Ranger Camper Limitation

[Rick - Saber]

Maybe as some say it is just Ford being cautious in printing that. I'm no expert on campers so don't see why the truck would care what it hauls. A load is a load, correct? As long as the camper is not top heavy or cause a lot of wind resistance. The truck should not mind if it is bricks, gravel, wood or mulch, etc. it is hauling as long as it is within payload limits.

Sponsored

 

[gkendrick]

Upgraded leaf springs were installed on our Ranger yesterday to better handle an 1,100-lb camper load. The first photo below shows comparison between the stock single-leaf parabolic spring (bottom) and upgraded multi-leaf progressive spring (top). We've already seen a huge improvement in handling as a result of this upgrade. We found the rear of the truck had dropped 2" under load with the Ranger's stock single-leaf spring, and we felt the truck was leaning and rocking a bit too much when driving. Our FX4 off-road suspension package is robust and solid, but we felt that the camper load (although we're still under the payload rating) was pushing the single leaf spring's capabilities, especially for going off-road. The multi-leave progressive springs (Dobbinsons, made in Australia for their Rangers) immediately addressed the 2" sag (truck is now level under load) with no more sway evident when driving. We might consider a modest lifter and coil spring upgrades for the front suspension sometime in the future depending on performance, and perhaps go with upgraded shocks even beyond the FX4 shocks depending on how things go off-road, but for now it looks like we've fixed the load handling response.

 

[SRAces]

Hoping to pick up an Opus Air Flow Off-Road camper in October. Been looking at these for a few years now. Will be perfect to pull behind the Ranger.

 

[rondowe]

Thanks for the details. I just got a Ranger and am exploring camper options. All Terrain Campers https://www.allterraincampers.com/ says they have shells as light as 500 lbs. and Four Wheel says they are planning lighter campers. What did you do about the backup camera?

 

[gkendrick]

We have not yet installed a substitute camera - I'm waiting for the aftermarket to catch up and make one specifically for the Ranger. The current solution available is a more generic one-size-fits-all camera in a housing, which I'd rather not pursue.

Go as light as you can in a shell, but understand that any options you want will add weight. We're hovering around the payload rating when fully geared up, which is not where I wanted to be, but oh well. FWC seems to have trouble building truly lightweight shells these days. They'd advertised a certain shell weight when we ordered, and then it came in 200 pounds over weight even after you subtracted all the options. I don't know why, except maybe they're reluctant to try modern composite materials that are untested in overland settings, and they stick to the proven frame and aluminum skin approach. That's not a bad strategy in terms of reliability and rock-solid campers, and probably more profitable. Their plywood framing and cabinetry is well built, too, although heavy. I understand ATC has basically the same design as FWC (the owners/staff apparently came from the initial FWC company) but maybe they do more custom work and will play with lightweight components.

If ATC can actually deliver a rock-solid 500-lb shell, you should probably think seriously about buying it.

 

[Mcoop57]

FWIW I just ordered a Tepui Roof Top Tent for mine today. Appears to function a lot like a slide in pop-up kind of thing.

 

[Rescue Ranger]

I was just reading thing thread today I looked up these campers wow they are very pricey. I so glad we got a Jayco 145rb this year It tows very nice and I am going to flop the axel and give it some good off road tires to go off road but I don't plan on trashing it like the Opus video. Now I am 55 I like the walk in bathroom.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I don’t know why Ranger would necessarily be any worse for a slide-in than a Taco is. Probably more a case of: we don’t have time to write a manual for slide-in campers right now.

Hi Folks,

It is likely that Ford has not performed Camper Handling as is the normal course if the vehicle is recommended for a slide in camper. This is likely a program decision to not design or test for camper handling. Thus the legal words that say not recommended... Likely the slide in camper would require unique components and the complexity of this coupled with a Marketing take rate that is too low to justify the engineering expenses. This was where we were with the old Ranger and I am thinking this continues with the 5G Ranger.

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

 

[Short and Angry]

Hi gkendrick-

I grew up in central ME (near Newport) and I'm in the process of buying a 19 Ranger and then a FWC Swift to put in it.

About 12 years ago I had an F150 with a FWC Hawk, which was great but too large to get into most of the PacNW trails I tend to run.

I noticed you put some Falkens on your truck - I had those exact tires on an old Lexus GX470 that I had set up for offroading - great trail rig, but can't sleep in it and tired of setting up tents. Have you been happy with the heavier tire on your truck so far?

Any more news on your upgraded spring packs? Those look like the ticket.

