F350 truck camper certification

d3500ram wrote:
IIRC every dealer should have a booklet for thier trucks that lists every possible camper loading situation. I obtained one from Dodge years ago. If you get one of these for your Ford, you could look for a truck model with wheelbase, engine, transmission etc that closest resembles your truck in order to get an idea of the specifications.

My truck has the snow plow prep option which does not allow a camper package, hence I have the dubious "not recommended" disclaimer sheet. But I was able to find an almost exact TC loading diagram for the same options as my truck for the camper optioned truck to compare.

d3500ram,

You hit the nail on the head. Yes, they should have a booklet, and you'd think they would, but not all do. No one at this dealership was familiar with the loading tables I got from the Ford Truck forum. Furthermore, they said the "not recommended" form was simply boilerplate that Ford included to avoid liability in case I was speeding with my TC loaded (despite me pointing out that it was VIN specific). The example camper certification I got from a member on the forum was the first they'd ever seen.

I'm hoping to find what you found: a diagram for a similar truck.

Nick

Kayteg1 wrote:
I was custom ordering 2017 model of F350 dually and the only change for camper option was heavier front sway bar.
Since my camper takes load off front axle, I specifically was against the option.
Bottom line, scales show my 6500lb camper putting about 6700lb on rear axle .
Truck handles that just fine without modifications, although one time- having over 200lb of waste water in rear tanks made for heavier propulsioning.
Congratulations on new truck. Those things are real beast, although 95 mph governor is disappointment.
Consider adding sulastic hangers for better empty comfort.

That's interesting - I wonder if the differences change year-to-year. For 2018, the only difference (for an F350 DRW) is the front spring. Going from 5600 to 6000 lbs matches the camper config. Talk about beasts - which TC weighs 6500 lbs?

ardvark wrote:
OP posted on another site and I told him it really didn't matter, but this is something he really wants and the dealer can't find it and Ford won't give it to him since he doesn't have the official "camper" package. I think I got that right.

Someone here must have the same truck with the official statement from Ford showing recommended COG zone.

Hi ardvark - I don't recognize your name from the other thread but yes, you "got it right". In my field, we live by the expression "without data, all you have is an opinion". I certainly value the opinions expressed here - the depth of knowledge and experience is tremendous - but if hard data were readily available, I'd value that, too.

Thanks for helping clarify my request!

Nick

OP posted on another site and I told him it really didn't matter, but this is something he really wants and the dealer can't find it and Ford won't give it to him since he doesn't have the official "camper" package. I think I got that right.

Someone here must have the same truck with the official statement from Ford showing recommended COG zone.

RTCastillo wrote:
And more importantly, since it's new, will it retain the vehicle warranty with the mods?

Not a concern.
OP, conservatively, take whatever the listed payload for the truck is, which is somewhere between 5-6klbs? That is your available payload for a camper.
You may end up supplementing the rear suspension with a sway bar or some sort of load carrying add on if you get one of those 5-6klb campers, but the truck will handle it.

FWIW, "camper packages" are not a differnet truck. At best they have a sway bar or heavier sway bar and possibly stiffer springs, but better springs is highly unlikely in a dually as its already basically rated to max out the rear axle.

I was custom ordering 2017 model of F350 dually and the only change for camper option was heavier front sway bar.
Since my camper takes load off front axle, I specifically was against the option.
Bottom line, scales show my 6500lb camper putting about 6700lb on rear axle .
Truck handles that just fine without modifications, although one time- having over 200lb of waste water in rear tanks made for heavier propulsioning.
Congratulations on new truck. Those things are real beast, although 95 mph governor is disappointment.
Consider adding sulastic hangers for better empty comfort.

And more importantly, since it's new, will it retain the vehicle warranty with the mods?

IIRC every dealer should have a booklet for thier trucks that lists every possible camper loading situation. I obtained one from Dodge years ago. If you get one of these for your Ford, you could look for a truck model with wheelbase, engine, transmission etc that closest resembles your truck in order to get an idea of the specifications.

My truck has the snow plow prep option which does not allow a camper package, hence I have the dubious "not recommended" disclaimer sheet. But I was able to find an almost exact TC loading diagram for the same options as my truck for the camper optioned truck to compare.

Realistically, COG doesn’t matter. That is, your DRW will carry any TC as well as any other DRW with respect to COG.

To get your max payload, subtract your vehicle weight from 14K. Your vehicle weight is usually on the door sticker. The Ford insert is usually 900 lbs less than the max payload to account for 6 passengers. If it is not, go to a truck stop and weigh your truck.

Note, you’ll likely not have the tailgate on, but you’ll add weight when you put the tiedowns and tiedown mounts on.