stay under my 11,500 GVWR, but given the weight of the TC, it wouldn't be by much. I wonder if I'm going to regret not leaving myself more overhead in terms of payload.
Ultimately, I know I can always slow down enough to make the trip safely, but I don't want to be "that guy" on the road who is holding everyone else up in single Lane sections.
As there will frequently be 2 adults and an almost-teenage man child camping, and since one of those adults is my wife, my impression from reading these forums is that a slide is almost a necessity. Would you agree?
If so, I could also consider a Lance 995 to save several hundred lbs (just felt like the AF had the edge in build quality, and with all the extra weight, it better!). I think I could even save a few lbs in a Host (but not a few dollars).
If not, that would bring Northern Lite into the running, which seems to make a lot of sense as an exclusive winter camper where weight is also a factor (especially the sportsman).
I'm sure if you've made it this far, you get the idea. Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can offer. I look forward to being a part of this community.
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Lwiddis
Southern California :(
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Joined: 08/12/2016
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“I'll never be carrying more than 1 day of water or LPG. Also opting not to get AC, Fox landing, solar, or any side awnings. I don't need any of the above,..”
So when you find that great campsite with those trout in the stream, you can’t say more than one day... Sounds terrible to me. And no solar since a generator and gasoline weighs less than two 100 watt panels and one pound controller? I disagree. Gets mighty boring going to the same place 99% of the time. Build a cabin or plant a TT on site. Three adults (two and one mansize male teen) in a TC won’t be fun.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
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Ranger Tim
Idaho
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You may be over the GVW by about 500 lbs. if you keep to the 4K weight you stated. The truck will probably be okay but the wheels are the weak link. My Wolf Creek is 2100 lbs. dry per manufacturer but really is 3200 lbs after I loaded it up with options and stuff. That puts me at 11,200 lbs at a Cat scale. The Arctic Fox is a heavier camper but warmer too. If you are gas not diesel you may be closer to the GVW.
I could drive through most any snow with my rig loaded as long as it is not too crazily uneven. And who cares about being "that guy?" You must be behind me sometimes! I pull over to let the speed demons by every 10 minutes. Too many deer and elk around here to chance getting whacked.
Ranger Tim
2006 F-350 Super Crew King Ranch SRW Bulletproofed
2016 Wolf Creek 840
Upper and Lower StableLoads
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2003silverado
Michigan
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Joined: 01/25/2008
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Welcome to the forum!
What is the actual payload of your truck? That will be found on the tire and loading spec sticker inside the drivers door. That's where we should start. Max payload also includes passengers in the vehicle, and with 3 adult passengers that will likely eat up 400 pounds of payload at least.
Unfortunately I think you will find you will be severely over the trucks payload rating as most of these larger higher end TCs are meant for duallys.
While some people are comfortable being slightly over the trucks gvwr, all agree the axle and tire ratings should not be exceeded. You can find this out by taking the truck empty to the scales and weigh the rear axle and see how much capacity you have left.
Good luck!
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Sliding-into-home
PDX
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Joined: 11/18/2018
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Thank you Tim. Do you mean Ford's stock wheels?
My snow tires will likely go on separate wheels, and I'll need to decide between 18 and 20".
2017 F-350, CC/LB/SRW
2018 Northern Lite 9-6 SE
Upper StableLoads (for now)
Nokian LT2 Studs
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Sliding-into-home
PDX
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Joined: 11/18/2018
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2003silverado wrote:Welcome to the forum!
What is the actual payload of your truck? That will be found on the tire and loading spec sticker inside the drivers door. That's where we should start. Max payload also includes passengers in the vehicle, and with 3 adult passengers that will likely eat up 400 pounds of payload at least.
Unfortunately I think you will find you will be severely over the trucks payload rating as most of these larger higher end TCs are meant for duallys.
While some people are comfortable being slightly over the trucks gvwr, all agree the axle and tire ratings should not be exceeded. You can find this out by taking the truck empty to the scales and weigh the rear axle and see how much capacity you have left.
Good luck!
Tire sticker is 3240 (passengers and cargo). Rear axle sticker Is 7230.
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whizbang
Kenmore, WA
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Joined: 08/20/2003
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Sliding-into-home,
You are going to be over weight. Period.
Your first step is to weight your truck with a full tank and you, but with the tail gate removed (my guess 7500#). Get the weights separately for both the front and rear axel.
The loaded 990 will be at least 4500 pounds. I agree with the other poster who said you will be 500 pounds over weight. I think it will be a bit more than that. Possibly 1000 pounds.
Other folks on this forum are more informed on current camper specs.
Just start a new post that includes for truck weights and go from there.
(FYI --- We had a F350 CC LB 4x4 with the 6.8 gasser that is lighter than your diesel. We had a 1996 Alpenlite that is lighter than a 990. We weighed 11,400 with my wife and I and two small dogs).
Whizbang
2002 Winnebago Minnie
http://www.raincityhome.com/RAWH/index.htm
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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You didn't ask the weight cops about the ins and outs of yellow tags on your truck. It will haul a 990 just fine. Do whatever you need to the suspension.
You'll have sht loads of traction. You have 2 tons in the bed!
Skip the fancy snow tires, find a set of heavy studdable mudders. Get the center treads siped, stud the outsides.
This all provided you know how to drive in greasy snow and are comfortable hauling a TC. Have you hauled a TC before?
Sounds like a dream every weekend to me.....if there were a few snomachines dragging behind!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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And regarding the camper, yes a slide out makes for mucho more room compared to a non slide. Colder in the winter though, but you can pull the slide in at night to keep the heat from running quite as much.
Have had an 860 for the last several years. Boys were 7 and 11 when we got a camper. Now 12 and 16. It's comfy if they're not in a tent now!
Being winter, presume you're skiing or..... You'll appreciate the room of a slide out when you're drying 3 sets of gear.
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Sliding-into-home
PDX
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Joined: 11/18/2018
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whizbang wrote:Sliding-into-home,
You are going to be over weight. Period.
Your first step is to weight your truck with a full tank and you, but with the tail gate removed (my guess 7500#). Get the weights separately for both the front and rear axel.
The loaded 990 will be at least 4500 pounds. I agree with the other poster who said you will be 500 pounds over weight. I think it will be a bit more than that. Possibly 1000 pounds.
Other folks on this forum are more informed on current camper specs.
Just start a new post that includes for truck weights and go from there.
(FYI --- We had a F350 CC LB 4x4 with the 6.8 gasser that is lighter than your diesel. We had a 1996 Alpenlite that is lighter than a 990. We weighed 11,400 with my wife and I and two small dogs).
I hear ya. And if it looks like we'll weigh anywhere close to that, I don't plan to intentionally travel overloaded.
Keep in mind though, we won't be camping like most folks. We'll be 2 hours from home for one night at a time. No AC unit, no awnings, 5 gallons of water, 1 can of LPG. We could probably even get away carrying one extra battery instead of the generator.
All this having been said, I am leaning slightly toward a northern lite sportsman at this point, because it wouldn't require any special workarounds, not to mention its suitability for the winter conditions.
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