1987 XLT Lariat
Heavy duty (not sure how that meaures up)
Standard cab and 7-foot bed
3-speed automatic
302 or 306 (I forget)
Standard issue wheels and tires

Purchased the truck and older slide-in camper separately.

I need to know if it can handle/carry the camper as-is, or what the load limit is.

Also, what tire size/ply I should change to, if necessary.

Thanks.
Yendor714
Minnesota

 

Ford didn't have a 7' bed. It's either an 8' (full size) bed or a 6' (maybe 6'6") short bed. Regardless, it's irrellevent.
On a truck that old, it's hard to say what kind of shape the springs are in. If the camper weighs more than 700 lbs or so, I'd suggest getting some overloader springs. Om my '88 I just had an extra leaf added to the springs, but it was a full time work truck.

 

Is it an F150 or F250??

 

F150

oops, sorry - it is an 8-foot bed.

the camper is older and about 9-feet (bed part) - the gate will have to be removed or left down. i have no idea how much it weighs, as this is my first camper.

i'm planning to get some better used tires, but didn't want to until i know if 15's are OK, or if i need to get larger wheels too.

i'm planning to get a newer truck in october, but would really like to use the camper a few times this summer.

what is the best way to test the springs, shocks, etc.?
since it is an old truck, i don't want to spend alot of money. it will only be driven with the camper on it a few times this year, and locally, less than 60 miles at a time.

thanks for the replies.

 

Forget about oversize tires. They are for looks only- at the expense of power, accelleration, fuel economy and ride. If you need better tires then the 235/75-15 size will be much less expensive and you can get the higher load ranges in that size.

Get some decent bolt-on helper springs to help bring the truck back up to level after you've plunked this thing in the bed. I'd look for a couple load range C or D tires for the back.

 

I don't know what the camper/slider weight is, but most newer camper/sliders are in excess of 2000lbs wet. Therefore most of these should be on 1 tons.

Check the weight before you get into it too deep.

 

Well, you will have about a GVWR of #6300 or so. You can check that on the door jamb sticker. You will also have a rear GAWR of around #3500. Don't want to really go over either of them by too much.

Problem with the F150 is the soft springs. A camper will make it pretty top heavy, so cornering will be an experience...... You'll want some LT rated tires for sure and the overload springs will really help too.

Mitch

 

That truck is 20 years old. I wouldn't put a camper on a new F-150, let alone a worn out one. By the time you spend $1000 on that truck, you could just as well sell it and get more capable truck. Or, buy a $100 tent for this year.

 

Without knowing anything about the camper I'd have to agree you should put overload springs on the truck before you try setting the camper in there. Some of those campers will also put a lot of extra weight on the front wheels as well. A class D tire would also serve you well in that situation. Believe me, you don't want a blow out with a camper on there, it happened to my dad once. Luckily that was before my time in the world, but my bro and sisters sure had fun riding that one out. Blame that one on those old retread tries.

 

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like I might be able to spend a few $ and make it work for the summer.

But first, I think I'll buy a case of beer, and invite over a couple mechanics to look at the truck and camper - before I spend the $ on overload springs or tires



Thanks again.