bigfoot on shortbed srw

[sftcamper]

Does anyone have a bigfoot25c9.6sb on a ram 3500 diesel crew cab shortbed srw? Would like to know how it rides and what suspension changes might be needed.

[Z-Peller]

I just reviewed 6 years of different model years of BF brochures 2000 -2008 there are no 2500 series 9.6 listed as for short bed use ,

Bigfoot 25c9.6SB has been around for a few years...Check out Bigfoot RV brochure online...shows both 25c9.6LB and 25c9.6SB

[Grit_dog]

bigfootford wrote:

54suds wrote:
I just reviewed 6 years of different model years of BF brochures 2000 -2008 there are no 2500 series 9.6 listed as for short bed use ,

they only list 9.4 and once an 8-11 b was listed as for short box use

OOOH, where is the OP? I kind of knew this but did some assumptions.. Guess we need the WHOLE story eh?

Jim

So you reviewed brochures for 12-20 year old models and came to this conclusion?

And what story? OP doesn't have a story, just asking about that camper model. No mention of the model year, but presuming if he's asking about it then it's a model year that they did or do make that model.
You guys are too funny....bigfoot detectives!
Big foot big foot, whatchya gonna do, whatchya gonna do when they come for you....lol

[bigfootford]

54suds wrote:
I just reviewed 6 years of different model years of BF brochures 2000 -2008 there are no 2500 series 9.6 listed as for short bed use ,

they only list 9.4 and once an 8-11 b was listed as for short box use

OOOH, where is the OP? I kind of knew this but did some assumptions.. Guess we need the WHOLE story eh?

Jim

[54suds]

I just reviewed 6 years of different model years of BF brochures 2000 -2008 there are no 2500 series 9.6 listed as for short bed use ,

they only list 9.4 and once an 8-11 b was listed as for short box use

[bigfootford]

Ok, got that over with...

My 9.6 2500 weighs right at 4200lbs loaded with water, food and clothes.
My f250 is a supercab gasser and weighs 5,800 lbs. SRW. Total weight of truck and camper is 10,060.
My rear axle weight loaded is about 66xxlbs.
I have 19.5 tires and Air Lift air bags in the rear. I run about 40psi, just enough to level the truck.
Camper bought new and has been on 2 f250's. Camper has about 200,000 miles on it.
I have no other suspension changes.
Tire capacity is 4950lbs each so I have lots of reserve weight capacity on the rear of my truck.



I would check your tire capacity.. and figure that camper will weigh about 4K loaded. Decide later if you need air bags and anti sway etc.

Jim

[Grit_dog]

Well those campers are piles of ____ then?
Thought BF was a good brand?

[bigfootford]

Z-Peller wrote:
Original post says 9.6 short box camper on short box truck. Don’t see sagging issues with that. Old non basement BF’s had sagging issues, but haven’t heard of it with newer ones. Lots of plywood in the construction. Had my 2002 9.6 LB on LB truck for 14 yrs from Alaska to Texas to Maritimes with never an issue.

Wow, I totally missed that the OP said sb 9.6... Thankyou...

Sorry OP for missing that...

My 9.6 lb on a long bed does sag a bit. Not bad but you can see it. It is a basement 9.6 2500.

Jim

[Z-Peller]

Original post says 9.6 short box camper on short box truck. Don’t see sagging issues with that. Old non basement BF’s had sagging issues, but haven’t heard of it with newer ones. Lots of plywood in the construction. Had my 2002 9.6 LB on LB truck for 14 yrs from Alaska to Texas to Maritimes with never an issue.

[Grit_dog]

Am I mistaken that Bigfoot markets “SB” models for short bed trucks?

[54suds]

bigfootford wrote:
The 9.6 BF is not built with enough fiberglass frame structure to support that much weight hanging over the rear of a short bed truck. Also center of gravity would actually reduce front axle weight. My 9.6 only puts 300lbs on the front axle..
.

I have a friend that has an older BF that is 11'5". Even on a long bed the rear of the camper has sagged quite a bit and caused a delimitation of the internal structure of the walls at the rear overhang. He fixed that but the sag was not much better.

My 9'6" does sag just a bit back there too and that is on a long bed. No structure problems though... 20 years, lots of miles and many rough roads! All the way to Prudhoe bay and more.

Lastly... Both the gray and black tanks are in the overhang... 50 gallons when full. Along with that part of the fresh water tank is in that last 1.5' of overhang... A short bed would place about another 2' of water weight in the short bed overhang of the camper.
The 9.6 holds about 50 gallons of fresh water...


Jim

sound advise i have worked on many different models of BF's that had the rear sag problem.

[Grit_dog]

And OP, if you’re worried about it and the camper stuff clears it, leave the tailgate on for extra support if it seems necessary.

[Grit_dog]

^So you’re saying Bigfoot, the most revered campers for quality will break when used as intended/marketed?
Weird.

[bigfootford]

The 9.6 BF is not built with enough fiberglass frame structure to support that much weight hanging over the rear of a short bed truck. Also center of gravity would actually reduce front axle weight. My 9.6 only puts 300lbs on the front axle..
.

I have a friend that has an older BF that is 11'5". Even on a long bed the rear of the camper has sagged quite a bit and caused a delamination of the internal structure of the walls at the rear overhang. He fixed that but the sag was not much better.

My 9'6" does sag just a bit back there too and that is on a long bed. No structure problems though... 20 years, lots of miles and many rough roads! All the way to Prudhoe bay and more.

Lastly... Both the gray and black tanks are in the overhang... 50 gallons when full. Along with that part of the fresh water tank is in that last 1.5' of overhang... A short bed would place about another 2' of water weight in the short bed overhang of the camper.
The 9.6 holds about 50 gallons of fresh water...


Jim

[Bert_the_Welder]

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/buyers-guide/hard-side/bigfoot-camper-buyers-guide/

Could probably add a couple hundred more to the "Stuff" weight, depending on your needs. Plus add people and pets.
Your truck year and build packages will factor into what your truck can take.
Whether you want to be driving with that much on an SRW as appose to the extra safety of extra wheels and capacity of a DRW........that will get you into a long, deep debate swamp on here. 🙂