Question: too much camper - too little truck
Hi folks: Totally new to campers and truck campers. I replaced my 2007 Tundra with a F350 SRW Shortbed 7.3gas. The camper I bought is an Eagle Cap 811 made by Adventurer. I live in Maine and bou...
Forum Discussion
@kenkorona
Post up a pic if you would, showing how much it’s sagging the way it sits now.
Like to get an idea of how low she’s ridin.
And also how much does it take before you’re into the overloads? Upper and lower.
F350s (and most trucks) generally don’t get into the overloads until significant suspension sagging.
By shimming the lower overload like I said and taking up the free travel before the upper kicks in will stiffen the suspension a lot.
Same with upper overloads. Can buy any number of brands of upper blocks to engage the uppers much sooner.
Timbrens are great too. If you can shim them up so that they engage early. But you’re wasting your springs capacity if the timbrens are kicking in the same or before the overloads.
Sumos are soft for what you’re doing.
Once you decide you want more springs if it needs to be stiffer, you have tons of options.
Not the least of which is airbags if you want them to effectively disappear when you’re empty.
Other options:
Add a leaf helpers
Timbrens
Additional upper overload leafs
Or like you mentioned new heavier leaf packs.
If your camper is pulling any weight off the front, it will be more noticeable as it’s over 500lbslighter on the front axle than a diesel but I guaranty it’s not light enough to make it anywhere near dangerous.
Tires and wheels will make a difference. Aside from going 19.5s, if you have base model 17” wheels, they’re junk for hauling heavy. More specifically the tires.
18s with OE tires are better but still soft. You can do a lot better. 20s are much better at 3750 lbs and the most stable of OE offerings but you can get 18s or 20s that are 3800 -4000lbs.
Shocks are probably the least of your worries being a new truck.
Bottom line, you already have enough truck. Get it set up right and the difference will be significant.
Based on my years of hauling the same size/weight camper on an older, lesser suspension truck, I can’t imagine personally having an issue at all with your setup after a few tweaks.
Recap. Do sway bar for sure.
Then block your suspension like I recommended earlier and that will tell you if you only need to do that or if you need to add more effective spring rate. I suspect it will be passable but better with a little more help.
Post up a pic if you would, showing how much it’s sagging the way it sits now.
Like to get an idea of how low she’s ridin.
And also how much does it take before you’re into the overloads? Upper and lower.
F350s (and most trucks) generally don’t get into the overloads until significant suspension sagging.
By shimming the lower overload like I said and taking up the free travel before the upper kicks in will stiffen the suspension a lot.
Same with upper overloads. Can buy any number of brands of upper blocks to engage the uppers much sooner.
Timbrens are great too. If you can shim them up so that they engage early. But you’re wasting your springs capacity if the timbrens are kicking in the same or before the overloads.
Sumos are soft for what you’re doing.
Once you decide you want more springs if it needs to be stiffer, you have tons of options.
Not the least of which is airbags if you want them to effectively disappear when you’re empty.
Other options:
Add a leaf helpers
Timbrens
Additional upper overload leafs
Or like you mentioned new heavier leaf packs.
If your camper is pulling any weight off the front, it will be more noticeable as it’s over 500lbslighter on the front axle than a diesel but I guaranty it’s not light enough to make it anywhere near dangerous.
Tires and wheels will make a difference. Aside from going 19.5s, if you have base model 17” wheels, they’re junk for hauling heavy. More specifically the tires.
18s with OE tires are better but still soft. You can do a lot better. 20s are much better at 3750 lbs and the most stable of OE offerings but you can get 18s or 20s that are 3800 -4000lbs.
Shocks are probably the least of your worries being a new truck.
Bottom line, you already have enough truck. Get it set up right and the difference will be significant.
Based on my years of hauling the same size/weight camper on an older, lesser suspension truck, I can’t imagine personally having an issue at all with your setup after a few tweaks.
Recap. Do sway bar for sure.
Then block your suspension like I recommended earlier and that will tell you if you only need to do that or if you need to add more effective spring rate. I suspect it will be passable but better with a little more help.
