Advice from F250/F350 SRM Owners with HEAVY truck campers

I have a 2011 F250 with the camper prep package which includes the overload springs, sway bar, and upgraded springs in the front. I looked at the F350 and it has the exact same suspension, including the overloads. So, if each truck had 3,600lbs in the bed the trounce stop would almost touch. So if the F350 indeed has a stronger axle, what good would it do because nobody drives around on the trounce stops because you wouldn't have any travel. I believe they are the same based on some part number research I did, but people still argue. The F350 axle rating is only higher for commercial towing. I also added 5k air bags and Superspring Sway Helpers. My rear end is like a pogo stick without a load, but by god it will haul.

It really comes down to the tires when the suspension is beefed up. The F350 I looked at only had 3,410 rated tires while my 250 has 3,640. Therefore I would never go over 7,280. That's a real number.

19.5s, Roadmaster anti sway bars front and rear, stableloads, Rancho xl9000s and airbags to level when towing. If I really load up with toys I am at 8000 on the rear axle. With this set up the ride is great

I have a 2002 F350 CCSB with 5.4 gas V8 6-spd manual and 4x4. Truck came new with overloads, but no sway bar. Truck would lean terrible bad with no load... Installed Helwig sway bar, Rancho RS 9000's and stable loads before I even bought my TC. I weigh in at 10,960 on average. As low as 10,600, but a high of 11,600. I used it as it was with the stock 16's, till I ran across a used set of 19.5 visions with 265-70 load range G's. Later after adding a superhitch for towing with. A 32" extension I added air bags, but just to level a bit. Usually 10 psi or less, just enough to disengage the stable loads, then I let out enough to just engage the stable loads. Everything rides very nice! I have been all over Alaska with this rig, and the two best additions were the 19.5's and the Helwig swaybar. The sway bar and Ranchos do well at controlling sway, but the 19.5s really stiffen up the ride where it feels very solid and comfortable,

Since you have the 250, I would highly recommend finding the overloads and frame pads from a 350, and bolt them up and install stable loads. Then add the Helwig, and upgrade the shocks. Mount camper and weigh. Decide if 19.5's and or airbags are needed.

If you have the auto in your 99, you may want to make sure it has an extra cooler, as heat kills those transmissions. I have two 2000 Excursions, and when towing , keep a close eye on trans temps...

Good luck!

Garry in AK

wintersun wrote:
Two primary limitations in terms of payload are the leaf springs and the rims/tires. The first can be overcome with SuperSprings and the second with the use of 19.5 rims and tires. Cost of SuperSprings is $500 and for 4 19.5 wheels figure on $3500.

This is what I did. Handles great and I have abundant safety margin with the wheels and tires now. SuperSprings also cut down on sway.

Good day
Have a 2002 F250 supercab 8' bed 4x4
Camper weighs 3800lb. added supersprings and airbags.
airbags need only 20 lbs rides great.
Check your rear brake lines for rot if you haven,t replaced them yet.

wally665 wrote:
Whats your Mammoth weight in at loaded?

5k lbs.

wally665 wrote:

I am hoping I can get away with keeping my 265 Goodyears as moving up to 19.5's is a big expense.

Go weigh it. That tells you what to do. Do not trust any label on the camper for a weight.

wally665 wrote:

I already upgraded to powerslot rotors all around last fall, stops like a car now!

Am I better off with a whole new leaf pack with overloads or going the superspring route?

I have no experience with the superspring route. The overloads was designed to give a softer ride unloaded; except once loaded up, the dang thing rides like a Cadillac now..

The leaf packs don't cost that much but require a little more work to swap out than adding SuperSprings or StableLoads. If you find you need more after the heavier leaf pack you can still add the simpler pieces on top of the heavier leaf pack.

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/

Whats your Mammoth weight in at loaded?

I am hoping I can get away with keeping my 265 Goodyears as moving up to 19.5's is a big expense.

I already upgraded to powerslot rotors all around last fall, stops like a car now!

Am I better off with a whole new leaf pack with overloads or going the superspring route?

I carry a Host Mammoth on a 2001 F250 4x4 Extended Cab, Long Bed, with 7.3/6spd.

The truck came from the factory with the heavy duty suspension, which is overloads. I've install Bilstein HD shocks, a hellwig rear sway bar, and air bags, plus 19.5" Vision rims with G rated tires. The truck has been hauling a camper (previous 1998 Lance 9.6' 500) and the Mammoth for almost 100k miles.

It does pretty good, the front ball joints are going so it's started to wander, and the brakes got smoked coming hwy4 to monitor pass (that's a tight, twisty road!)

I personally would call the local junk yards, and see if you can find the overload pads, and replace the rear spring with the beefier HD suspension packs and stable loads. If it still sags too much for your taste (and you'll know it because everyone will be flashing their lights at you at night) then go get air bags.

Also install a Hellwig Big Wig or equal in the rear, HD shocks, and go weigh it before settling on tires and rims. Remember the factory rims are NOT rated higher than about 3415lbs per rim, and make sure if you buy rims that they are rated to carry the load; this is why the Vision 19.5's rims are so popular for heavy hauling.

We have a 2005 HOST 9.5 Rainier camper on a 1999 F350 Superduty crew cab.
Host Camper says "lightest in it's class". ha.
Truck says "Ford Tough"... it is but not tough enough.

Took a 5,000 mile trip from the NW down to CA and up to Yosemite.. back down and up to Kings Canyon... back down and then way down to Death Valley... across Texas, then Michigan, eventually to Bismarck ND and then back to the NW.

Blew a tranny seal going up to Yosemite. Kinda fixed it and put an additional transmission cooler (in series) at the top of hwy 120 in Big Oak Flat, CA. And a completely new transmission in it when we got to Madera, CA.

Started out with brand new 16.5 E rated Big O tires. Blew out two of those.
Finally decided we better weigh our rig... In Bismarck ND.
Put on a pair of (rear only) 19.5 245/70R19.5 G 133/131 556040
Toyo M608Z with vision wheels but kept the 16.5 's on the front until we could afford G's there too. (we are 2 wheel drive). (there was a serious wait for those vision wheels we were lucky to get two.)

We were sagging a bit in Illinois... needed to repair the bracket holding the air bags and install additional leafs on our springs. Put on beefier air shocks too... Air bags were never meant to HOLD THE WEIGHT of the camper. they are only there to keep the camper from swaying too much...

That was in 2012. We came back and kinda just parked the truck. We went on a similar 5,000 mile trip in 2014 with new G tires on the front... but we went with a less stiff tire. I don't remember what it was. Got it from Les Swab here in the NW. It drove just fine. We had to put in a new heater core in Grand Junction, CO.

July 2012 – weighed in Bismarck
Driver (Left) Passenger (Right) Total Axle
Front 1,880 lbs Front 2,220 lbs Total Front 4,100 lbs
Rear 3,880 lbs Rear 4,040 lbs Total Rear 7,920 lbs
Total (Left) 5,760 lbs Total(Right) 6,260 lbs Total TC 12,020 lbs
So my truck (with the camper) weighs 12,020 lbs
That's with 3/4 tank of fuel ( Holds 38 gals appx)
and with 30 gals of fresh water on board. (Empty gray/black tanks).

***********************

Truck GAWR 4280 lbs
Truck Rear GAWR 6210 lbs
GWR 9900 lbs

and here is the 2012 post.. all 21 pages of it. 2012 Tire Saga