everyone, i need help with a truck/truck camper questions.

[steeds]

I'm upgrading a truck.and i've been looking at a 2015 f150 2.7l v6 eco boost engine.
i've seen good and bad reviews on them, but does anyone have a truck camper with this truck ? or ecoboost style engine ?

I'm looking to get a palomino truck camper, ranging from 1400-1600 for weight.
and looking to have it on an f150.

does anyone have input on what fuel economy is like with this truck ?

or do you suggest another style truck/brand for hauling a truck camper around.

from june to oct. it'll be a truck camper truck and be on full time. other wise the camper will be off and i'll be using it as an every day truck.

please help me if anyone has this truck.

ryan

[Steve_in_29]

wvabeer wrote:
I told you the weight police would be all over you. If you had asked what truck to get to full time camp I'd say a 1 ton but if you camp 3 or 4 times a year, get what you want. The new f150's are very capable. Whether you get a 1 ton or 1/2 ton you're going to have to get air bags or some sort of propping up. Granted I am way overloaded but it hauls the load comfortably and confidently. I just don't go heavier than the max payload f150 as the axles and bearings are the same.

These guys are right about weight, the sticker is usually wrong. my sticker says 1680lb on a scale its 2280. So weight it.

Says who?

My F350 SRW carries our Outfitter Apex9.5 without any suspension add-ons. When fully loaded for a trip the combo is sitting near GVWR and the truck still sits slightly tail high. I even hitched my friend's 22' TT up at the same time to bring out to an event and my truck was still right at level without the use of a weight-distribution hitch.

So with PROPER matching of camper to truck, there doesn't have to be any "propping up" as you call it.

[wvabeer]

jefe 4x4 wrote:
There's always the option of casting a wide net and buying a used truck and camper already assembled into a unit. That means truck with camper already on. This will save a lot of grief and upgrade time as the former owner probably had to add beefier suspension parts to haul the load. Several on this forum have gone this route. I've seen these around, and if you can find the one that fits your style and budget you could suffer many happy years of truck camping. A wide net is basically 1K miles; a half pie, mostly to the south, SE, and SW in your case.
As with many neophytes, I see the ultimate change in paradigm from, "my 1/2 ton with that BIG Ford 9" rear end can haul anything" school to, "I gotta have more truck". (aka: bigger brakes; heftier frame; heftier axles, bearings and housings; appropriate suspension parts; sturdier transmission/transfer case/drivetrain parts.) It all keeps you away from the edge of overloading.
jefe

Ford 9 inch axles are pretty weak and the 8.8 isn't much better. That 9.75 stearling is pretty beefy. For a 1/2 ton that is.

[jefe_4x4]

There's always the option of casting a wide net and buying a used truck and camper already assembled into a unit. That means truck with camper already on. This will save a lot of grief and upgrade time as the former owner probably had to add beefier suspension parts to haul the load. Several on this forum have gone this route. I've seen these around, and if you can find the one that fits your style and budget you could suffer many happy years of truck camping. A wide net is basically 1K miles; a half pie, mostly to the south, SE, and SW in your case.
As with many neophytes, I see the ultimate change in paradigm from, "my 1/2 ton with that BIG Ford 9" rear end can haul anything" school to, "I gotta have more truck". (aka: bigger brakes; heftier frame; heftier axles, bearings and housings; appropriate suspension parts; sturdier transmission/transfer case/drivetrain parts.) It all keeps you away from the edge of overloading.
jefe

[djg]

Being in Calgary I'd think you want to go to BC watch out there the police do check for overloads with a 1/2 ton truck, pull you over with portable scales overloaded and you will be stuck. I had a 1/2 ton with a 660 KG northern lite camper did all the mods, truck handled it ok but you are always stressing the truck, went to a F-350 now love it haven't had to do any upgrades, older truck with 190,000 miles southern truck with 7.3 diesel supposedly bulletproof, time will tell just could not figure putting out 50 or 60 thousand for a truck. My son lives in Calgary and bought a F-250 diesel 1995 still hardly any rust (calgary truck, no salt winters) has about 6,000 in it truck looks great but gross weight is still 9000 lbs you have to weigh all options, I had a lighter truck and they really are not made for campers but ultimately the choise is still yours. Just my opinion though.

David

[steeds]

i hate the system. haha you'd think they would weigh every one before it leaves for an exact sticker weight and stamp it on when leaving. blows my mind.

but ok ok, looking and used 250/350 and 2500/3500 trucks.

do you suggest for a diesel or a gas ?
i assumed the gas 2500's would be brutal on gas for everyday driving, or with weight in it? thats the only reason i didn't really consider them.

i'll be trading in my truck which with the market these days is 27,000. so ideally my budget was 10,000 cash after that. so id have to really try and get these dealers down for a semi new truck, or just sell it privately and then have a couple extra thousand more, compared to a trade in. and then get one lined up.


and wvabeer i hear ya, that it could be done. and i will def be camping 4 months straight with it on the back, and on weekends I'm assuming for the whole year. haha but of course things could change at anytime also.

[wvabeer]

I told you the weight police would be all over you. If you had asked what truck to get to full time camp I'd say a 1 ton but if you camp 3 or 4 times a year, get what you want. The new f150's are very capable. Whether you get a 1 ton or 1/2 ton you're going to have to get air bags or some sort of propping up. Granted I am way overloaded but it hauls the load comfortably and confidently. I just don't go heavier than the max payload f150 as the axles and bearings are the same.

These guys are right about weight, the sticker is usually wrong. my sticker says 1680lb on a scale its 2280. So weight it.

