3/4 ton truck suggestions for 4x4 truck camping

[Naturalsight]

I am looking for suggestions for purchase of new 3/4 ton truck for 4x4 truck camping. I will be doing a combination of around town driving both with and without the popup camper on and 1-4 week trips with a couple of light weight kayaks loaded on top of the popup camper.

[David_Okkema]

Steve_in_29 wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
The only bad thing I can say about the GM trucks is that they sit lower. Once you are in sand and start to drag your frame, suspension or axle, your day gets much harder.

Not sure about current GM products but in the past they also had less load capacity.

My 2007 F350 SRW has the same GVWR as a 2007 GM Dually....11,400 pounds.

not anymore

[David_Okkema]

2500hd gas 2011 or later Chev or GMC..diesels are heavy for off roading independent front end on GM is better off road then straight axle..2011 and later have heavier frame and are stonger for TCs but u will hear lots of opinions..Ive owned them all and have had the best bang for the buck with the chevs..I own both diesel and gas

oh and get some timbrens...that's all u need

[Steve_in_29]

Bedlam wrote:
The only bad thing I can say about the GM trucks is that they sit lower. Once you are in sand and start to drag your frame, suspension or axle, your day gets much harder.

Not sure about current GM products but in the past they also had less load capacity.

My 2007 F350 SRW has the same GVWR as a 2007 GM Dually....11,400 pounds.

[Steve_in_29]

RWDIII wrote:
all the F350 that I have noticed have Commercial tags.Means more money for the State and you can use it for work

This varies by State. Here in CA ALL pickup trucks get commercial tags (pay weight fees to DMV) unless they have a truck topper or camper permanently mounted on them.

If you do this to avoid the weight fees don't ever take it off as they use different numbering then car plates so it's EASY for an LEO to tell if you are legal or not.

[NEOK]

The most important decision you need to make is to match the camper weight including all the stuff you load into it plus the weight of you and all passengers to the weight of the truck. If you stick with a pop up camper and know you will never upgrade to a camper above the capacity of a 3/4 ton truck it should do fine.

[Bedlam]

The only bad thing I can say about the GM trucks is that they sit lower. Once you are in sand and start to drag your frame, suspension or axle, your day gets much harder.

[mellow]

Here in MD they ding you more taxes/tags for 1 ton vs 3/4 ton, so take a look at that in your state.

Out on the beach which is what I do a lot in the summer 4x4 with my TC I mostly see Ford F250's being the most popular size. My 250 does the job well in 4x4 with a camper on the back.

I have noticed the guys with chevys do get help pretty quick, the ford guys like to be seen towing a chevy behind them back out to the blacktop, maybe there is something to be said about that.

[wvabeer]

I bet your sorry you asked that question. I say get what you like if doesn't haul it right modify it so it hauls it and just stay within your rear tire capacity. The main thing is to have fun. Thats all that matters.

[RWDIII]

all the F350 that I have noticed have Commercial tags.Means more money for the State and you can use it for work

[zcookiemonstar]

RWDIII wrote:
Get the one you want,all the big three are good.
I got a F250 with HD springs,since in Ariz trucks over 10000 GVW must have commercial tags.

What does having commercial tags mean? is it just more money? are you limited where you can drive or park? I am considering moving to AZ. in the near future and am also considering a 350/3500 series truck.

[lonegunman]

You get the 1" back if you put 18" tires and wheels off the F-350 on your F-250. That's what I did.

I have a 2011 F-250 with the heavy duty and camper packages, both. It is identical to my buddies 2011 F-350 suspension wise. The difference was tires and wheels and I bought the same tires and wheels when my tires needed replaced.

[Steve_in_29]

JIMNLIN wrote:

I believe you are confusing the spring rating with the rating of the axle. The link you provide lists only two AXLE ratings,
F250 - 6200lbs
F350 - 7200lbs

While the numbers you quote are what I see listed for the spring packs.

So no matter what spring package gets selected on an F250, it's rear axle isn't as strong as the F350's with the same spring rating

The link I provided gives the F350 SRW trucks RAWR as 6290 or 6730 or 7000 lb depending on spring pack selections which is what we find on Fords door placard.

As Bedlam says the F250/F350 SRW uses the same Sterling rear axle. The different spring packs/tires and wheel ratings determines the different RAWR numbers.

Where are you coming up with 6200 and 7200 numbers as a RAWR.
I'm looking at 3/4 ton gas trucks right now. Every F250 6.2 4x4 crew cab 18" wheels and tires I've found has a 6100 RAWR on the door tag.

Page 88 of the link provided by JIMNLIN.

It seems Ford doesn't cross check their publications since their ordering site had different numbers then their builders site then the door plaques.

This is all moot since DJ and others have verified the axles are the same. Something that now that it has been mentioned I do seem to remember reading when I was last active on here several years ago. So my apologies.

However the F350 still can be had with more load capacity then the F250 for less then $1K price increase. The 4x4 F350 also sits higher and has more tire clearance then a 4x4 F250. This I know since my friend had an F250 that we compared to my F350, both were 2006 models.

[RWDIII]

Steve_in_29 wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

Ford lists a rear axle rating of 6290lbs and MAX GVWR of 10K for an F250. The F350 SRW has a rear axle rating of 7190lbs and a GVWR of 10K-11.5K.

Actually Fleet Fords body builders specs shows four different RAWR for the F350 SRW 6.2/6.7 line.
1. 6290 RAWR gas and diesel
2. 6730 RAWR gas and diesel
3. 7000 RAWR gas and diesel
4. and one 7180 RAWR for the 6.2 gas reg cab 4x4 truck only.

The F250 has one 6290 RAWR for the reg cab 2wd gas truck only.

All other F250 gas and diesel configurations come with the 6100 RAWR.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2016/16_SD_Pickups_SB_Updates.pdf.

The F250 heavy service package uprates the the trucks suspension to the same specs as the F350 SRW truck.

Th point here, as my other reply, was if moving up to a F350 SRW watch which GVWR package the truck is plated at .....if the trucks GVWR is important to you.

While I agree people need to pay attention to what the trucks are rated at I believe you are confusing the spring rating with the rating of the axle. The link you provide lists only two AXLE ratings,
F250 - 6200lbs
F350 - 7200lbs

While the numbers you quote are what I see listed for the spring packs.

So no matter what spring package gets selected on an F250, it's rear axle isn't as strong as the F350's with the same spring rating.

the ratings are based on the tires
If you want a HD F250 get the 18 in tires
Ford makes it confusing on the F250 because with 3 different spring packs and 2 different tire ratings the GVW stays the same at 10000lb

[_DJ_1]

Bedlam wrote:
The same Visteon Sterling 10.5" rear axle rated at 9750 lbs is used in all F250's and SRW F350's. The same main rear spring pack is also used in both models. The specification differences are due to vehicle class and wheel choice with no actual difference. Look up the part numbers if you doubt this information - I did, so I can cofindently make this claim.

This is absolutely correct. I researched this when I got my F 250. Not only does the diff/axles have all the same part numbers, so do the brakes. Ford de-rates this axle for wheels/tires/springs. The axle itself is rated at 9750. It also weighs 348 lbs in case you needed to know that.