New Grandby on F350- much work needed to get ready?

[steve whiteside]

Gents, Ive got an F350 with airbags in back and a 4 inch lift with 35's all around. Other than that- stock. Im picking up my new Grandby at the end of Sept.

Taking 3 weeks off after that to finally get out of town and do some touring.

Do, you think I will be roughly good to go from the factory? Both WRT to my truck and the camper? Obviously I will continue to tweek things as time goes by but roughly do you think I will have a rig that is largely ready to drive off and do some camping? Do you think the F350 will be adequate for our first trip?

I expect to have a Goal zero hooked to my truck by that time to provide most electrical needs.

Steve

 

[longhorn1]

We have a 2014 Grandby front dinette (loaded), on a 2013 F250, Crewcab, 8' bed. Our truck has the tow package. For the first 7 years, everything was stock, plus E rated tires. Camper rides awesome. Maybe a slight sag. I added Timbren's bump stops this year.

Not sure with a F350, why you would need any upgrades, let alone airbags. We are under the weight limit. Your truck should handle the weight.

We do a lot of off-road driving and never had issues. We also tow a small off-road trailer.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Steve, I suspect your F350, as described, will be fine. What you might encounter is a need for some kind of jack extensions to get the camper on and off your truck. The fellow who bought my Grandby had a lifted Dodge with big tires, and it was a bit of fun getting it on his truck.

I recommend measuring bed height and width, then having a discussion with your dealer/seller to ensure there are no last minute surprises.

 

[lmwilco1]

I have a Grandby on my F350 and the only things I have done are add the 5th wheel harness to the bed to plug in the camper for the running lights and some 4g wire from the battery to Anderson connectors in the bed to provide more current to charge the camper battery.

As Wandering Sagebrush said the jack height might be an issue. My truck is stock height and them jacks seem to be close to max height to load the camper on the truck.

 

[SuperDutyFWC]

What year F350?

I use stacked pavers under my camper jacks due to the height of my truck.

 

[steve whiteside]

What year F350?
I use stacked pavers under my camper jacks due to the height of my truck.

2012.

 

[steve whiteside]

Thanks guys! I wanted to make sure. I think my first major mods will be solar. Probs not for this first trip though. Steve

 

[steve whiteside]

I’m hoping to take it down to Baja surfing. Waiting to see if that is allowed at that point or not. Steve

 

[kmcintyre]

As others stated, the only thing you need (IMHO) is E rated tires but I suspect a F350 already has those.

 

[BobD]

I have a 2012 Granby on a 2017 F350 (tow package) and it hauls it no problem. You'll be good to go.

 

[arg]

@ S W, going to Baja? Is your power plant diesel or gas ?

 

[dscobell]

Congrats on the new rig. You will not regret your decision.

My rig is similar to yours.. 2017 Grandby and 2017 F350 gas CC. I have no complaints with the stock suspension or power plant. I did however add two upgrades. Rock sliders to protect the body and better off road tires. The stock off road tires quickly loaded with mud when crossing the "dry" lake bed at the west end of the Mojave Road. I suspect they would do the same with snow.

During the first year I kept a camping journal in the truck at all times. Over the year I would make note of things I needed to change, add or update. Half the fun is working on the rig between trips.

Have fun and enjoy.

 

[steve whiteside]

@ S W, going to Baja? Is your power plant diesel or gas ?

diesel. I have the 40 gallon tank and the 8' bed. ~50K miles. Owned since new. steve

 

[maheil]

You should not have to do any mods for a Grandby on an F350. I have had my 1990’s Grandby mounted on both my 2011 and now 2016 F350 4x4 Crew Cabs with the 6.7 Diesel.