F150 and a Camplite 6.8

Yes, I realize the Milner does not have a shower, though I think you can get a cassette toilet....it's all about trade-offs, I guess. What I am attracted to most is the one piece molded roof and the ability to upgrade to Coosa structural supports and Coosa cabinetry. Essentially remove all rot prone, wood, components entirely for year round camping in rainy, humid, Florida Everglades.

Coosa is widely used by the marine industry to eliminate rot potential.

Livin Lite website says the 6.8 model weighs 1780 lb dry. Probably 2500 lbs after loading.

The 7200 GVWR F150 shows to have a small 3850 RAWR with P tires. These trucks can have a rear unladin weight in the 2300-2500 lb range = a 1350-1550 lb payload on the rear axle.

Keep in mind a payload sticker is determened by the 7200 GVWR number so the 1625 lb number on the door jamb is to be placed on the trucks front and rear axles .... not just the rear axles. This is the downside from high GVWR and small RAWRs.

The P tires load capacity on a truck is required by fed regs to be derated by dividing its capacity by 1.1 percent.
(example) A 2500 lb rated P tire will now be 2273 lbs capacity. LT C or a D tire on higher rated wheels is a better choice.

I'm not sure what the Fords rear axle is rated at but most semi floating axles don't like to be ran in a overloaded condition.

I would look at a lighter weight camper to fit your trucks small 3850 RAWR ratings. I sure wouldn't carry weight above the axle makers max weights.

wvabeer wrote:
I have a 2013 f150 7200lb ecoboost supercab 6.5 bed and wondering if anyone has this combo with the Camplite 6.8 ? How is your mpg? does it feel overloaded? Just doing a little searching for info before I buy a truck camper.

You could haul it with your Ford just fine without any problems!... If I was you, I would install airbags... Don't know what you plan to tow when you have the TC loaded.

Here's a quote from Livinlite.com website.

Our 6.8 model was designed specifically for short bed, half-ton trucks. The 6.8 is a self-contained unit with all the amenities of a much larger truck camper while still fitting into a 6-foot, 6-inch bed with no overhang! This camper slides all the way into the truck bed, meaning that it can also be utilized on larger trucks.

Link...Scroll down the page to read the info I posted.

Camplite Ultra Lightweight Truck Campers

That camper was designed for 1/2 ton trucks!

I have a 2002 F-150 and haul a Sunlite hard-side TC and pull a pontoon boat when we go on a fishing/camping trip... I have airbags on my truck, because the truck will squat when I load the camper down with camping/fishing gear, and hook up the pontoon.

I put 60 to 80psi in the airbags to bring the truck back up to level.

Again, your truck will do just fine with that TC, because it was designed for 1/2 ton trucks... Call and ask them if you need to!.. That way you will get the right answers instead of someone telling you a F-150 won't haul it!

tonymull wrote:
Don't think there is any hardside that you will be pleased to drive. Slow death for the truck. You will have to put a lot of $ into suspension fixes and you will still be way overloaded. Many manufacturers say they have models suited for half tons...they are not being truthful. You need at least a 250 for the lightest hardsides if you want a tolerable and safe drive.

I don't have the TC that the OP is asking about,(may be my next TC) but I do have a Sunlite hard-side and pull a pontoon boat when we go on a fishing/camping trip... And haul the TC and pull the pontoon with a F-150... My TC even has a bathroom and the truck doesn't fell overloaded!... If it was overloaded, I couldn't pull some of the hills when loaded and we have some steep hills in the area!... I only live 18 miles from West Virginia.

He won't have to put a lot of $$$$ into suspension fixes... He ''could'' install ''airbags if needed'' and that would be all!

Too many treads on here where people are saying a F-150 won't haul a TC!.... A lot of people on here ''are hauling'' a TC on a 1/2 truck..(look around on this site)

A picture just for you!

JIMNLIN wrote:

I would look at a lighter weight camper to fit your trucks small 3850 RAWR ratings.

He ''won't find'' a TC lighter than the ''Camplite Ultra Lightweight Truck Campers.''

Why do you think they use all that aluminum ?... Yes, one reason is so the camper won't have ''rot''.

But, the main reason is to make them ''Ultra Lightweight''!

I was reading posts on the owners forum where the wood in camp-lite units got soaked and spiltting of the aluminum framework occurred causing very expensive repairs.
I think it was in regard to TT , I'm not sure about the TC's but I would think the TC build also has wood .
Doesn't the framework have wood inserts in the tubing in order to hold screws so that they have something to bite into ?

They are welded aluminum.

DieselBurps wrote:
They are welded aluminum.

That's different , I have never seen one . Is everything welded ? Is the entire interior of the tc's all welded ? Is that how they attach the closets to the framework etc ?
I guess they use solid foam for insulation. Interesting, they don't use screws or staples for anything, everything is welded ?

As far as I can tell, everything is welded aluminum. They look pretty good, I wish they would change a few things, like offer a camper without a basement.

Any hard side camper is going to weigh at least 2500 to 3000 lbs when loaded for camping including all the stuff you will carry in it and the truck. Camping is all about relaxing and not worrying. What you are proposing will be a scary, white knuckle driving experience and will kill your truck. If it's a short trip on a good road, you can get by, but forget about cross country trips, mountain roads, gusting cross winds. Do yourself a favor and get a truck with the necessary GVWR or go with a popup or shell for the F-150.
100,000 miles of TC experience here. Goodluck.