I read some of these posts and just shake my head. People talking about 75-80+ mph with their camper. You people actually drive that fast carrying a load? I prefer to go a little slower. The lake will still be there when you get there if you drive a little slower. I suppose the road conditions would determine if that was a safe speed as well. I would never be able to safely achieve those speeds on my drive from Anchorage to Kenai or Homer. It is a windy, twisty road, speed limit 55-65 mph, and many turns have posted speed limit signs of 40-50 mph. I'd like to see what would happen if one of these nascar camper drivers took one of these turns at 80 mph in cruise control, lol.
As far as gas vs. diesel, the topic has been debated to death, I can only share my own personal experience. Yes, the gas mileage does suck, but my 6.2L F350 DRW handles my behemoth 5500 lb. wet Host Everest camper up the aforementioned crappy Seward Highway from Anchorage to Kenai. I lock out 6th and keep it in 5th for the majority of the drive. Steep hills require me to drop down into 4th if I want to maintain the speed limit (the near vertical climb just before Summit lake is the worst part of the drive), but I can still do 60-65 up a steep grade. I never exceed 65 mph hauling my camper, rather drive safe. Only suspension mods are upper Torklift stableloads and Firestone ride-rite airbags. Truck has "camper package" with OEM sway-bar. Was going to upgrade to a bigger sway bar but I have no perceptible sway so put that on the back burner. I still want to get a set of Rancho 9000's, that is next on my to do list!
