Can Our F350 Carry a Lance 1191 Safely?

jmtandem wrote:

The dealer has said that if the truck is properly equipped with 2000 suspension increase, proper tie downs, sway bars and such that we will be fine. The local spring company will place a sticker on the door of the truck indicating that the cargo capacity has been increased, once the suspension upgrades are done.

What an interesting comment. Would Ford agree with the dealer that some spring and suspension modifications would increase the payload of the truck and thereby the gross weight rating and an aftermarket sticker supercedes the manufacturers placarded values? Are they going to increase your braking capability as well to accommodate the heavier truck weights? I think your dealer needs to check his facts and you should check with the spring company to see what they really put on that sticker. Springs won't increase the axle, wheel or tire ratings. After owning three campers, the last one on a one ton crew dually that still needed suspension modifications, I would add about 1000 pounds to the camper brochure weights as a good estimate. And then if you tow a trailer, add the tongue weight to that as well.

You will be over your truck's gross weight but how much is acceptable is a decision only you can make. However, never go over the axle, wheel or tire ratings. And remember the truck's brakes need to stop the whole load, unlike fifth wheels and travel trailers that have their own brakes to stop as well.

There are in fact plenty of companies that up fit work trucks all day everyday. They are in fact certified by the truck manufacturers to "relabel" the trucks. I am in the construction business and have driven quite a few bucket trucks and other work trucks that have an "aftermarket" GVWR sticker on the door jamb.
The local shop here in VA is very conscientious with their work. I once wanted to buy an '05 Dodge dually and have a utility body fitted. Dodge said they didn't allow it due to frame cracking issues. I checked with the local up fitter and they said the same thing. "Dodge told us that if we change the bed on one of these trucks we will loose our certification." So, I bought a Chevy.

Op, I am certainly in the axle and tire weight camp. I used to be a truck driver and this is how the trucking industry and DOT operate. I've carried my truck camper on a SRW 3500 weighing in at 11,500 on a truck with a GVWR of 9,900. I know carry it on a dually with a GVWR of 11,400 but I weight about 13,500 loaded. I've made some suspension upgrades to the truck and have had thousands of trouble free miles. I'm not certified but I know the ratings of the trucks components and am not exceeding them.
Camper manufacturers often say a camper is designed for a "3500 series truck". What they should say is that if your 3500 series truck is a 2wd, gas engine, reg. cab model with no options and you carry no passengers you will be withing GVWR.