Ranger Camper Limitation

[Geoff]

I have airbags, an add a spring and Hellwig anti sway bar and it still feels like a pig wallowing in mud.
I should have done Timbrens instead of air bags.
And a smaller lighter camper.

It's a ncie llooking rig...what it the weight of that camper? The Yoho I'm looking at comes in at just under 1100 Lbs.

I've not heard of the Timbrens but they seem very similar to the Sumo Springs (altho I have no idea which performs better) (more research).

Which add a leaf did you add and did the Hellwig Sway bar help?

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[gvb1940]

Dry weight is 1025 lbs
Loaded, I’m over GWVR by 200lbs
Timbrens are Sumo Stop type.
Thought about a Yoho. Even drove to Colorado to check one out but I’m driving a high top Sprinter right now and wanted the lower profile. Plus more water and a few more amenities.Really liked the Yoho interior.

 

[Geoff]

look forward to seeing it - the wife wants one of those. saving our nickels and dimes.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting it but it won't be until April. UGH. If I ordered now I'm looking at a November delivery and a decent hike to the nearest dealer. Iffy weather and no need for it between Nov and April means I wait....(not my strong suit). I've already built a dolly for it and I'll be getting the truck ready between now and then...but it'll be a long wait...

 

[Geoff]

Dry weight is 1025 lbs
Loaded, I’m over GWVR by 200lbs
Timbrens are Sumo Stop type.
Thought about a Yoho. Even drove to Colorado to check one out but I’m driving a high top Sprinter right now and wanted the lower profile. Plus more water and a few more amenities.Really liked the Yoho interior.

Ive looked at your rig as well. I kinda wanted to be able to just pull in a rest area and crawl in the back for a nap.

My Lariat has a 1434Lb payload limit and since it's just me and my dog I don't expect to go over the GVWR rating but the Yoho will be pushing it.

 

[gvb1940]

Ive looked at your rig as well. I kinda wanted to be able to just pull in a rest area and crawl in the back for a nap.

My Lariat has a 1434Lb payload limit and since it's just me and my dog I don't expect to go over the GVWR rating but the Yoho will be pushing it.

Why I like my Sprinter.
FYI. Gas mileage went from 20 to 14.6 after adding the camper.
I get better mileage with my totally tricked out Sprinter.

 

[Geoff]

Why I like my Sprinter.
FYI. Gas mileage went from 20 to 14.6 after adding the camper.
I get better mileage with my totally tricked out Sprinter.

Arrgh, I don't wanna think about gas mileage....I know it'll take a nose dive...
Wish I could afford that setup....My Ranger would sit at home....

 

[gvb1940]

Arrgh, I don't wanna think about gas mileage....I know it'll take a nose dive...
Wish I could afford that setup....My Ranger would sit at home....

The only problem with a high top sprinters when you go on a tight trail with overhanging branches. And then there is the lack of articulation. The sprinter feels like a skateboard on big wheels.
Not sure how much articulation I will have with a Ranger. I’ll find out this next week when I go into the Sierras.

 

[Geoff]

The only problem with a high top sprinters when you go on a tight trail with overhanging branches. And then there is the lack of articulation. The sprinter feels like a skateboard on big wheels.
Not sure how much articulation I will have with a Ranger. I’ll find out this next week when I go into the Sierras.

Skateboard huh?
I'll be interested in your findings! Enjoy the mountains!!!

So it sounds like a Hellwig anti-sway bar and the Timbrens to get me started (and likely better shocks while I'm at it). I won't be doing any real 4x4 off road stuff (I have a 43 Willys for that) so that simplifies my needs somewhat.

 

[MXGOLF]

Man I sure would like one of those sprinters but would need to win the lottery LOL to afford one.

 

[Billpaw]

Great thread, thanks! I’ll be adding an Outfitter Mfg Caribou Lite pop up slide in camper to my 2023 Ranger XLT FX4. The camper is similar to the 4WC Fleet. I’ll be at maximum weight capacity loaded. It sounds like ideal upgrades include Timbren progressive leaf springs, Firestone airbags, Falken 10 ply tires, and a Helwig rear sway bar. What about shocks? Are all these upgrades needed? Which are most important? What will the ride and handling be like with the camper off? Thanks.

