So I've been looking into getting a new truck, and I've enjoyed my current set-up and I'm thinking I would like to go the same route. I currently have a 2008 F-250 CC short bed V10. The camper is a 2000 Lance Lite 825 (basically an 815 with permanent wings). I also tow a 4500 lbs ski boat with about 450 lbs tongue weight. Been a great truck, but I'm looking at moving on to a diesel and a long bed with a little larger camper. I ran some numbers for practicality, here's what I found:2014+ F-350 CC Long Bed Diesel.GVWR: 11,500Front GAWR: 5600Rear GAWR: 7000Base curb weight: 7800 (4410/3390 ft/rear)2008+ Lance 915Dry wt: 2505Basic Options: 40430 gal water: 249Wet weight: 3158Personal gear: 500TOTAL weight: 3658Total Payload: 4108 (includes 450 lbs tongue weight)Est GVW 11,908**This also puts me over the rear GAWR by about 200-300 lbs. I'm okay with the over on the GVWR (I'm already there with the F-250). The rear axle rating I pay a little more attention to. It seems like a new F-350 should be able to haul a "small" non slide long bed camper and be able to tow a boat without going over it's rear axle rating? Am I stuck going to the DRW trucks if I want to do this? Thoughts and opinions welcome, however I'm more interested in thoughts and opinions on trucks and set-ups for truck campers and towing boats and less interested in a weight rating discussion. Thanks!

I would get a DRW truck if I were you. In fact, if for whatever reason I end up getting rid of my current truck, even though I only have a Lance 815 now, I am moving up to a DRW.Why restrict your future camper choices just to have single wheels? There are plenty of nice campers in the 3k lb wet weight like the 915 you're using for your specs, but why not open the door to the bigger campers if you're changing trucks anyway?I've never had a dually and I didn't buy one when I bought my current 1 ton because I didn't want to deal with the 6 tires and the parking issues.....but in hindsight it would have been a small price to pay for the stability and GVWR!

Your GRAW is likely limited by the stock tires. Upgrading tires, possible to a 19.5" rim and tire would help.However, yes, you're asking a lot of the truck. Diesel engines are heavy, 4 x 4 is heavy, campers are heavy. I have a dually and with my TC and boat I'm over my GVWR by more than 2,000 pounds.

Just to let you know the base weight is nowhere close to what the actual truck will weigh. I had 2011 F350 4X4 King Ranch and it weighed over 8000#. That is without the diesel.

KD4UPL wrote:Your GRAW is likely limited by the stock tires. Upgrading tires, possible to a 19.5" rim and tire would help.However, yes, you're asking a lot of the truck. Diesel engines are heavy, 4 x 4 is heavy, campers are heavy. I have a dually and with my TC and boat I'm over my GVWR by more than 2,000 pounds.Exactly. The RAWR is tire/wheel based so an upgrade to those will allow you to keep a SRW. A DRW will handle the weight better, but that's not always an option. If DRW isn't an option then modify a SRW. I personally needed a SRW with about 7500# of RAWR, so I modified my 3500 SRW. I have a hellwig anti-sway bar, airbags, Bilstien Shocks, and 19.5" wheels tires rated at 4500/ea. It handles the weight great, of which 1200lbs is tongue weight and over 1100lbs is above the bed rails and 8' wide. I challenge any stock DRW to handle it as well, a modified DRW will win but a DRW should need modifications. Just like on my Dodge the F-350 uses the same frame for SRW/DRW and the same brakes. There are probably slight suspension differences that airbags can fix. The Sterling 10.5" axle has all the capacity you need, even if you maxed out a pair of 19.5's.

A little more research on Ford's spec sheet and I got some more numbers for specs. Rear wheels: 3590 eachTires: 3640 eachRear springs: 7000Rear axle: 7280 (Ford Sterling)So I see where the 7000 lbs rating is based on that spring pack rating, however the axle rating on the Ford Sterling doesn't seem that much higher. Does that seem right, or is the Ford Sterling much higher? Again, I'm more concerned about the manufacturers capacity for components, as in I have no problem upgrading tires and wheels and adding airbags or more leaves to the springs, but I want to make sure I'm not exceeding the axle rating as I have no way to upgrade that other than a new axle. And for all that cost, yes a DRW makes more sense. I prefer a SRW truck for the big reasons, parking, 4 tires vice 6... etc. However if the modification cost for the SRW truck is the same or more of the premium for a DRW truck, then getting the DRW makes more sense. I'm just trying to understand what I'm looking at....of course I could also just go Lance 815 and fit the whole thing in the long bed without needing an extension for towing...

