Idacamper (Superduty) updates 2023

[IdaSHO]

So we've had the camper on the road since 2012, originally fitted to a 1996 Powerstroke flatbed.
It was simple, stinky, and old sauce. Not nearly enough drivetrain or brakes under it.

So in 2017 the used 2011 F250 Superduty was picked up, modified, fitted with a custom bed, and in 2020 it was the new camper hauler.
Originally equipped with VVFF code springs, 4800lb front, 5560lbs rear, it was sprung very soft and running garbage 17" load E's, tire were on order.
In order to haul the camper on a budget it was fitted with an set of add-a-leafs and AirLift bags, and proper 18's with a set of 4000+lb toyo AT2's

Since then (30k miles later) its done extremely well, but I knew eventually we would need to upgrade further.
IMO we were simply too dependent upon the bags....

During the last trip to southern Oregon hunting for some cheap property, we managed to blow a shock front and rear on some nasty trails we shouldnt have been on....
The drive back to north Idaho was a bit white knuckled. In short, the wife said it was time for new higher load springs

So upgrades are on order.

Fresh set of shocks (KYB monomax have treated us very well)
Overdue for brakes (more on that coming)
and a fresh set of higher load coils and leafs (more on that coming)

 

[IdaSHO]

With another project in the shop (waiting for parts ) I performed the the first phase in the driveway.
It was a super nice North Idaho day, so why not...

New Monomax shocks fitted on all 4 corners.
Coated rotors, new pads, and fresh slider pins on all 4 corners.
During that time I also did a tire rotation. Sitting at roughly 25k miles on the tires, they look to be about 50%
They are well beyond the factory siping which as very evident last winter, Ill have to get them re-siped before next winter.

Some photos....

Rotors and pads are Rockauto sourced Dynamic-Friction. Rotors, pads, and camper hardware kit ran about $400
Caliper slider pin kits (Motorcraft) were about $8 each
Monomax shocks run about $100 each online, and DOUBLE that at parts stores

 

[IdaSHO]

And after some ridiculous driving to break in/bed the new rotors and pads.

 

[trackhead]

Love your build, and it's proven to be quite robust. I also really like your "old school" wood construction technique which has also proven, like many others, to be bomber.

I'm sure you've answered this, but what is approx weight of camper, 3,000lbs?

 

[IdaSHO]

Thanks. It has proven bomber. Simple, extremely efficient, and lightweight considering it is essentially a 10ft 4-season camper.

Dry weight of the camper is 2200lbs
Wet and loaded it is typically a touch more than 3000lbs
That includes 36 gallons of fresh water, about 7 gallons of water in the shower tank (during warmer months), two dogs, two adults, and rations for a couple of weeks (minimum)

 

[trackhead]

Pretty light considering it's a damn monster.

 

[IdaSHO]

It is light for what it is, though wet and loaded we are typically 11-12k

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After waiting for parts and getting the last project out of the shop, here we go...

We roll heavy, and a fancy suspension just wasnt worth the complexity or cost.
Im tossing some heavy duty coils and leaves at this truck, to make is as least dependent upon the rear air bags as possible.

Originally equipped with VVFF code springs, 4800lb front, 5560lbs rear,
we are going to 6600lb fronts (3300lbs each) and 8800lb rears (4400lbs each)
Combined with some fresh U-bolts, all sourced from General Spring

This is how we sit with air bags dumped, empty, with a single rear add-a-leaf
Front is stock.

 

[IdaSHO]

In order to do this, you really need the truck off the ground a considerable amount.
In order to speed this up, I opted to start with the truck on the old drive-on ramps.

A shot or two of the 3-point pivoting dampeners and bag/leaf/axle hardware

Then some hillbilly engineering to support the weight of the truck off the rear hitch, to allow the axle to be suspended.

 

[IdaSHO]

Deconstruction started.
Tires came off, and rotor hats/calipers sitting on blocking, front of diff supported with a jack.

Should be plenty of room to do the swap. I did have to blow some holes in the side boxes,
in order to gain access and have the ability to remove leaf bolts.

I quit when I came to the front leaf bolts.
Apparently my 1/2 drive 30mm deep socket ran off....

 

[IdaSHO]

A bit more...

The front leave hanger on the drivers side gave me trouble. Ideally, you would drop the fuel tank to get to the 30mm nut.
But I wasnt about to drop the tank for one bolt.... So I did what I could to avoid doing so.
My old corded impact, good for 400 or so lbft had a meltdown working on the ridiculous 3/4" bolts.
It simply didnt like rattling for 20 minutes on a 30mm bolt head

So after wasting a couple of evenings, I wondered over to harbor freight and picked up this new impact.
Supposedly good for 1050 lbft of breakaway strength. It worked, but it needed every bit of its power.

Anywho.... pics...

 

[IdaSHO]

So with all old leafs out of the way, I prepped things to go back together, hopefully this evening.
Ive done everything so far just myself. But the new leafs are near 140lbs each, so the wife will need to help...

The obligatory cleaning and rattle can treatment of stuffs...
Fresh u-bolts and leaf pack bolts, everything else is being retained/reused.

 

[IdaSHO]

And side by side of old 2700lb springs(plus add-a-leaf) and new 4400lb springs
Static height they are within 1/2 of each other.

Old are 3-leafs + add-a-leaf
New are 6-leafs, 5+overload

 

[Buddha.]

And side by side of old 2700lb springs(plus add-a-leaf) and new 4400lb springs
Static height they are within 1/2 of each other.

Old are 3-leafs + add-a-leaf
New are 6-leafs, 5+overload

Looks good. Did you consider a set of custom springs like deavers?

 

[IdaSHO]

Looks good. Did you consider a set of custom springs like deavers?

Casually. But all the while knowing I wouldnt want to pay for them. 😁

These are essentially off the shelf leafs, and while empty ride will suffer, loaded should be considerably better, and safer.

 

[IdaSHO]

Rear buttoned up this morning

U-bolts ordered overlength in case I wanted to swap to F350 blocks. More on that later....
And close ups of the strange hardware thats used with the AirLift bag setup