So we've had our AF 811 for almost a year now. Haven't had any problems traveling with it in our 2011 F350 SRW SB. But I'm getting the itch to buy a F350 DRW. Can't explain why. Problem is, I've got the AF811 which is made for short box (6'8") bed instead of the 8' bed. I know everyone's going to say "the COG will be behind the rear axle and it'll point your headlights into the trees", but will it really? I'll have to make some measurements, but it looks like the distance from the rear bumper of both a SB and LB truck to the rear axle is the same. The extra length of the bed appears to be between the rear of the cab and the rear axle. Has anyone hauled around a SB camper in a LB truck? I figured I'd have about 1'4" gap between camper and the front of the truck bed? Look too strange? It's either that, or trade in the SB AF811 for a LB version.

I have a standard bed camper (approx 6.5 foot) on a long base truck with a combination fuel tank/tool box in front of it. The camper is 21 inches away from the font of the truck bed. My COG (center of gravity) for the camper is about 3 inch behind the centerline of the rear axle. I had this same setup on my old truck without any weird effects.My fuel tank/tool box weights between 200 pounds and 700 pounds depending on fuel level. That 200 to 700 pounds in combination with the camper has an effective COG that is still ahead of the rear axle. This combination has been all over western Canada, Alaska, and western and midwest USA.LeRoy

Yup I did it for about six months until I found a new camper.. worked fine for us.. there was 13" of space up front.. fire wood. Honda 2000 and beach chairs and body boards all fit well.. enjoy.We needed the new camper for more sleeping room for our kids..Or else we would still be rocking the gap.

Yes, a lot of people do it. It's a good place to put a fuel tank down in the bed and then build a box over it to put, chairs, generator, wood, fishing equipment, etc.Bill

Hey thanks for the replies. Good to hear that it can work and doesn't look too goofy. I like the fuel tank option to utilize the space.

:hI do realize this may be treasonous to suggest this to a Ford owner, but, what the heck. Live dangerously I say. :BRam does make a short box dually. Comes with their Mega cab version Ram 3500. Worth a thought. And, before I get jumped too bad, I've owned ALL three brands dually pickups. I'm not brand loyal, I rather get what works best for me at the time. So, in this case, since the OP already owns a short box camper, well I suggested a short box dually that will work.BTW, if you've never done a close look at the cab room in a Ram Mega cab, well it is impressively big. Fold the rear seats down and one could fit a queen sized air mattress in there.

Anyone put a short bed camper in a long bed truck?

Homeless_by_Cho
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
I have a standard bed camper (approx 6.5 foot) on a long base truck with a combination fuel tank/tool box in front of it. The camper is 21 inches away from the font of the truck bed. My COG (center of gravity) for the camper is about 3 inch behind the centerline of the rear axle. I had this same setup on my old truck without any weird effects.

My fuel tank/tool box weights between 200 pounds and 700 pounds depending on fuel level. That 200 to 700 pounds in combination with the camper has an effective COG that is still ahead of the rear axle. This combination has been all over western Canada, Alaska, and western and midwest USA.

LeRoy
AISURFFISH
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
Yup I did it for about six months until I found a new camper.. worked fine for us.. there was 13" of space up front.. fire wood. Honda 2000 and beach chairs and body boards all fit well.. enjoy.

We needed the new camper for more sleeping room for our kids..
Or else we would still be rocking the gap.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2015
Yes, a lot of people do it. It's a good place to put a fuel tank down in the bed and then build a box over it to put, chairs, generator, wood, fishing equipment, etc.

Bill
T3PAIR
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
Hey thanks for the replies. Good to hear that it can work and doesn't look too goofy. I like the fuel tank option to utilize the space.
The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
:h

I do realize this may be treasonous to suggest this to a Ford owner, but, what the heck. Live dangerously I say. :B

Ram does make a short box dually. Comes with their Mega cab version Ram 3500.

Worth a thought.

And, before I get jumped too bad, I've owned ALL three brands dually pickups. I'm not brand loyal, I rather get what works best for me at the time.

So, in this case, since the OP already owns a short box camper, well I suggested a short box dually that will work.

BTW, if you've never done a close look at the cab room in a Ram Mega cab, well it is impressively big. Fold the rear seats down and one could fit a queen sized air mattress in there.
T3PAIR
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
The Mad Norsky wrote:
:h

I do realize this may be treasonous to suggest this to a Ford owner, but, what the heck. Live dangerously I say. :B

Ram does make a short box dually. Comes with their Mega cab version Ram 3500.

Worth a thought.

And, before I get jumped too bad, I've owned ALL three brands dually pickups. I'm not brand loyal, I rather get what works best for me at the time.

So, in this case, since the OP already owns a short box camper, well I suggested a short box dually that will work.

BTW, if you've never done a close look at the cab room in a Ram Mega cab, well it is impressively big. Fold the rear seats down and one could fit a queen sized air mattress in there.

Thanks for bringing that up. I actually did look at the short bed Rams. Nice trucks for sure. I have just really liked my Ford. I may have to revisit your suggestion though, as that would be the easiest solution to my self-inflicted problem.
Lancey
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
We also hauled a short box northern lite on a long box f250, I liked the extra space for fire wood,chain saw ext. Stuff you wouldn't want to put inside. It hauled normal for me, cog didn't seem to be an issue.......

PS: ford did make a shirt box dually as well, rare, but I have seen them.

Happy camping!
Bedlam
Moderator
Jun 01, 2015
Works great! I originally went with the AF811 on my current short bed F250. Last October, I replaced it with a Ram 5500 that has 9' flat bed. I can actually get 7.5' of the short bed model AF811 on the back without interference to the generator exhaust, bumper mount or tank dumps. Eventually, we're going to a triple slide side door TC, but this Arctic Fox does just fine until we can afford our next upgrade.
dave17352
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
I did the same thing with my truck in my signature. It worked just fine. I had a 50 gallon diesel tank in front of the camper. No problems at all. Yes I believe you are correct about the rear axle being the same distance from the end of the box. The COG is no problem. Now put a 11 foot camper on a short box = Problem.
bobndot
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2015
SB camper on LB truck with pics and COG info