2022 F150 and a Truck Camper

[UpInId]

Well, almost 20 years since I bought my last RV, I'm trying to find my dream last exploring rig. I had class C's, class A's and the last one was a Chinook 21 foot. This time I really wanted to go the 4WD truck and camper route, to get back in to see some places off the beaten path. (Not that I didn't take my motorhomes places most probably wouldn't have).

Thanks to covid, I ended buying my F150 online, paying in advance and traveling to go get it when it arrived. It's completely my own fault, but I was misled a bit as to my truck having the payload package. While it does have the HD towing package that has increased payload, better tires etc., it's not the full payload package, but the 7050 # one. So after a trip to the scales I find that my max payload is going to be just shy of 1900 lbs.

So, here's my dilemma. I really do want at the least a toilet and sink, and a shower would be nice. I've looked at several mostly popup campers, FWC, Northstar, etc., mostly online, and with all of them, once I add some options, I'll be up over max payload wet, by at least a couple hundred lbs. The manufacturers and dealers all seem to be very laissez-faire about it, with suggestions of air bags or possibly springs. A lot of pictures on the websites show similar campers on trucks with lower payloads than mine, so is this just the norm to be a bit over? While I'm an old RV'er, I've never had a TC.

I did look at the Supertramp campers, which are much lighter than the FWC, etc. They look interesting, if silly expensive, but that's not my main concern, they're new, and when I asked them last May, they had only completed a couple of them.

What should I do? I picked my truck based on overall length that would work best for my garage, a Supercab half door with 6.5" bed. The others wouldn't be ideal for my situation. Do I sell off the truck and start over, or can anyone offer any other suggestions or pointers? Money isn't the object, within reason, I'm no spring chicken, I'd like to get this right.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[azblazor]

The people who are in the advice business (don't want to held accountable for advising anything but strict adherence to the manufacture's payload figure) will say absolutely don't exceed the specific payload for your truck.
But many people do exceed their payload - of course the less you exceed it the better. I have exceeded the payload on every truck I have had, to one extent or another.
You need to be sensitive to how the truck is handling and stopping even if you are under the payload spec. I do have air bags on a 3/4 ton and on a 1 ton currently, I also have 2 other 1 tons (1 is a dually) that don't have air bags. I'm not an expert. But I have had campers, motorhomes, TT's and Toyhaulers. I do tow some fairly heavy equipment (20Kish), and have I have had 20 trucks or so from 1/2 ton to 2 1/2 ton. Good luck

 

[BBZ]

ugh..
Frustrating you bought a truck not as advertised, the HDPP is a great option for a FWC and any camper. We have a 2016 supercab with 8 foot bed for our grandby and the trucks payload is 2611#. Our Grandby is 1250 when loaded and ready for a trip (its a shell with some added features). We took back seats out and made a nice platform for the dogs (and storage under). I think it is the perfect platform for a FWC, we just added airbags and new Bilstien 5100 shocks. Still get 16 mpg with camper and because I need a truck for work that last think I wanted was a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

If you are even looking for the HDPP truck the total GVWR is going to be 7850#, just ask to see the sticker on the inside of the door. There a more out there than people realize and most used dealers have no clue what they have...

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

First, welcome to WTW! Are you an upland hunter by chance?

If you want to hang on to the truck, you might consider purchasing a popup shell model. I recently purchased an All Terrain Campers (ATC) full size shell (my second ATC) with furnace, stove, and a few small options that has an as built of just over 1200 pounds. A shell for your size truck would be between 700-800 pounds. My guess for a complete camper, you would be looking at just over 1000 pounds. They will do custom builds, and they’re great to work with.

Give them a call if you think that might work for you.

 

[UpInId]

Thanks folks, I was hoping to get some no BS advice, and I appreciate it. I bought the truck sight unseen, just so happy to even find one coming in, and really missed the boat on it. The gist of what I've read everywhere and seen as well, agrees that most TC's are likely overweight by at least a little bit on F150's and 250's. I just need to decide how I feel about it. Or go with one of the really lightweight options like the Supertramp. And Sage, I've done a little, but prefer larger game hunting, Elk, etc.

 

[BBZ]

Thanks folks, I was hoping to get some no BS advice, and I appreciate it. I bought the truck sight unseen, just so happy to even find one coming in, and really missed the boat on it. The gist of what I've read everywhere and seen as well, agrees that most TC's are likely overweight by at least a little bit on F150's and 250's. I just need to decide how I feel about it. Or go with one of the really lightweight options like the Supertramp. And Sage, I've done a little, but prefer larger game hunting, Elk, etc.

My previous F150 had a payload of 1500 ish and we traveled to Baja twice with it and an older FWC (probably 900 lbs). We were right at the payload weight on those trips (I weighed it) and there were no issues, air bags and that was it.. But.. I do like knowing my current truck is more capable and we have a 500 pounds to spare

 

[michelle_east_county]

' best not to go over GVWR with any rig, and you'll find most trucks start to feel overloaded at anything much over half their payload capacity. Manufacturers know most people run around nearly empty most of the time, so springs firm enough for GVWR would be too harsh empty, even though those with 2-3 stages (leaf springs with main spring pack plus either or both a lower and upper overload leaf), high arch and long travel (longer leaf springs that are also more highly arched rather than stiffer) are good compromise for most, they're not firm enough for those who carry full loads most of the time.

If you find a camper that loaded will still keep you below GVWR, consider having one or maybe two more leafs added to main leaf pack. We had one leaf added to our 2020 F-350 SuperCab longbed with factory camper package carrying a Hallmark Ute pop-up camper after Hallmark had installed Torklift Upper StableLoads when they loaded camper which helped but not completely. I removed them before Deaver Springs in Santa Ana, CA added a leaf to main pack, and they sort of duplicated removed Upper StableLoads via longer U-bolts and a thicker spacer between main pack and upper overloads. Ride and handling with camper is now excellent under all circumstances except that it's a little harsh on USFS gravel roads, but not bad. If I'd kept the StableLoads in place before the leaf was added by Deaver, I'd probably try removing them to improve gravel road ride, though at the expense of a bit more body roll, etc. Deaver had recommended keeping the Upper StableLoads in place before they worked on it, so that's why they duplicated their function via other means described. I haven't yet removed camper and assume empty truck ride will be firmer than stock though per request to Deaver, not so firm as to be like the proverbial empty lumber wagon.

Air bags, etc, are an option if you really need good empty truck ride, but most trucks over last forty years are too soft for GVWR so you usually can't go wrong with firmer springs as long as you don't go too firm.

 

[Jon R]

I was driving about 70 on a divided highway that was not limited access (it had road crossings). We were in our GMC 3500hd with about 1900 lbs of loaded Grandby in the bed. Someone coming the opposite direction turned left in front of a fifth wheel rig several cars ahead of us causing a major accident. I had to do a maximum braking emergency stop. I was really glad I was operating at 50% payload that day and not in an overloaded half-ton.

 

[bsharp007]

I have thousands of miles with a Ford F-150 and a fully loaded Hawk for 15 years and counting, two trips to Baja, all over the Sierra Nevada and beyond with NO problems. I do drive safely but have had to do a couple of emergency braking and have upgraded to E tires and airbags. The brakes are sturdy on newer F-150, I would take the alarmist advice with a grain of salt, you should be just fine.