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Sparky87k5's avatar
Sparky87k5
Explorer
May 30, 2013

Upgraded truck

After completing a 6 week 16 state 7203 mile trip with my Eagle Cap 850 on my 04 F250SC 4x4 short box (8800GVW)equipted with air bags and everything going well for the most part I decided I was ready to start pulling my boat as well. Boat/trailer weighs about 2500#'s and trailer has no brakes. Truck and camper weigh about 10,500. Somehow I couldn't get these combined numbers to bring about a feeling of comfort. Although I never lacked for power on the trip, I did have a few issues with handling in winds and on country windy roads and was not feeling very good about being near maximum load on the rear tires.

After much consideration I sold my beloved truck that I had had since new and only had 76k miles and purchased a 2000 F350 CC DRW 4x4 long box (11,200GVW) with 77k miles. What a night and day difference. I now feel I have a truly safe truck for hauling the TC and towing the boat. I'm only sorry I didn't do this sooner.
Truck Campers
  • Sparky87k5's avatar
    Sparky87k5
    Explorer
    May 31, 2013
    Bedlam wrote:
    I have the updated 2005 version of your previous truck with a 9.8K lb GVWR and 23K lb GCWR.


    I spent almost an hour a week or so back studying your "profile" to see what you had done to your truck as your camper and mine are very much alike in weight and equipment. I looked closely at the mods you did to your truck and worked up an estimate that it would cost me. I probably would have gone this route because I really loved my old truck and had done many mods to it.

    If this DRW truck hadn't popped up on CL for a very good price I would still be going that direction. One look at this low mileage DRW CC and my mind was made up. Called a buddy that has wanted to buy my truck for years and with the deal done became the owner of my present truck.

    Thanks for being so detailed in your truck specs. It helps many to know what worksfor hauling TC's.


    mooring product wrote:
    I also just upgraded from an 03 F250 8800# to a 2012 3500 Mega cab dually. Sadly I havent had the chance to try out my new setup.


    It's really surprising how much these trucks will haul for 3/4 tons.
  • kerry4951's avatar
    kerry4951
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    You made a wise move. Using a dually for any decent size TC is the way to go.
  • okeehandyman's avatar
    okeehandyman
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    No matter what "they" say, I don't think you can beat a dually for hauling a TC! I know I wish I still had mine. When the 2500 I have needs replacing, I'll get another dually.
  • mooring_product's avatar
    mooring_product
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    I also just upgraded from an 03 F250 8800# to a 2012 3500 Mega cab dually. Sadly I havent had the chance to try out my new setup.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    May 30, 2013
    I have the updated 2005 version of your previous truck with a 9.8K lb GVWR and 23K lb GCWR. It hauls the the TC and pulls the trailer fine, but I would have chosen DRW if I had started without a truck to get a wider stance. After 10K miles of using this setup and a 5K mile trip coming up, I have tweaked the TV so I am comfortable towing and hauling with it (am looking forward to driving it the same route I pulled an 11K lb TH). We just returned to western side of the state from Moses Lake, WA hauling about 18.5K GCW without issues except for the poor performance of 19.5" wheels in the the sand/ash mix in the dunes.
  • wcjeep's avatar
    wcjeep
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    Always nice to feel safe. Before you do airbags on the new truck check out the Torklift Stable Loads. Two different versions will likely work on the new truck.

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