Truck camper & 6.2L Superduty

[Slackjaw]

Like the subject line says, just wondering what size (& weight, if possible) are you guys hauling with the 6.2L? Any recommended suspension mods with t/c's?

I'm looking at getting a 10-11' foot camper for my '15 F250. Just wondering what other guys are carrying and if you're using air bags, overload springs and whatnot.

[TommerW]

Slackjaw, I live in Eagle River AK, I had a 2011 6.2 with a 2001 Fleetwood Elkhorn 9.6, It was the perfect set up but it was an F350. I did not have any mods to the suspension at all, and I towed a 2-place snowmachine trailer with sleds, ATV's and boat. A buddy of mine lives in Wasilla, has the 2011 F250 with a 2000 Lance 9.6 camper, tows the same type toys, no mods and has no issues at all, truck handles the camper very well. Be patient the closer to spring we get there will be many TC's advertised. Good luck.

[nomadictxn]

Actually that 1025 might work. Dry weight is about 2400 lbs. without options. The 1025 is a Lance Lite model where as the 1030 is a much heavier Camper.

[Slackjaw]

nomadictxn wrote:
I am most familiar with Lance as far as manufacturers go. Starting with a truck very similar to yours i quickly eliminated any thing with a slide and after watching a loaded out 1030 squat my rear suspension, i settled on a 915, 835 Lance for a target size. Found mine, which is just an older version of a 915, and am pleased with the set up. The truck handles it well.
You will need lower stableloads if you choose that route, as your truck has no upper springs.

Yeah, I don't think a t/c with a slide is an option for the truck or the pocketbook! Slim pickins' for campers up here at this time of year. Found a nice 1025, but it looks like a beast. Loaded with awnings, etc... Beaut camper though!

[Slackjaw]

brholt wrote:
The 6.2 will have more than enough power but as others have said your limitation will be in the payload capacity of the the F250. Here is a link to my report of how my 6.2 liter truck performs:

6.2l F350 DRW with a heavy truck camper

I enjoyed your write up. Thanks for the link.

[nomadictxn]

I am most familiar with Lance as far as manufacturers go. Starting with a truck very similar to yours i quickly eliminated any thing with a slide and after watching a loaded out 1030 squat my rear suspension, i settled on a 915, 835 Lance for a target size. Found mine, which is just an older version of a 915, and am pleased with the set up. The truck handles it well.
You will need lower stableloads if you choose that route, as your truck has no upper springs.

[nycsteve]

Slackjaw wrote:
How do I know if I need upper or lower stable loads, air bags, timbrens, etc...? Why not just add a leaf spring if weight is an issue? (This truck is only a part-time daily driver; I bought it to downsize from a Class C to a t/c. I couldn't afford an F350, or I would have bought one. I bought the least expensive non-white color truck I could afford. Didn't have another $10k to drop to get a non-white F350. My previous truck was white--NOT the preferred color for living in Alaska!! 😄 )

Guess I should by the t/c and go from there?

nomadictxn--that's something along the line of what I'll be looking at. Looks like your truck has the same tires I have too.

Im carrying a Lance 981 on a 2011 f350 6.2 SRW 4x4 crew with a 4.1 rear. The Lance weighs in the 4k range loaded to go. No power issues whatsoever. Im comfortable with the handling. The mods I have done; airbags, Rancho 9000xls , superswaystop bumpers. I could do without the airbags if forced but the combo effect of the Rancho shocks and swaystop bumpers are something I'de definitely miss. If you can find a TC that's weighs in at 3500 #s loaded you'de be even happier.

[Golden_HVAC]

I guess it is a little to late to let you know that most how carry a camper also have a 1 ton truck and many of those are dually trucks because a 11' long camper is going to be at least 3,000 pounds and with slide outs, it can be 4,200 pounds! That is a lot more than your F-250 can take. At least you have the lighter weight 6.2L engine and have the increased GVWR of the newer trucks.

I had a 460" 7.5L engine in my 1975 Ford F-350 with a 9,600 GVWR and curb weight around 6,500 pounds. I could safely carry another 3,100 pounds according to the paperwork that came with the camper package. I had a cheap camper on it when I bought it in 1987. In 92, I bought a 1972 Coachman camper that had a forward bath taking up the front 3' and dinette behind that on the passenger side, kitchen on the drivers side. Dinette was raised about 8" to give it a place to put the black tank. Back in the 70's grey tanks where rare, and I did not have one.

My factory engine HP rating was probably around 225 HP. Yours flows much more air, can wind up to 4,200 RPM and run there all day long, while mine did not have nearly as much power. You have plenty of power, and the ability to tow any size travel trailer. Fifth wheels and campers are another subject, as you don't really have the weight capacity to carry a large camper or tow a heavy fifth wheel.

Good luck finding something!

Fred.

[brholt]

The 6.2 will have more than enough power but as others have said your limitation will be in the payload capacity of the the F250. Here is a link to my report of how my 6.2 liter truck performs:

6.2l F350 DRW with a heavy truck camper

[tc-lance]

If you add a leaf spring, the truck will ride stiffer than it rides now, when unloaded. That might be ok for you, or not. I decided to go with an 8.5' camper, airbags, and then added torklift stable loads. I did not like how the camper rode (too much sway) with the F250 + camper package and only air bags to level the load.

[tonymull]

That ATV trailer will add 400-600lbs to your load. You really don't want to overload when you know you're sooner or later going to not see a frost heave coming up. That's a hell of a bounce! I lived up there for many years and visit often. Those things can hurt an overloaded truck. You want to stay as close to your payload as you can.

[RZAR66]

Moving up to a F350 shouldn't cost anymore than $1000. But I understand if you bought off the lot then you are limited to what is offered at the time. My F350 was exactly $750 more than the same equipped F250.

[Slackjaw]

How do I know if I need upper or lower stable loads, air bags, timbrens, etc...? Why not just add a leaf spring if weight is an issue? (This truck is only a part-time daily driver; I bought it to downsize from a Class C to a t/c. I couldn't afford an F350, or I would have bought one. I bought the least expensive non-white color truck I could afford. Didn't have another $10k to drop to get a non-white F350. My previous truck was white--NOT the preferred color for living in Alaska!! 😄 )

Guess I should by the t/c and go from there?

nomadictxn--that's something along the line of what I'll be looking at. Looks like your truck has the same tires I have too.

[nomadictxn]

Good news on the longbed. As you can see I have a 9.5 ft. Lance that weighs 2800 lbs. dry and usually about 3400 lbs. ready to camp. I pack light and tend to fill with water near where I am going to camp. I store enough water for toilet use on way. Door sticker says 2900 lbs. I have 3750 lb. tires and use lower stableloads and in my opinion I might improve only with a sway bar. I don't pull behind and that may require more mods. Truck rides slightly high in back.
Anyway, I believe that the era of campers you are looking at, you can find 8 - 9 ft. camper that will work well with what you have.

[RZAR66]

I had a 2011 F350 SRW 6.2 with my Lance 1050s which is a 10' 11" camper. You won't be short on power as the 6.2 has plenty of power for any size truck camper. The problem you will have is it being only a 3/4 ton truck. I had upper and lower stable loads, hellwig swaybar, Rancho shocks, nitto tires and I still didn't like the way it handled the camper, especially in the wind. I have since moved up to a dually with no mods and it handles the same camper with ease.