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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: Chattayote on January 24, 2016, 06:47:54 PM

Title: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: Chattayote on January 24, 2016, 06:47:54 PM: I have a 14 f350 long bed that I want to get a camper for. My truck has a leveling kit and so my concern is what combination of things would give me the best ride. The camper is on the heavy side but I'm leaving the size out because I don't want the ratings police to hijack, please no offense.

My dad has the same truck/camper set up as I plan on getting except for the leveling kit. He runs air bags only and drives wash board Canadian roads for fishing several times a year. He's happy.

Hunch tells me to get stable loads(upper or lower or both) paired with air bags. Will air bags and stable loads fight each other?

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: follow maggie on January 24, 2016, 07:26:14 PM: I would get one or the other. You shouldn't need both
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: KFhunter on January 24, 2016, 08:55:23 PM: an upgraded rear sway bar will help with the rocking and rolling, hellwig makes em and probably others too. My old Dodge don't even have a rear sway bar, not sure what yours has factory.

Also, when you put in air bags make sure they're not plumbed in together so air can move from one bag to the other. They make air bags for lifted vehicles but just a leveling kit you might get by with a standard air bag. Better yet get the dual valve in cab adjusters and air pump, upgrade the air pump into a higher duty cycle, add an air tank and you can fill tires and inflatable tubes.
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: Chattayote on January 24, 2016, 09:06:34 PM: Now that's getting pretty trick! The leveling kit only affects the front by using a spacer and a longer shock. The rear is untouched.

Is there a way to easily remove the sway bar when not hauling?
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: KFhunter on January 25, 2016, 10:27:56 PM: You aren't going to get much articulation in an F350 anyways so I doubt you'd ever notice a sway bar unless you're off-roading and getting off camber crossing ditches, it won't ride stiffer. It just won't let one tire dip down low into a ditch but it'll hold it up in the air.
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: Thorny on January 26, 2016, 02:18:48 PM: I have that truck in the 2011 flavor with the camper package, and 6.7 diesel. Airbags, good shocks, and Torklift frame mounts are a must. We also upgraded to the magnum hitch since we also tow an occasional toy too. Very happy.

.We have a heavy camper, 2005 Eagle Cap 950, and it drives very nicely, without too much sway even with full tanks. To put it into perspective it could've easily done 80 up Blewett pass, but I'm not risking smoking a tire running singles at that speed and weight.

If you're looking for a great camper that's always been under cover and pristine let me know. It's just time to get a bigger house and we're consolidating. 3 kids and a small house isn't cutting it anymore.
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: Bill W on January 26, 2016, 02:26:20 PM: I've got a 3500 lb (estimated) camper on the back of my 350. I previously had a 250 that needed airbags to stop the side to side swaying. I didn't experience the side to side swaying on the 350 but did get the tail end drooping more than I expected of a 350. I put airbags on and now can level the camper out properly.

Ford wouldn't pay for the airbags but would have paid to have an extra leaf put on the springs. They said that would have fixed the sag. The issue with the sag was I also had a 3 foot "stinger" on to haul my boat. The sag caused the hitch to smack on the pavement at times.

If you do go with airbags go with having the air pump wired to your battery.
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: 2MANY on January 26, 2016, 02:32:17 PM: Air bags on my last 3 F-350's.

Campers, boats, horse trailers, mini excavators, you name it.........It rides level.

BUY good tires.
Title: Re: F350 camper setup Q's
Post by: Chattayote on January 27, 2016, 09:38:05 PM: Thanks fellas! I guess with the leveling kit is what got me concerned about too much sag for the sake of headlights pointing into the air. I ordered torklift tie downs and air bags. I plan to do a DIY "stableloads". Well go from there.