Help! New to Truck-camper Camping
Hello, new to the forum and to trying to getting my family into truck camper camping (we are done with tents!). I have a 2001 Ford F250 SD 7.3 XLT 4x4 long bed (non-dually) with heavy duty overload sp...
Forum Discussion
I have almost the same truck and have a huge camper on. With a lot of mods and $, i'm comfortable with it, but it was a journey.
You say you have settled on a pop up, so those are much lighter than a hard sided slide camper like mine so I will give you my suggestions on suspension upgrades for your truck.
#1 Almost every dry weight you will see is a lie. Loaded up on top of that unknown dry weight is a wet weight (loaded up gear and water). That is what is important to know and your new setup should be weighed, especially the rear axle as soon as you get it.
#2 Fully air your tires up to the max, especially the rear.
#3 Leave your overloads, very important. I suggest upper stable loads to engage them sooner. I rarely have any air in my bags and don't really need them. If I put just a little too much air in my bags it lift my truck off of the overloads and I start to sway, BADLY.
#4 Get a rear sway bar. I like Roadmaster, Hellwig popular also.
Tires are the weakest link. Weigh your rear axle "Wet" and see if it's close to 6830 lbs. If so, I suggest new tires that can handle more weight. I used have 285X75X16 that were rated for 3750 (7500) for my old lighter camper, worked good.
I think with a small pop up and the mods I suggested, you will be fine. Those trucks (maintained properly) are very serviceable..
Here's the pig I haul on my 2002 Super Duty 7.3. Again, lots of mod$...
You say you have settled on a pop up, so those are much lighter than a hard sided slide camper like mine so I will give you my suggestions on suspension upgrades for your truck.
#1 Almost every dry weight you will see is a lie. Loaded up on top of that unknown dry weight is a wet weight (loaded up gear and water). That is what is important to know and your new setup should be weighed, especially the rear axle as soon as you get it.
#2 Fully air your tires up to the max, especially the rear.
#3 Leave your overloads, very important. I suggest upper stable loads to engage them sooner. I rarely have any air in my bags and don't really need them. If I put just a little too much air in my bags it lift my truck off of the overloads and I start to sway, BADLY.
#4 Get a rear sway bar. I like Roadmaster, Hellwig popular also.
Tires are the weakest link. Weigh your rear axle "Wet" and see if it's close to 6830 lbs. If so, I suggest new tires that can handle more weight. I used have 285X75X16 that were rated for 3750 (7500) for my old lighter camper, worked good.
I think with a small pop up and the mods I suggested, you will be fine. Those trucks (maintained properly) are very serviceable..
Here's the pig I haul on my 2002 Super Duty 7.3. Again, lots of mod$...
