Question for all you pros. I have a 96 F150, reg cab, longbox, 302, auto, 3.55 gears, quad shocks on the front. I currently haul a small & light 8' camper with no problems at all. I'm looking at buying a 9 1/2' Cascade overhead that is fully self contained. It is a really sweet deal on it, but I am worried about whether my truck will handle it. The tag says it weighs 1950 lbs. I don't know if that is with 30 gallons of water or not. My truck has 106,000 miles and runs great, but I don't want to burn it up as it will be several years before I will be able to upgrade. At some point, I plan on hauling the camper with a boat behind it, and I realize that I will need a 3.4 ton by then, but that's all future plans. Do you guys think I am murdering my truck if I get this camper or will it be fine? I'm not worried about the mpg loss, just don't want to ruin the truck.

 

primetime, I'd say your pushing it way over your 96s limit. I'm not too up to date with bed campers, but most tags on TTs and 5th wheelers are just abit short on their weght.(Trailer Mfg do fib) Your weight of 1950#s, is probably closer to 2050#s, and this is dry weight,nothing in the trailer, so you would be looking at 2300-2400#s when you get it loaded. You diffently need a F-250 or a 350.

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DOGCAM
dogcam@f150guy.com
01 F-150 SC Lariat
Flareside 4X2,5.4,3:73
LS, Tow Package, Wrong Radiator, battery,shocks and stripping on exterior..MIS-BUILD SnugLid,Dynomax
Exhaust,Kenwood Amps,
Speakers,JL 10" Sub


[This message has been edited by dogcam (edited 05-30-2001).]

 

Hi Primetime. I agree with dogcam. Most of the old overhead campers weigh ALOT more than what they say. Load one up, pay the $ to weight, then say WOW, cant believe its that heavy. Use a certified CAT scale, there pretty accurate.

There are some new lightweights, like 4 Wheel Pop Up,(overhead) that would work great on your truck.

I dont think your truck in certified for a heavy overhead camper, is it?

Anyway dont let good deal come back later to bite you in the ..s! Do your homework.

Good luck. Been there, done that. OT

 

Thanks for the help guys. It is an 87 model year, so it's not really that old. I've spoken to two mechanics who think my truck will handle that much weight no problem, they just said it will be a little wobbly around corners and in high crosswinds. Perhaps air bags in the suspension might also help?

 

That camper is way too heavy for your truck. Ford only has weight ratings for campers in the F-150 7700 and F-250 and over class trucks. You'll be at least 1500 lbs. overweight. I had my 98 Angler on my 93 F-150 which had a high cargo weight rating, but it was still way overweight, that's why I got the 7700 F-150. Right now all loaded up I'm just at maximum and my camper is a lot lighter than the one you're looking at.

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Badd Andy

2001 Toreador
F-150 Supercab XLT
7700lb, 5.4L, 4R100
Tow Packg, 3.73
Homemade FIPK
DRL Foglite mod
Headlites Relayed
A/C cutout switch
RS 9000's all around
Bug & Wind deflectors
Dupli-color bed
Lund Premier Tonneau
Short rubber antena
98 ANGLER 8.6 Camper
95 Windstar w/replaced head gasket
97 Susuki Bandit 1200
87 Yamaha XT-350

 

I apologize. I was wrong about camper weight ratings. Ford has them down to 6 cylinder short beds, But! If you subtract the 5000 lb truck from the 6000 GVWR, that doesn't leave you with the 1,600 weight rating as this 6 cylinder example illistrates. What I meant to mean was, the only truck able to use the full weight rating are the F-150 7700 and F-250's and up.

 

Here's my thought. I have made an offer on the camper and I can get it for only $1250! It is in excellent shape. I am going out to where it is at tonight to load it and as long as my truck doesn't sag too bad I will purchase. If it sags dry, but not to where I think I will cause damage, I will get the air bag overloads to even the score. Thanks for all the help and I'll let you guys kow how it does and whether I am a happy camper or not after tonight!

 

Sorry, not up to date on your truck that well but when I bought my 98 F150 there was an insert that specifically warned NOT to travel with overhead campers, the truck was not rated for it. Hope this helps a little, sounds like you're ready to do it anyway. Just think, if it doesn't work out you can buy a new truck for the camper .

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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs

 

Hey,
Just thought I'd give you an update on the situation. I bought the camper. It was a deal that I just couldn't pass up. I loaded it on my truck and it handles it fine! The previous owner was very suprised as he had a Chevy 1/2 ton that couldn't handle it, so he had to get a 3/4 ton! It did squat the truck down about 2-3 inches, but I took it home 20 miles in a 40 mph crosswind. I figured I'd be all over the road, but the truck didn't wobble hardly at all. The suspension seems to handle everything fine, and I won't even need overloads. It does work the motor pretty hard though. Going up a 5% grade in that wind, I could only keep about 60 mph. I'll probably have to beef up the motor a bit - I only have dual exhaust right now. At any rate, I've now got a real nice camper, and my truck will handle it just fine...at least untill I can afford to get a 3/4 ton. Thanks again for all the input!

 

Primetime, The things you should be concerned with is the axels. For that kind of weight you should have the free floating axel on the rear. AS a rule 1/2 ton trucks can carry about 1100 lbs to 1600 lbs. Your breaks and entire suspention will be severly over stressed with the load you are trying to carry. Beleive me Please!!!!!!! You might find yours self busting an axel driving down the road doing about 60 mph and get in an accident or something...

Mike Ford Employee in Nampa, Idaho

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97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, WMS Velocity tube, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust with Echo tube.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill!

 

The reason I got the 7700 was cause on my 93 I was afraid of the c-clips going on the 8.8 axles with the camper on. Now I have a 10.25 rearend with pressed on bearings and no c-clips.

 

If there's ANY safety concerns with this package, I'd say park it and use it for a mother-in-law apartment. Depending on your relationship with the mother-in-law, you might prefer to loan it to her for a long road trip

 

OK, so now you've got me worried. I've actually broken an axle on a 3/4 ton once due to severe tire spinning and wheel hop - young and stupid. I've never heard of an axle snapping unless it is under a tire spin situation or high torque situations such as launching in a drag race. How would the axle let go at 60mph and how could it cause an accident? When I lost one in the 3/4 ton, I basically just lost power to the rear wheels & had to pull over. I understand the extra stress on the axles and that I may have problems in the long run, but I'm hoping that in a few years I can upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck. I've never heard of someone snapping their axle just from hauling a camper - I wouldn't think a pull behing trailer would be much different either. Please explain how this could cause an axle to snap. I would expect it to happen during takeoff or high acceleration...

 

The problem isn't the axle snapping, it's the c-clips breaking and/or the tiny outer bearings failing leading to badd juju!