Max Payload Question

^Good post!

Bare in mind that Ford truck outnumber Dodge and Chevy trucks combined by multifold. So when all brand have their failures, Ford is going to outnumber the competition.
I am not married do Ford and I had Chevy truck in the past, but there is more to truck ownership than reliability. When things break, you want service close and you want service fast. Dodge and Chevy did not do it for me.
Than the 1st year of aluminum body I bought in 2017 was really impressive and the 30k lb hitch is outspoken.
Oil pan gasket leak on their flagship 6.7l diesel was not, especially when you consider need to pull the engine out for few bucks gasket replacement
There are no easy choices in this life.

I don’t think anyone can really guarantee their product won’t fail. Unlike SuperSprings, airbags are infinitely adjustable. There’s a reason why people use each product besides the SuperSpring owners are the only smart ones. ;)

Feel free to post links with all of the Ford frame failures that are due to truck campers. Even the pictures that circulate on the internet I’ve seen have a trailer attached.

I recommend upgrading the rear leaf springs with SuperSprings. The work like overload springs but I would phone the people at the company directly. Unlike airbags they will never fail.

I found that Rancho XL adjustable shocks helped to prevent porposing from the load shifting onto the front wheels.

Ford pickups have had more than their share of frame failures with a slide-in camper load. Ford finally upgraded their truck frames in 2016 and were the last to do so.

moonlitsouls wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:

moonlitsouls wrote:


Here’s what I’m taking from this thread, I just bought the wrong truck for my camper. I’m going to be way overweight on the rear axle. What can I do?

You should load the camper on the truck. Load it with the typical stuff you will take camping and then weigh each axle. Then take a look at which modifications will work. It is highly likely you will want to beef up the rear suspension. Airbags may actually just make the ride worse and induce sway. You will probably need Supersprings and HD shocks. You are likely going to be well over the load ratings for the wheels and tires but within the axle load rating. If so don't hesitate. For safety sake alone you need to upgrade the wheels and tires to 19.5. That will cost in the range of $2500-3000 or more.

Trucks have excellent resale and relatively low depreciation. You could consider selling and buying a more suitable truck: a diesel DRW, 4x4.

Thanks Jim, i see you're in NY , by any chance do you know a good diesel mechanic relatively close to the city?

Why do you need a diesel mechanic?
For your suspension look for a spring n axle shop.

moonlitsouls wrote:

billtex wrote:

specta wrote:

ticki2 wrote:

specta wrote:
Brochure weight for my camper is 2826 lbs.
Fully loaded for camping it weighs 3960 lbs.
It takes 100 lbs off my front axle.
Rear axle empty, 2900 lbs. With camper, 10540 lbs.

I think you meant your total weight is 10540 lbs ,not just the rear axle .

Yep, not sure how I missed that. :)

Rear axle with camper 6960.

Thank you.

6960/2 = 3480 min per tire you will be all set. Although i would factor in a bit more on the tires just to have some safety factor.

My rear axle GAWR is 7000, how do I figure out rear axle empty weight?

Go to truck scale, get empty weight of front axle, total, rear axle.
You already have the TC, load up and repeat; front axle, total, rear axle.
You will very likely find all of TC weight is on rear axle (this is true for most of us). Upgrade tires to provide sufficient rear axle capacity (18” and 20” tires available in 129 LR off 4080# ea).
Take a couple of trips and see what you think. You may want the supersprings for an F250.
I am not a fan of airbags for TC’s.

One step at a time.
TC’s can take a bit of work to get setup. Once you dial it in, they are the BEST/ easiest RV’s to live with.
We will help you get there.

Bill

JimK-NY wrote:

moonlitsouls wrote:


Here’s what I’m taking from this thread, I just bought the wrong truck for my camper. I’m going to be way overweight on the rear axle. What can I do?

You should load the camper on the truck. Load it with the typical stuff you will take camping and then weigh each axle. Then take a look at which modifications will work. It is highly likely you will want to beef up the rear suspension. Airbags may actually just make the ride worse and induce sway. You will probably need Supersprings and HD shocks. You are likely going to be well over the load ratings for the wheels and tires but within the axle load rating. If so don't hesitate. For safety sake alone you need to upgrade the wheels and tires to 19.5. That will cost in the range of $2500-3000 or more.

Trucks have excellent resale and relatively low depreciation. You could consider selling and buying a more suitable truck: a diesel DRW, 4x4.

Thanks Jim, i see you're in NY , by any chance do you know a good diesel mechanic relatively close to the city?

specta wrote:

moonlitsouls wrote:

My rear axle GAWR is 7000, how do I figure out rear axle empty weight?

Find a place with a Cat Scale and have your truck weighed when its empty.

ok thanks

billtex wrote:

specta wrote:

ticki2 wrote:

specta wrote:
Brochure weight for my camper is 2826 lbs.
Fully loaded for camping it weighs 3960 lbs.
It takes 100 lbs off my front axle.
Rear axle empty, 2900 lbs. With camper, 10540 lbs.

I think you meant your total weight is 10540 lbs ,not just the rear axle .

Yep, not sure how I missed that. :)

Rear axle with camper 6960.

Thank you.

6960/2 = 3480 min per tire you will be all set. Although i would factor in a bit more on the tires just to have some safety factor.

I'm one of those overweight people. :B
Tires, 3195. I'm 285 over per tire.
Real axle, 6200. 760 over on the axle.