Truck Camper & box mounted fuel tank ?

[Shadrach]

I have a 15" x 60" fuel tank mounted across the front of my long box Dodge. Has anyone ever seen a camper used together with one of these? It would have to be a 9' or less for weight overhang. Just a crazy idea as there are times when my 28' TT is just too long. Shad

 

[HBarlow]

I've liked slide in truck campers since the mid '60s and have owned several over the years. There have been many times when I've wished I could have a relatively inexpensive older used truck camper to use when it was just myself and my favorite child, a female German Shepherd traveling. I'm not going to give up the large aux fuel tank but have often thought the way to have both would be to surgically alter the front "box" of a slide in by cutting out and boxing in that portion of the truck camper. I think it could be done in the older simpler slide in campers that had only floor space in the front end.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I had an auxiliary fuel tank similar to yours that I used when towing our fifth wheels. When I hauled our Lance campers, I took the tank out along with the fifth wheel hitch and toolbox. When we finally got out of towing fifth wheels in 2001, I sold the tank. I don't miss the extra fuel tank since my truck gets much better fuel mileage hauling the Lance than towing a heavy tall (wind drag) fifth wheel. My truck and camper combination only 10'6 tall. Also with a truck camper I can fill at any car/pickup pump since my truck and 11' 6" camper combination is only 3' 6" longer than a long wheelbase pickup. I can fill at these pumps and quickly be on my way instead trying to use the big truck pumps or waiting on some guy in the RV lane taking half of the day filling the 150+ gallon fuel tank on his big diesel pusher motorhome/toad combination. With a truck camper you can go anywhere the pickup will go... well almost.



Bill

 

[Bob4x4]

All this camper talk has me missing my long gone 4wheel camper. almost no fuel mileage penalty and it did go everywhere. I no longer look forward to driving 12hr + non stops possible with an aux tank. I pulled mine out too. Partly because I was tired of rewelding that poorly designed AERotank.

 

[fkovalski]

I am doing the SB camper on a LB truck... perhaps you might be able to do something similar. mine is a long bed truck with 8. 5' camper with wings for use on a short bed camper:

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You may need to make some sort of blocking device between the front of the camper and the bulkhead of the truck bed. I did this for my generator:


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[HBarlow]

Ski,

That's an excellent practical solution.

 

[fkovalski]

Ski,

That's an excellent practical solution.

It works very well for me.

Many folks think that my COG is behind the rear axle because the camper appears to be shifted back, but the relationship of the rear bumper to the rear axle is the same regardless of bed length. My COG is about 3" forward of the axle. This combination handles very well!

 

[Shadrach]

I am doing the SB camper on a LB truck... perhaps you might be able to do something similar. mine is a long bed truck with 8. 5' camper with wings for use on a short bed camper:

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That's exactly what I'm talking about, as your truck is similar to mine. What does the camper weigh? What about the whole thing loaded? Please explains "wings"? Thanks Shad

 

[fkovalski]

SRW Dodge with Northstar as described in sig. Real world weights as shown below. Mods include higher LI tires on stock steel wheels, 9000XL, Helwig, and custom made spring perches to engage overloads sooner. The combo handles great!



1) Truck only, full tank diesel, no tailgate, no passengers:

front = 4,540

rear = 2,960

total = 7,500



2) Truck only, full tank, 1 driver, tools & gear just before purchase:

front = 4,920

rear = 3,340

total = 8,160



3) Camper on after picking it up on purchase with: full tank diesel, dry camper except for 2 full LP tanks, some gear (tools & wood for camper bulkhead blocking):

front = 4,860

rear = 5,940

total = 10,800



4) Camper on, full tank diesel, fully loaded and wet, full cassette reservoir, generator, gasoline food, beer, gear, guns, ammo for a week out:

front = 4,980

rear = 6,540

total = 11,520



Conclusions:



COG on this particular camper dry is probably closer to the center line of axle depending on cargo. My only "pseudo dry weighing" was weighing #3: with some gear that I brought to assembly the blocking in between the truck and camper. Both LP tanks were full and they are located at the rear of the TC affecting COG weights of a "half-wet" camper. COG per mfgr. is about 3" forward of the axle WITH full water which I did not have on this scale measure.



