F150 and Campers
10-04-2010, 09:37 PM
#11
Senior Member
He is talking about a pop up in bed camper not a pull behind.
10-04-2010, 11:41 PM
#12
Bye F150, hello F250
Yes, I am very conscious of my weights. I am 260# over GVWR. I am 510# over rear axle.
BUT.....Ford rated the rear axle at 3850# at the weakest link, not the actual axle. And the weakest link is the springs, tires and wheels. The 9 3/4" Ford rear axle itself is rated at 4500#. But most want their 150 to ride nice so they install passenger car wheels, tires and springs which reduces the weight ratings.
So in reality, my fully loaded camper is 140# under the rear axle!!
BUT.....Ford rated the rear axle at 3850# at the weakest link, not the actual axle. And the weakest link is the springs, tires and wheels. The 9 3/4" Ford rear axle itself is rated at 4500#. But most want their 150 to ride nice so they install passenger car wheels, tires and springs which reduces the weight ratings.
So in reality, my fully loaded camper is 140# under the rear axle!!
The springs are rated at 4800 lbs. Tires (at least my my 20") are 2450 each at 60 PSI or 4900 lbs. Wheels (rims) I assume are the same. This means that the axel components, the weakest link, are rated at 4000.
If you are 510 lbs over the rear axel, well, you are 510 lbs over! Not a good place to be IMHO!
10-04-2010, 11:42 PM
#13
Bye F150, hello F250
10-05-2010, 02:28 AM
#14
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Not interested in a pull behind camper because I want to tow my jeep and have a camper to sleep off the ground in the late fall for hunting.
Just looking for all the in's and out's of putting a bed/truck camper on an F150. Not looking at the huge ones that go on F250s/350s.
Cost of those larger hard sided campers is too much. Small pop up bed camper with a good heater and stove along with maybe a wet bath would do nicely in late october at 10000 feet- for next year. Have this year's accomodations set.
Just looking for all the in's and out's of putting a bed/truck camper on an F150. Not looking at the huge ones that go on F250s/350s.
Cost of those larger hard sided campers is too much. Small pop up bed camper with a good heater and stove along with maybe a wet bath would do nicely in late october at 10000 feet- for next year. Have this year's accomodations set.
10-10-2010, 07:39 PM
#15
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The rear axle should be rated at 4000 lbs. Check your door.
The springs are rated at 4800 lbs. Tires (at least my my 20") are 2450 each at 60 PSI or 4900 lbs. Wheels (rims) I assume are the same. This means that the axel components, the weakest link, are rated at 4000.
If you are 510 lbs over the rear axel, well, you are 510 lbs over! Not a good place to be IMHO!
The springs are rated at 4800 lbs. Tires (at least my my 20") are 2450 each at 60 PSI or 4900 lbs. Wheels (rims) I assume are the same. This means that the axel components, the weakest link, are rated at 4000.
If you are 510 lbs over the rear axel, well, you are 510 lbs over! Not a good place to be IMHO!
Apparently you missed where I stated the stand alone rear axle is rated at 4500#.
I know the door sticker is less but that is taking all considerations (tires, wheels, springs, brakes, etc) for their recommended weight limit.
Up until 3 years ago Visteon built axles for Ford in the Sterling axle plant. From their website the 9.75 Ford F150 rear axle has a weight carrying capacity of 4500#.
3 years ago Ford bought Visteon out and builds the same axles in the same plant with the same ratings. They just call them Ford axles now!!
So, I really am 140# UNDER the RAWR.
Also, FWIW, this camper is only temporary until I can get the fully loaded FWC HAWK weighing in at 1100#!!!!
10-11-2010, 10:11 AM
#17
Bye F150, hello F250
I am guessing that your GAWR (rear) is 4000 lbs according to the sticker. This is from Ford. Mine is, & I have the Screw with max tow. There was a GVWR package in 09 that upped the rear to 4800 if I recall but that was only available on the supercab or standard, not the supercrew.
