Forum Discussion

egarant's avatar
egarant
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2021

Eagle Cap 1200 Weight on Ford F350

I know this general topic has been discussed a lot.

According to Truck Camper Magazine an EagleCap 1200 can be expected to weight roughly 6,600 pound wet that includes 500 lbs of stuff (which I think is projected on the light side personally).

My new 2021 DRW Crew Cab 4x4 F350 7.3 liter gasser has a 14K GVWR has a truck camper rating of just over 4,500 lbs and a cargo rating of 5,910 lbs. My last trip to the scales had me at 14,400 lbs.

RAW rating is 9,900 lbs and I was at 9,700, I wasn't close to reaching that limit.

I currently carry a 2013 Eagle Cap 950 on it. I live close to a very reputable spring shop called Deaver Springs and they increased my overload spring capacity so when the camper is off the ride stays the same.

My point.....ithere is no way in hades that a 350 crew cab can carry this huge triple slides.
I am NOT into aftermarket tweaks like airbags, sumo springs, Torklift stuff to McGiver the weight rating. Beefing up the springs and adding Fox shocks (when they finally come out fro this truck) is all I usually do.

It looks like a 550 chassis cab is ones only alternative with these monsters.

IMy question....finally...is anyone successfully carrying these monsters on a truck like mine?

20 Replies

  • eagarant, so you know the numbers, both weights and capacities. You said you refuse to do more suspension work ( as I read your post) yet you’re asking how to haul a 3+ ton TC on a 1 ton dually.
    I’m not following.
    Hauling one of them on a (new or newer) class 3 dually is akin to hauling a 4000+ Lb camper on a 3/4 ton. It’s done all day long by many people. Question is can you accept driving a truck at or near its practical limits?

    Another consideration is the pickup bed itself. TCs are tough on truck beds and the beds are made the same so the heavier you go, the more considerations or damage you may expect (vs a flatbed).

    This appears to be a rhetorical question that you already have strong opinions about or against, so why the question?
  • “Bigger brakes.
    Heavier rear axle (the M300 axle in the F450’s isn’t the same M300 in the F350).
    Wide track front axle for an amazing turning radius.
    19.5” wheels and tires.”
    All you need to know.:B
  • NRALIFR wrote:
    That’s why I said “if you can ignore the 14K gvwr on the F450 pickup”, because it IS bogus. It’s only purpose is to keep it a class 3 so it won’t compete with the F450 chassis cab.

    Look at the components used on the F350, and compare them to the F450 pickup. There’s a reason the F450 weighs more.

    But, I was just throwing it out there as an an option because you said the F550 was your only alternative. It isn’t.

    And yeah, I’d like to see the 7.3L offered in the 450 pickup, as well. The 4.88 rear axle may not be the deal killer for me like it used to be, now that they have the 10 speed tranny.

    :):)


    Good points, thank you very much for your insight. I want to stay away from the chassis config if at all possible.

    I've driven my 7.3 gas rig with the TC on it with 4.30 gears for almost 9,000 miles now I'm seeing a combined MPG of 9.7.
  • That’s why I said “if you can ignore the 14K gvwr on the F450 pickup”, because it IS bogus. It’s only purpose is to keep it a class 3 so it won’t compete with the F450 chassis cab.

    Look at the components used on the F350, and compare them to the F450 pickup. There’s a reason the F450 weighs more.

    But, I was just throwing it out there as an an option because you said the F550 was your only alternative. It isn’t.

    And yeah, I’d like to see the 7.3L offered in the 450 pickup, as well. The 4.88 rear axle may not be the deal killer for me like it used to be, now that they have the 10 speed tranny.

    :):)
  • On the Ford Fleet PDF
    Ford Fleet

    You can only get the F450 with the 6.7 diesel which robs a lot of the weight carirying capacity.

    The cargo weight rating is 4,513 for the F450 and it is 5,712 with the F350 gasser, and 4,967 in the F350 with the same 6.7 diesel.

    The spec.s just don't suggest that the F450 PU is better suited for carrying a truck camper.
  • Oh yes, you WILL without a doubt be over 14K with that beast. Probably more than just the 400 lbs of your current rig. But, I’d rather be over 14K lbs in a F450 pickup than an F350.

    Having owned both a 2010 and my current 2016 F450, I can tell you they are identical in terms of suspension and running gear. The reduction of the GVWR only makes sense when you consider it’s market relationship with the F450 chassis cab.

    I agree with you Jim, the new 450 pickups are likely even better.

    :):)
  • You can order the TC in a bunch of different ways. I also don’t know which article you are referring to. One quoted the Eagle Cap rep who said the standard build was approximately 5100 with other builds less. There is a lot more than 500 lbs to get to 6600. It does hold 60 lbs of water, but that’s only about 480 lbs.

    It would be a challenge even at that with a GVWR of 14000. Note: most think that’s pretty artificial. My guess is the newer F450s are more capable than mine, but my GVWR is 14500 and the new ones are 14000.
  • An F450 or F550 chassis cab can certainly be configured to haul a heavy camper like that. You’ll have to accept the limitations or differences between the Superduty pickups and the chassis cabs though.

    You of course will need to add a bed of some type to a chassis cab. That will add cost.

    Chassis cab trim levels top out at Lariat, pickups include King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited.

    Chassis cab trucks have lower HP/Tq ratings than the pickups for every engine option, because they are intended for a different duty cycle.

    One nice thing about Ford chassis cabs is you would be able to choose the 7.3L gas engine like your current pickup. But like I said, it will be running a different tune with lower ratings. And, if you did choose the 7.3 gas, you would have your choice of one rear axle ratio: 4.88.

    Personally, if you can ignore the 14K gvwr on the F450 pickup, which is only there to keep it a class 3 truck, I’d haul that camper with it in a heartbeat. You would most likely have to add some leafs to the rear overload springs, because the 450 pickups have always been sprung for unloaded ride comfort, so it will probably squat more than you want.

    If you need more than an F350, but don’t NEED a chassis cab (I sure don’t), I think the F450 pickup has some nice “chassis cab” options that aren’t available on the F350 without going full vocational truck :W

    Bigger brakes.
    Heavier rear axle (the M300 axle in the F450’s isn’t the same M300 in the F350).
    Wide track front axle for an amazing turning radius.
    19.5” wheels and tires.

    :):)
  • EYEMLOST wrote:
    Is your 2021 F350 7.3 liter gasser a DRW or SRW?


    DRW