Ranger Camper Limitation

[Rich]

We put on a set of Falken Wildpeak AT3W E-rated tires in a 265/70/17 size. They have been fabulous. Incredibly tough off-road, and very quiet on the highway.

That's the size for our truck, easy fit for stock wheels, no rubbing tough side wall and a little taller. I was thinking the Coopers but I my check price on these.

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[Mcoop57]

This rig is working out very well.

 

[IowaXL]

 

[IowaXL]

Great thread about truck campers. I just bought an SS500 from palomino that's being delivered today. I can't see going over 1400lbs fully geared up and the truck is rated to haul 1840#'s.
I did add Timbrens in lieu of the factory leaf spring stops. From what I saw, that should reduce or eliminate any sway and sagging. I was going to go with airbags, but as a truck driver, I know that eventually they will fail (and not when mt).
I will say this about the factory stops. They are NOT bolted to the frame. The bracket is, but the rubber spring is pressed into it and can be pulled out by hand (found that out when removing them, frankly am glad they're gone). The Timbren is bolted to the frame through the spring, it can't go anywhere. Plus they're rated for 5000#'s and are bigger so they'll engage the spring sooner, yet still ride above it when MT.

 

[HenryMac]

Great thread about truck campers. I just bought an SS500 from palomino that's being delivered today. I can't see going over 1400lbs fully geared up and the truck is rated to haul 1840#'s.
I did add Timbrens in lieu of the factory leaf spring stops. From what I saw, that should reduce or eliminate any sway and sagging. I was going to go with airbags, but as a truck driver, I know that eventually they will fail (and not when mt).
I will say this about the factory stops. They are NOT bolted to the frame. The bracket is, but the rubber spring is pressed into it and can be pulled out by hand (found that out when removing them, frankly am glad they're gone). The Timbren is bolted to the frame through the spring, it can't go anywhere. Plus they're rated for 5000#'s and are bigger so they'll engage the spring sooner, yet still ride above it when MT.

Based on what I've seen in regard to how much the Ranger sags under load... those bumpstops will never ever be needed. @dreamst8, a member here, put a pallet full of sod in his Ranger, which weighed over 2,000 lbs and that's what it took to "level" the truck. Yowza.

My question is how do you know the frame can support being actively loaded by the Timbren in the area of the bumpstop? A bumpstop is a momentary thing... not a supplemental support.

The frames on these Rangers is not very robust.... nothing like the one's were before hydroforming. They are pretty flimsy, IMHO.

 

[Rich]

Great thread about truck campers. I just bought an SS500 from palomino that's being delivered today. I can't see going over 1400lbs fully geared up and the truck is rated to haul 1840#'s.
I did add Timbrens in lieu of the factory leaf spring stops. From what I saw, that should reduce or eliminate any sway and sagging. I was going to go with airbags, but as a truck driver, I know that eventually they will fail (and not when mt).
I will say this about the factory stops. They are NOT bolted to the frame. The bracket is, but the rubber spring is pressed into it and can be pulled out by hand (found that out when removing them, frankly am glad they're gone). The Timbren is bolted to the frame through the spring, it can't go anywhere. Plus they're rated for 5000#'s and are bigger so they'll engage the spring sooner, yet still ride above it when MT.

Not saying I'm old, but when I started driving for money we had rubber blocks, no springs, friction drivers seat, cab over pulling doubles at 55' max length Chi_Det
I like the air bags, they work with the springs and are adjustable. I'm at 6100+ lbs and you will notice the roll, the sway bar has made a big improvement. The P(metric) tires will serve till you get some use out of them. E rated tires will give the side wall support and long wear caring max weight. I carry a 3 ton hyd jack and stand combo to replace the stock ford jack. Good Luck, enjoy

 

[RedlandRanger]

The frames on these Rangers is not very robust.... nothing like the one's were before hydroforming. They are pretty flimsy, IMHO.

I'm curious why you think that? It is a fully boxed frame with several fully welded cross supports. If anything, it seems to be TOO rigid - at least if you want flex for off roading - I've seen lots of videos where the frame stays very straight rather than flexing when under stress. The Tacos frames have a LOT more give to them.

 

[HenryMac]

I'm curious why you think that? It is a fully boxed frame with several fully welded cross supports. If anything, it seems to be TOO rigid - at least if you want flex for off roading - I've seen lots of videos where the frame stays very straight rather than flexing when under stress. The Tacos frames have a LOT more give to them.

I installed rock sliders on my Ranger. The through bolts smashed the frame like a pop can.... well... not really... but I had to stop tightening the nuts before they were really tight. You can see the bent backing plates in the photo below. These were hand tightened with a 3/8" ratchet.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I installed rock sliders on my Ranger. The through bolts smashed the frame like a pop can.... well... not really... but I had to stop tightening the nuts before they were really tight. You can see the bent backing plates in the photo below. These were hand tightened with a 3/8" ratchet.

From that angle it looks like that backing plate is over a depression/hole in the frame - did the side of the frame bend or just that backing plate?

 

[HenryMac]

From that angle it looks like that backing plate is over a depression/hole in the frame - did the side of the frame bend or just that backing plate?

Not every backing plate had a large hole. During fit-up and assembly of the rock slider to the truck frame you could watch the side wall of the frame deforming as the nut was tightened. Of course I stopped before it was excessive, but it demonstrates just how light gauge the steel is that these frames are made from.

The frame is designed for specific loads in specific areas, and if required reinforced in the areas that will be carrying such loads.

So the point is, are the frames of significant strength to carry a continuous load in the area where the timbren is installed?

 

[thewhiteranger]

my thinking on the no camper thing is that these trucks are tall and narrow (which Is one thing I like about them - better looking to me) so a camper would make them very top heavy and after the whole roll over explorer thing back in the 80s --- ford is not going to step in that again.

 

[IowaXL]

Not every backing plate had a large hole. During fit-up and assembly of the rock slider to the truck frame you could watch the side wall of the frame deforming as the nut was tightened. Of course I stopped before it was excessive, but it demonstrates just how light gauge the steel is that these frames are made from.

The frame is designed for specific loads in specific areas, and if required reinforced in the areas that will be carrying such loads.

So the point is, are the frames of significant strength to carry a continuous load in the area where the timbren is installed?

The timbren actually transfers the load to the axel sooner than the factory stop. That should be putting less stress on the frame. There's also a heavy steel (washer) that sits between the frame and the Timbren which supports it.

 

[Zoran Rubic]

This rig is working out very well.

Omg this looks perfect, can you please PM me I’m interested in setting mine up like that with the cover underneath as well. Thank you

 

[moab360]

FWIW, the 2020 Ford Ranger manual does not include any slide-in camper limitation. The only warning is to not run the engine when people or animals are in a slide-in camper. (page 154 - Untitled (fordservicecontent.com) pdf )

I also know of no structural changes between the 2019 and 2020 model, so guessing a slide-in camper isn't an issue in the 2019 either. Anyways, thought I'd post since this has been a helpful thread as I prepare to drop a camper onto my 2020 ranger

 

[JohnnyO]

It seems that slide-in campers for them are pretty common in Europe.

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