Real world camping out- to- the- woods camping weight is reflecting in weighing #4. Some weight will transfer over time as the forward mount fresh water tank gets used and gets deposited to the gray tank in the rear.



If my camper were any heavier or I did not go off-road as much as I do I would be considering more the idea of 19. 5's... but my setup handles the load pretty well... I was a little surprised at the CAT slips and what kind of weight I am carrying once it is all loaded up.



The stock wheels/ tires will be the weakest point using a truck camper.



If stock Dodge wheels are matched to factory offered tires using LI= 121 (3195 each) then it gives me a rear tire capacity of 6390#... My numbers above are 150# over for 2 tires. If I divide that by 2 then each wheel is carrying 75# over the known rated capacity of the wheel based on tires alone. My new tires are the Nitto TG's 285/70/17 which give me enough weight carrying capacity for the tires.



I feel realistically that asking the wheels to carry another 75# is not too far over expectations. I can live with this. Do your own due diligence for your needs, but this analysis as it pertains to me may help in your decision making.

 

[fkovalski]

Note: edited to add photo with red box... somehow my original photo is still attached and I cannot delete it

... Please explains "wings"? Thanks Shad

By "wings", I am refering to the permanent mounted side saddles as shown below. This particular 8. 5' camper is designed to be used on either short or long bed. Mine with the permanent saddles is for a short bed. The long bed version would not have these "wings" allowing the whole camper to move forward in the bed.

 

[GCP]

Ski,

That's a really nice setup. How many miles have put on the truck in this configuration? Would you change anything? Are the wings removable, and if so have you driven with the camper tucked all the way in for a comparison of ride and handling characteristics?

 

[fkovalski]

That's a really nice setup.

thanks for the compliment... I like the storage options and the ability to carry a larger generator.





How many miles have put on the truck in this configuration?

I have around 15K on this scenario... but have had 3 previous campers (hardside and pop-ups) on this truck since around 45K



Would you change anything?

Not really. I do need to be more aware of the rear overhang on this one when off-roading. My previous campers did not hang back much past the rear bumper. This one is the same rear configuration as the Northstar Igloo with respect to the back wing configuration... so it is nothing new as far as the rear step, bumper etc...



As far as changing things... i am still investigating a flatbed set-up that will allow this camper to work on the longbed chassis.



Are the wings removable,

My particular camper does not allow for removal, but NorthStar has different options to allow an 8 to 8. 5 camper on a shortbed and have the "wing" storage.

(photo courtesy of NorthStar Campers)



and if so have you driven with the camper tucked all the way in for a comparison of ride and handling characteristics?

I cannot "tuck" this camper in the bed farther because of the permanent wings... but the combination handles GREAT!! one thing that I attribute this to the fact that NorthStar by nature is a more narrower camper compared to others. This is a design philosophy of the company. All my campers have been NorthStar brand.

 

[Shadrach]

4) Camper on, full tank diesel, fully loaded and wet, full cassette reservoir, generator, gasoline food, beer, gear, guns, ammo for a week out:
front = 4,980
rear = 6,540
total = 11,520

Thanks for the weights. Only problem I would have is the door sticker on my trucks reads 9900 lbs. While I don't have a problem with that personally some DOT guy might, especially if I'm in a different province or in the US. Shad.

 

[fkovalski]

4) Camper on, full tank diesel, fully loaded and wet, full cassette reservoir, generator, gasoline food, beer, gear, guns, ammo for a week out:
front = 4,980
rear = 6,540
total = 11,520

Thanks for the weights. Only problem I would have is the door sticker on my trucks reads 9900 lbs. While I don't have a problem with that personally some DOT guy might, especially if I'm in a different province or in the US. Shad.

This was a one time condition... it was kind of a test to see what the max condition at the scales would tell me. It was just before heading out for a week of shooting. Most of the time, many of the consumables are purchased at the end location and normal trips have a truck weighing significantly less.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks. Now I just have to decide if this is all worth it, being that I have the TT already. Shad