I'm preparing to order a 19 F450 Lariat Diesel with pick-up bed to replace my 07 F350 for hauling 1160 Eagle Cap. I'm trying to confirm which option packages to add to the F450 that will work with my camper. We keep camper on truck 90% of the time and tow an enclosed snowmobile trailer. Hoping someone has experience with new Ford options and how they interact with camper and can give me opinion on which options to include in new truck order.I'm a bit concerned about new overall height as my current set up only has about 1.5" of clearance to get through garage door. From measuring trucks on the lot compared to my 07, it appears actual truck bed floor height is the same in current 07 F350 (17" tires) and new F450 (19.5" tires). Per Eagle Cap new 19 F450 will carry 1160 with no modifications but they do recommend 3/4" bed mat.The Ford descriptions and sales staff I have access to have given vague answers.The one option I have decided against is the Ford sun/moon roof, as I have had the camper strike the top of my F350 clearance lights a couple times and do not want glass above my head.The options I'm looking for advice on are:1. "Camper prep" package ($180) from the description it sounds like all I will get on a F450 with this package is a sticker in glove box that says camper capable.2. "5th Wheel Hitch Prep Package" ($500). Appears to be only way to get an in the bed 12V plug to plug in camper. On some internet searches I have found some claims that this plug can not actually be used for slide in camper as it will cause the trailer tire monitoring system to not work properly, may not charge camper battery and may cause trailer brake system to not work properly. I would like this option for re-sale but want to be able to use in bed 12V plug for camper.3. "BLIS" Blind Spot Monitoring for truck and trailer ($540). Appears while carrying camper I may be able to use BLIS for trailer and side of truck warnings. 4. "Tow Technology Bundle" ($1970). Looks like this will give 360 camera system that may have some use while hauling and loading camper and will give trailer tire pressure monitoring after purchasing extra TIPMS valve stems for trailer.In addition to the Ford options I plan to add Firestone rear air bags, Stable Loads bump stops (top leafs only) and Torklift tiedowns with Superhitch. I use this on current F350.If you have experience with the new Fords and what is worth adding to 19 F450 truck order let me know.ThanksScott

Why not have the shop that is doing the bags and tie downs, do the bed 12V plug to plug in camper.

I just bought a 2019 F-350 a few days ago, and it has the tow technology bundle on it. I don't think that package is going to be too helpful for a pickup truck camper. It looks to me like there are cameras on the front grill, the back of the cab roof, and two cameras on the tailgate. Three of the four cameras are going to either be removed or will be blocked by the camper. I don't know yet if the on screen display just shows a black screen when the tailgate cameras are removed with the tailgate, or if a warning light comes on. Many truck campers these days do have a rear camera on them though, and it may be possible to get this to interface with the on screen display of the tow technology bundle via telemetry. Hopefully someone else knows more about doing that.

I wouldn't pay $500 just for a 7 pin in the bed if that's all you need. You can either install that yourself or have a shop do it for a lot less money. I don't know what Ford uses for wiring for the charge line but I bet you could have it upsized to get more amps into your batteries.

Not a new truck expert, but from guessing as well as googling, it seems the “5th Wheel Hitch Prep Package” is more than a plug. It also includes the rails underneath the bed and cut out for a fifth wheel hitch with holes and plugs for the fifth wheel hitches on the market for newer Fords.That being said, if you have no plans to add a fifth wheel, I don’t think you need it.

Not sure about the F450, but the camper prep option in single rear wheel F350 got you a rear sway bar and on a F250 it got you stiffer springs on the front axle, to match the ones of the F350 and the rear sway bar. In my area every superduty that dealers stock comes with the camper prep.

2019 Ford F450 options for camper use | Good Sam Community

Kevinwa
Explorer
Sep 16, 2018
Off I had a choice between white and silver it would be silver for me hands down. Just something about a super duty in Fords silver that I have always loved. The EMT at work drives a new F350 DRW in silver and the square boxy dually fenders are awesome in silver.

Not 100% sure but I think it is possible to buy an adaptor from ford to plug an aftermarket camera into, and then mount one on the camper. It would plug into the tailgate plug when you remove the tailgate and load the camper. I also think that with the ultimate camera package you can buy a wireless camera right fro:ford to mount on your trailer or up on the camper.
broark01
Explorer
Sep 17, 2018
If height is an issue avoid the FX4 option regardless of F350 or F450. The F450 is considered a class 4 medium duty truck (14001 lbs to 16000 lbs) which will equate in higher yearly registration cost compared to the F350. Beyond that there is the higher initial cost for the same options and the F350 with 14000 lbs GVWR will handle many TC options.
jimh406
Explorer III
Sep 17, 2018
You can't easily move the camera from the tailgate and back. Maybe you like Kayteg1's solution to permanently remove it from tailgate.

Or, you could buy a camera from https://camera-source.com/automotive-cams.html?make=Ford&v_model=Super%20Duty&year=2018 that plugs in to the factory harness and keep functionality when your tailgate is on.
jimh406
Explorer III
Sep 17, 2018
broark01 wrote:
If height is an issue avoid the FX4 option regardless of F350 or F450. The F450 is considered a class 4 medium duty truck (14001 lbs to 16000 lbs) which will equate in higher yearly registration cost compared to the F350. Beyond that there is the higher initial cost for the same options and the F350 with 14000 lbs GVWR will handle many TC options.

Why avoid the FX4 package?

