GEN 2 Math behind overlanding: Exceed truck weight limit?

[sixshooter_45]

Both might be wrong ... from the specs on Ford.com, GVWR for a 2020 SCREW is 7050, while curb weight is 5700. That's a difference of 1350. Either way, I'm looking at three guys for three days or two guys for a week. Three guys for a week is going to be a bit much.

The main reason I did this is to see how much the front settles. If I do Eibachs and Deavers, the last thing I want is negative rake when fully loaded. +3HDs might not be enough.

Yeah with all that weight you're carrying you might be better off with +4HD Deavers.

Don't remember what year your truck is but Eibachs on a 19 or 20 will only raise the front 1.7 after it settles or around 2 1/2" on earlier non live shock Raptors.

 

[GordoJay]

Yeah with all that weight you're carrying you might be better off with +4HD Deavers.

Mine's a 2020, so only 1.7". +4HD looks better on paper, but RPG website shows those as only for shock tower setups. I haven't called them to ask why.

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Yeah, "overlanding" is a fancy way to say "car camping". Everyone has a different idea of what that entails, too. And most overlanders don't really need 4WD for what they actually do, let alone a Raptor. My old 2WD 1962 Chevy 3/4T made it to some ridiculous places because I wasn't afraid of bashing it or of backing down stuff. I didn't need a Raptor, I wanted one, and I was willing to make a few compromises to have one. I'm happy I did. There is no one vehicle that can do everything well. You just have to decide where your priorities lie. If overlanding was my only priority, I'd build out one of those Mercedes vans.

That was actually what I was debating on a new 4wd diesel sprinter or the Raptor. I ended up with Raptor because it fit in my garage and I can take the rack off and do truck stuff with it.

Everyone's gonna have an opinion on drawers. I too thought that the decked system "took up" space and, on paper, maybe it does. However, it replaces two full bins and now leaves the "floor" of my bed totally flat all the way across. For me, it's perfect. Maybe not for everyone but far from a waste. I also chose to ditch the bed rack (had a KB Voodoo which was fantastic) in favor of a cap because I needed to put two dogs in the back (which works out immensely better with the drawer system now)

I think the decked system is perfect for people with closed beds such as yourself. If I had a cap or something like a GoFast Camper or ATHabitat I would totally run a Deck system. I instead have a Retrax cover and adding the deck system leaves little room above it and the cover so it reduces space too much.

Couple clarifications: I’m not currently buying this whole setup, but rather on the path (piece by piece) to get started with overlanding. I’m starting with rack, tent and suspension upgrades. And that’s where the questions came from. Seeing how far people take it, this thread has provided a lot of good input on how to think about getting started, finding “your own way” of overlanding and ultimately how to think about loads on the bed.

Over time, I’ll have to find my answers to questions around the need for and use of annex rooms, decked system (200lbs is a lot but it adds convenience), power generator + fridge, et cetera, et cetera...

As for rack: I really like the ADD Lander Overland rack, it looks great but there’s no info online around load weights and it’s a steel construction and very heavy. Therefore, it seems that the Leitner ACS Forged system is the best out-of-the-box solution that holds a ton of weight and is sturdy as hell. Just doesn’t look great.

As for tent: I’ve been going forth and back between budget options (tuff stuff) and the CVTs of this world. I just can’t tell “how” different they really are to warrant the extra 1500$. Some of the hard shell tuff stuff tents seem great (I.e. the Alpha)... but it gets you in the Freespirit/CVT price range for non-hard shell ones.

As for suspension: It looks like the Icons give me the most flexibility, bit more lift and are slightly better quality than the Deavers. Given all the uncertainty around load weights, there’s really no other way to go here. I’ll put eibachs as well because I like the leveled look and lastly, I won’t add an aftermarket bump stop kit because that feels a bit overkill for someone not jumping the truck around. Plus they’re hell pricey.

For sure next Memorial Day I want to spend camping and not in the Chicago burbs.

I'm running the FrontRunner and Retrax Pro set up and love it. 1) it keeps the gear in the bed clean as its fully covered up. 2) the Tent mounted and folded up sits at cab height. I just did a 10 hour drive to Montana over the 4th and averaged 16.5 MPG with full load. Having a tent above cab you will not get that. The downside is if you want a hardsell it will not fit, as most hardshell tents will hang off the rack.

