Old Smokey 📍

Old Smokey is the nickname I have for my 2026 Ford F-350 SuperDuty which I purchased at the end of March 2026 to replace my former truck, Big Red, a 2011 Chevy Silverado. Why the name Old Smokey? One is it the color is smokey but also it’s the truck that Smokey the Bear drives, at least the latest generation of DEC Forest Ranger trucks tend to be this color gray and built to a similar configuration. Why old? It is a work truck, and while it has some technology, most of the design is tried and true – 6.8L MiniZilla pushrod engine, key ignition, needles for speedometer and all guages, manual climate controls, conventional cruise control.

The Old Smokey truck is a “one-ton” class axle commerical HD pickup truck, extended cab, short bed (6 3/4 foot bed). While the short bed seems small by SuperDuty propotions, it actually is a very good fit for my uses, as it’s long enough to sleep on and camp once I get a camper shell (aka topper or cap) on the truck. It also is reasonably short at 19 1/2 feet, that with the backup camera makes it possible to get into relatively small campsites.

The truck has the FX4 and XL Off Road HD Utility Package, which provides 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, skid plates, specifically tuned off-road shocks, Hill Descent Control, an electronic locking rear differential, a raised air dam for better ground clearance and water-fording vent tubes on the rear axle. It also has dual alternators and batteries, able to supply up to 410 amps of power for camping, and has the upfitter harnasses for additional power and configuraton.

The next step will be ordering the camper shell, moving the solar panel, lead acid batteries, interverter and CB radio to the new truck, and acquiring and installing additional solar panel(s), cellphone booster, and probably a supplemental LiPo battery. By next winter, I also want to add a diesel heater for comfortable winter camping. Stay tuned, as they say. It’s going to be a great rig.

🖼️ Photos

Old Smokey Camp Wiring Plan

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This pretty much the same configuration and components I have things on Big Red, but hopefully with lot less wire and colorful rat nests in conduit because I am mounting everything in the bed and not building it over 15 years as technology and knowledge evolves.

For simplicity's sake, I thought about powering the exciter wire on relay that connects between the starting batteries/alternator using a switched up-fitter switch, but I think I will just monitor the voltage on both the alternator/starting battery and solar using diodes (as electronic check valves) fed into the XY-60 voltage monitoring unit.

When either the solar or alternator is throwing out a mimimum of 14.1 volts, it will close the relay, and open the relay when the voltage drops below 13.1 volts (or whatever I set the XY-60 to). This way, when the truck is on, it will always charge the camp batteries, and when the truck is off but the solar is producing ample power, it will dump some of the extra power back to starting batteries during prolonged periods parked or at camp. With dual starting batteries on a gasser this less essential compared to the old rig, but batteries like to be trickled regardless when parked for an extended period. There is reason I could turn the key on Big Red and it started up with ease after being parked for 3 months. 

I didn't include the various fuse blocks in this image, but everything will be properly fused. For the CB radio, I will just tap the upfitter harnasses off the starting battery on a switched upfitter switch. Also will include a shunt and amp meter for monitoring the input from the solar, as I'm always kind of interested in watching that.

In the future, I do want to add a second solar panel, and swap one of batteries out for lithium ion, but I will keep at least one lead acid for cold weather charging. But that needs to wait, as this project is starting to suffer from cost disease, though I am reusing 95% of electrical components and wire from the other truck. 

By late summer, I want to add a cellphone booster and in late autumn add a line to use with a diesel heater for winter camping. I concede I won't have enough battery storage for the glow plug of the diesel heater, but the truck has remote start, so I can just double click the remote start button before starting the glow plug on the diesel heater. 

Also in the out years, I may want to add a portable refrigerator. They do use quite a bit of current, but especially if I add a lithium ion battery, this could fit into the set up without lot of additional change.

Sunday April 12, 2026 — Old Smokey
Map: Silver Lake

Hell yeah, I should just get the ARE MX Cap for the SuperDuty!

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I’ve had my reservations about the mid-high roofline. Visually, it might look a bit odd towering over the cab’s clearance lights, but that’s a common look for trucks with slide-ins or campers. Those lights are more about legal width requirements and aesthetics anyway; they don’t actually have to be the highest point on the rig.

