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...
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Hey Ken, Dont buy a new truck just get better advice. The dually crowd here is always pitching the same ****. I arrived in 2015 and was told to promptly buy a dually and get 19.5 inch tires and a plethora of other useless ****. I haul my Arctic Fox 865 on my short box Ford and have for six years with few problems. Other than bad advice on shocks from here.
Does your truck have a rear sway bar, yes or no? A camper package F350 usually does. If not, Big wig sway bar is the thing.
Airbags from Firestone will stop the sagging. Keep the airlines separate or they will shift air from one side to the other and rock will get worse. I measure the height to my rear bumper and set the air bags for my truck to ride evenly across the back. I check the air every 4 or 5 days on the road and almost never have to add air. The dealer was a turd for not helping you set up the truck correctly and sending you off. Most salesmen are scumbags, sorry for that.
Factory shocks are not up to the task, use KYB or Bilstein shocks. I use KYB Monomax, they do stiffen up the ride considerably when you have no camper on the truck. Anything Rancho is garbage, especially 9000XL's.
I added Torklift Stableloads to my upper overload spring, they bring it in a lot earlier. Good for sagging, rocking and weight but when the camper is off the truck it rides like a truck.
Keep your tires at 80psi when fully loaded. It will still rock occasionally but you will enjoy the ride a lot more. I'm heading out on my annual two week TC adventure and I am going thru three mountain ranges and down the coast. I'm not worried in the least.
When loaded up for an extended trip my truck rides nice, sways a little in the wind but nothing like your experience. My headlights point correctly and everything works great. Just remember you are fully loaded, so those 35mph curve signs are real. Avoid potholes, curbage and serious bumps to save tire damage.
Does your truck have a rear sway bar, yes or no? A camper package F350 usually does. If not, Big wig sway bar is the thing.
Airbags from Firestone will stop the sagging. Keep the airlines separate or they will shift air from one side to the other and rock will get worse. I measure the height to my rear bumper and set the air bags for my truck to ride evenly across the back. I check the air every 4 or 5 days on the road and almost never have to add air. The dealer was a turd for not helping you set up the truck correctly and sending you off. Most salesmen are scumbags, sorry for that.
Factory shocks are not up to the task, use KYB or Bilstein shocks. I use KYB Monomax, they do stiffen up the ride considerably when you have no camper on the truck. Anything Rancho is garbage, especially 9000XL's.
I added Torklift Stableloads to my upper overload spring, they bring it in a lot earlier. Good for sagging, rocking and weight but when the camper is off the truck it rides like a truck.
Keep your tires at 80psi when fully loaded. It will still rock occasionally but you will enjoy the ride a lot more. I'm heading out on my annual two week TC adventure and I am going thru three mountain ranges and down the coast. I'm not worried in the least.
When loaded up for an extended trip my truck rides nice, sways a little in the wind but nothing like your experience. My headlights point correctly and everything works great. Just remember you are fully loaded, so those 35mph curve signs are real. Avoid potholes, curbage and serious bumps to save tire damage.
