F250 - Hauling a Camper and Towing a Boat?

[Skillet]

F250 Superduty is equipped for work.  Better brakes, stronger axles, Trans coolers etc. it should be set up for work.  Granted engine is going to grunt.  It isn't a souped up half ton like a chevy!  Heck I bet it has disk brakes on the rear too!

Agree 100% with mudman.  It is ready to work, and it does have disc brakes on all corners.  Yes, that 5.4 will wheeze a bit on long pulls, but who cares?  Find the sweet spot in the torque curve and settle in for the hill climb.  For any pass you'll be pulling in Washington, you'll get there a few minutes slower than a diesel dually, tops. 

If a guy refused to use the tiniest shred of common sense by driving his fully loaded/trailered up truck the same way he drives his completely empty truck, then I suppose the mfg's weight ratings should be considered the bible.  But I have a very hard time believing that the fact he has a 2" spacer block instead of a 4" spacer block over his rear axle (the ONLY difference between similarly equipped 2009 F250 and F350's) will cause death and destruction on the freeway when loaded slightly above the hyper-conservative spec's the lawyers make Ford publish.  And if a guy airbagged his F250, he's a long way better equipped to deal with the load than a non-airbagged F350.

I regularly tow, and often over my weight limit with my truck.  Sometimes way over my weight limit.  I did upgrade from the factory receiver hitch to a Curt HD+ 12K receiver hitch, but that was probably not necessary.  Truck does just fine with a little bit of common sense in driving fully loaded.

Too many guys are way too committed to the sticker on the door, and not enough to common sense when loading up a truck/trailer combo.  You can set up a very dangerous load without going over the ratings.  The load the OP is describing, however, is well within the practical limits of his truck's capabilities - if not exactly kosher by the door sticker.

I'd do it all day long.

[Special T]

Cannot be done? Yes. Does it have a Cost? Yes. 
Anyone who has put their vehicle to the test limits and beyond can tell you that more can and does go wrong at the razors edge. Tires fail more, there is more wear and tear, and when there is a problem its bigger and more expensive than if you were empty.

If you are a regular maintainer/preventative maintenance kind of guy there won't be many problems provided your not doing 80 on the down hill side of the pass.

Most people don't prepare and compensate for the different loads. Most learn the hard way from an expensive blow out or not checking brakes, bearings or tires regularly.

[syoungs]

Unfortunately I have the 5.4L gas engine. Which according to Ford Specs can haul more cargo weight compared to the diesel 6.4L. (heavy engine)

If I am understanding my numbers correctly I would be over the total suggested cargo weight.

Heres what I got... I think. This is all fairly new to me.

2009 F250 5.4L. (only 44,000 miles)

GVWR = 9400
Cargo Weight = 2021

Lets say the boat weighs around 3000lbs. (I need to get it weighed) 19' aluminium with 150 outboard and 9hp kicker.

So lets take the lower end of tongue weight of 10% = 300lbs

Take that away from the cargo weight and that only leaves me 1721 for all cargo.

One of the lightest campers I can find is a lance 825 and the dry weight is 1832. (2150 Wet)

So that alone would put me at 2132lbs. Now add fuel, water, gear, a wife and two toddlers. I think they say add 1000lbs for this stuff. So we are looking at 3132 ish.

So even if I didn't have the boat I would be over. The funny thing about the lance 825 (and other camper brands lightweights)  is they advertise it for 1/2 ton trucks like the F150/1500. And the ford specs don't support that weight. So it appears to me that the camper brands don't really go off of the truck specs.

I am starting to ramble...

Anyways, am I understanding all of this correctly? And is it acceptable or regularly done to go above the vehicles cargo weight with in reason?

I also know I will be crawling over the pass with the 5.4L.

I wouldn't do it, you can use air bags and they will level you out. Your engine will not like it and your transmission will let you know it's a bad idea. Now for the safety issue, you won't have enough breaking to stop safely.

that's not that much weight hes talking about, would you say the same thing if he said he was going to pull a 25' travel trailer with it?

your not gonna set the cruise at 75 grossing 25K and get 33mpg like the Cummins guys do (tongue in cheek), but youll be able to pull any pass around, itll make a serviceable rig for sure, Ive done it with the 5.4, but the older 2v not as much power version. just remember if you start getting frustrated with pulling power, how much more you would have to invest in a new finicky diesel to go faster. not worth it imho.

[Skillet]

Most people don't prepare and compensate for the different loads. Most learn the hard way from an expensive blow out or not checking brakes, bearings or tires regularly.

You're probably right, but that boggles my mind. 

[Special T]

Most people don't prepare and compensate for the different loads. Most learn the hard way from an expensive blow out or not checking brakes, bearings or tires regularly.

You're probably right, but that boggles my mind.

It's always the case with those who are new to RVing be it trailers, campers, or motor homes.  They don't have enough experience as to what they should be paying attention to or scared of.

Most learn pretty quick after a near death experience...

How many boat trailers you see peopled up with firewood on the pass while the owner is looking for some bearings? Amazing what an inspection and some grease can accomplish!

[bullfisher]

Ditch that sparkplug machine and get a cummins! 

[Skillet]

True SpecialT, but I think that's a different discussion which crosses over from equipment capabilities to owner competence.  I believe the ratings sticker has a certain % of owner incompetence built into it, and is easily improved upon by an owner taking some personal responsibility for educating himself as to his equipment's actual capabilities.

Exactly like jjdavis is doing.   

[Special T]

I know many people who have safely exceded those specs, so I agree. I would most certainly take the camper & boat for a spin. I would likely make some preventative investments in maintna e however.  You ALWAYS have more problems when you run at or past operating capacity.

I can tell you may favorite upgrade has been to commercial 19.5 tires and wheels I currently runn8R19.5 and 245/70r19.5 on my dually one tons. I know several people that run the 245s during camping season. They can be had used cheap can be capped up reasonable and have a 5klb carry capacity. So even if the tire is old beat up etc your not likely to excess 70% of its load capacity. You should be able to purchase a set of 4 tires and wheels for less than $2K

[demontang]

Have you scaled your truck? My superduty list 8800 gvw but on a scale comes in at 6400 with my wife two kids and a punch of stuff for recover un the truck plus 4 80lb sand bags. That puts my truck under 6k with a full tank. Your trans will take it just fine as long as you got a cooler and don't squeeze the skinny tomuch in od. Superduty truck are build to work 100% just don't run it like a race car and know the added distance to stop. 

[Skillet]

What year is your SD demontang?

[jjdavis2222]

Thanks for all the insight guys!!!

I'll update the thread with a pic of the complete set up once I find a camper. Hopefully by summer I'll be ready to roll. It sure will be nice to go on our fishing/boating trips and not have to tent it!

If anyone has any leads on a good lightweight camper for a short box let me know.

[demontang]

Truck is 2000 7.3 ext cab

[Special T]

Truck is 2000 7.3 ext cab

If it's a stick probably one of the best vintages.

[demontang]

Has a built 4r100 good to 1400ftlbs 

[Mudman]

My old 01 F350 supercab 4x4 scaled at 7300 with a lumber rack and tool box and me.   I also was on 4th auto trans at @200k miles.  Last trans was decent build and only made it about 90+k.  Frustrating.  Loved the truck but it cost me $$$.