If I can give you and word of advice, it would be to NOT get a soft shell tent. CVT makes some decent hardshells (I've owned many of their soft and hard shell tents) but DONT go with the soft shell unless you need to sleep a lot of people in a single tent. Of all the tents I've bought, the James Baroud is, by a wide margin, the best when you're looking at comfort and ease. It's pricey, for sure, and I kinda miss the little bit of awnings that the softhshells have, but I'm so happy to never have to deal with a travel cover and the Baroud has the most comfortable mattress of all I've slept in.

I love hardshells but inorder to get the same amount of room in a hardshell that you get inside a foldout you need a much larger mounting area as literally you have to double the foot print since the folding tents fold in half. This also means you need to have a roof height rack, which I wasn't into and reduces fuel economy and lowers your range. The best solution IMO is a GoFast Camper or AT Habitat but I wasn't down to spend that much. If I choose to upgrade from the current set up and can find a use GFC for a decent price that's the way I would possibly go down the road.

Currently Im on full stock suspension and with a full load my truck sits level. I just ordered up some Deaver HD +3 from the guys at Baja Kits and will be adding bump stop kit as well in the rear. Up front I think Im going to go with Geiser springs as they give a little more lift than the Eibachs and Im worried with the Deaver HD +3 it will be to much rake with the Eibachs.

Here is photo of my truck. You can see more on my IG account here: https://www.instagram.com/id_raptor/

 

[GordoJay]

Currently Im on full stock suspension and with a full load my truck sits level. I just ordered up some Deaver HD +3 from the guys at Baja Kits and will be adding bump stop kit as well in the rear. Up front I think Im going to go with Geiser springs as they give a little more lift than the Eibachs and Im worried with the Deaver HD +3 it will be to much rake with the Eibachs.

Might want to do more research, talk to guys who've done it. I'm thinking Eibachs and +3HDs will give me the squats when I'm fully loaded. +4HD looks like it might be better given the 1.7" lift in front and that the front doesn't compress nearly as much when loaded up. Lifting the front 2.5" with Geisers will make that even more likely.

 

[sixshooter_45]

Mine's a 2020, so only 1.7". +4HD looks better on paper, but RPG website shows those as only for shock tower setups. I haven't called them to ask why.

I wasn't aware of that, thanks for the information.

What about Icons?

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Might want to do more research, talk to guys who've done it. I'm thinking Eibachs and +3HDs will give me the squats when I'm fully loaded. +4HD looks like it might be better given the 1.7" lift in front and that the front doesn't compress nearly as much when loaded up. Lifting the front 2.5" with Geisers will make that even more likely.

I don't even think they make +4 any more, and that would be over kill. As you can see I my photos fully loaded the truck sits level on stock suspension. +3 Deavers and Eibachs on the 2019/2020's sit level where as with the Geiser they sit slightly higher.

This is the Geiser w/ Deaver HD +3 set up: https://www.instagram.com/raptoregon/ and it seems to be perfect IMO

 

[GordoJay]

This is the Geiser w/ Deaver HD +3 set up: https://www.instagram.com/raptoregon/ and it seems to be perfect IMO

Looks squatty to me ... how much weight are you carrying?

 

[GordoJay]

I don't even think they make +4 any more, and that would be over kill. As you can see I my photos fully loaded the truck sits level on stock suspension. +3 Deavers and Eibachs on the 2019/2020's sit level where as with the Geiser they sit slightly higher.

https://www.rpgoffroad.com/product/rear-leaf-springs/ has Deaver +4HD in the pull down menu for $1500 with a note about being only for the RST18

My truck is level when fully loaded on the stock suspension, too, but the wisdom of the web tells me that the rear leafs are going to sag on me and I want to be ready to move when they do, so I'm trying to get my ducks in a row. Besides, I hate how the blocks out back make the truck squirrelly.

 

[GordoJay]

What about Icons?

That's a possibility, but if adjusting them involves taking off the U-bolts, I'd be more tempted to go a little tall and adjust with shackles, those are easy.

 

[Smokey]

my 19 is running eibach and Deaver +3 HD and is damn near perfectly level with just the spare.

fully loaded with Wilco rack, RTT, cooler full, etc. the rear squats down just a touch. I don't have a measurement on that at the moment.

if you want "lift" go geiser / +4HD Deavers. otherwise, eibach / +3HD is relatively stock height-ish and level. at least that's my experience.


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