Camper Package on F-350
Looking at used F-350 Dually's for my camper. Not seeing many with the camper package. Anyone found a solution to modify F-350 for that so it can carry large camper safely?
Forum Discussion
Since you’ve been around this forum for a longtime and I remember your participation I’ll assume your question is serious.
A dually, any dually, any make, virtually any year will be the highest GVW offering in a class 3 vehicle.
I don’t even know what a camper package consists of on the rigs you’re looking at. But it’s almost certainly not safety (weight carrying) related and it’s not offering tie downs. So buy whatever dually you want and then outfit it to receive a camper. Which is basically adding tie downs and a bed mat if it doesn’t have one. And possibly an extension to the plug in for the camper lights.
Since you’re unspecific about the camper and its weight, can’t recommend any suspension upgrades or their necessity.
If you identify the camper and the specific truck we can tell yoo what yoo need.
Camper weighs Front 4000 Back 7375 on my current 99 SRW F350 w/V10
I also have 19.5 vision wheels and tires along with upper and lower torklift along with the camper package on that truck.
Been looking around at what is out there thinking of getting a newer truck. Haven't fully decided to switch to DRW or stay with SRW. If I do decide to stay with SRW I would keep the 19.5 wheels and tires. I think they would fit and the new truck would be right at the max spec for the rear weight not way over spec like it is on my 99 F350.
I think Ford is putting a sheet in the glove box now that says truck is not certified to carry slide-in camper if the truck wasn't ordered with camper package.
I do think a dually would carry my camper better than my SRW F350 but am exploring what other DRW owners have done to suspension especially if the truck didn't have the camper package.
Would like to stick with gas engine since I don't drive a lot of miles.
so if you put the springs from a dually on your f350 SRW it will ride pretty close to the same as a dually (going to start a whole argument here, please don't lets take that argument to a different topic) it won't legally raise your load carrying legally, but it will be very similar to a dually with out the extra width. then add the sway bar, a Hellwig bigwig is a very good one. ya the springs and sway bar will cost a big but it is not a lot compared to getting a new vehicle. how much are you over the rear axel weight right now?
the camper package actually has nothing to do with a camper, just a old name carried forward over time, springs and a sway bar is pretty much it if you get a gas motor, if you have diesel you already have the front springs so its just rear springs and a sway bar.
as for the gas / diesel debate engine weight is minimal, in the ford its 480lbs difference over the base, and 400lbs difference over the 7.3 gas (including all the parts that go with it) so with campers engine weight isn't an issue unless you want to put a motor bike carrier on a front receiver and haul a Harley. seeing you have the V10 that is probably less of a difference.
as for the reason you stated of low milage, I am not sure that I would go that way either.. gas goes bad diesel pretty much lasts forever, where gas starts to degrade in 3 to 4 months diesel can go up to 2 years before you have to worry about it. so just from a fuel system standpoint for something that's not used as much the diesel is better.
Thanks for posting.
Dually springs on a SWR haven't heard of that. It rides perfectly level now with the lower stableloads. Always thought the better stability of the duallys was due to the wider stance. Have you actually done this? How much is due to the springs and how much does the wider stance contribute to the increased stability?
Ok that’s good info. So you have a truck camper already and it probably weighs 4200-4500lbs. Based on your axle loads.
your 19.5s will fit all newer srw Fords but not GM or Ram.
Any newer dually will haul it fine with no mods. Probably less roll than your 99. Stiffer frame after 2017 as well.
but you may want to engage the overloads for the least body roll.
Gas duallys are fairly scarce. As are 2wd of course. Especially scarce if you want anything bigger or fancier than a XL ext cab.You are right very scarce finding a gas dually. Of course I could order new exactly what I want but not worth the expense for miles I drive. I also use my truck for hauling gravel and misc.
Would actually be ok with 2WD for lower COG and easier for my wife to get but those are even scarcer.
