Outfitter Caribou Lite 8 on F150 ?

[RyanStu]

I'm looking at putting a 2017 Outfitter Caribou Lite 8 on a 2013 Ford F150 crew cab, 6.5' bed. https://outfittermfg.com/shop-campers/caribou-lite-8 The camper weighs about 1200 lbs. Attached are the weight rating stickers for my F150 crew cab, 6.5' bed. It looks like the total weight it can handle is only 1353 pounds. So if I have a camper weights 1200 lbs, there is only 153 lbs left for people + gear?!?! Looks like a need a new truck?!?! Thanks.

 

[OutToLunch]

Can I ask why the 8 ft Caribou Lite instead of the 6.5?

 

[RyanStu]

8' instead of 6.5' Caribou Lite because we're a family of 4 and want the extra space. We plan on doing 4 season camping so we will be spending some time inside the camper during the winter.

 

[Ripperj]

As you are seeing, 1/2 ton trucks are not really ideal for a full blown truck camper, you can get the Ford with the heavy payload package, but when I was shopping it was cheaper to get a 250 or 2500.
You could just skip a step and get a 350, even the 250 runs out of payload fast.
Probably not what you want to hear. 4 People and gear will easily put you way over on the 150

 

[Beach]

The listed camper weight is dry weight(empty) which means if you're planning on using the water tank, then you be over the trucks payload, forget people and other gear. So you need to heavily mod your current truck or replace with a 3/4 or 1 ton. I up graded from a 1/2 with beefed up rear springs, tires, shocks, etc, to a 3/4 ton and have zero regrets. I will tell you that a 1 ton is not to much truck for your purpose. I would have bought a 1 ton had I not found such a great deal on a used 3/4 T.

 

[Espresso]

Having had an 8' Grandby on my Dodge Ram 1500 with a 6.5' bed, I think it's a bad idea to put that much weight that far back on a 1/2 ton truck. Emergency handling (when you need it most) will be terrible to the point of being dangerous.

 

[RyanStu]

Thanks all for the response and info here. I have put my F150 crew cab up for sale.
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/d/portland-ford-f150-4x4-super-crew-xlt/7271948868.html

And I'm shopping for a 3/4 ton or 1 ton crew cab

 

[Ripperj]

As a 2500 owner I recommend getting a 3500!

 

[michelle_east_county]

Yes the whole payload issue with 3/4 vs 1-ton really comes to a head with an extended or crew cab with a diesel, and worse with a longbed. Some 3/4-tons with that truly are 3/4-ton (1500 lbs), so a crew cab with a crew in it doesn't have much carrying capacity left. Gas engines are so much lighter it's less of an issue. Also note that any truck has a lot of possible GVWR combos based on springs and wheel/tires selected. Do check your states DMV for registration and even driver's licensing issues; that's also part of why the identical 3/4-ton truck might be ordered at, say, 9900 or 10000 lbs GVWR and a 1-ton at 11400 or 11500.