Sparse Gray Hackle
Geezer
Platinum trim level... it won’t look as good with desert pinstriping.
Crew cab long bed (8ft) for overlanding??? Is this viable or realistic?
- Thread starter R22squatch
- Start date
R22squatch
New member
Is that truck in particular an 8 foot box? Cant tell from the picture. If I am to go through with this I’ll definitely be running 37s or larger.
RangeDrive
Observer
What he said, but I’d also add a Thuren Kit to the list. The overland extreme kit is by far my favorite upgrade! That’s a 37, almost fully dropped out of the wheel well, not bad for a work truck!
Attachments
That truck had an 8' bed. 170" wheel base. Made it down plenty of atv trails in the rockies
Grassland
Well-known member
That's as long as the spaceship in the opening credits of Space Balls
Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
One of my all time favorite flicks. And one of my wifes all time hated...
Like so many other things, the answer is. It depends...
I wouldn't try running the Rubicon trail in a camper based on a long bed crew cab. Your odds of making it without major damage to your rig, and the trail are massively small.
That same rig, assuming 4x4 with some decent ground clearnace, at least 35" tires etc.... I wouldn't hesitate to do the Chivo Falls trail in the Arizona desert. There will be some snug-ish spots, but no tight turns, and breakover angles are usually pretty mild...
Mind you, back in college I ran that trail with a friend in a Baja bug, and he tipped it onto its side. Pick a bad track and not follow your spotter and....
I wouldn't try running the Rubicon trail in a camper based on a long bed crew cab. Your odds of making it without major damage to your rig, and the trail are massively small.
That same rig, assuming 4x4 with some decent ground clearnace, at least 35" tires etc.... I wouldn't hesitate to do the Chivo Falls trail in the Arizona desert. There will be some snug-ish spots, but no tight turns, and breakover angles are usually pretty mild...
Mind you, back in college I ran that trail with a friend in a Baja bug, and he tipped it onto its side. Pick a bad track and not follow your spotter and....
MOAK
Adventurer
Well here I go reviving an old thread as we are getting ready to order an F350 with 8’ bed as a foundation for a Grandby 4WD camper to tour in for no less than 3 years and probably 5 or more, full time. . Crew cab is basically a foot longer in wheel base and total length than the super cab. Haven’t done the math but I’m thinking 36” tires with 3.73 rears will help with all the angles without killing my mpgs. The ford forum guys don’t understand what we are doing. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.
rruff
Explorer
What will you use the back seat for? Are there just the two of you? Are you and your wife experienced at long camping trips?
I've posted here before about going with a F450 rather than 350. The main benefits are a much smaller turning radius (which helps a lot with maneuvering), higher payload (not that much though), more large tire options, lower gear ratios possible (I think), and more options for wheelbase. Ideally a custom articulated bed with integrated storage would be the way to go. I'd opt for standard rather than military tires, which would limit the rear axle to 8k lbs, but you could get military if you wanted more.
If you wanted a custom bed anyway, the cost increase isn't much. The F450 bed would need to articulate though (because it's C channel frame), while the 350 would not.
I've posted here before about going with a F450 rather than 350. The main benefits are a much smaller turning radius (which helps a lot with maneuvering), higher payload (not that much though), more large tire options, lower gear ratios possible (I think), and more options for wheelbase. Ideally a custom articulated bed with integrated storage would be the way to go. I'd opt for standard rather than military tires, which would limit the rear axle to 8k lbs, but you could get military if you wanted more.
If you wanted a custom bed anyway, the cost increase isn't much. The F450 bed would need to articulate though (because it's C channel frame), while the 350 would not.
I say, "roll on !"
We had many great trips in our 164"WB, ~22' long F350 (SC, 60CA with 9.5' box) Call it as long as a CCLB with a bit shorter WB.
Lots of places still to go (at least in Canada). The pop up should help on some roads that a shorter but taller rig might be less comfortable on.
Crew would be welcome for extra gear - because you can only fit so much stuff in an 8 camper. I'd want to maximise storage capacity for full time (but would choose a larger camper).
Parking in towns will sometimes be a challenge. All depends where/what you plan on doing.
36's might help. We ran 34-35s, lots of highway, lots of gravel. Worked for us.
tacollie
Glamper
I would probably get 4.30s if you're running 36" tires and carrying a camper full time. If there is a difference in MPGs it'll be minimal. Sticking to 65mph is going to be huge for MPGs.
If you aren't dead set in Ford a crew cab RAM with a 8'bed is shorter and has a better turning radius.
If you have the money and want to spend it Bowen makes a camper bed that fits a 8' camper on a 6.75 bed truck. You get a shorter wheelbase. More importantly you get a ton of storage. Down side is I think they are over $20k which is a lot of gas.
We have been really happy with our SD and its awesome at hauling our camper.
If you aren't dead set in Ford a crew cab RAM with a 8'bed is shorter and has a better turning radius.
If you have the money and want to spend it Bowen makes a camper bed that fits a 8' camper on a 6.75 bed truck. You get a shorter wheelbase. More importantly you get a ton of storage. Down side is I think they are over $20k which is a lot of gas.
We have been really happy with our SD and its awesome at hauling our camper.
BikePilot
Member
I have found my Megacab Ram to work well for light off road and amazing for rough dirt roads. It's just a smidge shorter than a crew cab long bed. Quality suspension and 37" tires on 17" wheels is key for soaking up the rocks. I'm not particularly interested in taking any full size into serious off road trails in my area (Colorado Rockies).