Christenson9

Hello, I have a 2016 2.7 short bed f150 and am looking into getting a lightweight slide in camper. I’m having trouble finding people that have done this? From my research the payload of my truck is about 1600 lbs so it should be able to manage one of these campers that are around 1000 lbs. was also thinking about airbags to help out. Has anybody done this ?

marshallr

Check your owners manual and other info that came with your truck. You may be able to do this, but I have my doubts on that truck. Every 1/2 ton that I've ever owned had a warning stating that it wasn't suitable for that style camper. 1600 lbs isn't much.

wizwor

I'm disappointed there is not much discussion of this here. While I was hoping to hear a lot of stories from the F150 community, there are other places to look for help. If you decide to post here...

http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/...camper-forums/

please post a link to your post in this thread. I would like to follow along.

When I bought my 2016 F150, I was interested in sliding in a Lance 650. I was assured the truck was more than adequate for the task.

This article suggests that I might need to be careful...

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/.../?singlepage=1

If you want to do the math yourself, here are links to a couple turorials...

http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/...ck-camper-101/
https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/...-truck-camper/

The Lance 650 is not really a light camper and my situation is different that it was in 2016, so I am looking at lighter truck campers. That is what I hoped would come of this thread -- recommendations for excellent really light truck campers.

Here are a couple lists for you to peruse...

http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/...lf-ton-trucks/
http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/...lf-ton-trucks/

The only camper to make both lists is the Alaskan 6.5 Cabover. It's a hard side popup that weighs a little less than the 650.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYoj...ature=youtu.be

Lacking only an inside shower.

Happy shopping!

chimmike

Not a single one of these listed: http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/...lf-ton-trucks/

would work in a non-HDPP F150. Especially not a truck with 1600lbs payload. Look at the dry weights of those. You're popping GVWR just sliding 99% of those in, and with the 1385lb dry weight one, put your gear in before you even get in the truck to drive it and you've popped GVWR.

tomkees

New member here, thanks for the great site.


I started out thinking I was going to be able to buy a light weight camper, like the Palomino SS-500, or the Northstar SS-600. Both have dry weights around 1,200 pounds.
They are touted as being made for the mid size pickeps, ie., Frontier, Ranger, Colorado. That was my plan, buy a Frontier, put the SS-500 on top, and happy trails.
Problem is, payload ratings for these midsize trucks aren't adequate, as far as I could find out. (Once you put yourselves, and the stuff in the camper-which you then have a 'wet weight' of probably at least 1,700 pounds.) Seems that they are really streching the idea that a truck camper can be put on a midsize truck. (And I have read probably all of the discussions from great truck camper online magazines, like Truck Camper Magazine, about this dilemma)
So, next step, look at full size pickups. (Which is where I am at now.) The F-150 is the only full size pickup in the 1500 series, that I could find that has possible payload ratings into the mid 2,000# and to the low 3,000#. (Ford has a nice brochure they put out online, for each year F-150 truck, where you can scroll down, and find detailed info on truck trims, engines, etc., and the corresponding payload ratings.)
A couple problems with this line of thinking. First, the lightweight campers with dry weights of 1,200#, from my understanding, don't fit into the full size pickup beds. So, look to the next lightest camper, the Palomino SS-550 for example, but now you're looking at a dry weight of 1,600#. Add on the approx. at least 500# of stuff to put into the truck, and camper, and you have a wet weight/payload rating requirement of around 2,200#.
Second problem is that there just don't seem to be many 2016 F-150 trucks out there for sale, with payload ratings in the mid 2,000# pound range. That's where I'm focusing in on these days.
I'm still out about 6 months from making a truck purchase, and have made contact with one Ford dealer to get the ball rolling, and sniff out what the chances will be to find the
proper F-150. I like Ford trucks. I am hoping I don't need to look in to an F-250 though.
Hope some of this info is a help to those looking at putting a camper on a pickup.
And if anyone has a suggestion on how to 'simply' locate a 2016 F-150 whith the higher payload ratings, I'm all ears, and would appreciate.
Happy, safe, truckin'

chimmike

You'll need to source a HDPP equipped truck for that kind of payload. Or an XL long bed regular cab with a V8 or 3.5 ecoboost.

tomkees

Thanks for that info. Steers me in the right direction!

schmenke

Have you tried posting here:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/

tomkees

Just saw your reply, it was in 'Spam'

Thanks for the suggestion,
I'll have a look.

mikeinatlanta

I would go with a 250 minimum, however, if I really wanted to go with a 150 it would need to be HDPP. Would upgrade to the biggest rear swaybar I could find. Would also add airbags. Next I would strip the back seat, running boards, and probably the receiver hitch (because you won't be able to tow anyway) to keep under GVWR. Would run LT tires on the largest diameter rims I could get stock diameter LT tires to fit. Basically I'd strip weight out of the truck and do everything possible to help with rollover. Keep in mind that you get to remove the tailgate and add that weight to your payload. Stripping several hundred pounds should be easy.

With a HDPP it could be done, but should it be done is the question.