Slide-in camper and trailer gurus...

[kojakone]

...and anyone else that might help us decide. Here are the basics. We are looking at a Lance around 3600 Lbs.(max), dry weight (may go down to a lighter model). Though we own 2 diesels, we want to go gasser with this vehicle. Never had a slide in but are favoring it due to wifey's inability to maneuver with a trailer (though she can handle a 5 speed brilliantly). Most of the time the vehicle is NOT going to have the camper on, it will be used for daily chores, some trailer towing (occasionally, no more than 6500Lbs) and general commuting/driving - and here is where I need help from the experienced and those that have an opinion:

1. 250 (sufficient?)...or 350 ?
2. 350SW or 350DRW ? (350DRW most likely here...)
I pretty much answered my own first two questions, but I am open to suggestion... The next three are my hang-ups.
3. 5.4 or 6.8 ?
4. Manual or automatic ?
5. Super Cab or Crew Cab ?

I believe in the Tim Allen school of "overkill", but have to be practical in our needs. What are your experiences, what would you do different? Pros and cons, all tips are appreciated. .... Thank you!

[jwoops69]

Im sure there will be other with way more detailed info to back this up, but if you stick with that weight on a slide-in, I would think that dual rear wheel would be the only option. Of course, CC or SC is completly up to you and your needs. As far as V8 or V10 gasser-why when you already own 2 diesels, and are planning on putting a 3800lb slide-in in a truck would you consider a gasser for a daily driver, occasionally pulling 6500lb trailer, and putting that slide-in on it?

[fordsforever73]

I haul a 3000 pound camper in the back of 95 F-350 CC, SRW and have "heavy duty" overload leafs. I would say to stick with a 1 ton for sure, and probably a dually for anything over 3000 lbs. Somebody will have to chime in about a V-10 as I've never driven one. I have a half ton with a 5.4/300 hp that I hauled a 5300 lb trailer. I didn,t use overdrive at all (as the truck was pretty new). It towed fine, but used a lot of fuel. Maybe V-10 is better as it doesn'y work as hard. I will stick to my 7.3 deisel though. It's paid for and tried,tested and true. As for tranny's, I think it's totally user preference. (I like both). I would never go back to an extended cab. The crewcab is just a whole lot better if your haulin kids, friends or groceries (for kids and friends).I think extended cabs are like basements...they just collect junk because they a pain to get in there and clean it out.

[OkieGringo]

Definately a DRW, but a gasser of any size? You've gotta be out of your friggin' mind. It'll suck fuel like it's goin' outta style, will last only 1/3 as long and ain't worth didly-squat at trade-in time as a diesel. You WILL be sorry if ya go fer a gasser [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img]. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]OkieGringo

[Diesel_Aggie]

If you want to go gas I'd lean towards the V-10 with a manual. After driving Power Strokes I think you'd be very disappointed with how the 5.4 pulls. It will pull the load just fine, but it/or you will downshift a lot and you may have to drive slower than you are accustomed to. I have not driven the newer V-10 with 362hp but it sounds like it could be fun. You might call Banks to see if they will be offering a Power Pack system on the new V-10. They only show '99-04 and claim a 7% improvement in fuel mileage. My personal preference would still be for the diesel especially in a dually. Gasoline engines are lasting much longer than they used to so I'm not buying the longevity argument for non-commercial use.

[V10 man]

V10 for sure and the 4.30 gears. I'd go with the auto tranny. Cab style is up to you. A long bed crew cab is mighty long.

[DesertDave]

At that weight you will need at least an F350 DRW.

I used to have a 4 Wheel Popup camper on an F250. That camper was 1000 lbs, and that was about right for that truck. I recently bought the truck in my sig., and a Bigfoot camper that weighs 2600 with water, probably 3000lbs with the other stuff in it. It's about the max you'd want on a F350 SRW. I have Firestone airbags, and I will probably add longer bumpstops on the overload stops (so they engage sooner to help control roll when loaded). I will eventually upgrade the shocks, too.

If the pickup is primarily for the camper, or you don't need to drive it in tight places, like parking lots and cities, then a DRW will be the ticket. I have to use my truck to commute to work, and couldn't live with a DRW, so I adjusted my needs away from a dry bath and slideouts, etc. to a camper that would work safely on a SRW.

[KVOM]

DesertDave,

I have been shopping for a truck camper for the truck in my sig. Assuming I use it only on the odd weekend with drives less than 300 miles total on secondary roads, would I need to beef up the rear suspension for a 3000lb camper?

I will be adding a dp-tuner in the near future.

[SmokeyWren]

[ QUOTE ]
We are looking at a Lance around 3600 Lbs.(max), dry weight (may go down to a lighter model).

[/ QUOTE ]

Dry weight is a useless number. It doesn't include any options or any fresh water. And I'll bet your camper will have some options and probably at least a few gallons of fresh water.

So plan on a minimum of at least 4,000 pounds dry weight for that camper. And at least 4,500 pounds when wet and lightly loaded.

An F-350 DRW 4x4 CrewCab PSD is going to weigh about 8,500 pounds before you load the camper. And the same truck with V-10 engine is going to weigh about 8,000. Add 4500 pounds worth of camper and you're at 13,000 pounds GVW for the PSD or 12,500 pounds GVW for the V-10. So you need at least a GVWR of 13,000 for the PSD or 12,500 for the gasser.

