I thought it would be a good idea to join this forum, as I just bought a truck and camper. I will be full-timing for at least a year, possibly longer. I would love your thoughts, tips, tricks, hints, and/or any caveats experienced truck campers out there might have to offer.Truck is a 2007 F350 6.0 diesel supercab long bed SRW. Camper is a 2013 Northstar 9.5 Igloo U.Here are some data points:Truck front axle curb weight: 4,560 lbs. (CAT scale)Truck rear axle curb weight: 2,960 lbs. (CAT scale)Truck gross weight: 7,520 lbs. (CAT scale)Truck GVWR: 11,400 lbs. (door sticker)Truck Front GAWR: 6,000 lbs. (door sticker)Truck Rear GAWR: 7,000 lbs. (door sticker)Truck Tire Max Load Pressure: 4,080/3,750 lbs. each (Nitto Terra Grappler G2 A/T LT295/70R18 E 129/126Q 10-ply)Camper wet weight: 2,960 lbs. (sticker)I have heard that Northstar weighs all of its campers individually before printing the stickers, and I have heard that VIN decoder curb weight data is pretty accurate, but I’ll take the truck with a full tank of diesel to a CAT station soon to find out what stuff really weighsA few question:1. I am taking this trip solo. Assuming 1,000 lbs. of gear (including myself), I should have no problems, weight-wise?2. Should I go ahead and install Timbrens and sway bar or should I first “wait and see,” as I have seen advised on some truck camper sites? Or do you think I will definitely want them, so go ahead and install them?3. Anything else I should do or anything you see about this setup stick out to you?Many thanks in advance.

Welcome and till you scale it with and without the TC it's hard to say.

Let us know the weights. TC looks ok...needs some shine IMO.

I would think the TC is well matched to the capacity of the truck. I'd put some miles on it with local trips so you don't get too far from home. See how it drives and handles and go from there.I hope you did a lot of research on the 6.0 Ford diesel. They are temperamental high maintenance engines at best, expensive pieces of junk at worst. A company I used to be involved with had me driving two of those things, the problems are many.

My wife and I full timed for a couple of years in an Igloo. I think you will find it to be a great choice. I would get the Timbrens and then see if anything else is needed. It should be fine. For full timing, I highly recommend adding AGM batteries and at least one solar panel over 100 watts, preferably two.

mountainkowboy wrote:Welcome and till you scale it with and without the TC it's hard to say.Thanks. I'll go to the CAT scale with the truck later this week. The RV dealer has a scale and can weigh the camper full of liquids. Once I've got the camper on the truck, I'll go to the scale again.KD4UPL wrote:I would think the TC is well matched to the capacity of the truck. I'd put some miles on it with local trips so you don't get too far from home. See how it drives and handles and go from there.I hope you did a lot of research on the 6.0 Ford diesel. They are temperamental high maintenance engines at best, expensive pieces of junk at worst. A company I used to be involved with had me driving two of those things, the problems are many.Thanks. I do plan to stick around the neighborhood for a while and troubleshoot systems, see what I might have forgotten, etc. And I'll take your advice and take shorter trips first before heading to Alaska. :)As I understood it, the 6.0 Powerstroke had design flaws but can be a very good engine if you take care of those flaws, and can potentially be an outstanding engine if those areas are really squared away. Like the 7.3 before it, it doesn't have all the modern emissions technology on it. My 6.0 only has 80K miles on it, so I'm tempted to take my 6.0 in to get it preemptively "bulletproofed."JimK-NY wrote:My wife and I full timed for a couple of years in an Igloo. I think you will find it to be a great choice. I would get the Timbrens and then see if anything else is needed. It should be fine. For full timing, I highly recommend adding AGM batteries and at least one solar panel over 100 watts, preferably two.Thanks. I believe the camper has 250 amps of AGM batteries, although I'm not sure of the condition yet. It has 150 watts of solar on top. Should I first wait and see if that meets my needs, or do you think I will definitely want to go ahead and double to 300 watts?

New-to-me truck and camper | Good Sam Community

37 Replies

d3500ram
Explorer III
Jul 23, 2019
I was pushing the limits of my wheels when I had an Arrow on my Dodge.
the scale will let you know what items might need to be upgraded.
dave17352
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2019
You could get one of the oasis? reports on your truck and see if it has had any problems. If it hasn't then just drive it right?

I had plenty of problems with my 2005 6.0 but that at 40k maybe you got a good one.
MG1912
Explorer
Jul 23, 2019
mountainkowboy wrote:
Welcome and till you scale it with and without the TC it's hard to say.

Thanks. I'll go to the CAT scale with the truck later this week. The RV dealer has a scale and can weigh the camper full of liquids. Once I've got the camper on the truck, I'll go to the scale again.

KD4UPL wrote:
I would think the TC is well matched to the capacity of the truck. I'd put some miles on it with local trips so you don't get too far from home. See how it drives and handles and go from there.
I hope you did a lot of research on the 6.0 Ford diesel. They are temperamental high maintenance engines at best, expensive pieces of junk at worst. A company I used to be involved with had me driving two of those things, the problems are many.

Thanks. I do plan to stick around the neighborhood for a while and troubleshoot systems, see what I might have forgotten, etc. And I'll take your advice and take shorter trips first before heading to Alaska. :)

As I understood it, the 6.0 Powerstroke had design flaws but can be a very good engine if you take care of those flaws, and can potentially be an outstanding engine if those areas are really squared away. Like the 7.3 before it, it doesn't have all the modern emissions technology on it. My 6.0 only has 80K miles on it, so I'm tempted to take my 6.0 in to get it preemptively "bulletproofed."

JimK-NY wrote:
My wife and I full timed for a couple of years in an Igloo. I think you will find it to be a great choice. I would get the Timbrens and then see if anything else is needed. It should be fine. For full timing, I highly recommend adding AGM batteries and at least one solar panel over 100 watts, preferably two.

Thanks. I believe the camper has 250 amps of AGM batteries, although I'm not sure of the condition yet. It has 150 watts of solar on top. Should I first wait and see if that meets my needs, or do you think I will definitely want to go ahead and double to 300 watts?
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2019
My wife and I full timed for a couple of years in an Igloo. I think you will find it to be a great choice. I would get the Timbrens and then see if anything else is needed. It should be fine. For full timing, I highly recommend adding AGM batteries and at least one solar panel over 100 watts, preferably two.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2019
I would think the TC is well matched to the capacity of the truck. I'd put some miles on it with local trips so you don't get too far from home. See how it drives and handles and go from there.
I hope you did a lot of research on the 6.0 Ford diesel. They are temperamental high maintenance engines at best, expensive pieces of junk at worst. A company I used to be involved with had me driving two of those things, the problems are many.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2019
Let us know the weights. TC looks ok...needs some shine IMO.
mountainkowboy
Explorer
Jul 23, 2019
Welcome and till you scale it with and without the TC it's hard to say.

Forum Discussion

New-to-me truck and camper

37 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Truck camper value

Truck camper match

New Truck Camper Forum Comments

Truck Camper Tie Downs

Truck camper towing a boat