Thank you for everyone's input....it is really very helpful. Had we come out of a popup and headed toward a truck camper, this would be far easier than trying to move form a 40-foot fiver to a truck camper. The reality is that I'm really the one that has to deal with such a big rig. My wife won't drive the truck when we're towing...so I have to pull, back in, maintenance it, wash it, etc. So for them...all the space you could want, dedicated bunk house, two bathrooms, etc. -- it's a sweet deal. So we'll have to see how this pans out.
I did find a truck I'd like...and I did work some numbers with a dealer that are palatable -- including the amount they'll give me on trade for my existing truck. I am a little confused by the weight stickers, though -- and was hoping someone can help me determine where the weak link is in the truck.
Truck has a 14K lb GVWR. Right before it got onto a delivery truck to be brought to the dealer, the truck was weighed in at 7,934 lbs. Let's just call that 8,000 lbs. My math shows the available payload should then be 6,000 lbs. Sticker on the door shows 5,300 lbs. So where is that extra 700 lbs going? If the tank is mostly empty -- and it holds 37 gallons -- that could make up 275 lbs of it. So then where would the extra 400 lbs be going? Truck is equipped with 17.5" wheels, but I'm not sure which tires. Am sure it's whatever Ford puts on all of these 17.5"-equpped duallies. Any input to the mystery here? Is there a weak link somewhere that is keeping that truck form reaching its full potential? Axle is rated at 9,650 lbs, btw.
Thanks again.