There are practical trade-offs, too. The MX profile will likely ding my fuel economy compared to a flat cap, and it’ll put my kayak pretty high up. However, given the heavy-duty truck’s weight, lower center of gravity, and solid frame, it should still handle well on the road.

In terms of clearance, the MX will put me at a height similar to my old lifted Silverado. That means automatic car washes and parking garages are out, but with solar panels and a kayak rack planned for the roof, I shouldn’t be using those anyway.

When I look at the big picture, the price difference is negligible over a 15-year lifespan—especially with the market performing well. The extra headroom for camping is a huge plus, and even if I have to wait until late summer for delivery, it’s worth it. This setup is going to be my adventure partner for the next decade and likely carry me right into retirement.

I’m going for it.

Untitled [Expires April 15 2026]

Comparing my old versus new set up…

The interior height from the bed floor to the roof for a 2026 Ford F-350 Super Duty with an A.R.E. MX Series camper shell is approximately 44 to 46 inches.

Compared to the 2011 Silverado (~46″), the 2026 F-350 typically offers a slightly shallower bed but a more modern, streamlined cap design, resulting in a nearly identical total clearance.

Height Comparison

Bed Depth

21.1 inches – SuperDuty

22.4 inches – Silverado

Camper Shell Rise

~23 to 25 inches – SuperDuty

~23 to 25 inches – Silverado

Estimated Total Height

44.1 – 46.1 inches – SuperDuty

45.4 – 47.4 inches – Silverado

Key Differences in the 2026 F-350 Setup

  • Bed Depth: Modern Super Duty beds (6.75′ and 8′) have a standardized height of 21.1 inches. This is about an inch shallower than the older Silverado, which may slightly reduce “floor-to-ceiling” height.
  • Shell Design: The A.R.E. MX Series for the newest Super Duty models is engineered to match the taller, more vertical cab of the F-350. While it still provides roughly 4 inches of rise above the cab, the total vertical gain from the bed rails is usually about 22.5 to 24 inches.

Space Considerations

  • Sitting Up: At roughly 45 inches, you have enough room for an average adult (sitting height ~36″) to sit comfortably on a 9-inch thick mattress or platform without hitting the ceiling.
  • Cargo Volume: The 6.75-foot bed on the F-350 provides 65.4 cubic feet of volume before adding the shell; the MX shell effectively doubles this usable protected space. 

The Super Duty cab is taller relative to the ground. However, when measuring interior space (bed floor to camper roof), what matters is the cab height relative to the bed rails, not the ground. Because the cabs are a similar height above the bed, the “Total Interior Height” remains comparable between the two trucks.

Despite the Super Duty being a much larger truck overall, the interior “headroom” from the bed floor to the shell ceiling is within 1 inch of the 2011 Silverado because the Silverado’s deeper bed compensates for its slightly shorter cab. 

Map: Brandywine Campground And Hiking
Map: Skidmore Lake

The Art of the Pre-Start – Why I Always Remote Start “Old Smokey”

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Most people think of remote start as a luxury reserved for those sub-zero January mornings or the sweltering heat of July. When I first got my Ford SuperDuty—affectionately known as Old Smokey—I figured the remote start on my key fob would be a “sometimes” tool, something I’d pull out for camping trips or during a cold snap. But lately, I’ve noticed a shift in my routine. Whether it’s a mild spring afternoon or a quick stop at the hardware store, I find myself hitting that button twice before I even reach the door handle.

It might seem like a small thing, but the more I do it, the more it makes sense. My ritual is simple: as I’m walking back to the truck, I click the remote start. By the time I’ve covered those last few yards, I hit the unlock button, climb in, and slide the key into the ignition. It’s almost no extra effort compared to starting it manually, but those few seconds—or a minute or two if I’m taking my time—make a world of difference for a heavy-duty machine like this.

The primary reason is purely mechanical. A SuperDuty isn’t a compact car; it’s a powerhouse. By starting Old Smokey before I’ve even touched the door, I’m giving the engine a head start on getting the oil flowing through the system. It gives the alternator a chance to start spinning and the grease a moment to loosen up before I ask the truck to shift into gear and move its own weight.