[GeoBoy]

Buy a 350/3500 and never look back. Looking at the Palomino web site the lightest camper without options, batteries, propane, water and gear is 1500 lbs.. That camper will be over 2,000 lbs. and will not work well on a half ton truck. Get the right truck that doesn't require band aids to carry the load and enjoy your experience. My truck and camper in my signiture averages between 10 to 11 mpg. loaded.

[Steve_in_29]

Grit dog wrote:

Steve_in_29 wrote:
" Also keep in mind the load capacity ratings on 1/2 ton trucks are the MAX they can carry for a SHORT distance. Such as bringing home a load from Home Depot. While the ratings on 3/4 ton and up are the weights they are expected to be able to lug around day-in-and-day-out for years."

Haha, wherever did you hear that??? That's gotta be the best weight cop story I've ever heard. Fictional story......
Anyway, yes the half tons are going to be maxed out and need extra springs or bags or something but full size 1/2 ton trucks are not near as anemic as some make them out to be.
Would a 2500 min haul a camper better? Yes, but if you're on a budget and looking for good mileage the rest of the year, a HD gasser is the wrong truck for that and a diesel is much more expensive.
I guess just heed the good advice here by making sure you think out the choice before plopping down the scratch on a new rig.

NO it's from hearing 1/2 ton owner after owner complain and then buy the truck they should have bought in the first place and more importantly it was from my buddy being told by the Ford Dealership that EXACT thing when he brought his truck in for warranty repair of a blown transmission.

The Dealership told him that he had abused his truck by using it to carry a heavy (JUST under rated load capacity) load from Colorado to California when he moved. He had the CAT Certified weight ticket and his owners manual in hand and after he made a big enough stink they did the repair under warranty.

Are there some 1/2 tons that are better able to carry a heavy load...Yes BUT too many people don't read the fine print (and the manufacturers sure don't call their attention to it either) and think that EVERY 1/2 ton can do what they see the special model doing in the ads.

Though by the time a 1/2 ton owner has added helper springs, air bags, shocks, heavy duty tires, etc to their truck they are effectively NOT driving a 1/2 ton any more and though it might be better able to handle the weight, it is still handicapped by smaller brakes and weaker drivetrain then a 3/4 ton truck capable of carrying the same load would have.

[Vinsil]

Used might your best bet but I don't know the Canada used market. I just configured a new F150 and a new F250...optioned the same and they were the same price...almost exactly. Aslo...the F150 has to be a regular or supercab...with a F250 you have a crew option.


Food for thought.

[steeds]

yeah, if all else fails. i'll wait for a good deal to come up and pick one up that is second hand... seeing as a new, last years model truck is out of the question.

maybe i'll just get a peddle bike and a box towing behind it 😉 haha seems easier at this point.


but if anything, i do have a canopy on my truck now and can have a bed set up in that for this summer. and just suck it up till i pull up the big boy pants to get a decent truck. then of course the camper after.

[Grit_dog]

" Also keep in mind the load capacity ratings on 1/2 ton trucks are the MAX they can carry for a SHORT distance. Such as bringing home a load from Home Depot. While the ratings on 3/4 ton and up are the weights they are expected to be able to lug around day-in-and-day-out for years."
Haha, wherever did you hear that??? That's gotta be the best weight cop story I've ever heard. Fictional story......
Anyway, yes the half tons are going to be maxed out and need extra springs or bags or something but full size 1/2 ton trucks are not near as anemic as some make them out to be.
Would a 2500 min haul a camper better? Yes, but if you're on a budget and looking for good mileage the rest of the year, a HD gasser is the wrong truck for that and a diesel is much more expensive.
I guess just heed the good advice here by making sure you think out the choice before plopping down the scratch on a new rig.

[Vinsil]

steeds wrote:

hedgehopper wrote:

steeds wrote:
so really even a camper that is around 1200 pounds, and loaded being 1300-1400.

Figure 500 to 1000 lbs for propane, water, passengers, and gear.

assuming a camper says 1050 dry weight and it is shipped then the side says 1120lbs. battery say 60lbs tops, propane 20lbs. water at 9 gallons...assuming 25-40 pounds. and clothing/cooking etc say is 80-120lbs. myself 165.
but even then, i wouldn't travel with water in there till a city close to camp.

Until its scaled...don't believe the sticker!!!

[Vinsil]

What is your budget?

A F250 gas truck with the same options should be real close in price...you might find larger rebates on the F250 as they sell more F150's as people use them for passenger vehicles.

You find the ride of the F250 close as well...once you add in the E rated tires ans suspension mods to make the F150 carry the load.....


something to consider and if budget is a concern, add in $1200 or so for new tires, cost of airbags and install if you can't.....test drive them and then add in the ride change of the stiffer tires and you might find the F250 a decent daily driver.

I'm on stiff 16 ply tires in my 3/4 ton and daily drive it. It's a truck I like it it.

[steeds]

hedgehopper wrote:

steeds wrote:
so really even a camper that is around 1200 pounds, and loaded being 1300-1400.

Figure 500 to 1000 lbs for propane, water, passengers, and gear.

assuming a camper says 1050 dry weight and it is shipped then the side says 1120lbs. battery say 60lbs tops, propane 20lbs. water at 9 gallons...assuming 25-40 pounds. and clothing/cooking etc say is 80-120lbs. myself 165.
but even then, i wouldn't travel with water in there till a city close to camp.

[steeds]

well of course you'd need airbags...regardless in my eyes.
and many different campers out there with many different weights.

so to say it can't be done.well, seems a bit untrue.
can it be done with a bit of work and research, sure. but then the ride is what you have to consider.

so of course I'm trying to look into it all.
now i'll bump and try to see if any used 2500's are online for the selling.(which is in my budgeting)