Slide In Camper problem with 3rd Generation

[R. Weber]

The accompanying cargo loading directions with a new 2005 Ram 3500 DRW has a comment "this vehicle not recommended for use with slide in campers. " All previous generation one tons do not contain this admonition. Any ideas why the 2005 does? The GVWRs are all within limits. Thanks

 

[KennethS]

Put that camper on your truck, Its yours

The accompanying cargo loading directions with a new 2005 Ram 3500 DRW has a comment "this vehicle not recommended for use with slide in campers. " All previous generation one tons do not contain this admonition. Any ideas why the 2005 does? The GVWRs are all within limits. Thanks

As long as you are not over weight you are OK. Now I half to make new brackets for my slide IN camper because of the wide rear fenders. Its a old camper and has the jack stands that are try-pods on the bottom. You got to work with what you got I guess. :{ I an waiting for the weather to get warmer I guess. :-laf

 

[Kirwin]

See 3500 frame problem????

See this thread for an in depth discussion of this issue. Ken Irwin

 

[Dieselnerd]

My new SRW 3500 has the same statement on the camper loading information. When I showed it to the dealer they were surprised and said everyone puts on campers. I called Dodge and they said no problem as long as the camper didn't cause the truck to exceed its gross weight. Not recommended is some kind of legal disclaimer, there is no frame problem with the pickup bed installed. That subject was beat to death on this forum earlier. Use your camper, I'm using mine.

 

[R. Weber]

Thank you for the response. I have been in Iraq so had missed the previous discussion and related threads. Again, I appreciate your response, and intend to take your advice. regards.

 

[mberry]

Thank you for your service R. Weber. Welcome to the TDR and enjoy your camper.

 

[Scooby]

I've been using mine with no problems at all. I actually bought my 04. 5 dually because my '01 2500 was grossly overweight with my camper.



One bit of advice: DO NOT believe what the manufacturers tell you the camper weighs. Take it to a weigh station yourself. I was told my Lance 1030 weighs somewhere around 2900 lbs. With only 1/3 tank of fresh water and maybe 10 gal combined grey and black waste water in the tanks my otherwise empty camper weighed well over 4000 lbs.

 

[fj40dave]

Thank you for the response. I have been in Iraq so had missed the previous discussion and related threads. Again, I appreciate your response, and intend to take your advice. regards.

Thank You for your service to our country!



I have a '04. 5 with a Citation 9'6" camper - approx 3000# empty..... airbags and a helwig sway bar and it's just fine.

Thinking about doing the overload bump stop mod - might make it even better I hear.

 

[QWaller]

Thank You for your service to our country!



I have a '04. 5 with a Citation 9'6" camper - approx 3000# empty..... airbags and a helwig sway bar and it's just fine.

Thinking about doing the overload bump stop mod - might make it even better I hear.

Ditto on the thanks

 

[TAllen]

Ditto what Scooby said. I have a 1030 also, and with a few mods. a 2500 handles it fine. I have about 20K with the camper on and no problems. About 2 months ago I was going west on rt. 10 in Louisiana and hit 3 bumps, or swells, kinda like frost heaves in the northeast. After the second bump the truck and camper got airborne. I thought something had to be broke. I pulled off to have a look and went on. That was 4000 miles ago. These trucks are tough. Other than a few things that fell off shelfs the lance was fine also.

 

[kober]

Thank you for the response. I have been in Iraq so had missed the previous discussion and related threads. Again, I appreciate your response, and intend to take your advice. regards.

Thank you for your service and welcome back!

 

[Bill Stockard]

Thank You for your service to our country!

I haul a '03 Lance 1121 slide-in truck camper. I have installed the Hellwig anti-sway bar, Rancho 9000 shocks, air bags, and changed out the overload spring bump stops. The truck has a little over 18,000 miles on it and has hauled the Lance over 14,000 of those miles. The truck handles the big heavy Lance great. The truck/camper combination has been over miles of rough roads and through unpaved highway construction zones. I haven't had any problems with the truck... or the camper.



Bill

 

[CLAYTON]

R. Weber... Thank you for service and welcome to the TDR. Have fun with your rig

 

[R. Weber]

Hi everyone

I have enjoyed travel in the Lance 1130 and have had no problems. I run basically stock except for the addition of air springs (bags) which added much needed stability and eliminated pitch, yaw, and sway.

The 48RE transmission on my wifes 2500 went out. We heard and felt a large clunk during downshift from 20 to 17 mph. It turns out to be a defective valve body being replaced under warranty. I will post if it continues to have issues after repair.

 

[R. Weber]

Is anyone having problems with their 48RE making clunking noise or other issues?

 

[LumberJack]

Thank you for your service

 

[fkovalski]

The accompanying cargo loading directions with a new 2005 Ram 3500 DRW has a comment "this vehicle not recommended for use with slide in campers. " All previous generation one tons do not contain this admonition. Any ideas why the 2005 does? The GVWRs are all within limits. Thanks

I raised this question some time ago. You can read more about it here if you like:https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/3rd-generation-ram-forum-no-engine-transmission-discussions/133564-not-recommended-slide-camper-disclaimer.html It is a lot wading through the info, but goes into greater discussion.

 

[Grizzly]

Thank you for the response. I have been in Iraq so had missed the previous discussion and related threads. Again, I appreciate your response, and intend to take your advice. regards.

First, thank you for your service in Iraq. I have an 05 3500 DRW with a 98, 11' 3", Lance camper. We drove it 11,000 miles to Alaska and back last summer without any problems. Also I do not have air bags nor sway bar on the truck nor do I feel you need them. Prior to this truck we had a 95 3500 DRW with an original equipped sway bar. The 05 Dodge handled the heavy camper better then the 95 Dodge did with the sway bars.