10-12-2010, 09:22 AM
#18
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Looks like you need a dose of Head & Shoulders!!!
The rear axle you are thinking of is the 10.25 semi float that comes with the HD 150. The GAWR is 5300# by itself but I'm sure the door sticker is less. It also has 7 lugs vs our 6.
I know the door sticker says 4000#. The Ford engineers have placed that number as the maximum weight they would like to see on the rear for safety and longevity. That gives them a 500# buffer zone on the axle as the weight carrying capacity of the axle is 4500#.
A lot of folks use their trucks for stuff other than groceries and overload them every day. If you don't believe that, visit a farming or truck camper forum. I'm not saying it's right, but a fact of life.
Ford realizes this and knows that the first time someone overloaded their truck by a couple hundred pounds and the axle broke they would be driving the competition.
When a newbie shows up on my camper forum with a new 1 ton dually and is confused by the axles weights. "My front axle is 6000# and my rear is 12000# which equals 18000# why is my truck only rated for 12500#?" All things have to be considered for safety and longevity, not just the axles capabilities.
Bottom line: I am definitely not recommending anyone overload their truck. I'm just saying you can get away with a few hundred pounds once in a while without destroying the rear end.
The rear axle you are thinking of is the 10.25 semi float that comes with the HD 150. The GAWR is 5300# by itself but I'm sure the door sticker is less. It also has 7 lugs vs our 6.
I know the door sticker says 4000#. The Ford engineers have placed that number as the maximum weight they would like to see on the rear for safety and longevity. That gives them a 500# buffer zone on the axle as the weight carrying capacity of the axle is 4500#.
A lot of folks use their trucks for stuff other than groceries and overload them every day. If you don't believe that, visit a farming or truck camper forum. I'm not saying it's right, but a fact of life.
Ford realizes this and knows that the first time someone overloaded their truck by a couple hundred pounds and the axle broke they would be driving the competition.
When a newbie shows up on my camper forum with a new 1 ton dually and is confused by the axles weights. "My front axle is 6000# and my rear is 12000# which equals 18000# why is my truck only rated for 12500#?" All things have to be considered for safety and longevity, not just the axles capabilities.
Bottom line: I am definitely not recommending anyone overload their truck. I'm just saying you can get away with a few hundred pounds once in a while without destroying the rear end.
Last edited by Dirty Harry; 10-12-2010 at 09:25 AM.
04-28-2011, 02:38 AM
#19
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Hey Dirty Harry, Thank you for the good information on the F150s ability to handle the campers. Any recommendations on a camper trailer brands or which ones are the lightest? I have a 2010 F150 SCREW FX4 which I would add air bags and D or E rated tires.
My dad and I carry heavy pallets of raw plastic between our warehouse and manufacturing facility (1/4 mile in distance). His truck has carried 3-4000 lbs in a single load many a time. He has only added air bags to the truck. Its quiet amazing seeing his old 2001 toyota tundra handle this (wouldn't try this on my stock truck). Only reason I mention this is I wound't be scared putting an 1,800 camper trailer on an f150 which is a much bigger and sturdier truck. Also he has the compressor mounted inside the engine bay and it works awesome. But we load the truck regularly and its nice to have the ease of use FWIW
My dad and I carry heavy pallets of raw plastic between our warehouse and manufacturing facility (1/4 mile in distance). His truck has carried 3-4000 lbs in a single load many a time. He has only added air bags to the truck. Its quiet amazing seeing his old 2001 toyota tundra handle this (wouldn't try this on my stock truck). Only reason I mention this is I wound't be scared putting an 1,800 camper trailer on an f150 which is a much bigger and sturdier truck. Also he has the compressor mounted inside the engine bay and it works awesome. But we load the truck regularly and its nice to have the ease of use FWIW
04-28-2011, 07:54 AM
#20
Senior Member
The Ford towing guide does not recommend a slide-in camper with the F-150 SCREW, only with the SCAB and regular cab, and then only with 6.5' or 8.0 ' bed. See page below.