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RE: F450 Lariat Ultimate package?
My F450 is a 2010, but it is a Lariat. I'm not sure what removable tailgate means, but my tailgate with step is very heavy compared to one with out. If I remember right it weighs about 100 lbs compared to a nonstop that is about 60 lbs. It also has a camera builtin. It's fairly hard to remove/install due to the weight, but still removable. It would be hard for me to believe that the Ford will build a tailgate that can't be removed, but who knows. I'd ask the dealer about that feature.
As far as F450 pickup vs F550 chassis goes, we wanted a truck that looked more conventional at the time without a flatbed. The spring pack and frame are quite a lot different between the chassis cab and pickup with the chassis cabs having a straight frame. All of the chassis cabs have more capacity the last time I looked. You may find that even the F350 Chassis has as much capacity as a F450 pickup.
We have a 9 1/2 ft heavy camper. If you go larger, maybe you really need a F450 chassis or F550 chassis.
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jimh406
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01/31/23 07:07am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 550 / 5500 insurance???
My F450 GVWR is 14500. My insurance is State Farm. YMMV.
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jimh406
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01/27/23 07:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Honda generator to truck camper
A little off topic but does anyone know of a generator like the Honda 2000 that is diesel powered?
Just curious, while we are on the tangent, why do you want a diesel generator? Generally speaking diesels are louder and more expensive than gasoline, and the electronics of the Honda 2000/2200 are first rate. Also, Hondas easy to run an external tank.
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jimh406
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01/17/23 08:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Aluminum vs Steel flatbed
This is not true, I have run into many guys running 19.5 aired down on the beach with big rigs, and this is in sugar sand not hard sand, so it CAN be done, I couldn't believe it till I saw it.
Of course, you can drive anything on a beach. Fwiw, I’ve driven even a Class A on the beach and my TC as well that has 19.5s. My main point is that if you main goal is traction on soft sand, 19.5s aren’t the best choice. Sounds like OP is getting ready to drop a lot of money on a setup, so I wanted him to be aware. Obviously, he can do what he wants.
I don’t know what you saw. The minimum tire pressure for 19.5s is a lot higher due to the type of bead with most people recommending going no less than 60. Technically going from 110 to 60 is airing down, but not anywhere near what standard E DRW tires can do at 20 or even lower.. Furthermore the carcass is a lot thicker and stronger as a commercial tire which means you have very little benefit of low pressure.
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jimh406
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01/09/23 11:03am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Aluminum vs Steel flatbed
I wouldn't be worried about a steel aftermarket bed any more than the rest of the truck/frame/wheels.
Since you said F550, are you going with super singles or similar and do you know that 19.5s aren't very good for the beach?
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jimh406
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01/08/23 02:29pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
I would buy another Ram 3500 in a heart beat and load it with a truck camper up all the way to GVWR of the actual vehicle when camper is fully loaded. But I would not take it into serious off road with all that weight on it, let along over loaded.
You signature says you bought a Ford. What happened? :D
Seriously though, I don't think this thread is about what brand we would buy.
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jimh406
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01/06/23 08:51pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
Eh, no. I've tried pointing out parameters and telling people to decide for themselves, only to get beat down by the "The numbers are meaningless, just haul whatever you want! It's a DUALLY!" crowd. So much so that I've pretty much joined them.
I agree that some people think DRWs are invincible. Personally, I pointed out that there are probably just as many DRWs that are over GVWR as SRWs, or for that matter, all RVs.
I know many Class A owners never even think about being overloaded or checking their tire pressure. Amazing what you can learn talking to other RVers at campgrounds. :D
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jimh406
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01/03/23 04:07pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
This forum has been dedicated to beating down "weight police" for years..
Of course, it's been more even than that. The weight police have had their say for at least 17 years. That's as far as I go back here. ;)
People have been pointing out what the parameters are. Each person gets to decide what they do next.
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jimh406
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01/03/23 01:47pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
40 years ago many of the truck campers I saw had shock absorbers on the front of the cabover going down to the front fenders. The point of these was to absorb the frame damaging stresses that lead to fatigue and also control a bouncy ride.
If you read what Lance says about their shocks, they were to improve the ride. They made no claim that they helped with frame stress.
In any case, anything you can do to soften bumps/ride is probably good. When I bought my truck used, one particular bump on I-90 was pretty brutal. I installed Bilstein shocks and that bump wasn't very noticeable after that. I don't know how the stock shocks performed when new because I didn't own it then.
It's possible that the suspension added to the stresses on the frame. You can easily watch how much your TC moves when you hit bumps. Big movements compared to the same road without a TC are probably not a great thing.
While we are on suspension, I feel the right amount of air in airbags can also smooth out the ride, but nothing will smooth a very bumpy road other than slowing down.
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jimh406
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01/03/23 08:41am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Extending run time on a Honda EUI 2000
I'm not a Honda owner, but you get a Honda extended run fuel tank and hose. You can find them on eBay/Amazon and other places.
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jimh406
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01/02/23 04:20pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
Here's some more intel on this Ram 3500 frame failure.
Link
It seems to be a lot of basic information. What you did you feel was intel?
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jimh406
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01/02/23 04:18pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Broken Frame on a RAM 3500
I'd like to know what else was in the camper at the rear of it. I don't think the balance point should be that far back on a normal TC. In other words, even if the frame broke it should sit nearly level. The other wild card is the leverage of the bike on the hitch.
It also almost looks like it's short bed, but that could an optical illusion.
One more thought is I wonder where the holding tanks are and if they were in the rear behind the axle, were they full or nearly full?
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jimh406
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12/31/22 11:14am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Lithium battery box temps
I don't have any of those batteries, but from what I've heard ... some monitor themselves. I'm sure there are some monitors around.
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jimh406
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12/28/22 10:01pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Refinished our 2001 lance 845
Looks nice.
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jimh406
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12/24/22 07:41pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: inverter question
Well looking forward, taping the leads might be a good idea in the event you at some point inadvertently start the generator without having the battery connected (regardless if you mean converter or inverter).
Most builtin generators are started with house batteries, so probably will have batteries installed to start them.
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jimh406
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12/20/22 06:37pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Slide when mounted to truck
What on earth would I need a camper for if I go out for coffee to a local coffee shop or if I go to get groceries in town or if I go to a local horse trail to ride all day?
I agree for a short trip it probably doesn't make sense. But you said why bring it with you. :D. You get to choose if that's worth it to you or not. We like them for day trips that are several hours long.
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jimh406
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12/19/22 08:19pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Slide when mounted to truck
there is no reason to lug a 4,000 lbs brick around on my back while going for a day trip, is there?
There are lots of reasons to keep it on. Have a bathroom with you, charge the batteries, have a kitchen with you, have food with you, have your stuff with you, have your pets with you, take a nap, play cards, do crafts while your husband uses a spotting scope, etc.
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jimh406
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12/19/22 07:48pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: inverter question
The inverter won't do anything once the capacitors discharge. If you are keeping it plugged in, leave the batteries in place.
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jimh406
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12/19/22 06:07pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Slide when mounted to truck
If I'm level, I put the slide out. You can unlock the tiedowns to help level.
We almost never unload the TC while traveling.
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jimh406
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12/19/22 08:38am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Best used truck campers for ~4400lbs payload SRW 1T 8' F-350
My current truck is a 2018 3500 Ram with 20" rims. Max tire load capacity I could find was 3640#.
Michelin Defenders are rated at 4080.
MICHELIN
Defender LTX M/S
295/65 R20 129R
I think there are some other brands that have similar rated tires.
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jimh406
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12/18/22 02:35pm |
Truck Campers
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