The only real SRW “One Ton” that isn’t really a 3/4 ton

[burningman]

Just for the heck of it, here is the only real one-ton single rear wheel pickup ever made that is NOT just a 3/4 ton with a different sticker on it.
The 1973 to 1979 Ford F-350 Super Camper Special. Not just the common “Camper Special” but the Super Camper Special.

These things had a 5355 pound payload. Way more than any new SRW pickup.
Notice the set-back rear axle. They had a special bed to fit. They were made to haul big campers, and that set-back rear axle also let the front end take more of the weight.
No camper center of gravity issues at all.
They came with 12.00 x 16.5 rear tires.
They came with frame tie down points, camper power connectors, trans coolers, and a spare tire under a big door on the passenger side of the bed.
No crawling under.

These were the best single rear wheel camper haulers ever, and the only single rear wheel one-ton pickup that wasn’t just an up-rated 3/4 ton.

[JRscooby]

valhalla360 wrote:

mellow wrote:
I wish they would go back to the spare tire embedded into the side of the bed like that instead of underneath.

Back in the day...when changing a flat was a regular occurrence, this was a good point.

In the past 10yrs, I've changed 1 flat. Ironically, it was the day after getting new tires. The bead was properly sealed. It's rare enough problem that I'm not going to get too fussy over it. If it bothers you a lot, you can get a front bumper mount to keep from dragging it out from under the truck.

But how many times back when the spare mount was held in place by a threaded rod, that would rust to the point you had no spare on the side of road? Whoever came up with the winch idea was pretty smart. But how many users think to run the cable out, move truck so don't need to work loose while completely under?

Back in the '50s GM often put longer pickup bed on the heavier duty.
And in late '60/early '70s GM sold long wheelbase, regular cab 1 tons, cab and chassis.

[valhalla360]

mellow wrote:
I wish they would go back to the spare tire embedded into the side of the bed like that instead of underneath.

Back in the day...when changing a flat was a regular occurrence, this was a good point.

In the past 10yrs, I've changed 1 flat. Ironically, it was the day after getting new tires. The bead was properly sealed. It's rare enough problem that I'm not going to get too fussy over it. If it bothers you a lot, you can get a front bumper mount to keep from dragging it out from under the truck.

[specta]

Supercharged111 wrote:

That bed extension has got to be more than a mere 6". . .

8", but who's counting? LOL

[Supercharged111]

specta wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Very cool truck and bit of knowledge! Thanks for sharing!
I knew about the old camper specials. GM may have made one as well, with a 9’ bed and longer wheelbase? 67-72 style?
But never heard of the super camper special.

they Chevy Longhorn.

That bed extension has got to be more than a mere 6". . .

[specta]

jimh406 wrote:


Given the choice between a 45-50 year old camper special and fairly modern SRW, I’d take any leaf spring modern SRW. Almost every aspect of the new truck is better in spite of what the sticker might say.

True, but they didn't make today's modern trucks back in the '70s.

[specta]

Grit dog wrote:
Very cool truck and bit of knowledge! Thanks for sharing!
I knew about the old camper specials. GM may have made one as well, with a 9’ bed and longer wheelbase? 67-72 style?
But never heard of the super camper special.

they Chevy Longhorn.

[specta]

Those trucks were made to carry a Ford brand camper that I believe was manufactured by Four Seasons.



That was the same company that produced these "factory" camper shells for Ford back in the '70s like the one here on my '79 F-250.



I didn't read every comment but the spare tire was carried vertically in a side compartment due to the real axle being moved further back to help with the heavy payload.

I worked with a guy named Steve Kersey back in 2009 while working at a Ford dealer in Salt Lake City.

He worked for Ford back in Detroit when they designed that F-350 and he was the one who came up with the design for the spare tire.

They gave him a brand new Ford LTD and a check for $7000.

[rjstractor]

jimh406 wrote:
As most of us know, the payload rating system is artificial with stock tires almost always the limiting factor.

Given the choice between a 45-50 year old camper special and fairly modern SRW, I’d take any leaf spring modern SRW. Almost every aspect of the new truck is better in spite of what the sticker might say.

Agreed, any modern 3500 SRW will be vastly superior in terms of ride, power and braking. The compartment for the spare tire is a cool, unique feature, but the only reason for it is the fact that the spare tire could not be placed in the conventional position- not enough space behind the rear axle for it.

[JRscooby]

notsobigjoe wrote:

I'm asking because I do not know. Is that a compartment for the spare? It looks like it's straight up and down and not flat. Does it come out of there like the PITA tires under the rear of modern pick ups? Impressive numbers though. 🙂

IIRC from ads at the time the spare was stored vertically, and accessed thru that removable panel.

[notsobigjoe]

JRscooby wrote:

mellow wrote:
I wish they would go back to the spare tire embedded into the side of the bed like that instead of underneath.

I like that feature, but most would not like the rear axle set back far enough to do it.
Most pickups, the bed is pretty much centered over the rear axle. This 1, with more of the bed ahead of axle, a load centered in the bed will put more of the load on front axle. That will let you have a higher GVW without exceeding limit on rear.

I'm asking because I do not know. Is that a compartment for the spare? It looks like it's straight up and down and not flat. Does it come out of there like the PITA tires under the rear of modern pick ups? Impressive numbers though. 🙂

[Grit_dog]

Very cool truck and bit of knowledge! Thanks for sharing!
I knew about the old camper specials. GM may have made one as well, with a 9’ bed and longer wheelbase? 67-72 style?
But never heard of the super camper special.

[JRscooby]

joerg68 wrote:
Very nice automobile. But I doubt many modern campers will fit between those far aft wheel wells. The ones I had all were designed for the more common, forward position of the axle and got considerably wider in the back.

Might be right, but how much difference it there axle to bumper this bed and normal?

[JRscooby]

mellow wrote:
I wish they would go back to the spare tire embedded into the side of the bed like that instead of underneath.

I like that feature, but most would not like the rear axle set back far enough to do it.
Most pickups, the bed is pretty much centered over the rear axle. This 1, with more of the bed ahead of axle, a load centered in the bed will put more of the load on front axle. That will let you have a higher GVW without exceeding limit on rear.

[mellow]

I wish they would go back to the spare tire embedded into the side of the bed like that instead of underneath.

[jimh406]

As most of us know, the payload rating system is artificial with stock tires almost always the limiting factor.

Given the choice between a 45-50 year old camper special and fairly modern SRW, I’d take any leaf spring modern SRW. Almost every aspect of the new truck is better in spite of what the sticker might say.