I will buy the truck camper as soon as the cash flow catches up (ie selling my VW Thing). In the meantime I am getting a cap for when the camper is off the truck and plan to sleep in that for short trips. This has been the most pleasant spring that I remember. I have done two road trips with just the truck, look forward to having a cap to sleep in and, hope that it doesn't go straight to hot humid summer as soon as the cap gets here.
Since this thread focused upon the selection of a new "heavy duty" half ton truck, and it has run its course, I opened a new thread about choosing an appropriate and safe camper for the "HD" F 150. New information will be posted there. If you missed it, you can find it at the below link ...
Thanks for this thread and the detailed, accurate information you have given us. I am in the early research stages for a truck and camper and you have been extremely helpful. I look forward to reading the new thread and finding out how camping in the topper works, what camper you find, and how camping in that works!
TZtraveler wrote: Thanks for this thread and the detailed, accurate information you have given us. I am in the early research stages for a truck and camper and you have been extremely helpful. I look forward to reading the new thread and finding out how camping in the topper works, what camper you find, and how camping in that works!
I thoroughly agree, this has been a very interesting thread!
elkhornsun wrote: The manufacturers distinguish between cargo capacity and payload capacity. The former includes a 150# per seat passenger load to the truck. The payload capacity is the amount of weight that the rear can handle with the provided axle, springs, and wheels.
Payload capacity is determined by subtracting the truck's actual scale weight from the GVWR. This is the number also printed on the yellow payload sticker. It is printed at the factory, so it does not include the weight of any dealer installed options or other aftermarket equipment added to the truck after it leaves the factory.
Rear axle load capacity is determined by subtracting the truck's actual rear axle scale weight from the RGAWR.
Camper loading weight as listed by the manufacturer may or may not account for driver weight and passenger weight for each seating position.
Dragonfly wrote: I GOT THE WEIGHTS FOR THE HEAVY DUTY F 150
I finally found a scale and weighed the truck, here are the results.
GVWR = 8200 lbs
Weight of empty truck with full tank of gas = 5920 lbs
Difference 2,280 lbs
Sounds about right. I posted a link to the towing and camper guide earlier, showing a cargo (sorry, not payload as I said in my post) weight of 1539. That works out to about 5 150 lb passengers, 3 in the front and 2 in the back.
'98 Bigfoot 1500
with low loss control on the Fantastic, Dino board on the Dometic.
Torklifts and Fastguns
'04 F350 V10 Crew SRW SB 4X4 6 speed
with tow hook replacement, dual rate charging, Line-X, Timbrens.