Camper Selection Assistance Needed

Truck Camper Magazine -- https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/ -- has a method for considering what weight a truck can handle safely.

This is a free internet blog that will keep you up on wvents in the truck camper world.

Three to four in a TC will be tight quarters.

I have the long bed version of that truck, used it for years to carry a 4600# Lance 1055. You are going to need to upgrade to 19.5 wheels and tires if you are going to carry anything but a small camper without overloading the tires. You will want thicker anti sway bars. On the suspension side of things you will need either a heavier spring pack our something like upper and lower stabiloads. I operated that way for years before I went to a dually.

this is my srw

I like Buzzcut's post.
I have a one ton Ford long bed. It is still easy to overwhelm the factory suspension. Either make some mods or do not go very heavy. I really like the tie downs that connect to the frame.

Driving in the wind and windy mountain roads are the two biggest challenges. I gave up on a camper and went to a TT. I did not like taking them on and off and they are squeezy for a long trip. I cannot tow a boat or horse trailer with a TT, but they are roomy and less stressful towing than a camper for me.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
I have the long bed version of that truck, used it for years to carry a 4600# Lance 1055. You are going to need to upgrade to 19.5 wheels and tires if you are going to carry anything but a small camper without overloading the tires. You will want thicker anti sway bars. On the suspension side of things you will need either a heavier spring pack our something like upper and lower stabiloads. I operated that way for years before I went to a dually.

this is my srw

I believe I would rather have a lighter camper than add all of those mods. Since I'm looking used, what models can be used with stock equipment (aside from perhaps, air bags)?

ppine wrote:
I like Buzzcut's post.
I have a one ton Ford long bed. It is still easy to overwhelm the factory suspension. Either make some mods or do not go very heavy. I really like the tie downs that connect to the frame.

Driving in the wind and windy mountain roads are the two biggest challenges. I gave up on a camper and went to a TT. I did not like taking them on and off and they are squeezy for a long trip. I cannot tow a boat or horse trailer with a TT, but they are roomy and less stressful towing than a camper for me.

I just sold out TT (see sig) It was roomy and NICE!

Just looking for simpler way to get out without the hustle and bustle of towing and preparing a TT. Ex. Pull up on the side of a road and toss a few flies in roadside river!!! Afterwhich, lunch and cold are in order! Then perhaps a nap or bedtime!

Specs as listed by my truck manufacturer:

GCWR: 16,500
GVWR: 9700
FT. GAWR: 4250
RR. GAWR: 6830
Truck weight (CAT scale): 6900

Bajaman,
The best thing you have going is a 2WD, F350, upper overloads, and a V-10 gasser. Why so? The very lightest combination of parts. Check the maximum gross vehicle weight. It will be higher than any big, 4WD Honkin' diesel out there. That being said, you are limited by the SRW arrangement, which can be dealt with by installing either much higher rated super single wheels with very high rated tires. This is especially true if you plan to go to Baja, as your moniker suggests. You can air down 16, 17, and 18 inch tires for use on the sands of Baja, which is impossible with 19.5 inch tires/wheels. There are tires for 16's and 18's that are now in the 4000 pound weight range. 17's are deficient in carrying capacity, as a group. Also, short bed campers are much harder to find that aren't beat up like mine.
The other red flag is the, "3 quarts in a 2 quart jar" syndrome. Too many full size people in the space of a box made for 2 or stretching it for a short time, 3 adults. The main thing to keep your eye on is availability. Cast your net wide for a used SB camper. Currently the Lance 825 is the same size but with more modern conveniences and larger tanks. We've had our Lance Lite 165-s SB camper for 18 years and it still serves us well. At only 86 inches wide, it's the lightest, least tall, least wide camper with everything except a microwave, oven, or A/C. It does have a NS Queen bed. wet bath. 2 burner stove. heater. fridge. Solar power. LED lighting. But, all the weight is down low; small tanks; 1842 pounds wet (that means fresh water and propane full up) so works well on our prepared off road Dodge RAM 2500 4WD diesel pickup. At full load, we're right around 10,500 pounds. Click to run short vid.

I cannot get the vid to run, so lets try this: driving on the beach in OR:

The last thing, if you really are a Baja aficionado, is the lack of 4WD. This will exclude a lot of sand running on or near the beach, say of Bahia San Quentin.
jefe

With 3 or 4 adults, short bed capable camper as big as you can find with a slide out.
Airbags, sway bar and the truck will do fine with it. But remember you got an old truck and hauling a TC puts waaay more stress on the chassis than towing a TT twice the size.
May want new shocks, new tires/wheels too.
Have fun camper shopping!