Can Our F350 Carry a Lance 1191 Safely?

I am hoping that some of you with experience with truck campers can assist us in determining if our truck can handle the truck camper we are looking at.
We have been assured by the dealer and the manufacturer that we are fine but when we do the math, it doesn't appear to be so obvious. So, we would like any and all opinions......

We have a 2003 F350 Dual Wheel Diesel - Crew Cab. We are looking at the 2014 Lance 1191.

The truck has a GVWR of 11,500 lbs. We weighed the truck with full fuel, 1 passenger and no tailgate. Under normal travel conditions there would be an additional 245 lbs for 1 additional passenger and a dog so the numbers below are low by 245 lbs:

Total Weight 7705
Front Axle: 4280
Rear Axle: 3160

The Lance 1191 wet weighs around 4450 if we travel with a small amount of water and cargo.

When I do the cargo calculation it appears that we are around 655 lbs overweight. We would also be towing a small cargo trailer behind us or occasionally our boat which would add tongue weight to the total.

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.

Lance has said that the 1191 is designed for the F350.

But all said, the numbers don't add up...perhaps because we don't know what we are doing with the calculations.

Wanted to get some opinions from the real world so here are my questions

1) Is a 655 lbs overage(plus any tongue weight) a big issue? Are we making a mountain out of a molehill?
2) Are there any people out there with a similar setup and how does your rig handle?
3) While we understand that the suspension and stability can be upgraded are there other components that we should consider such as brakes? hubs? tires?. (Things that if overloaded would cause a safety issue?)
4) I read several posts about focusing on making sure that the axles aren't overloaded. Could someone explain how that works?

All we want is to make sure that we are driving a safe rig that will be stable and safe on the road and that won't put excessive wear on the truck.

If there are threads on this forum that already address these questions, please head me in the right direction.

Thank you very much - Sue

Truck Campers

Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 15, 2014
With a DRW setup, tires usually are not the weight limitation. However, better tires with stiffer sidewalls may make handling better at higher weights.

The suspension is probably designed for the softest ride while carrying the maximum load on your door placard. You will want something that either props up the current suspension or adds to it. At the same time, you may find stock shock dampening is insufficient and heavier dampened shocks will help ride quality.
Powerdude
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
The most vulnerable part of the system are most likely the tire ratings.

That axle, like it has been said, can carry way more than what the current stock tires are rated for.

You need a tire upgrade.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 15, 2014
The Dana/Spicer 80 rear axle under your truck was designed for an 11,000 lb rating. It is up to you if you want upgrade other components in the rear of this truck to accept more weight. I suspect that the Lance TC on the rear of your truck plus trailer hitch weight will put you around 9000 lbs on the rear axle.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2014
2003silverado wrote:
I am not an expert on the dynamics of truck campers, but as for your rear axle...I believe that year of truck has a rear gross axle weight rating of 8,250 pounds. As you say your rear axle has an empty weight of 3,160 pounds. This leaves you with 5,090 pounds of rear axle capacity remaining.

Generally there are 2 groups of people: the first group is more conservative and believe that the truck's GVWR is gospel and shouldn't be overloaded and there is nothing that can be modified to increase the GVWR. The other group looks more closely at the axle and tire weight ratings and uses that as the do not exceed number, and may use modifications (air bags, timbrens, additional springs, etc) to level out the truck when loaded.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you are going to go by GVWR then you will be overloaded. If you are going to go by GAWRs then you are within the specs. You need to do with what you are comfortable with.

Personally, I am in agreement with this post. I think it is very valid, and it has worked for me since the seventies.

I am in the GAWR camp. I have modified my truck to meet my handling preferences. I think the very first thing to look at is the Load Capacity of the tires. Notice, I did not say Load Range (letter designation), it is Load capacity (indicated in pounds). If the tires do not have enough load capacity, you are at a higher risk of tire failure, and you will experience more sway.

With the exception of the tires, I would load it all up, drive it a few weeks, then determine what I want to change in handling charistics, and upgrade accordingly.

Each of us have our own comfort level, and I think it is very important to have that satisfied. I think sway spooks folks the most. The tires and a big anti-sway bar is the best and first mods to make resolving this.

Wayne
kbaum
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Truck Magazine buyers guide lists the camper at 4531 wet weight without options such as AC, generator, awning, etc... That weight includes full water, propane, batteries and 500lbs for personal items. Not an expert, use common sense don't forget to take into account your driving experience with similar loads.
2BLAZERS
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Honestly I'd pass at it, specially knowing you'll be towing too...if you've got some money might want to just look at getting a new truck with a 13-14K GVW then you'd be all set. or go with a smaller, lighter camper....
jmtandem
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2014
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.
bobndot
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2014
Hi , I'm just asking , 4400 + for a wet 1191 ?

Did you weigh the camper as its ready to roll or did you calculate the 4400 + #'s ?

I only ask because a lot of 1191 owners post a scaled 'rolling down the road weight' to be 1000 lbs plus more than that .

Some owners use the 350 dually all modded up and some use 450/550 's .

It would be best to hear from actual 1191 owners who visited a scale, so lets hope they post and bring us up to date.

I took this from another rvnet post by an owner:

FireGuard

Frazier Park CA. USA

Senior Member

Joined: 02/20/2004

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 04/05/09 10:42pm Link | Print | Notify Moderator

When I had my 05 1191 I weighed it at the CAT scales Off of I-5 near the Grapevine. Loaded up for a 2 week trip with the GF and 2 dogs my gross weight was 13,900 lbs and the camper wet was 5400lbs.
Be very optimistic with the data plates, these things are heavy.
2003silverado
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2014
I am not an expert on the dynamics of truck campers, but as for your rear axle...I believe that year of truck has a rear gross axle weight rating of 8,250 pounds. As you say your rear axle has an empty weight of 3,160 pounds. This leaves you with 5,090 pounds of rear axle capacity remaining.

Generally there are 2 groups of people: the first group is more conservative and believe that the truck's GVWR is gospel and shouldn't be overloaded and there is nothing that can be modified to increase the GVWR. The other group looks more closely at the axle and tire weight ratings and uses that as the do not exceed number, and may use modifications (air bags, timbrens, additional springs, etc) to level out the truck when loaded.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you are going to go by GVWR then you will be overloaded. If you are going to go by GAWRs then you are within the specs. You need to do with what you are comfortable with.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jan 15, 2014
Thanks for giving us the trucks actual front and rear axle weights.

Your F350 DRW has a 8250 RAWR for carrying loads in the bed. Most TCs add little if any weight to the trucks front axle so its not a worry.

Your trucks rear axle weighs 3160 lbs which leaves around 5000 lbs for a max payload. I don't know how much the TC your looking at will weigh so you do your own math.

Some folks use the trucks GVWR to determine a payload. Its safe also.

I wouldn't add a thing till the TC is loaded. Then is the time to make a decision if any suspension help is needed on those big 8250 lb RAWRs and four tires.

Forum Discussion

Can Our F350 Carry a Lance 1191 Safely?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Safes

Roof carrying

Carrying extra water

Airstream vs Lance

Is this safe?