Modding an F-350 up or an F-550 down for TC

[Just_Jeff]

Given that you can get the same engine in an F-350 and F-550, which do you think would be better - beefing up the suspension and brakes on an F-350 so you don't need a custom bed, or buying an F-550 and customizing the bed to accept a TC?

It seems that, because of the custom work needed to put a TC on a flatbed and make it look nice, there's still several thousand dollars of work needed...but you get one heck of a nice vehicle out of it. I'd probably look at doing the SRW conversion so I could take it off-road without worrying about rocks/sticks between the tires.

But F-350s are much more common, and you wouldn't have to do much of anything to the bed for it to accept a TC with the proper COG and such, so that could be a significant savings over the F-550. That savings could then go into beefing up the brakes and suspension in the F-350.

Which one would be cheaper and easier?

It'll be several years, but after the kids are gone we're looking at swapping to a nice TC (over 11', slides, etc) on a truck capable enough for Forest Service roads so we can get to some back country sites. I'm thinking of something like these examples, and I really like boblynch's setup.

Any thoughts?

[mike_mck]

RichieC wrote:
Doesn't the F550 have a lower geared transmission?
And doesn't it require lower highway speeds - or higher engine rpm?

Rich
My F550 has 4.88 gears and cruises 70 MPH at 2750 rpms.

[skipbee]

When we were working out our deal in 2004. The Lance dealer stated that the 1121 was the largest that Lance would warranty on a SRW with certain upgrades. They were air bags, and adjustable Rancho shocks, Ford had added for $1000.00 an increase of 1000lbs carrying capacity. I don't know what was added. We had 19.5" wheels and tires fitted by Rickson Trucks, along with an oversized SS exhaust system. On the trip to Alaska we weighed a little under 14,000 lbs.

We have 90,000 miles now of operating on the beaches, to Florida Keys, along the West Coast all over, with no problems. I would not go for a larger TC on a SWR, the manufacturers will set the limits, I expect,as did Lance. They would have required a signed waiver as I recall had we gotten a heavier model.

[2BLAZERS]

On my 2011 Ram 3500 dually CC. I switched out my 35 gallon factory tank for a Transfer Flow 60 gallon tank and have LOVED it. Had the switch done at the facility in Chico, CA. Fully loaded up to about 22K pounds with the TC and Enclosed Trailer with toys and 9-10MPG I can now very safely go 500 miles between fill-ups before the fuel light comes on. Basically from my house near Salem, OR I can go all the way to Ontario, OR, then all the way to Salt Lake City, UT fully loaded up. Was kind of expensive but for me, I'd call it very worthwhile. We have lots of stretches of no gas stations for 50-75 miles....

Running empty my range is 14.5*55gallons is about 800 miles.

[jimh406]

elkhornsun wrote:
With my diesel truck the only place to add another tank is in the bed and that would mean leaving the camper at home.

You can always add a custom tank inside the frame rails and there are tanks that replace the stock tank and are larger. The problem...they are expensive!

Where diesel excels is the ability to go up to 1/3 farther on the same amount of fuel. My truck has more like a 420 mile range as a minimum which is generally farther than I want to go without a quick break.

[BigToe]

Someone earlier posted a picture of their Dana 135 axle on their F-550. I noted that the spare tire was mounted underneath that truck, aft of axle.

That means that the 40 gallon tank was removed, for that to happen. If you keep the stock 40 gallon aft axle tank on an F450/550 chassis cab, as well as the Ram 4500/5500 chassis cab, you will have to come up with your own creative place to carry the spare tire on a chassis cab.

This is not a trivial issue. Mounting stuff in front of the truck on a front receiver has been shown to reduce air flow to the heat exchangers, which might not be significant most of the time, but on a very hot climb up a 7-10% mountain pass grade in the summer, it might become a concern.

A custom bed can provide a solution to the spare tire carrying problem, as can a trailer, or perhaps even a custom made mount on the back of the camper, weight and structure depending. Obviously, the F-350 doesn't have this issue.

[elkhornsun]

Funny how someone has no problem traveling between stations selling diesel with their MAIN and AUXILARY fuel tanks. If I had two tanks my range would be more than the current 330 miles and the picture would be quite different.

With my diesel truck the only place to add another tank is in the bed and that would mean leaving the camper at home.

With my 330 mile range I have to carefully plan my fuel refill stops and avoid side trips. I had no idea how difficult it would be to find diesel fuel or I would have bought a truck with a gas engine and 4.10 gears instead.

[Just_Jeff]

Awesome - thanks!

[markowwes]

Just Jeff wrote:
Markowwes - Can you post some details on that truck bed? One of the issues with a 550 is that I'd buy it as a chassis-cab, and a normal pickup bed would be an additional expense...but I want extra storage anyway.

Your bed fits the camper better than almost all the pictures I've seen on the web.

Thanks!

We purchased the truck at Helena Motors....way...way less money than in Canada, It came as a Cab and Chassis. Ordered the Deck from Alum-Line, sent them a drawing of how I wanted it built and they did it, painted it the color I wanted and shipped it to Helena where the deck was mounted on the truck before we went down to get it. When I brought it home I took the deck off and built and installed the front tie-down, and hitch mounts (the factory brackets didn’t match up with the deck. I cut and installed my own lights because the factory wires stuff like it is going to be in dry states...no offence but up here we have all kinds of weather conditions so when I do wiring it is twist, solder and heat shrink all connections...no blue crimp connectors allowed!. One note to remember....measure the cab over height and specify that height so there is not too much space between the cab and bottom of the overhang. They do a very nice job with a reasonable price. Lots of room for stuff!