Hmmmmmmmmmm. The new F-350 DRW CrewCab 4x4 has a GVWR of 12,600 with the V-10 and 13,000 with the PSD. (CrewCab 4x4 DRWs are not available with the 5.4L V8 engine). In other words, your camper will max out a new F-350 DRW. If you really want the "Tim Allen" fudge factor, then you'll order the new F-450 pickup which has a GVWR of 14,500 pounds. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img] Then you could pull a boat behind the camper without being overloaded. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[DesertDave]

A good friend has a 1999 F350, maybe similar to your truck, and told me he scaled his truck with and without his camper. He said his loaded weight camper is 2800 pounds.

He added air bags to his truck after his first trip. Based on his, and others, inputs, I added air bags before my first trip. They only cost me $234 from summitracing.com, and an evening to install them. I measured the height at the tires before loading, and added air to get it to 1.5" below the unloaded height. That seems to work. Most camper salesmen recommend airbags, most camper places sell them, too. I recommend them for hard-sided camper users.

I hauled 3600 lbs of rock a few times before I added the air bags - that is just below the weight capacity door sticker, as optioned, for my truck. That load settled the springs 4".

[Gooch]

[ QUOTE ]
By SmokeyWren:

Dry weight is a useless number. It doesn't include any options or any fresh water. And I'll bet your camper will have some options and probably at least a few gallons of fresh water.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lance's dry weight includes full water and propane tanks. Lance posts that dry weight, including an explanation that it includes standard equipment, full water, and full propane, right on the camper. You can also find what Lance's weight statement includes HERE, at the bottom of the page.

Additionally, Lance will post a dry weight statement inside the camper (usually on the back of a cabinet door) that shows the weight of your specific camper with your added options and equipment. It will include full water, full propane, standard equipment, and all factory options you added that weigh over 20 lbs (Lance says those optional items not over 20 lbs may add up to an additional 150 lbs and are not included in the weight). Obviously this weight will not include dealer installed items, things you installed yourself, or your gear.

According to a CAT scale, Lance's claimed weights were within 100 lbs on my slide-in. This made them very valuable, not "useless". I can figure my total ready-to-camp weight by just adding in the weight of my own gear. That's the stuff that adds up quick.

[BigDogMK]

I have a LanceLite 845 that I haul from TN to Colorado each year elk hunting while pulling a 14' trailer with ATVs, large storage boxes, etc., etc. I have airbags which made a big difference--almost as much as replacing the stock shocks with Bilsteins. My loaded camper weight has to be somewhere around 2800-3000 pounds and the truck handles it easily. My only future change is to a set of "E" rated tires for the Colorado trip. You can check my signature for changes to the truck. I usually set the Edge on the 60hp tow setting with the camper but tried the 80 horse setting last year and had no problems. The LanceLite will comfortably house 3 people. I've got 33 gallons of fresh water capacity, 16 black water, 17 grey water, IIRC. It's got an innerspring queen bed, propane/elec frig/freezer, furnace, A/C, microwave, shower/toilet, 2 sinks, stove/oven, hot water heater, and now, satellite TV. It's like a house on wheels. Oh, it's 8'6"..... It's a hardside.

I strongly recommend the LanceLite...and an F-250 will easily handle it, so long as you have a 7.3 under the hood.

BigDogMK

[F350OilBurner]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
By SmokeyWren:

Dry weight is a useless number. It doesn't include any options or any fresh water. And I'll bet your camper will have some options and probably at least a few gallons of fresh water.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lance's dry weight includes full water and propane tanks. Lance posts that dry weight, including an explanation that it includes standard equipment, full water, and full propane, right on the camper. You can also find what Lance's weight statement includes HERE, at the bottom of the page.

Additionally, Lance will post a dry weight statement inside the camper (usually on the back of a cabinet door) that shows the weight of your specific camper with your added options and equipment. It will include full water, full propane, standard equipment, and all factory options you added that weigh over 20 lbs (Lance says those optional items not over 20 lbs may add up to an additional 150 lbs and are not included in the weight). Obviously this weight will not include dealer installed items, things you installed yourself, or your gear.

According to a CAT scale, Lance's claimed weights were within 100 lbs on my slide-in. This made them very valuable, not "useless". I can figure my total ready-to-camp weight by just adding in the weight of my own gear. That's the stuff that adds up quick.

[/ QUOTE ]

Everything you said is correct except what you describe is the wet weight as listed on the rear of the camper and in the cabinet. Dry weight would be without water and propane and is what is listed on Lance's website. That's why it's called dry weight. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] So, if he's really talking about the dry weight being around 3600lbs. then it would be in the 4500lb. range with full water, propane and gear. Depending on how much you pack, it could be closer to 5000lbs. And I agree with you, the weight Lance posts on the camper is very accurate.

[kojakone]

Thanks guys! - I appreciate your knowledgeable input. Lot to chew over and some very good points to think and possibly fine tune the details. It will be a while before we pull the trigger, but I am glad to get this feedback now.