 

[gvb1940]

No one seems to have noted that Ford is discouraging putting slide-in campers in the new Ranger.

Buried in a single line on page 13 of the huge Ranger Owner's manual:

​

Using a Slide-In Camper​

We do not recommend using your pickup for carrying a slide-in camper​

Nowhere in any of Ford's promotional info on the Ranger, or in any professional reviews or dealer information, has that limitation been mentioned. Everyone just talks about the Ranger's bigger payload and towing capacity compared to the Tacoma.

But the Tacoma has no such camper limitation, and the Tacoma Owner's Manual even lays out specific guidelines on using slide-in campers:
http://www.ttguide.net/camper_information-168.html

The Tacoma has been a highly successful platform for a wide range of lightweight slide-in campers, especially pop-up campers, and it dominates in that market in the USA. If Ford really wants to compete in Tacoma's market, I think it needs to figure out a way to match Tacoma in every category, including the camper topic.

We are proceeding carefully with installing a lightweight pop-up Four Wheel Camper on our new Ranger, keeping the weight down and the center of gravity very low. I'll be closely monitoring the rig's performance on and off the road in the months ahead.

A FWC Fleet on my 21 Ranger. Air Bags, add a leaf and anti sway bar. This site won’t let me post an Offroad video.

 

[gvb1940]

I own a Four Wheel Camper and it sits on my 99 Super Duty. Four Wheel Campers are one of the lightest and most durable pop up truck campers out there. While at Overland Expo West a couple of weeks ago, I saw several Tacos and Chevy Colorados with Four Wheel Campers mounted, and they all had some type of “helper springs/suspension”. Once you get heavier rear leaf spring packs (also consider Deaver, OME, or Atlas springs) and sway bar, you’ll be fine.

FWC Fleet on 21 Ranger Air bags, add a leaf and anti sway bar. Did a road that was so rocky that the heavy steel,stovetop grate came flying out onto the floor.

 

[JohnnyO]

Capri Camper has a smaller unit without an overhang that doesn't weight a lot, less than 700 lb as I recall. They just came out with a new one for mid size trucks with an overhang that weighs under 900 lb as I recall. I'd add some Firestone airbags and call it good. I'm wondering how you secure the camper in the bed. Tie it down to the bed hooks or something more substantial?

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

Capri Camper has a smaller unit without an overhang that doesn't weight a lot, less than 700 lb as I recall. They just came out with a new one for mid size trucks with an overhang that weighs about 1000 lb as I recall. I'd add some Firestone airbags and call it good. I'm wondering how you secure the camper in the bed. Tie it down to the bed hooks or something more substantial?

Lone Star Jr for 6' bed. Perfect fit for a SCab !!

 

[Rammstein]

We have a 2021 Ford Ranger STX FX4 Supercrew with a payload of 1,486 pounds. Put a Scout Yoho on in April 2022 and added E Rated 265/70/R17 Discoverer Cooper A/T tires and SumoSprings blue, 1,000 pound. I called SumoSprings and told them of our camper and desired use on rough 4WD roads and they recommended the blue 1,000 pound rather than the black 1,500 pound SumoSprings.

We have about 15,000 miles on the truck with about 13,000 miles with camper. Last 5,000 miles with camper on all but about 100 miles was 17.0 MPG. I drive the speed limit with camper on and we live in the Four Corners area where the fastest speed limit is 70mph. Most of the time we are going 55-65mph. Mileage greatly suffers on Interstates going 75mph or faster. We spend much of our time camping in either the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, Southeast Utah or visiting our friends on the Navajo Nation. All of the above involve extensive dirt roads with many sections of 4WD LO. So far everything is working great. Truck handles camper very well and is amazingly quick when passing is needed or going up a paved pass in the San Juans, but also plenty of low end torque for rough trails at 12,000 feet with the camper on.

If we didn't have two dogs that ride in the back of the Supercrew, we would have bought a Supercab as the longer bed keeps more of the camper weight in front of the rear axle. Haven't noticed any problems with our Supercrew.

Here are some pictures of our Ranger/Yoho in the Chuska Mountains on the Navajo Nation.

Lots of folks have Yohos on Rangers on the Scout Campers Owners Facebook page.

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