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  In
January 2004 we decided it was time for a new tow vehicle. After a lengthy
search, we settled on a 2004 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab, 6.0 V-8 TurboDiesel Electronic Fuel Injection, Cruise Control, Automatic
Transmission with overdrive, 3.73 rear axle, w/towing pkg.
The photos above were right after we purchased
it in the winter of 03/04.
  These photos
are after we had the cap put on
in the spring of 04. Camping photos to follow!
Before the camping season starts I will have to
get the bed set up for camping again. I'm just looking forward to some
days without snow.
My tow ratings are:
| GCWR |
20,000 Lb |
| GAWR (Front) |
5,200 Lb |
| GAWR (Rear) |
6,830 Lb |
| Trailer Weight Range |
0-10,600 Lb |
| Trailer Frontal Area* |
60 sq. ft. |
| Horsepower |
325 @ 3300 |
| Torque |
560 @ 2000 |
You should be aware of all of these numbers
and maintain your towing well within your limits. Remember, the job of an
RV salesman is to sell you a camper. It is not their job to
*This is the total area in square feet that a vehicle
and trailer exposes to air resistance. Obviously, the frontal area
of the trailer will not really apply to pop up campers, but for travel
trailers and hybrids you may want to pay attention to this figure.
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We like to have a campfire when we go camping, so I built
a "wood slide" down the center of the pick up bed. It is a
simple frame built of 2 X 4s with 4 "feet" on the bottom that ride
in the grooves or the bed liner to keep it from moving from side to side.
If you look above the slide/plastic containers you will
see a wooden grid that allows me to carry light weight items above the stuff stored on the truck bed. At some point in the future
I would like to put a screen over the window to keep flying debris from entering the truck cab in an accident.
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This diagram shows how we carry most of our
supplies. The center of the bed is take up by the wood slide I
built. I designed it to allow coolers and flip top plastic boxes to
slide along side it. I built a rod with a hook on the end to pull
boxes out of the bed without having to climb inside to get things.
Caution: Should you decide to
build a similar slide, you need to remember that it is not bolted down,
but slides freely. When removing wood, take it off of the
overhanging (rear) end first or gravity may cause it to crash to the
ground. Also do not allow children to play under or around the
slide.
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Here are some Ford Diesel Links |
