Mello Mike, Senior Editor of Truck Camper Adventure, test drove two Elevation Off-Grid (EOG) Ford F-550 pickup trucks at the 2023 Overland Expo Pacific Northwest. The test runs included a Black Edition F-550 with 41-inch tires and a LiquidSpring suspension. When EOG says their class 5 trucks drive like a Ford F-150, they aren’t kidding.
EOG builds the best, most capable pickup truck on the planet. As a matter of fact, EOG is the only Ford F-550 and Ram 5500 pickup manufacturer in the world. Pickup is the key word. All class 5 trucks are shipped as a chassis only. EOG has filled that void by offering a Ford F-550 and Ram 5500 chassis with a standard, 8-foot pickup bed.
EOG’s class 5 trucks not only offer a GVWR of 19,500 pounds with a nearly 10,000 pound payload, but also a silky-smooth ride comparable to the Ford F-150 and Ram Power Wagon using the highly-regarded LiquidSpring Suspension (EOG can even outfit F-450 and F-350 with a LiquidSpring Suspension too). Add MIL-SPEC 41-inch super single tires and a custom front winch bumper to the mix and you have a class 5 pickup truck quite unlike anything else on the planet. There’s no doubt about it, EOG’s Ford F-550 and Ram 5500 is not your grandpa’s pickup truck. It’s not even close.
I really don’t get the appeal beyond appearance. My 550 with a skirted bed and Stable Camper storage boxes gives me a boatload more storage. I’d never go back to a pickup box.
Agreed, love our skirted aluminum flatbed w/ storage and topside bed boxes, especially as a fulltimer. The stock stretched beds do look awful sick though.
Awesome, isn’t it? So much so, that after Flo and I each test drove the EOG RAM 5500 at the Idaho Rally, we were sold! We’ll have the first True Earth Leveling system, installed in October. No more leveling with stacked blocks! The new system will also include and updated touch screen and Bluetooth capability. We’re stoked!!! We won’t be singling out yet, though, due to our existing height. Later down the road when we swap truck campers for something smaller, we’ll reconsider. See you in Q!
I considered Liquid Spring when we were building our F550. I chose the Kelderman system for three reasons, 1: Cost. The LS system was like $10k more than Kelderman’s Air Ride, 2: With about 12″ of suspension travel on each corner, and individual control of the air bags, I can level our rig in most places in less than a minute. At the time, LS didn’t offer this much control, and I’m guessing 12″ of suspension travel isn’t possible anyhow. 3: I live in MN, and Kelderman is only 4 hours away, so I could bring the truck to them to have it installed. This way I knew the install would be exactly as it should be.
I’m interested in seeing the capabilities of the LS system in person though, since I haven’t seen it first-hand before. Congrats on the new rig!
Also just saw your fellow Host Mammoth owners! Cheers!
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After our last trip to the QZite rally and after speaking with Jared with StableCamper I decided to weigh our fully loaded rig (2016 Ram 6.7 CC, 4×4, DRW, 2009 single-slide EC 995…) and discovered with passengers we were nearly 900# over the 14k GVWR!!
Ordered a new 23 RAM 5500 Laramie, CC, 6.7, Aisin, 4×4, and and with Jared’s sage council 🙂 a 9’-4” x 90”w CM skirted flatbed with a bunch of storage space! (Awaiting bed topside boxes)…To my surprise, gotta a great trade-in and new truck is ‘Luxo-boat’ fantastic and uber refined!!
Phil
Awesome, Mike. I’ve been eyeballing these 550’s since I sold my TC. Miss this so much. Trying to sell my 5th wheel then I can.