Anyway, curious to hear any thought you have as I'm coincidentally going to end up with an almost identical setup.

Happy holidays,

Scott
Bellevue WA

 

[HenryMac]

....f Dobinson heavy duty leaf springs (4 + 3 Leaves, 280Kg Constant Load - I believe they may be model L19-132-R).

Here's a link to dobinson springs site.. https://www.dobinsonsprings.com/shop-online/maz-54_rear_leaf-spring_l19-132-r-detail

 

[gkendrick]

Hi gkendrick-

I grew up in central ME (near Newport) and I'm in the process of buying a 19 Ranger and then a FWC Swift to put in it.

About 12 years ago I had an F150 with a FWC Hawk, which was great but too large to get into most of the PacNW trails I tend to run.

I noticed you put some Falkens on your truck - I had those exact tires on an old Lexus GX470 that I had set up for offroading - great trail rig, but can't sleep in it and tired of setting up tents. Have you been happy with the heavier tire on your truck so far?

Any more news on your upgraded spring packs? Those look like the ticket.

Anyway, curious to hear any thought you have as I'm coincidentally going to end up with an almost identical setup.

Happy holidays,

Scott
Bellevue WA

We just completed a 6,000 mile trip across the US and all over Arizona. The rig performed flawlessly, averaging 18-19 mpg. The Falken tires proved tough and reliable offroad, and surprisingly quiet at highway speeds. The Ranger’s terrain management system (like a slow cruise control for rock crawling) worked very well on rough terrain with our FWC Fleet camper, despite being close to max load capacity. The added Dobbinson leaf springs leveled the truck and solved nearly all of the suspension bounce offroad, although we may need to add stronger shocks if we do more rough 4wd trails that could produce camper sway resonance. Overall, we’re very pleased with the rig.

 

[Short and Angry]

We just completed a 6,000 mile trip across the US and all over Arizona. The rig performed flawlessly, averaging 18-19 mpg. The Falken tires proved tough and reliable offroad, and surprisingly quiet at highway speeds. The Ranger’s terrain management system (like a slow cruise control for rock crawling) worked very well on rough terrain with our FWC Fleet camper, despite being close to max load capacity. The added Dobbinson leaf springs leveled the truck and solved nearly all of the suspension bounce offroad, although we may need to add stronger shocks if we do more rough 4wd trails that could produce camper sway resonance. Overall, we’re very pleased with the rig.

Thanks so much for the update. That's perfect info and I really appreciate it!

 

[395North]

We just completed a 6,000 mile trip across the US and all over Arizona. The rig performed flawlessly, averaging 18-19 mpg. The Falken tires proved tough and reliable offroad, and surprisingly quiet at highway speeds. The Ranger’s terrain management system (like a slow cruise control for rock crawling) worked very well on rough terrain with our FWC Fleet camper, despite being close to max load capacity. The added Dobbinson leaf springs leveled the truck and solved nearly all of the suspension bounce offroad, although we may need to add stronger shocks if we do more rough 4wd trails that could produce camper sway resonance. Overall, we’re very pleased with the rig.

I highly recommend a helwig sway bar for that rear bobble. Makes a huge difference

 

[Rich]

I mounted a used ‘14 Eagle FWC on my Ranger with Hellwig rear sway bar set to max and Firestone air bags set 35 drivers side and 30 on the right. Ride is much better with sway bar. Next will be 265/70/17 cooper at3 tires.
Someone mention the height of the new bed, I pick up a tri-fold ramp from HB and made some light weight stay to make up the difference .
My gross with 2 adults, 20lbs of propane, full tank of fuel and a fully kitted Eagle is 6100 lbs.
I also added a Redarc charger to work with the Ranger alt.
Over on the gross by 50lbs but under on the axles, but over is over.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

I mounted a used ‘14 Eagle FWC on my Ranger with Hellwig rear sway bar set to max and Firestone air bags set 35 drivers side and 30 on the right. Ride is much better with sway bar. Next will be 265/70/17 cooper at3 tires.
Someone mention the height of the new bed, I pick up a tri-fold ramp from HB and made some light weight stay to make up the difference .
My gross with 2 adults, 20lbs of propane, full tank of fuel and a fully kitted Eagle is 6100 lbs.
I also added a Redarc charger to work with the Ranger alt.
Over on the gross by 50lbs but under on the axles, but over is over.

I like this, but am not familiar with it. Could you please post some pictures of the inside. Also, if it let's up, could you post some pictures of it inside & out? Thanks! Might be something I would like to get.

Sponsored