No rear overload spring on my new 2012 Ford F250?

[Americamper]

Just noticed my new 2021 F250 did not come with a top overload spring like my old 2000 F250 has. Anyone have experince hauling a loaded 2500# TC on one? I have not been able to find a new F350 in my area to look at the rear springs on them. Also the spring pak has less leafs but looks beefier than my old truck. I have not loaded the TC yet, waiting on the frame mounts for tie downs. Just trying to get an idea as to what I might have to do , if anything. Old truck came with camper package but I never knew exactly what that consisted of.

[Grit_dog]

Americamper wrote:
Would it be cheaper to get the factory overload and sway bar or go after market?

Idk, but aftermarket sway bars can be had a lot more robust than typical oe pickup rear sway bars.
Again put the camper on first before you decide what you need for additional load carrying capability.

[Kayteg1]

hedge wrote:


The whole truck weighs 500lbs less is complete nonsense, quit peddling that non-truth..

You must be better informed than Ford's engineers?
When it is hard to find Ford's brochures for 2017, when aluminum body started - the 2021 models claim to shave another 350 lb.
That in Superduty, when F150 got potential for 700 lb savings.
LINK

[Americamper]

Would it be cheaper to get the factory overload and sway bar or go after market?

[hedge]

250 only gets the upper overload if it has the camper package. You'll also find that you probably don't have the factory sway bar either.

The whole truck weighs 500lbs less is complete nonsense, quit peddling that non-truth. Whatever they saved by going aluminum went back into the drivetrain. I've owned very similar trucks across both eras and they have almost identical payload.

[Lwiddis]

My local Chevy dealer has a 2500...one...it’s a 2016.

[Americamper]

I agree but with the waiting period for trucks around here I could not help myself.

[Grit_dog]

And don’t be swayed by the rvnet weight cops that you shoulda got a F350. Your truck is more than well suited for your camper.

[Grit_dog]

OP, your best bet is plop the camper on there and see how much it sags.
If you’re wanting to decide what to do before you drive it on the highway.

The newer F250s have a more compliant, progressive rear suspension. Aka softer ride with no load or light loads, compared to the old lumber wagons.
Since you want to pontificate what’s needed, I’ll say sway bar (that is a given to reduce body roll) and at a minimum, lower stable loads. If you’re truly only 2500lbs all in.
It’ll haul 2500lbs over the axle without bottoming out in normal driving but I’d want to stiffen it up if more than just casual or infrequent driving with a top heavy load.

Being on the edge of the suspension handling it on its own, I’d, again, see how much it sags. Then wedge the springs like lower stable loads and repeat the exercise.

[Kayteg1]

Americamper wrote:
It was really hard to just find a truck that I liked in my neck of the woods . So when I found a truck I liked with the 7.3 gas engine I jumped at it.

That's what special orders are for.
I could not be happier with building my own truck. I got options like 360 cameras and ultimate tow package I wanted and saved ton of money on avoiding options I had no use for.
Impulse jumping seldom ends with full satisfaction.

[Grit_dog]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Evidently Ford engineers concluded the truck doesn't need them.
Bear in mind since 2017 Superduties are 500 lb lighter than older models, so with the same payload, the rear axle is having close to 500lb less load.
My 2017 F350 dually was hauling camper (scaled at 6300 lb at 1 time) without any modifications.

And 4 years later you still believe this. And even if the “350lbs saved in Al body and new frame , with some of the savings reinvested in heavier components “
did result in a little theoretical weight savings, it wouldn’t significantly affect payload capacity over the rear axle.

[Americamper]

It was really hard to just find a truck that I liked in my neck of the woods . So when I found a truck I liked with the 7.3 gas engine I jumped at it.

[billtex]

That’s why you order the camper pkg...or just get the F350.

[Americamper]

Spacer or lift block is between the axle and first short spring.

[Kayteg1]

Evidently Ford engineers concluded the truck doesn't need them.
Bear in mind since 2017 Superduties are 500 lb lighter than older models, so with the same payload, the rear axle is having close to 500lb less load.
My 2017 F350 dually was hauling camper (scaled at 6300 lb at 1 time) without any modifications.

[Old-Biscuit]

Thought the difference between 250 & 350 was the addition of Overload Spring on 350

You can have a spring shop add one

You can add Stable Loads


According to FORD....Camper Package
*Rear Stabilizer Bar
*Auxiliary Rear Springs
*Increased Front Spring Capacity


You have options..........