F350 SRW weight limitations | Good Sam Community

twodownzero
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
I would get a DRW truck if I were you. In fact, if for whatever reason I end up getting rid of my current truck, even though I only have a Lance 815 now, I am moving up to a DRW.

Why restrict your future camper choices just to have single wheels? There are plenty of nice campers in the 3k lb wet weight like the 915 you're using for your specs, but why not open the door to the bigger campers if you're changing trucks anyway?

I've never had a dually and I didn't buy one when I bought my current 1 ton because I didn't want to deal with the 6 tires and the parking issues.....but in hindsight it would have been a small price to pay for the stability and GVWR!
KD4UPL
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
Your GRAW is likely limited by the stock tires. Upgrading tires, possible to a 19.5" rim and tire would help.
However, yes, you're asking a lot of the truck. Diesel engines are heavy, 4 x 4 is heavy, campers are heavy. I have a dually and with my TC and boat I'm over my GVWR by more than 2,000 pounds.
Butch50
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
Just to let you know the base weight is nowhere close to what the actual truck will weigh. I had 2011 F350 4X4 King Ranch and it weighed over 8000#. That is without the diesel.
AH64ID
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
KD4UPL wrote:
Your GRAW is likely limited by the stock tires. Upgrading tires, possible to a 19.5" rim and tire would help.
However, yes, you're asking a lot of the truck. Diesel engines are heavy, 4 x 4 is heavy, campers are heavy. I have a dually and with my TC and boat I'm over my GVWR by more than 2,000 pounds.

Exactly. The RAWR is tire/wheel based so an upgrade to those will allow you to keep a SRW.

A DRW will handle the weight better, but that's not always an option. If DRW isn't an option then modify a SRW.

I personally needed a SRW with about 7500# of RAWR, so I modified my 3500 SRW. I have a hellwig anti-sway bar, airbags, Bilstien Shocks, and 19.5" wheels tires rated at 4500/ea. It handles the weight great, of which 1200lbs is tongue weight and over 1100lbs is above the bed rails and 8' wide. I challenge any stock DRW to handle it as well, a modified DRW will win but a DRW should need modifications.

Just like on my Dodge the F-350 uses the same frame for SRW/DRW and the same brakes. There are probably slight suspension differences that airbags can fix. The Sterling 10.5" axle has all the capacity you need, even if you maxed out a pair of 19.5's.
zonanavystar
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
A little more research on Ford's spec sheet and I got some more numbers for specs.

Rear wheels: 3590 each
Tires: 3640 each
Rear springs: 7000
Rear axle: 7280 (Ford Sterling)

So I see where the 7000 lbs rating is based on that spring pack rating, however the axle rating on the Ford Sterling doesn't seem that much higher. Does that seem right, or is the Ford Sterling much higher? Again, I'm more concerned about the manufacturers capacity for components, as in I have no problem upgrading tires and wheels and adding airbags or more leaves to the springs, but I want to make sure I'm not exceeding the axle rating as I have no way to upgrade that other than a new axle. And for all that cost, yes a DRW makes more sense.

I prefer a SRW truck for the big reasons, parking, 4 tires vice 6... etc. However if the modification cost for the SRW truck is the same or more of the premium for a DRW truck, then getting the DRW makes more sense. I'm just trying to understand what I'm looking at.

...of course I could also just go Lance 815 and fit the whole thing in the long bed without needing an extension for towing...
AH64ID
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
I believe the rating of the Sterling 10.5" is 9,750lbs.
jefe_4x4
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
Here is a link to a' 4Weeler' piece on the Sterling 10.25 and 10.50-inch axles, by year and with some upgrades. It is dated June/2005, so may not be up to date.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/129-0506-ford-1025-1050-inch-axle-tips/
jefe
zonanavystar
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
anybody out there tow with a SRW long bed diesel with a 915? How does it do overall? I've seen lots of pictures of DRW trucks with the giant campers and towing larger trailers with the super truss hitches. I was hoping to go the smaller route with a 915 size camper and very short extension for towing all with a SRW truck. Any similar set-ups out there?
zonanavystar
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
And yes, I found the same data on the Ford Sterling. That number seems to be right. Thanks for the help with the research
Bedlam
Moderator
Aug 05, 2014
I tow up to 7000 lbs on a 21" SuperTruss behind my short bed with an Arctic Fox 811. When fully loaded, I can see 8000 lbs on the rear axle. The Sterling 10.5" axle does have a 9750 lb rating. The highest application by Ford is 7250 lbs.

My setup handles this well, but I am looking at Class 5 DRW trucks right now so I can upgrade my TC to one of the Mega TC's later while towing even heavier toys.

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