Talk about getting a lot out of a mid-sized bed.

[Ericrcif]

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[andybj]

I wonder what kind of leaf springs he's got in this thing?

 

[wanted33]

Looks to me like the levelers are the only thing holding that rear end up.

 

[Abjectwoe]

I cringe seeing that haha. Poor truck.

Something like this is as far as I'd ever go with a camper set up:

four wheel campers project m

 

[IdahoRanger]

That can't be real??? Can it?

 

[HTX1811]

Seems legit.

 

[KnightRanger]

I would think, that they would need to add heavier leafs as well as air bags to accomodate all that weight?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Seems legit.

Post specs.... So many aftermarket campers back in the day we created the Camper F Series and we did camper handling as many of the campers packaged into the pickup box but were way over weight. We flipped a few campers over on the the test vehicle's side. Unfortunately it is a buyer beware market. Look at the Mfg specs and at the Ranger owner manual. If it does not compute and you have one of these installled....weigh it at a truck stop scale to see where you are. Things like this scare me big time... May be as light as a feather, but if so...likely big time pricey.

Okay...another back story. In 1974, Truck Operations was renamed Truck and Recreation Products Operation, TRPO. We sold a truck engineering camper and offered other accessories. The truck camper was a step into Ford experiencing the aftermarket with a nice camper slide in that was out of date from the get go. The aftermarket industry moves so fast to add features etc and there is no real testing so the Ford Camper was expensive, Robust and dates. Sales were poor. Thus TRPO died within a year or so. If the aftermarket ever tested as the OME has to test...costs and timing would be way longer. I did find a TRPO sticker in my archives to remind of me of this. Also the start of the Arab Oil Embargo recession where I was one of the new hires that got saved while many were laid off, never to return.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Rviator]

Search on Tischer to find the website. Appears to be out of Germany with a US distributor. You have to open the pdf link for the prices and equipment to get the weight of 648 kg which = 1428.6 lbs. I haven't weighed my truck, but to use mine as an example the Ford sticker shows a max payload of 1744 lb so a Supercab could just do it. The ROW Rangers may have a higher GVWR.

 

[outdoorphotog]

Fully equipped $40k.. looks nice though

 

[HTX1811]

Search on Tischer to find the website. Appears to be out of Germany with a US distributor. You have to open the pdf link for the prices and equipment to get the weight of 648 kg which = 1428.6 lbs. I haven't weighed my truck, but to use mine as an example the Ford sticker shows a max payload of 1744 lb so a Supercab could just do it. The ROW Rangers may have a higher GVWR.

So a little over 300 pounds for gear and people. I eat up 235 pounds with just me no dog or wife. So, maybe a tad over loaded with gear and such. Unless passenger compartment does not figure into a max payload number. I would think it would.

 

[9zero1790]

that truck does not have a camper. that camper has a truck... ive seen some smaller lighter version from brands like palomino and lance. I like them but would not want to mess with it being on the truck and all the added drag, width etc.

 

[Hickesy]

I like the fancy front seats to be fair...

 

[Wes Siler]

Most camper makers outright lie about the weight of their products. "Dry weight" may be anything from just the bare shell with no fixtures. Also note that payload must include fuel, passengers, literally any and all weight. And then each axle has its own load rating within that.

The further under max specs you can get, the happier you'll be. I recently talked a friend out of his F-150 and into a Super Duty. The 150 was technically at payload with his Four Wheel Camper onboard, but he couldn't bring anything else with him. And the truck just handled...suboptimally. Especially off-road. Now the Super Duty is a thousand plus pounds under payload, with everything he can think to carry plus passengers. And you can't even feel the camper back there.

The Tl;dr here is choose an appropriate tool for the job. Mid-size trucks shouldn't carry anything but a GFC or similar.

 

[Wes Siler]

We looked at several pop-ups including FWC. Except for shells, most are heavy. Nearly all will not sit in the tall Ranger bed without a platform to get it above the bedrails. This platform adds even more weight.

Salespersons and installers we discussed weight concerns with basically said, "No problem." Some said, "Install airbags, you'll be fine".

Sounds about right.

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