Ford F250 2003 Truck Camper Choice

90% of the truck campers have a weight that requires changes to the stock truck to carry the load safely. Your truck's axle and wheel bearings can handle up to 8900 lbs. but the springs and the rims and tires are rated for a lot less.

For the springs the easiest fix is SuperSprings that take an hour to install. You can get a set to increase the load capacity of your truck to either 4,000 lbs. or 5,000 lbs. (SSA-16 or SSA-13).

The rims load capacity depends on their construction as at least 4 different types of rims are commonly used on heavy duty pickup trucks. The rim width also can limit the tires that can be mounted. Most higher load range tires require a minimum rim width of 7.5 inches.

There are tires from Nitto, Toyo, Hankook, BFG, and possibly others, that can handle 3750 lbs. or more of load at 80 PSI. Going to 19.5 rims and tires you can get up to 4800 lbs. of load capacity per wheel though this is the more expensive approach with a price tag of around $3500 in total.

Get the springs installed, do whatever is needed with the wheels and tires, add tie-downs, and install an electrical receptacle in the bed, buy some turnbuckles, and you will be ready to go shopping and be able to load the camper in the bed and take it home.

Plan on a road weight for travel of 1000 lbs. over the camper manufacturer's listed dry weight for the camper and you will be in the ballpark. When you get the camper you can spend $10 at a CAT scale and get the exact weight of your rig.

Be aware that the great majority of people with hard sided campers have had to do a lot of modifications to their trucks to handle the load effectively. Even a 1-ton DRW truck is not going to be great in 100% stock form.

A slide camper at 2,080 pounds? No.
A slide camper on that truck with a lot of modifications? Yes.
Most people hauling TC are over their GVWR. Usually they go by axle and tire weights just like the commercial trucking industry. If you do your homework, watch closes all the limits of the tires, wheels, axle, springs, etc you can make something work. You will likely need some aftermarket shocks, sway bars, helper springs, etc.

I have a 2005 Lance 845 on a 2006 Ford F250 4x4. These things are heavy, and the manufactures weights are insanely optimistic. The sticker on my camper says it has a wet weight of 2,700 lbs. It lies. Loaded, and with normal gear, clothing, and food for 2 people it tips the scales at just over 4k lbs.

Take a look at the Truck Camper Magazine buyers guide located here:

Truck Camper Magazine Buyers Guide

Look at their estimation of the real weights of the campers. That will give you a feel for how much some units are going to weigh.

I'll be watching this tread with interest because it sounds like our trucks are very similar. I also have a 2003F250 long bed 2wd. My truck has airbags but I need to repair the airlines in order to make them functional. I'm pretty sure I'd like upper stable loads in addition to the airbags.

This summer is our timeline for purchase of our truckcamper.


REX

Adventurer has several no-slide models that are less than 2,000 lbs.
http://www.amlrv.com/adventurer-truck-campers/adventurer-truck-camper-weights-and-measures/

Our 2002 F-250 7.3L shortbox supercab 4x4 handles the Adventurer 80W real nice, no modifications were required.

phurley wrote:
I have a Ford F250 that is paid off and would like to use with a truck camper. I have been using it with a TT.

It's specifications are 4x2 Crew Cab Wheelbase 156.2" GVWR 8,800 Maximum Cargo 2,080

I am looking for something that has a slide. Is that possible with my maximum cargo at 2,080?

With that years Super Duty, 250 and 350 are basically the same except for 2" and 4"blocks in the rear, it's a good platform. Mines an 02 4X4 burt similar. You have to spend some money to beef it, i'm in the process. You won't find hardly anything, especially with a slide to stay within those numbers, so if you're not comfortable with that, forget it, IMO.

I have added aftermarket wheels and tires that are rated for well over 7k per axle (VERY IMPORTANT), along with airbags, upper bump stops to engage the overloads sooner,Huge rear sway bar, tuner with tow and decel tunes.

You have to be careful choosing a camper if you go this route, numbers on the campe sticker lie and you will never know the true weight until you load it up and hit the scales. The camper I chose has a slide and is 9'6" and not very light, but less than some like Arctic Foxes. Mine also has a COG very far forward to put some weight up front. When I bought mine and hit the scale loaded up it was 6220 rear axle weight, not terrible for a slide, I have some tongue weight and grocery space left, just no dry camping (tanks empty) while transporting my boat.

I have been carrying a 3000 pound wet weight 9'6" S&S TC for several years no problem on my F-250. Schwab E rated tires rated at about 3475 pound capacity each, Firestone air bags, front and rear sway bars, remove the tail gate = 100~ pound more capacity. Need to get new Shocks, Ranchos. Your load rating may be higher since you are 4x2 and more again if you have a 5.4 liter gasser. Check your weight limits a bit more. There might be something for you. We are totally happy with our setup, no slide. Is a slide that important?

I don't think you will find anything with a slide with that weight restriction. Even the lightest hard side camper without slide will be in the 3000 lb range.