Need Guidance on Buying the Right Truck

[BurbMan]

Hi guys, you may remember I posted last year about my 2002 Lance 811 that I acquired for free because it needs a little restoration ("How Bad Is This?")

Well the house remodeling is finally done, DW has her brand new kitchen, I sold the TT last week, and the project is ready to begin!!

I found this in the owner's manual, which was apparently prepared by the factory for this specific camper.



The previous owner was running this on a 80's vintage F-250 with 351 and 4-speed manual. I'm starting to scout for trucks and have some initial questions:

1. The weight is listed as 3017, so with full water (30 gals) and gear I'm probably in the 3600 lb range loaded? (the gear in the TT was 1600 lbs but it was 32' and had too much storage).
2. At this weight I probably need a 350/3500 something, but is a dually necessary or advisable? Looking more to offroad with this on the beach than travel long distances.
3. The distances in the center of gravity drawing add up to 8' so I guess I need a long bed? Can I consider 6.5' beds or is that off the table?

I know there are variables in truck ratings but since I'm buying used I want to at least filter down to the type I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance and y'all are staying out of the path of this virus. It's been bad here in NY and have lost some friends.

[jimh406]

BurbMan wrote:

burningman wrote:
All this sticker reading without knowing or looking at what parts are actually under the truck is gonna drive me right off of here sometime soon.

Hey I'm here to learn, so if you have some knowledge about what important parts I should be looking for please, please share!

burningman knows better. Maybe had too much/too little Corona. Sure, you can likely build a 2500 that is approaching a 3500 without the GVWR, but not all of us would want to bother when we could simply buy a 3500 if we want a 3500.

Sure, there are some 2500s that are close to a 3500 since you were talking Ram, but there are also 2500s with coil springs in the rear. Similarly, F250s and F350s have different spring blocks with the net result being more sag.

Finally, both brands can have different tires on the 2500s and 3500s which besides GVWR can mean you have a real difference in tires and actual RAWR.

Then, again, maybe he’s thinking of something else. 😄

[JIMNLIN]

burningman wrote:
What’s funny is the guy who originally had the camper had it on an ‘80s F250.
What’s funnier is a SRW one ton is literally the same truck as a 3/4 ton.
All this sticker reading without knowing or looking at what parts are actually under the truck is gonna drive me right off of here sometime soon.

IF and its a big IF the F250 has the same cab/engine/drive train/bed length and the camper package/heavy service pack options then its the same as the F350 srw.
Ford body builders Use this holy grail from Ford for actual mechanical specs differences and same as from 2014 and up trucks.
The gas F250 uses a slightly smaller rear axle vs the diesel option. However gotta' remember even though both have the same RAWR numbers the axle shaft on a full floater doesn't carry weight...just the axle tube bearings carries weight. The larger diameter axle shaft diameter/rear gears goes along with more twist (power) from the diesel vs less from the gazzer.
A RAWR is the lessor capacity of a wheel/tire/rear axle or rear spring pack.

Spend some time looking at Fords spec on their body builder guide.
Your issue is a one ton srw rear axle load capacity is right at the top with your TC....and of course this is where knowing camper weights is critical ie; is your load on the truck 3000 lbs or 3600 lbs or over 4000 lbs after the truck and camper are loaded.
If the load on a one ton srw truck is closer to 4000 lbs then like others in the same boat many go with 19.5" tires and wheels and some type of suspension help......if scale weight dictate doing so. I've owned three different truck campers on several different trucks. Never did a thing to them till I loaded it all up and hit the scales.

[BurbMan]

burningman wrote:
All this sticker reading without knowing or looking at what parts are actually under the truck is gonna drive me right off of here sometime soon.

Hey I'm here to learn, so if you have some knowledge about what important parts I should be looking for please, please share!

[burningman]

What’s funny is the guy who originally had the camper had it on an ‘80s F250.
What’s funnier is a SRW one ton is literally the same truck as a 3/4 ton.
All this sticker reading without knowing or looking at what parts are actually under the truck is gonna drive me right off of here sometime soon.

[rhagfo]

Kayteg1 wrote:

WyoBull wrote:
See truck in my signature. The Northern Lite camper it carries is 3600-3800 lbs wet and the two are a great match for one another.

That's what you say and then your signature lists:
"Torklift Upper Stableloads, Airlift 5000 Ultimate air bags, Airlift WirelessAIR onboard compressor system"
Why such great match needs all the gizmos to work?
Don't tell me you drive on factory-rated tires?

What me worry????

[BurbMan]

That is what I am thinking...Ram 3500 with 6.4L gas SRW long bed, either crew or extended cab. I can upgrade wheels and tires to give me more stability and footprint on the beach. No prohibition on duallies up here, but without spacers you can have rubbing issues when aired down.

The 3K is the wet weight, so I don't think we would get past 4k with just the two of us and some supplies. The whole idea of the TC is more minimalist, not packing like we are entertaining for 12 (which we frequently did with the TT).
But hey it wouldn't be camping if we weren't over GVWR right? LOL

[bwlyon]

A late model F350 or Ram 3500 Crew Cab, 4x4, SRW, with a gas engine should net you a 4000 pound payload. Pay attention to the sticker inside the drivers door as there should be a payload sticker with the cargo capacity. My 2015 Ram Megacab shortbox 3500 4x4 SRW 6.4 hemi has a payload of 4069 pounds. Also the 18” wheel tire combo will net the greatest tire capacity, avoid the 20” wheels.

[Kayteg1]

specta wrote:


Yep, a 3500 dually or a F-450 would handle it better but I have no complaints.

Is it:
1 you don't have complains or
2. you choose not to have complains, or
3. you can't afford to have complains?

[specta]

Pictured is my 4000 lb camper in my 2500HD. No air bags no nothing.

Yep, a 3500 dually or a F-450 would handle it better but I have no complaints.

[Yeti_plus]

Geez after reading your post the other day, I thought "oh boy, he's going to post the conversion of the Burb into a pick me up!":)
I had the Bigfoot on a GMC 2500 and it was okay, but I started to worry about tire ratings. I went with the dually and I don't get to tell people who ask about the combination that I like the dually, because the copilot says it before I can even say anything. She noticed the improved ride with less roll and does a better job of explaining than I do. Yes she will drive the truck with the camper and even without.
But since you want to do beach driving, I would look for a 350/3500 single rear wheel,and check the tire ratings to be sure you have enough tire for the truck and camper.
Brian

[mbloof]

If you look closely at the OP the 3017LBS is WET. Granted it is without gear.

I'd put in on a SRW no problem. (maybe upgrade the tires if needed)

- Mark0.

[billtex]

Correct. Many East coast beached do not allow duallys. If your intention is to beach camp, better check the regs for where you plan to camp.

IIRC that is not a particularly heavy camper...no slide?
I would put that on a SRW.

[jimh406]

You might be able to get by with a SRW, but if it is specifically for a TC, you’ll likely be better off long term with a long bed DRW. That gives you flexibility to change to a larger one without any issues. However, you’ll need to have DRW front brackets for the jacks. Not a bid deal, but would be required.

Also, many older TCs are lower than the top of newer truck cabs. You’ll have to measure that one, but you’ll also likely need to raise the bed for most newer trucks to clear the cab.

As far as beach goes, there have been threads that said DRWs aren’t allowed on some beaches. I think a long bed SRW with upgraded 18s that have 4080 capacity might likely work. I think that’s pretty much saying Ford F350.

[Kayteg1]

I'd say 2-tone looks better.

[BurbMan]

LOL I just did a search on AutoTrader and every one that came up was white!