2003 lance 1171 and 2017 Srw f350 am I asking for trouble?

The payload is fictional number generated for legal purpose.
The way I see actual capacity is
rear GAWR of 7230 - 3460 on the rear = 3770 can be loaded on rear axle.
Per member experience above -about 300lb of short camper will go on the front.
Making total 4070 lb including people.

Electrojake wrote:
Getting back to the OP's fact list...

Taphillip wrote:
I just bought a 2017 srw F350 diesel.
A local guy has a 2003 lance 1171 with one slide I would like to buy. It’s 3700 lb dry weight.

The sticker inside my door panel says 3296 lbs as max passenger and cargo load.

Am I asking for more trouble than it’s worth, especially if I’d like to tow a trailer with a couple four wheelers on it?

He already has a new truck so I doubt that he would want to sell and re-buy a bigger truck, (big loss there).

Fortunately he did NOT buy the camper yet.
With an available payload of 3296# and his desire to tow a tandem trailer with two additional vehicles on it... That puts us at about 2900# of available payload.
Yank 500# off that number for his "stuff", and another 350# for him and the Mrs... and we're looking for a long-bed camper that has a dry weight of 2050 pounds.
Any suggestions?

And BTW Taphillip,
Your post here is by far the Number one favorite topic of discussion amongst TC owners!

I just did... read my post. I run a long bed SRW diesel and I pull a trailer with quads..just like he wants to do...

The Lance is fantasy, no, it's disaster.

lakeside013104 wrote:
Depends on where you are hauling the unit to. Short trip to the local lake, no problem. Plans for over the road travel, you better swap for a dually.

I drive a 2016 F-350 6.7 diesel SRW. I loaded the Palomino TC on and about everything I thought I might need for a trip to Alaska for the summer. I stopped by the CAT scales and saw I was severely overloaded, GVWR and rear axle rating. My TC has a dry weight of 3000#. Actual weight loaded for Alaska, the TC weighed in at 5850#. Surprise, surprise.

I went home and started unloading STUFF. Went back to scales and then back home to unload some more stuff. All water tanks were empty for we left in cold weather from the northeast. All the weight was STUFF I thought I might need.

Ended up taking the trip to Alaska from Maine and back with STUFF that I needed only. Never missed anything and had a wonderful time not worrying about being over loaded or not having the STUFF I left at home.

I really believe the Lance is too much camper for your SRW F-350 for any long over the road trips. Keep the Lance, but swap for a dully. Keep the SRW, but buy a smaller TC.

You asked for experienced comments. I shared with you mine. Good luck and keep us posted on your decisions.

Lakeside

Of course what Lakeside isn't telling here is I'm the one who pushed him to weigh it and I'm glad he found out because loaded for 'bear' like he was, his Alaska trip could have ended in disaster.....:D

Now, for the rest of the story..

For years I had a Lance myself. I always hauled it on my vintage 1997 F350 4x4 diesel long bed. It was a 915 with no slide and it was heavy. Sticker said (Lance lies like a good politician) 2950 camper weight. It actually weighed 3500 empty (water and propane). Was I heavy, sure was and I knew it in every curve and every stop sign and traffic light. Loaded up with all out stuff, food, clothes, lawn chairs, fishing poles, coleman lantern and everything my wife likes including all her pots and pans, I bet I was pushing 4500-5000 pounds and thats no slide.

I sold the Lance 2 years ago. Still have the old truck. Bought a Palomino SS 1500 pop up TC. Has a full wet bath and everything we need for trips (no slide), don't need a slide anyway. Sticker on my new one says 1970. Thats a lie too. It actually weighs 2300 wet and loaded up with stuff, I'm guessing 2800, which is less than the Lance's dry weight was.

Do I notice a difference? Sure do. Don't even know it's back there and in curves, no sway, cross winds, no issue and I too pull a trailer with quads.

I think (could be wrong and I stand corrected if I am but, all camper builder lie about weights. I think they weigh a bare frame with siding and nothing inside and slap that weight on every unit.

My advice is, it you like the SRW truck, don't buy the Lance. Buy something that it will SAFELY haul and SAFELY stop.

I like the Lance a lot. I like the Palomino much better. It's actually a pleasure to drive down the road now, not a chore and I can go off road (which I do alot) and not have to worry about the 'beast in the bed' rocking and rolling.

Do yourself a big favor and either get a dually and the Lance or your SRW Ford you have now and a camper it can handle...SAFELY.

Not everyone has to be overloaded to have fun TC'ing.

My 2 cents for what it's worth...

Terry, take a look at Northstar TC’s they are great campers made right in Iowa.

I have to say this discussion is fantastic and far more helpful than I could have hoped. I hope it continues, I'm learning a lot and really appreciate everyones input!

I had tried to post some photos but apparently I'm not bright enough :)

Just for info and conversation sake.
I bought my 2017 F350 diesel srw weighed at a DOT scale is:
4920lb on the front axle
3460 on the rear
Gross weight is 8380

The sticker inside the door reads
front GAWR of 5990 @ 60 psi cold
rear GAWR of 7230 @80 psi cold
With LT275/70R18E 125/122R

The tire and loading sticker inside the door says
3296 lbs of cargo and passengers

I'm starting the search for a smaller camper without the slide to get the weight down, I really appreciate everyones suggestions so far. Its tough, I'm out here in South Dakota and there isn't much for TC dealers that I can find to go and look at them in person.

Thanks again you guys for past comments and any continued forward discussion.

Cheers!
Terry

Kayteg1 wrote:
My dually has rear axle rated at 9900lb, so don't know about srw having 10k.

The old Sterling 10.5 axle is rated at 9750lbs. I know Ford made some changes on the ‘17-up trucks but I cannot imagine they equipped them with weaker axles, so yeah 10klb is about right for a srw axle.

Hauling our 4,000 lb (wet) TC; only about 300 lbs went on the front axle IIRC. With our 24" hitch extension, about twice the trailer tongue weight also went on the rear axle.

We hauled it a lot of miles on SRW trucks, but it was not that fun to drive at interstate speeds. Then when we started also towing a 7,000 lb car hauler trailer, we bought a dually.

My dually has rear axle rated at 9900lb, so don't know about srw having 10k.
For those who haul Lance 950 or similar. How the weight distribution works?
The way I see - wet 950 will come to about 4000lb so what % of it will go to front axle?

I’m in agreement w the others here, if that camper is 3 tons that’s a bit much for planned, prolonged use.
However, when shopping, I’d be totally comfortable up to around 5klbs with the right add ons. The actual axle rating is likely around 10,000lbs and the remainder of the chassis and drivetrain is up to it, save for tires and wheels.

That truck leaves you many options for larger TCs with slideouts. Just not the heaviest ones on the market. Congrats on the new rig and happy shopping!

Kayteg1 wrote:
The salesman very likely talk you into buying what he had sitting on the lot, not what you need.

Rule number 1 for salemen: Don't sale what you ain't got. :)

Brad