F250 and F350 with campers

[terry1167]

Hello, I was looking for some advice, maybe someone here can help me. I want to get a camper to put on my pickup, and I'm not sure if it is too big for it. I've never had a camper on it before but I think the previous owner did. My truck is a 1971 F-250 4x4 with a 360 (with headers and 4bbl edelbrock), and the camper is a 12 foot cabover with EZ loader.
I looked at the door plate and it says it is F260 and Max weight is 6800 pounds. I found out that my truck weighs 4400 pounds, but I can't seem to find the weight of the camper anywhere online or on the camper... The manufacturer is Mitchell and is out of business. Does anyone else have a 12' camper that they haul with a similar truck? I am concerned particularly because I will be driving in the mountains up and down hills and I will be towing a 2-horse trailer. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Also, on a side note, I have the highway or running lights on the roof of the cab of my truck... Will a cabover camper hit them? Just wondering..
Thanks!

The Mitchell that you mention is most likely a 11' model as they didn't make a 12' model unless custom made. My 11' Mitchell is one of the heaviest and it weighs about 2700 dry so by the time you load it with water, propane, "stuff" it will be close to 3000. I had mine on a 72 F250 Camper special with a 390 and it carried it "ok" but I also only drove it on flat land in Colorado and never the mountains. I believe my GVWR was 7700 and it had the C6 and 3.73 axle. Personally, I think you will be disappointed with how your truck handles it since you have a 4x4 and it is NOT a camper special. Your truck's 360 will struggle and I think since you have a 4x4, it will sit higher and the camper will be even more top heavy than mine was, causing swaying and handling is sues. In regard to the cab clearance lights, with my Mitchell there wasn't enough room between the cabover and top of the truck cab for marker lights. Here's a couple pics of the set up that I had.

[ScottT80]

Nice looking truck Terry!

[kf7mjf]

Can I get away with a cabover camper for my F100 CS with 300 I6 in it, or should I look for something smaller? I'm looking for something period to stick on the back of this thing, be it a canopy shell or a camper of some sort.

[1972hiboy]

if I remember right 1967 was the last year for a f100 cs? there are some lighter basic models of cabovers you may be able to find.

[Dr Casti]

Last year I went to a Copart auction in S.C. and bought a 69 F-250 Camper Special, of course without the camper. The truck came with a V8 360 and Auto tranny. So, my question is: What in heavens is a Camper Special truck besides hauling a camper?
I mean, what´s the difference between a 69 F-100 and a 69 F-250 Not Camper Special....is there any at all. Do the suspension and brakes have anything to do...?

Thanks in advance for your answers....

[1972hiboy]

the f100 and f250 have different frames f250 is heavier gauge metal. the f250 camper special has a higher gvwr,disk brakes, flex-o-matic rear suspension to handle the load and a factory plug under the bed to plug the camper into as well as the extra saddle tank. The front ends have bigger king pins. Robroy was telling me about some of the differences parts wise camper specials had maybe he will chime in and make sure im not feeding you a load.

[basketcase0302]

What in heavens is a Camper Special truck besides hauling a camper?
I mean, what´s the difference between a 69 F-100 and a 69 F-250 Not Camper Special....is there any at all. Do the suspension and brakes have anything to do...?

There's a lot of info here on the 1969 model(s):
http://www.fordification.com/library/ma ... _itemId=55

[1972hiboy]

Finally got my isolated dual batterey setup finished and got the under bed plug wired up. So now I finally have my electrical working and my water system going on the camper. Feels good! Anyone for a bump camping trip???lol

[SecondCamperSpecial]

I carried a 12 foot slide in my 69 F250 camper special. I had overloads on it. Best thing I did was install a rear sway bar. I also had roof lights and had to install a sheet of 3/4 plywood under camper.

I went to by this one last year but they had knocked a hole in the roof and left it uncovered for 3 years. 67 22,000 miles add on air add on cruise. Probably should have bought it.

[SecondCamperSpecial]

[SecondCamperSpecial]

I own the popup slide in camper now that is in the back ground. I havent tried it on my 68 camper special yet. That will next year when I trailer my Falcon Gasser behind it.

[1972hiboy]

sweet set-ups,
Terry I just watched your vid on youtube with your mitchell, very nice inside. I just got back from camping in the sierras and grabbed a couple pics. Before this trip I put f350 rear leaf springs and overloads on the truck. it made a HUGE difference, With the camper and loaded with gear it didnt squat, side to side movement was virtually gone. Really handled the weight. however she is BUMPy ( pun intended) empty. Camper is my matching 72' Aristocrat Pickup Partner.

[1972hiboy]

last one

[LuvMyScamper]

Cindy....a Scamper sitting on a 1970 Bump in existence!

Hey Terry - sorry to bring an old post to the top again but I somehow missed this when you posted it last year. Anyway, those pics of the other Scamper that you posted (page 3 of this thread), I've actually been in touch with the guy who owned that. He had posted on a vintage RV forum and that's where we found we had the same campers so we started chatting. He used his camper in Alberta in the winter when he was working up north, so he put a woodstove in it. He got a lot of controversy on the RV forum about that, but he was convinced that if it was done correctly it was perfectly safe. The dinette table in the camper had to be removed to make room for the woodstove. He built it himself. Here is a pic:



I loved his board name too...."ROLLINSMOKE"

Those pics you posted were probably from the RV forum, or from his kijiji ad when he sold it. He told me he sold it for $1750 to a couple that were tired of the hamsterwheel lifestyle and want to live full time in the old Scamper with their kids and pets. All this in a 23-foot motorhome with no dinette area anymore. Wow!

[terry1167]

72 Highboy, that is a sweet looking bump with Aristocrat camper! Sits nice too. Love those bumps and campers!