[Butch50]

Don87401 wrote:
I won't make this long but I carry the same camper on my F450 that I did on my F350 and the differance is a lot. The F350 had up grade shocks, air bags and the F450 was better right out of the box. I did put stable loads on it because I haul a Jeep/trailer combo 90% of the time. I would not rule out a Factory F450 pickup. It may be less expensive and work fine.

You are right on your year of F450 but the new pickup F450 now have the 17" tires the same size as a F350 dually unlike yours having 19.5". There is no comparision between your F450 and a new one. Also depends on what year your F350 was as they keep increasing the capacity on the F350 over the years. The new F350 SRW trucks now have more GVWR than the F350 dually did a few years back. Now you can go to a Cab Chassis and it is more like your truck. In 2011 the F450 became nothing more than another F350 dually unless you are towing then it has a higher GCWR than the F350. The new F350 has a higher GVWR than a new F450. From the Ford towing guide for the 2013 the ratings for a slide in camper is 5019# for a F350 CC 4X4, the same F450 is 4969# not much difference but still less than the F350. The GVWR for both trucks is 14000# now. When you bought your truck the GVWR for the F350 was 13000# and your F450 is 14,500#,

For anybody that has not driven a F450/550 cab chassis and turning radius I would suggest that you go drive one to experience how tight they turn. On these truck they have the wide front axle and allows the wheel cut to be much greater than on a F350/F450 pickup. I was amazed at how sharp my F550 could turn compared to my other F350s that I had previously. If you don't like the ride go to a Kelderman air suspension like I did on mine and the ride is greatly improved.

[Don87401]

I won't make this long but I carry the same camper on my F450 that I did on my F350 and the differance is a lot. The F350 had up grade shocks, air bags and the F450 was better right out of the box. I did put stable loads on it because I haul a Jeep/trailer combo 90% of the time. I would not rule out a Factory F450 pickup. It may be less expensive and work fine.

[bka0721]

recycler wrote:
according to the body builders page I have the f550 comes with a 40 gallon rear tank standard or with a optional 26 gallon midship tank...I looked into aero tanks for mine one could rig a 450/550 with 88 to 98 gallons worth of tank depending on wheelbase of truck...the gm and dodge have a torsionally stiffer frame in their 1tons than ford, but I believe their bend strength is similar.

I have the factory installed tanks (main/aux) and they work well and sufficient for my needs. While some believe that there is a dearth of Fuel Stations in the west, for Diesel fuel, it has not been my experience. Over 20 years ago, it was harder to find Diesel, but not so much now and each year it is getting better. Good planning can alleviate you running low. If you are going to run in the backcountry for long periods of time, before refueling, you might consider additional fuel tanks. My range is roughly 400+ miles on a tank fill. Additional tanks cost more, plus the additional issue of exercising these tanks (to keep pumps/seals/tank surfaces working) you need to empty and fill these tanks regularly (don't ask me how I know this). For me, the factory opted additional tank was sufficient and I don't worry about the fueling stations as I have found almost all fueling stations area, in rural/remote areas have diesel, in addition to gasoline.

Also, be sure to check into alternative service body manufacturers over a custom built bed/Flat bed. Service body and Flat Beds are available to fit many Truck Campers without going the Custom $$$$$$$ route. My service body is right out of the catalog and my Lance 1191 fits right on the service body, without any customization. Also note, a service body will be a heavier solution than a Pickup bed, due to it's additional construction and the "Stuff" one stuffs into it.

Have fun.

b

[bighatnohorse]

Doesn't the F550 have a lower geared transmission?
And doesn't it require lower highway speeds - or higher engine rpm?

[recycler]

according to the body builders page I have the f550 comes with a 40 gallon rear tank standard or with a optional 26 gallon midship tank...I looked into aero tanks for mine one could rig a 450/550 with 88 to 98 gallons worth of tank depending on wheelbase of truck...the gm and dodge have a torsionally stiffer frame in their 1tons than ford, but I believe their bend strength is similiar.

[wintersun]

At least as of 2013 the frames on the GM and Ram 1-tons are a good deal stronger than those on the Ford trucks. If I was going to go with a Ford for a 5,000 lb. or greater camper load and taking it on bad roads I would get the F-550 and a kidney belt.

I think you are correct in ignoring the F-450 which adds to the towing capacity of the F-350 but not the payload capacity.

Important to look at fuel tank capacity in terms of driving range as many towns have stations with gas but not diesel. The commercial trucks usually have smaller fuel tanks but there are aftermarket ones availble for specific trucks and truck configurations. Worth the effort to research this carefully before buying a truck.

You mentioned going on forest service roads and that is where I have trucked many a mile in the Western USA and why I bought a shortbed SRW truck with its much smaller turning radius. Many places where we camp in the sierra would be a royal pain to get into with a F-550 with a 12 foot long camper in the bed. Might as well have a trailer.

Trailers are worth at least considering. I see more people pulling trailers and with ATV's in the pickup bed than I do people with campers in the "backcountry". A trailer leaves the bed free for carrying all manner of personal recreational vehicles and this includes bikes, kayaks, boats, etc. with lot more options and flexibility than a slide-in camper affords.