Newer F450 in pickup form are 14K GVWR not 14,500 like mine. In any case, not necessarily true that you will pay higher registration. Sometimes it is offset by not having to pay transit authority tax. Some areas don't care. Check in your location to know for sure.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2018
HERE I made pictorial how I moved tailgate camera to back of the camper and cable part number is in it.
Ford also sells trailer cameras with optional trailer TPMS.
Since you plan to use trailer - you might want to consider spending extra $$$.
For me trailer use is very rare and I like that moving camera from tailgate gives me 360 view, even the proportions are disturbed.
Snowcamp
Explorer
Sep 17, 2018
Well after visit to dealer looks like silver will be color choice.

As far as the input on not getting the FX4 package not sure why that is not a recommended package to add, is there a concern it will raise height more than it is already at with F450 and camper prep package?

Good info on tailgate camera options, I went to the site Camera-source.com and found part CS-FTRSK-17SDRC, appears I can swap this for tailgate camera when not using tailgate. Kayteg your system looks good and appreciate the part number for the ext cable in your build link. The work you did sorting this out will help me and others trying to utilize the camera system.

I have checked on F450 commercial truck concerns. Per the bank, my car insurance company and licensing they treat F450 the same as F350 other than overall value of truck increase. The good thing is both the F350 and F450 are exempted from paying transit tax. I have heard about concerns with F450 being “considered a commercial truck” but so far I’m not finding that with bank, insurance and licensing. Hopefully when I actually get truck, I do not get a surprise...

I also found out today that if I want LED lighting which I do, I must also get the BLIS blind spot system. I do not know why Ford makes me buy BLIS to get the quad beam headlights and tail lights but that is the way they set it up. The BLIS sensors are covered by the the truck camper. Maybe if enough of us F350/450 camper owners complain about BLIS not being usable when hauling a camper, Ford will come out with some type of adapter or extension cable that would allow the BLIS sensors to be moved from the tail lights to side of camper.
NRALIFR
Explorer
Sep 17, 2018
The F450 pickup’s GVWR was intentionally derated to keep it in the class 3 segment. The 2008-2010 F450’s had a 14,500 GVW which made them a class 4. I suspect that was causing some registration and insurance issues for some owners depending on what state they were in. I didn’t have any problem with my 2010 F450 in Arkansas.

Scott, is the wide-track front axle still standard on the F450 pickups? That’s one of the things I like the best about mine. That gives it a super tight turning radius that’s very helpful when you get off road in some tight areas.

Regarding the rear camera, I bought the camera cable that goes inside the tailgate, and used it to splice on to my wired camera on the back of the camper.

If the GPS nav and sat-radio antennae is still on top of the cab between the marker lites, you’ll probably need to add a second one that isn’t blocked by the camper. I bought an OEM antenna and cable, and installed it on the plastic cowl at the base of the windshield.

An FYI regarding the truck alternator charging the camper battery: These new trucks have the engine computer controlling (limiting) the alternator charging so much that you can’t get decent charging voltage to an auxiliary battery like you could with an older truck. I got better auxiliary battery charging from my 2010 F450 than from the 2016 in my sig, and that’s even after installing 4 gauge cables between the truck and the camper battery.

I use the camper battery quite a bit while we’re on the road, and depend on the truck to keep it as close to fully charged as possible. In the end, I had to install a DC-DC charger in the camper to get enough charging capacity to the camper battery. Things may be different if you have dual alternators, but my 2016 F450 has a single 200 amp alternator. The DC-DC Charger is working very well for me, I can run the fridge in DC mode on its coldest setting and still keep the camper battery at near 100% state of charge.

:):)
Bedlam
Moderator
Sep 17, 2018
Snowcamp wrote:
As far as the input on not getting the FX4 package not sure why that is not a recommended package to add, is there a concern it will raise height more than it is already at with F450 and camper prep package?

I was advised to not order the FX4 package because the shocks were valved softer and did not last as long as the standard ones under heavy use.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2018
The registration fees vary a lot from state to state.
In California anything above 13,200 (?) GVW was consider commercial and the law require driving via commercial scales. You have to declare your GCWR and pay weight fee per your declaration (I paid $600 for 30k)
Not executed on pickups, but state needs money and they started to chase scale bypassing.
Nevada register all pickups as private vehicles, what doesn't mean it is cheaper here.
That said, states who charge commercial fees can also have option of registering pickup with camper as an RV. Takes inspection to change the classification and then you better don't get catch hauling garbage on the truck.
hedge
Explorer
Sep 17, 2018
I have an 2017 F350 DRW. I have a loaded Platinum so it has pretty much every option. Some of the ones I never would have ordered have became my favourites.

-Most of the options are in packages so you probably won't be able to pick them individually.

-agree on sunroof, wish I could have got it without.

-love the adaptive cruise, 360 cameras and auto-dimming headlights.

-could do without the massaging seats, steering assist, heated steering wheel.

-my 12v in bed plugs works well with my Adventurer camper as the umbilical comes out at the rear. I have also had no issues with it charging but I know others have.

-The box sides are pretty high, I needed a spacer to give me some clearance. I also had to space the camper rearward so the plumbing output would clear the 'upticks' of the bumper.

-I bought the camera from camera-source to mount to my camera It came with an OEM Ford camera, cable and a mounting box. To do it again I'd buy the camera from Ford directly. You can buy cables to plug it in on ebay. They are a Fakra brown female to female. You need the brown as the connectors are color coded by connector.

Forum Discussion

2019 Ford F450 options for camper use

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

2019 GMC 3500HD Options

2019 Host Cascade

Roll Call Alaska 2019

2019 Ram HD

2019 Sprinter