There’s also the electrical side of things to consider. When you unlock the doors, the dome lights kick on, the onboard computers wake up, and various sensors start drawing power. If I start the truck first, the alternator is already providing that juice. I’m not loading down the starting batteries with all those peripheral electronics before the engine has even turned over. Plus, getting the heater or the AC moving just a minute early adds a layer of comfort that’s hard to give up once you’re used to it.

I know there are critics out there. Some folks argue that remote starting is a waste of fuel or that “excessive idling” wears out an engine prematurely. While I wouldn’t leave Old Smokey running in the driveway for twenty minutes for no reason, I have my doubts that a commercial-grade engine is going to suffer from a sixty-second warm-up. In the grand scheme of things, I might burn an extra gallon or two of fuel per year. To me, that’s a tiny price to pay for reducing the wear and tear on my battery and engine components.

At the end of the day, it’s about longevity. Even if the engine is still warm from a previous trip, that extra minute of circulation ensures everything is fully stabilized before I pull out of the parking spot. It’s become as natural to me as using power door locks. It might seem silly to some, but for me and Old Smokey, it’s just the right way to start the journey.

Map: Ketchumville State Forest
Map: Bates State Forest
Map: Dunham Reservior

Ford Super Duty XL Off-Road Package and the FX4 Off-Road Package

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This explanation from Google AI explains the Ford SuperDuty XL Off Road packaged, compared to the Ford SuperDuty XF4 Off Road package. The later is much more common, especially with the Godzilla, but I do like those bigger mud tires on the 17′ steelies. I really can’t justify spending for a Tremor – while nice and I made good money – trucks come and go much too quickly in this world, and I don’t want to spend too much on something that is as fleeting as a vehicle on in my life.

FX4 Off-Road SuperDuty (with STX Appearance Package)
XL Off-Road SuperDuty (with the FX4 Package)

The Ford Super Duty XL Off-Road Package and the FX4 Off-Road Package serve different primary purposes: the XL package is a rugged, budget-friendly workhorse setup exclusive to the base trim, while the FX4 is a “lifestyle” off-road upgrade available across most of the lineup that prioritizes ride comfort and technology.

Old Smokey my truck has both packages.

Comparison Table: XL Off-Road vs. FX4

Feature XL Off-Road PackageFX4 Off-Road Package
AvailabilityXL trim onlyMost trims (XLT through Platinum)
Tires33-inch All-Terrain/Mud-TerrainStandard All-Terrain (size varies by trim)
SuspensionHeavy-duty (standard XL firm ride)Off-road tuned shocks (smoother ride)
ProtectionSteel skid plates (Transfer case, fuel tank)Steel skid plates (Transfer case, fuel tank)
TechnologyRear electronic-locking differentialHill Descent Control + Rear locker
CapabilityWater fording vent tubesStandard fording capability
Price (est.)~$995~$600

Key Package Highlights

  • XL Off-Road Package (The “Work” Setup):
    • Beefier Tires: Specifically includes larger 33-inch Goodyear Duratracs or similar territory tires for better grip in mud and snow.
    • Protection for Depth: Adds unique water fording vent tubes to the transfer case and axles, and a modified front air dam to improve the approach angle over obstacles.
    • Utility Focus: Includes a rear electronic-locking differential to ensure both back wheels turn together in slick conditions.
  • FX4 Off-Road Package (The “Ride” Setup):
    • Ride Comfort: Its defining feature is the specially tuned off-road shocks (often monotube), designed to handle washboard roads more comfortably than the standard stiff heavy-duty suspension.
    • Trail Tech: Includes Hill Descent Control, which automatically manages braking and speed on steep declines, allowing the driver to focus solely on steering.
    • Styling: Features the signature FX4 Off-Road bedside decal. 

If you plan to use your truck primarily for job-site toughness or deep mud, the XL package offers better hardware for the price. If you want a smoother daily drive and help with steep descents, the FX4 is the better fit. 

Thematic Map: Schoharie County Elevation
Thematic Map: Type of County Subdivison in New York - Town, City, Bourgh, Reservation