Another truck and camper match question...
Let's start with...I am a professional worrier, so reading about others' experiences doesn't really help to reassure me with my own concerns. And,unfortunately, all the literature on matching trucks ...
Forum Discussion
Hi All,
First, THANK YOU to each of you for your thoughtful and detailed replies. I genuinely appreciate the time you all took to do so.
So...today I test drove a diesel, long bed F350 in a crew cab. No, we are not getting diesel, or long bed, or crew cab. But the dealer had no available 350 with the adjustable seats and pedals for me to drive. On top of everything else...I am short, so the adjustable pedals and seat are a necessity. The dealer wanted me to get an idea of how I would feel in the 350. And, as he pointed out, if I felt okay in a long bed with a crew cab, then moving down in size to super cab and a regular bed would make sense.
Bottom line? I liked it!
To address a few of the things many of you raised, in no particular order...
1. The price difference here in NJ between a GM (either Chev or GMC) 2500 to a 3500 was literally about 8-10K. That was way beyond negotiating room.
2. The price difference between a 250 to 350 was less than 1K, meaning less than the cost of any future mods to add leaf springs to the back or airbags, if I felt a 250 needed more.
3. The price difference between the F350 and a 3500 (either brand) was about 5-7K, again, beyond negotiating space.
4. GM 3500, as someone noted, does NOT come in an extended cab, only a regular or crew cab. F350 DOES come in a supercab. My husband and I were pretty much set on an extended/supercab for the added interior storage space.
5. Regarding the Ford warranty, the official Ford literature specifically states that if you use the truck for a slide in truck-camper and don't purchase the added "camper certification" ($160. for the "cert" plus something extra to the front suspension), then any damage that happens to the suspension that could possibly have occurred from the slide in camper use will void the original warranty. I know, go talk to a lawyer...my husband still practices law and I stopped practicing about 25 years ago. From a contracts perspective, I wasn't willing to risk voiding a warranty (remember...professional worrier here), even though I doubt the suspension would sustain any damage.
6. Ford publishes additional literature specifically about slide in truck-campers and calculates the weight ratings and limits for them, based on axle ratings and center of gravity. These ratings are lower than payload numbers. The 250 rating (2626 pounds for a fully loaded slide in) would be making it very close when the dry weight of the camper allegedly is 1818. The F350 adds about another 450 pounds.
7. GM previously published similar guidelines, but no GM dealer could tell me if they still did so. I located GM literature from 2000, but nothing current. And I wasn't satisfied with a salesman saying "it should be okay."
So, we are ordering the F350. Delivery should be in about 6-8 weeks. Until then, the camper dealer is holding onto the camper. I am so looking forward to having it all done.
Your collective information helped direct me further in my research. Now, one less thing to worry about and allow me to enjoy the road more! Thanks!
Lee-Ann
First, THANK YOU to each of you for your thoughtful and detailed replies. I genuinely appreciate the time you all took to do so.
So...today I test drove a diesel, long bed F350 in a crew cab. No, we are not getting diesel, or long bed, or crew cab. But the dealer had no available 350 with the adjustable seats and pedals for me to drive. On top of everything else...I am short, so the adjustable pedals and seat are a necessity. The dealer wanted me to get an idea of how I would feel in the 350. And, as he pointed out, if I felt okay in a long bed with a crew cab, then moving down in size to super cab and a regular bed would make sense.
Bottom line? I liked it!
To address a few of the things many of you raised, in no particular order...
1. The price difference here in NJ between a GM (either Chev or GMC) 2500 to a 3500 was literally about 8-10K. That was way beyond negotiating room.
2. The price difference between a 250 to 350 was less than 1K, meaning less than the cost of any future mods to add leaf springs to the back or airbags, if I felt a 250 needed more.
3. The price difference between the F350 and a 3500 (either brand) was about 5-7K, again, beyond negotiating space.
4. GM 3500, as someone noted, does NOT come in an extended cab, only a regular or crew cab. F350 DOES come in a supercab. My husband and I were pretty much set on an extended/supercab for the added interior storage space.
5. Regarding the Ford warranty, the official Ford literature specifically states that if you use the truck for a slide in truck-camper and don't purchase the added "camper certification" ($160. for the "cert" plus something extra to the front suspension), then any damage that happens to the suspension that could possibly have occurred from the slide in camper use will void the original warranty. I know, go talk to a lawyer...my husband still practices law and I stopped practicing about 25 years ago. From a contracts perspective, I wasn't willing to risk voiding a warranty (remember...professional worrier here), even though I doubt the suspension would sustain any damage.
6. Ford publishes additional literature specifically about slide in truck-campers and calculates the weight ratings and limits for them, based on axle ratings and center of gravity. These ratings are lower than payload numbers. The 250 rating (2626 pounds for a fully loaded slide in) would be making it very close when the dry weight of the camper allegedly is 1818. The F350 adds about another 450 pounds.
7. GM previously published similar guidelines, but no GM dealer could tell me if they still did so. I located GM literature from 2000, but nothing current. And I wasn't satisfied with a salesman saying "it should be okay."
So, we are ordering the F350. Delivery should be in about 6-8 weeks. Until then, the camper dealer is holding onto the camper. I am so looking forward to having it all done.
Your collective information helped direct me further in my research. Now, one less thing to worry about and allow me to enjoy the road more! Thanks!
Lee-Ann
