Rear Suspension mods for Camper

[Lasercat]

You will definitely need load range E tires.

Question on this statement. I'm currently running DuraTrac load range D tires, which are rated for 3,267 lbs per tire, a total of 13,068 capacity total.

The truck curb weight is 5,700 lbs, camper weight with full water tank and gear should be somewhere around 1,300 lbs, and passenger and camping gear weight will normally be around 600 lbs. That's a total of 7,600 lbs. Even if I plan for stuffing the truck full with five 200 lb adults and 250 lbs of theoretical gear, that's still only 8,250 lbs.

Even way loaded up, that still gives me a cushion of ~4,800 lbs. It seems to me that I'd be just fine with the D tires, unless I'm missing something?

 

[ohpyramids]

It seems to me that I'd be just fine with the D tires, unless I'm missing something?

I ran load range D Cooper st maxx on the one ton van. They were loud but I got wild offroad and never had an issue.

Ended up with load range E Nitto Terra Grappler tires and airbags as recommended by Four Wheel Camper for my new truck.



As built my Raven weighs 1278lbs. Thats with one house battery, no water, no propane. Your total vehicle payload will include fuel, water, people, and gear. Estimating I will be around 1900 lbs of weight total.

 

[Lasercat]

Awesome, thanks for the info! Seems to me that airbags are a better option than having to jack up the truck and put a different length bump-stop on everytime I wanna load up the camper, and there are some good posts here about how to add airbags to the rear.

I'll definitely reach out to FourWheel and chat with them about recommendations.

 

[NHbeast]

Not to beat a dead horse but, lets wake this thread up!
Check out Four Wheel Campers' Project M. Link
460 pounds sitting on the rails maybe a bit top heavy but, does not exceed the load limits of a Raptor.
Drawbacks, no walkthrough door, everything is extra 9K base, drill to mount.
Positives, keep the tailgate (bu camera), you can stand up, plenty of upgrades.

Minimum needs to get wife cool with the idea.
Indoor shower...doable
Porta Potti...doable

Hmmm...

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Not to beat a dead horse but, lets wake this thread up!
Check out Four Wheel Campers' Project M. Link
460 pounds sitting on the rails maybe a bit top heavy but, does not exceed the load limits of a Raptor.
Drawbacks, no walkthrough door, everything is extra 9K base, drill to mount.
Positives, keep the tailgate (bu camera), you can stand up, plenty of upgrades.

Minimum needs to get wife cool with the idea.
Indoor shower...doable
Porta Potti...doable

Hmmm...

Meh... that is a typical overlander set up: bulky and top heavy. I have a Go Fast Camper XL Standard Platform. It weighs 300 lbs, deploys in 30 secs, and I can beat the crap out of it without an issue. It doesn’t change the way I drive the Raptor whatsoever. The tubular framing on it is super robust, so it will hold up to whatever you throw at it. The owner at GFC has a Raptor too. He is on the forum, but I forget his handle. I will be going to Alaska and western Canada this summer.

 

[Thisguy]

Meh... that is a typical overlander set up: bulky and top heavy. I have a Go Fast Camper XL Standard Platform. It weighs 300 lbs, deploys in 30 secs, and I can beat the crap out of it without an issue. It doesn’t change the way I drive the Raptor whatsoever. The tubular framing on it is super robust, so it will hold up to whatever you throw at it. The owner at GFC has a Raptor too. He is on the forum, but I forget his handle. I will be going to Alaska and western Canada this summer.

View attachment 136598

Very cool, this is what I have been looking at for a while now. Do you ever take it off?

 

[pbtjrlmrt]

Raptors are not designed to carry that kind of weight. It doesn't matter what suspension upgrades you do (HD Deavers, shocks, bump stop), the truck cannot handle that kind of weight. If you want to camp and have a Raptor, then you need to buy a RTT. A Habitat from Adventure Trailers, or a Go Fast Camper would weigh considerably less. For that reason, I am going with a Go Fast Camper.

If my suggestions above do not appease you, then a F-250 would probably be your best bet—unless you want to try a EcoBoost (non-Raptor) F-150.

What exactly is it about the Raptor that isn't built for towing/hauling other than the suspension? Is it the wider wheel stance that makes the truck more table that a normal F150? Is it the additional HP/TQ that is unmatched by any other F150? Is it the strengthened frame? The wider tires? Just about everything about the Raptor makes it a better truck for towing/hauling than a regular F150...EXCEPT the suspension. IN FACT a suspension mod is exactly what this guy needs to do in order to have a superior load carrying rig. Front and rear springs is all it would take. I'm not suggesting that it's a good idea but I'm curious what it is about the Raptor...other than the suspension...that is unsuited to towing/Hauling?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

What exactly is it about the Raptor that isn't built for towing/hauling other than the suspension? Is it the wider wheel stance that makes the truck more table that a normal F150? Is it the additional HP/TQ that is unmatched by any other F150? Is it the strengthened frame? The wider tires? Just about everything about the Raptor makes it a better truck for towing/hauling than a regular F150...EXCEPT the suspension. IN FACT a suspension mod is exactly what this guy needs to do in order to have a superior load carrying rig. Front and rear springs is all it would take. I'm not suggesting that it's a good idea but I'm curious what it is about the Raptor...other than the suspension...that is unsuited to towing/Hauling?

The suspension can’t cycle 2k lbs of weight. One would essentially be neutering a Raptor by carrying that kind of weight, which defeats the whole purpose of owning a Raptor as the driving experience and off-road capability is severely altered.

 

[pbtjrlmrt]

The suspension can’t cycle 2k lbs of weight. One would essentially be neutering a Raptor by carrying that kind of weight, which defeats the whole purpose of owning a Raptor as the driving experience and off-road capability is severely altered.

You stated it didn't matter what kind of suspension upgrade he did.

"It doesn't matter what suspension upgrades you do (HD Deavers, shocks, bump stop), the truck cannot handle that kind of weight."

I agree that making the kind of suspension changes required for that kind of weight alters the very nature of what the Raptor is supposed to be. The issue I'm having with your statement is that you imply that there is something beyond suspension that would prevent it from carrying that kind of weight. My opinion would be that the wider stance, reinforced frame and increased HP/TQ would make it the best load carrying F150 bar none...assuming the suspension was upgraded to handle it.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

You stated it didn't matter what kind of suspension upgrade he did.

"It doesn't matter what suspension upgrades you do (HD Deavers, shocks, bump stop), the truck cannot handle that kind of weight."

I agree that making the kind of suspension changes required for that kind of weight alters the very nature of what the Raptor is supposed to be. The issue I'm having with your statement is that you imply that there is something beyond suspension that would prevent it from carrying that kind of weight. My opinion would be that the wider stance, reinforced frame and increased HP/TQ would make it the best load carrying F150 bar none...assuming the suspension was upgraded to handle it.

You got too much time on your hands. Yes, the truck (i.e., the suspension) cannot handle that kind of weight. I used “truck” as a noun to describe the suspension since the word “suspension” is part of the truck.

The suspension dictates the payload and towing capacity of vehicles. So yes, all the things that you noted (tire size, HP/TQ, etc.) make for a great payload/tow rig. And to be clear, the Raptor is very comfortable to carry heavy payloads/trailers when you are within its specs. But when you try and carry double the weight of the payload rating, things get sketchy.