Hi All,I have been lurking here for about a week, absorbing and reading all I can on TCs since I have never owned an RV. I am impressed with how everyone here shares info and experience. This is a fantastic resource. As a young(er) man, I used to build/install cabinets for RVs, so I am not unfamiliar with the major components, but building and owning RVs are two different things.I have a good friend who is selling his 97 F350 Diesel 7.3L Crew Cab XLT (SRW) and 97 Fleetwood Caribou 11G. He is the second owner. The truck and camper appear to be mint, stored in a pole building for much of their life. The truck is unbelievably nice for its age and mileage (175,000m) and the camper appears to be amazingly clean, no issues, as I said, stored inside for most, if not all of its life.My friend has never taken the rig out for a camping trip (long story). I wont say how much $$ or where since I haven't made the deal yet - but suffice to say I am excited about the possibility of acquisition. He is letting me use it on a trial basis to check it out mechanically, etc and to see if it is a good fit for me and my family.My two teenage sons and myself have only been tent camping/backpacking up to this point, and intend to continue backpacking with this rig as a base. We hope to bring my wife along for some of the less remote camping we are planning for this season. The only negative thing at this point is there is no genset in the camper.My questions: 1. Is this too much camper for the chassis (not a dual rear wheel axle) 2. Were the Caribou's built pre-wired and plumbed for a LP genset? 3. Is the Caribou obsolescence an issue?Thanks in advance for any help. Once I take possession, I will post pics of my "commissioning" trip.- geoff

Is the Caribou obsolescence an issue?You don't mention prices but as a prior owner of a Fleetwood truck camper my advice is to keep looking unless you can get it for $3500 or less then maybe bite. Anything more, move on.

jmtandem wrote: Is the Caribou obsolescence an issue?You don't mention prices but as a prior owner of a Fleetwood truck camper my advice is to keep looking unless you can get it for $3500 or less then maybe bite. Anything more, move on.Thanks for the reply - Based on prices for this particular truck and its condition, I would say that the package price is only slightly more than the resale value of the truck alone.geoff

Generator on board is not always a wonderful thing in a truck camper... Once you turn it on you have the noise to deal with and if you have the back door open, you have the exhaust coming in depending on the wind flow. Honda makes a nice quiet generator and, yes, you have to deal with hauling fuel... but I wanted to weigh in on those two points before you tossed this rig aside just because of that.Dual rear wheels do not necessarily mean it can carry more load than a good set of 19.5 's... a few extra leaf springs.. a good set of fire stone air bags to balance the weight (not carry the weight) and you'd be okay.We've got a 1999 F-350 long bed with crew cab... carrying a big heavy 9.5 Host camper (single slide). That's how we adapted to the extra leaf springs, air bags, better shocks and 19.5 wheels and tires.

sasquatchgeoff wrote:Hi All,I have been lurking here for about a week7 ...My questions: 1. Is this too much camper for the chassis (not a dual rear wheel axle) 2. Were the Caribou's built pre-wired and plumbed for a LP genset? 3. Is the Caribou obsolescence an issue?- geoffI am not qualified to comment on 1) and 3). However from my personal experience, LP gen sets are noisy and expensive to operate. They use LP like it is going out of style. Get a Honda EU2000i unit. It is quiet, lite weight, will provide all the power you will use and is very easy on gasoline.LeRoy

Again, thanks for the input. The rig has a front hitch, so I was thinking of interim COG adjustment via a hitch-mount carrier rack with firewood, water, etc. I know it has air shocks, but I will check into the leaf springs and the air bags. I have a 4WD suspension shop two blocks from my house here in Portland.- geoff

New Member, New (to me) Truck/TC Jitters | Good Sam Community

Vinsil
Explorer
Apr 09, 2016
I lost a lot of sway going to 19.5's, they are incredibly stiff and I'm not interested in a sway bar now. I'd opt for the 245's as well. Do listen to the above when adjusting you bags, you want it on the overloads.

When you change the coolant, make sure to use the proper coolant. Those 7.3's will last a long time, but improper coolant will eat the water passages. Buy a spare cps sensor, throw it in the glove box and a 10mm wrench. It will fail and your truck won't run.

Great trucks, my 95 had 200k on it and it went another home...still going last I heard.

You can replace your flat and pinched down pipe, make your own intake with 4" pvc and put a BHAF and see better mielage, cooler temps and if you chip it, more power.

Change the oil every 5k or less, keep your injectors happy and reduce stiction.

