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 springs and stock front swaybar that was basically given to me (everything else is stock). I bought a nice 1978 Lance cab-over-camper with a dry weight of 1,950 lbs. Needless to say, for some reason, this was WAY to much camper for the truck...even when driving like a granny the sway was almost uncontrollable. I ended up giving away the camper.
I don't know if it was the camper (which may have had heavy mods before I bought it, i.e. weighing more than the stated 1,950lbs) or the truck's suspension just couldn't handle it. FYI, the ride is crazy bouncy when not under load, which tells me the suspension is doing its job (?) Other info, the camper I had was fricking huge...it stuck out over the rear bumper 4+ feet and was very tall.
I will mostly have the camper on the truck towing a small zodiac inflatable boat for SCUBA diving, however, I will use the truck unloaded. I also want my wife to be able to drive the rig if necessary...i.e., simple and straightforward driving without white knuckling it. Long story short, I have decided to go the pop-up camper route...however, quite a few of theses campers still have a dry weight of 1,650+ lbs. and I am worried about ending up in the same situation.
Do I:
- Remove the overload spring and replace with air bags (they say it's an either/or situation)
- Keep the overload springs and add full StableLoad kit
- Choose either one and add a rear sway bar
I know there is probably something I have left out, but I hate feeling at the mercy of a non-camper hauling dude telling me what mods I need to do. I see older and same year/model F250's and even F150's hauling massive campers with multiple popouts with no problem...what am I missing?? Thanks!!
Dan
I don't know if it was the camper (which may have had heavy mods before I bought it, i.e. weighing more than the stated 1,950lbs) or the truck's suspension just couldn't handle it. FYI, the ride is crazy bouncy when not under load, which tells me the suspension is doing its job (?) Other info, the camper I had was fricking huge...it stuck out over the rear bumper 4+ feet and was very tall.
I will mostly have the camper on the truck towing a small zodiac inflatable boat for SCUBA diving, however, I will use the truck unloaded. I also want my wife to be able to drive the rig if necessary...i.e., simple and straightforward driving without white knuckling it. Long story short, I have decided to go the pop-up camper route...however, quite a few of theses campers still have a dry weight of 1,650+ lbs. and I am worried about ending up in the same situation.
Do I:
- Remove the overload spring and replace with air bags (they say it's an either/or situation)
- Keep the overload springs and add full StableLoad kit
- Choose either one and add a rear sway bar
I know there is probably something I have left out, but I hate feeling at the mercy of a non-camper hauling dude telling me what mods I need to do. I see older and same year/model F250's and even F150's hauling massive campers with multiple popouts with no problem...what am I missing?? Thanks!!
Dan
