Rear Suspension mods for Camper

[Loufish]

For you needs, don't buy that really cool hammer, when what you need is a screwdriver....

The Raptor is a niche truck and owners are happiest when using the truck for what it was really designed for and avoiding using the truck where it compromises the most...

 

[ohpyramids]

I absolutely know this is an impractical truck, and feel sketchy ignoring the payload requirements. However I hope to pull the trigger depending on how Ford pays me in the 5.0 buyback.

Heres a thread from 6 years ago with a guy doing the same thing. RPG kit with 4” bumps and he said it worked awesome. https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/raven-on-a-raptor.20784/

Not trying to hit huge jumps with my family inside, but hopefully the truck will hold up.

My hope is to buy a truck that rules 320 days a year, and do some simple modifications to make it work for how I like to camp. And if the camper is just too heavy, then I might need to find another solution like a 5x10 trailer or make my own lightweight slide in.

 

[Raptor 2014]

Well - I would keep the van - Nice Van but limited parking in LA so 2 vehicles / Trailer seam be a problem.
You already have a down payment on the camper $1000.00 - You could just eat it and do something else or another 5.0 - Just as comfortable as a Raptor, any Suspension upgrade is over the counter, fenders too - a supercharger is an option for torque but not as good as turbos at altitude. 5.0 sounds a lot better too.
Trailers are available for off road - here are some options but these are expensive.
best-off-road-camper-trailers
I was at an off road show in LA a few weeks back that had a very nice trailer Unfortunately I can not remember the name About $6000.00. It was nice. I tried to find it on line but no luck.

Good luck.

 

[Loufish]

No idea what your budget is but maybe the 2020 Ford F250 Tremor might fit your needs....

 

[ohpyramids]

Just got the word that Ford is buying back my v8 F150 and offering a decent credit to purchase another Ford. The F250 is cool but too dang long for me, so I’ve decided on a Raptor!

The plan is to upgrade to deaver hd springs and a 4” bump kit out back. If this new camper doesn’t fit my needs or my truck, I will figure out how to build a lightweight slide-in lol.

 

[Lasercat]

@ohpyramids Please do keep us updated on your camper. I'm looking at the same camper myself and would love to hear how the suspension mods work out for you.

I currently tow an OPUS off-road trailer behind my Raptor, but that means I have to choose between hauling the camper or the raft/toy trailer. The Raven would allow me to haul all my toys and my bed/kitchen/furnace, so it sounds like a perfect solution - with a bit of suspension upgrade.

 

[ohpyramids]

@ohpyramids Please do keep us updated on your camper.

Well, long thread short, I recently repurchased a 4x4 XLT instead of a Raptor. It’s a heartbreaker, but it was hard to bump the 39k vs 59k between the trucks. I like the 3.5 v6 more than the 5.0 v8 I lemon lawed. Theres just so much more torque. Everywhere.

Im planning to do airbags and eventually some oem replacement remote resi kings and see how I end up.

If you do a “raptor + raven” search on here you’ll find two guys with gen 1’s and FWC Raven campers. They both run the RPG 4” bump kit and love the setup. You will definitely need load range E tires. Don’t do the Izzy fab raptor shock kit. Don’t do airbags. Deaver might give you a custom leaf out back but, they wont sell you an HD spring pack.

Lasercat- My recommendation would be to put all your camper and gear on a slightly larger trailer. You can bring a comfortable camper and all your camping crud without grossly exceeding the factory 1200lb payload of a gen2.

My next rig will be a Raptor though. At this rate, 9 months and counting.

 

[Lasercat]

Lasercat- My recommendation would be to put all your camper and gear on a slightly larger trailer. You can bring a comfortable camper and all your camping crud without grossly exceeding the factory 1200lb payload of a gen2.

Unfortunately that really won't work for my needs for two reasons:

One, I need to pull my raft trailer, and be able to back it into the water to launch. A 16' raft with metal frame, dry boxes, cooler, etc ends up weighing near 1000 lbs when loaded to go, so being able to drop the trailer into the water is key. Putting a camper on a trailer designed to back into the water is... not ideal

Two, I want to be able to camp out in parking lots. A lot of the smaller ski areas here in CO allow you to stay in their lots both in the summer for biking, and in the winter for skiing, but most won't allow a trailer. Gotta be a single vehicle for that.

On top of that, whatever solution I come up with must be capable of going way back in the boonies. I regularly abuse my truck on rocky jeep trails, and have the gouges in my skid plates to prove it.

After months of research, it's pretty much come down to buying a Sportsmobile, or a light camper for the Raptor. If I were to order the Sportsmobile today, I would get it sometime in early 2021, and I'm impatient, so that's why I'm leaning towards the camper

 

[ohpyramids]

After months of research, it's pretty much come down to buying a Sportsmobile

If you are looking at 4x4 vans, just know they are not going to feel anything like your Raptor. Buy a used 2wd sportsmobile (you can get an RV loan on these), and do a 4x4 conversion.

For burliness and durability go for a Ujoint offroad 4x4 conversion. My 6" lift had 35's, arb air lockers, and dana 60 axles. It went everywhere I pointed it. A higher speed offroad option is the Agile offroad kit that uses a modified front Dana 50 axle. My buddy has one and it hauls ass for a 10k lb van.

Best of luck dude!

 

[Lasercat]

If you are looking at 4x4 vans, just know they are not going to feel anything like your Raptor.

Yeah, that's another reason why I'm leaning toward the camper. If I can beef up the suspension without totally destroying the unloaded ride quality on the Raptor (which definitely seems doable), that would seem to be ideal. And putting a camper on a truck that's paid for is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a SMB.