Nice setup, decent price on the setup.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 09, 2016
No doubt that rig does the rock n roll down the road. Mine does too being a srw truck supported on bags with a big arse camper.
From the pics you may have aired up enough that the overloads aren't kicking in and you're bouncing on the airbags.
Few things that will help that significantly.
Never ran 19.5s with a high profile load like that but I'm pretty certain they will not help the "feel" greatly. They will add good factor of safety to the wheel department though.
Getting all the springs engaged and not floating on bags, via stable loads or letting the rear susp set into the overloads, and a sway bar if it doesn't have one will be the 2 biggest contributors to a stable ride short of being a dually imo.
Anyway great looking setup. Many fun memories about to start there!
sasquatchgeoff
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2016
Thanks everyone for the great and informative comments. The PO said he paid $17K for the rig 3 years ago. Because of the dent, natural depreciation, and the need for wheels & tires, I intend to offer him $13.5K and keep an extra $1500 in my back pocket just in case.

My justification for wheels/tires is driving at highway speed seems a little squirrely, and I have heard that there is great lateral stability improvement with the upgrade to 19.5's

Of course, I am interested in feedback as I am still only in the "consideration" phase. I greatly appreciate the help.

The color is metallic red - cleaned up it is really gorgeous.

geoff
Bedlam
Moderator
Apr 09, 2016
The 225/70R19.5's max out around 4000 lbs each. Get the 245's instead and you will be able to run a lower more comfortable air pressure with the same weight rating even if the tires approach 5000 lb ratings and you don't need it.
GTO66
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2016
Nice looking rig. While I have a duramax that 7.3 has many miles left.I have a friend who just turned four hundred forty thousand miles on his 7.3, ford shot themselves in the foot when they let that motor get away. My alpenlite has an on board generator that's loud and sucks propane.If it is not run every two weeks its hard to start,stalls and runs rough.I bought a 2400 Yamaha I take when dry camping for the a/c as camping here in the south without a/c is no fun. Make sure the front window and marker lights are well sealed as that's an area that's prone to leak.Enjoy
nomadictxn
Explorer
Apr 09, 2016
Wow. That is a sharp truck and camper set up! If you buy that, I hope you enjoy!
ticki2
Explorer
Apr 09, 2016
Looks like a nice clean turn key setup . While you have it you should get it weighed .

If those are stock aluminum wheels I think they were made by Alcoa , if so they are plenty strong . You might be able to just upgrade tires . Worth looking in to .

Since it sat so long the BU lights may be bad connection at the plug . Try taking t on and off a few times .

Good luck
Bonesquatch
Explorer
Apr 09, 2016
Nice looking rig. There's something pleasing to the eye about the more angular, older trucks and TC's to my eye. Hope it works out well and looking forward for the inside photos!
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 09, 2016
Looks sweet, congrats on the new setup.
Is the truck red or that metallic orange/rust color? Either way it looks nice but the metallic orange Ford had for a while really popped.
sasquatchgeoff
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2016
Update on the Ford F350 w/Caribou. Yesterday I picked her up. We put 90 psi in the airbags and loaded the camper.

Truck
First of all, it is a 1996 XLT (not 97 as I was told) and as it turns out, has only 145K miles. Also, it already has air bags. The engine seems to be running great. There is a very tiny oil leak, and when I say tiny, I mean less than half a teaspoon after driving 150 miles.

Engine is clean up top, and free of visible oil leaks.

The underside is amazingly clean, and the transmission is smooth shifting and free of leaks. Brakes are solid.

The interior is straight, no cracks in dash, and no tears in the upholstery. Glass is all straight with no cracks.

There is a slight dent which looks to be easily pulled out in the right rear forward of the fender. No rust (Central Oregon vehicle, always stored in garage).

Camper:
It is a 97 Caribou 11G. Has the bunk over the dinette option, and a dry bath. Have not tested the appliances, but was told they all work fine. The interior has no musty smells, no water stains. Everything is really clean, and in good repair.

For some reason, the backup lights are not working on the camper - all other illumination is fine.

Things that I will need:
I will need to get new wheels (19.5's) and tires (likely Hankook AH-11 225/70R19.5). I figure if I have to wait 4 months for Ricksons, then I can settle for Visions. My 4X4 shop close to my house said he would price match whatever I found online.

More pics here

I have it for about 3 weeks now to try out. I will post interior pics, and some pics in the field during trials.

geoff