The Ford Super Duty lineup is an outstanding choice when it comes to hauling a large truck camper on a one-ton pickup truck. In 2023, the Ford F350 Super Duty gets entirely new exterior and interior designs, upgraded tech including 5G connectivity, and new powertrain options to help it retain its high ranking in the highly competitive truck marketplace. But before you buy, it’s extremely important to know what the truck is rated for when it comes to payload. Why is the payload rating so important when buying a truck camper? Because the payload rating tells you how much weight you can safely carry without overloading your truck. The weight rating includes passengers, your camper, and cargo—basically everything not permanently attached to your truck. In this article, we present the max truck camper payload ratings of the Ford F350 Super Duty pickup truck.
Unfortunately, finding Ford’s payload and GVWR ratings online can be a chore and very time consuming. Sure, you can quickly find the maximum payload rating for an Ford F350 regular cab long-bed model, but very few consumers go that route. Most go with the short-bed super cab or crew cab model. Then, there are the duallies, which are a completely different animal. Fortunately, Truck Camper Adventure has done the research for you. Now you can find all of these ratings in one, easy-to-read location. In order to streamline the payload information presented in our chart, only Ford’s XLT trim is presented with one engine choice though various options including drivetrain (2WD, 4WD, and AWD) and bed-size are presented to help buyers make the right choice.
Ford F350
The Ford Super Duty retains it position as the top-selling heavy duty truck in America. The Ford Motor Company offers three excellent engines in the 2022 F-350. The tried and true Boss 6.2L V8 with 385 horsepower and 430 foot-pounds of torque comes standard, while the relatively new Godzilla 7.3L V8 gasser with 430 horsepower and 475 foot-pounds of torque is offered as an option. Each is paired with an excellent 10-speed automatic with your choice of three rear axles: 3:55, 3:73, and 4:30. The optional 6.7L Power Stroke turbo-diesel V8, also paired the 10-speed automatic, generates 475 horsepower and a whopping 1,050 pound-feet of torque. At 990 pounds, the 6.7L Power Stroke is a good deal heavier than the Boss V8, which tops the scales at 580 pounds, and the Godzilla V8, which maxes out at a surprisingly low 535 pounds, so “weigh” that option carefully.
Ford payload ratings compare very favorably with the competition. A payload of 4,460 pounds with a GVWR of 11,300 pounds can be purchased by going with 4WD F350 crew cab with a 6.75-foot bed, whereas a 2WD crew cab with an 8-foot bed can maxes-out with a 11,100 GVWR and an identical 4,460-pound payload. Of course, the only negative going with a Ford is the taller cab that requires some kind of riser in the bed to keep the truck camper from touching the top of the cab. So without further adieu, here are the max truck camper payload ratings of the Ford F350 Super Duty pickup truck.
- 2023 Base price: XLT $43,665 (SRW)
- Powertrain: 6.8L V8 with either a six-speed or ten-speed automatic transmission
- Max Payload: 8,000 pounds (DRW)
- Max Towing: 14,000 pounds (DRW)
A Warning About Options
When it comes to payload, options can either hurt or help a truck’s rating. As a truck camper owner, you should always opt for the “maximum payload” or “max tow package” as this maximizes payload. As for other options, however, choose wisely. Yes, having a diesel engine is great for climbing mountains and raising your testosterone, but it’s also heavier. This means less payload—not to mention more emission hassles—for you. Ditto for 4WD. That feature, while great for driving on rough roads, sand, and snow, isn’t so great for your payload rating—the typical 4WD drivetrain weighs 300 pounds more that the 2WD version. Think twice about getting that spacious crew cab as well. That larger cab outweighs a standard cab by roughly 350 pounds. For a one-ton truck, that increase in weight is huge. We do, however, recommend getting the Pro Power option which is now available in the Super Duty Lineup that offers a 2,000 watt power inverter with power outlets in both the truck and bed, though you will need to run the engine when using it.
Ford is designing ‘commuter trucks’ despite the marketing BS. Most of their customers don’t haul heavy loads and they want it to ride well and look good.
Having an ’04 F350 and having gone through this, I think the weak points are likely multiple; 1) Tires – need load index 126 (3750lbs) minimum. I recommend LI 129 (4080lbs). There are only a few tires this heavy (295/65R20 is one). There is an 18″ that is 129 but I don’t recall the size. 2) Wheels – its hard to find the capacity rating of OEM wheels but you need at least 3800lbs and few are quite that high and most aftermarket ‘style’ wheels are much lower. 3) Springs – Add a leaf. Don’t do airbags unless you’re really desperate. This will keep your truck at the correct ride height even when fully loaded and retain range of suspension travel. 4) Dual shocks all around. Front brackets are readily available but rear brackets need to be custom-made. ‘Rough Country’ shocks are beefy and cheap. 5) Sway bar – Ford was wishy-washy and changed sizes and if they put both front and rear on A LOT….I’d have a substantial bar on both front and rear but don’t get as big as available because you lose articulation capacity. 6) Brakes are likely adequate and they may not have larger available in the aftermarket (mine didn’t). Use heavy-duty rotors and pads.
Thanks Steve, precisely what I was thinking.
“Because the payload rating tells you how much weight you can safely carry without overloading your truck.”
I’m looking at this truck in Lariat with HO Diesel engine. Strictly it cannot carry my Wolf Creek 840 camper (2900 lbs fully loaded) six passengers and light camping gear. Even with a 12,400 lb GVWR. What is the weak link here. The rear axle only needs to carry 7000 lbs and the Lariat rear axle is rated at 9750. Is it the springs? Maybe, but I can add another leaf. Is it the brakes? They are part of the rear axle system rated at 9750lbs. Is it the frame or the cooling system? Aren’t they the same as on the F350 dually? Is its the tires? yes but new 10 ply solve that. The wheels, I doubt it, but I’m willing to put better wheels on too.
What then is the weak point?