2017 Ford Superduty Beds

mkirsch wrote:
While I don't have any direct experience, thinking logically and critically about this, I would have to conclude that the beds will hold up just fine, and here's why:

Any rough handling of the camper that would damage the bed, would also damage the camper. Since you don't want to damage the camper, odds are you will be careful to the point where you won't damage the bed.

The Chevy anti-aluminum advertisements show loaded metal tool boxes being dropped on their corners, or large chunks of crushed stone being dumped by a loader from several feet. You won't be doing either of those things with your camper, so I would not have a moment's worry about the aluminum beds.

Don't want to start a Ford / Chevy debate (and I don'rt really care about debates, I rub what I run... but...

That steel bed thing is total advertising phooey, makes no difference and the steel bed, if you drop concrete and / or a loaded toolbox corned on a steel bed, it dents too. I know, I have adent in mine (97 Ford F350, steel bed, from just that, dropping a toolbox.

The only reason GM blows about the steel versus aluminum is Ford's beat them to the introduction, GM was working on an aluminum body, bed but Fords beat them too it.

All it is, pure unadulterated phooey.

tattoobob wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
Mine bed is still pristine after 7000 miles on the truck, 1500 with camper.
The sides are tall and I had to add plywood to clear the cabin.
I was skeptic about strength of tailgate, but when I was loading roof tiles, I had about 500 lb on tailgate with no problem.

I was told it was 3" higher is that true? or is the whole truck 3" taller?

Yes..
Was 19" it is now 22".
I had to build a platform too.

mkirsch wrote:

The Chevy anti-aluminum advertisements show loaded metal tool boxes being dropped on their corners, or large chunks of crushed stone being dumped by a loader from several feet.

You wouldn't do this to your steel bed either.

Chevy is just upset that Ford thought of this first. :)

My truck is 6 over stock, the bed height is 37" off the ground and when I load my TC, I have the jacks extended all the way and no room for any more travel.

First time I loaded it, I was thinking I'd need blocks under the jack legs. Not quite.

Another test for aluminium bed.
Picked up "new" camper that needed lot of shimming to clear the rails.
Dealer had stripes of 1" plywood, but had to add 2x4 under, so basically 4000 lb camper was sitting on 2 pcs of 2x4.
I have factory bed mat, but after unloading camper at home, lift the mat to check the ribs.
No problem.

Un-related to the Bed Issue; What is the GVW now?
The 2016 F350 SRW is 11,500

GVW is registration-related number and different truck is not going to change it.
All depends how much registration you are wiling to pay.

It doesn't seem to be a good test to add wood to raise it. I doubt the aluminum will have an issue though since most people would use some type of liner.

From what I can tell you are not supposed to use the aluminum camper bed as tie down for a slide in camper. So decided to go with TorqueLift frame mounted tie downs in SRW 2017 Crew Cap with 6.2L gas with a 2004 NorthernLite 10.2 camper (~2350 # dry).

Just ran this rig over the Denali highway, which is the old road into Denali National Pak with no problems. The Denali Highway is 100 miles of gravel 30 miles of poor pavement. It is good test of your vehicles tires and suspension. It is also known to claim a transmission of two. It also has a 100 mile stretch without cell service.

Ride was better then my old 2005 F350 with 6.0L diesel which developed a dramatic high pressure oil leak. 500 PSI minimum is required to fire the injectors on that vehicle and when Ford tech service said you had to remove the cab, it wasn't worth cost to fix it, so asked the Ford dealership what to you have that replace it.

I would expect they hold up as well as any. Sure, time will tell but I wouldn't be afraid that Ford didn't think about putting heavy things in the bed.