Looking at truck campers

[Eastwacamper]

I have a 1999 Ford F250 diesel long bed. Looking for a truck camper that would be suitable for it. There's a 2007 Northwood Polar 990. Otherwise, slim pickings for used units around here. Does anyone have this unit and what issues should I look for? Or what makes would be light enough for this truck? Looking forward to getting out camping after selling other rvs over the years. Thanks.

[Bedlam]

1999 was the year Ford upgraded the Sterling axle to 10.5" which gives it a 9750 lb capacity. If your F250 has this axle, you just need to make sure your springs are wheels are up to the task. My AF811 (when loaded and filled) put about 7000 lbs total weight on the rear axle of my 2005 F250.

[jimh406]

I don't know where you are looking, but doing a few searches, there seems to be a lot of TCs in the Northwest.

[Area13]

I have a similar truck with a similar camper and I do great. But....

My truck came with overloads and I added all of these things---285X75X16 tires on 8.5" wide wheels (both rated for around 3750 each), Roadmaster rear sway bar,went from 2" to 4" factory rear blocks (because previous owner added a leaf to the front to level it), stable load upper bump stops and Rancho 9000 shocks. I also have air bags but don't use or like them much. I sit level loaded and feel safe driving it. Fully loaded i'm right around 7k on the rear axle.

Also, you will need tie downs, I got the frame mounted Tork Lifts.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

'99 F250's have 6084 lbs RGAWR, due to the 235/85-16E tires and 16x6 factory wheels and factory rear spring packs, without upper overload springs.

'99 F350's with single rear wheels have 6830 lbs RGAWR, due to the 265/75-16E tires and 16x7 factory wheels, with the same factory rear spring packs as the F250's, but with the upper overload springs as standard equipment.

Some F250's came with 265's and 16x7's as a factory option, as well as upper overload springs as factory option (springs included in the camper package).

Unfortunately, Ford did not change the RGAWR for those F250's equipped with the F350 tires, wheels and springs.

If your F250 is so equipped with the F350 tires, wheels and springs, you can safely load it to the 6830 lb RGAWR of the F350.

If it does not have these things, don't load it that weight, because you will be overloading the tires, wheels and springs.

You can certainly upgrade your truck with those parts and happily load it to that weight.

[KD4UPL]

An older F250 with a diesel will likely not have much payload capacity. I'm guessing 2,500 pounds or less.
I would take the truck, fully loaded with fuel and passengers and minus the tailgate to a scale; get front and rear axle weights. Subtract your unloaded rear axle weigh from the RAWR on the door sticker. This is the most a camper and it's contents should weigh.
It's possible, particularly with Fords, that the RAWR is largely determined by your tires. You might be able to upgrade the tires and gain some capacity.
Either way I think 8' campers or possibly light 9' campers would be about the limit. If your looking for used campers a Lance 835 or an Arctic Fox 811 might be okay.