03 2500-- What kind of camper?

[CEckardt]

Have 03 2500 lifted 6" with rear airbags and compressor. Tires are 37" toyos on 20" wheels, 6 speed, bullydog triple dog , exhaust, afe intake. My problem is I really am happy with how truck is set up, I know it's not the ideal dually 1 ton for a camper, but I'm hoping to stick with it.

I figure the camper would weigh in at about 4200lbs when "loaded" the way we want. We would also be hauling around 6000lb boat most of the time.



Question is has anyone on hear done this? How was the handling really? Am I completely nuts for even considering this? Most campers these day's rule out a 3/4 ton if your going to get a slide out even if the truck is stock.

Trying not to switch to 1 ton dually if I don't have to. I really love my current truck! May even just wait and do another year in the tent!

 

[SBall]

Might want to stick with the tent

Take if from someone who's "been down that road" already. From what I see about your truck, you're probably going to be about a ton overweight with that camper. Adding to your dilemma is the 6" lift. If anything, you would want to lower your center of gravity to haul a top-heavy load like a camper. We haven't even discussed the additional load imposed on the rear axle by hauling a boat or a trailer.



Could I suggest that you drive your truck to a local scale and weigh your rig? That way you'll see what your legal carrying capacity is by subtracting your rig's weight from the GVW, which I would estimate to be around 9000 lbs or so with a 2500.



Our truck camper history started with a 92 W250 CTD 4x4 which had a GVW of approximately 8500 lbs. Our local camper dealer talked us into a relatively "light" 9 1/2' slide-in Lance camper. He attemped to sell me a larger one claiming my truck could handle it! With the camper loaded and our stuff in it, driving it was a white-knuckle experience whenever the wind blew or when the road had a few curves in it. Air bags didn't fix the horrible handling properties.



A trip to the scales loaded revealed our fully loaded weight to be about 1000 lbs over the GVW rating of the truck even though it appeared to ride level. We were faced with a choice: sell the camper and take a bath on lost value, or sell the truck and upgrade to a suitable vehicle. We sold the truck.



In the end we traded up to a 3500 dually 2wd regular-cab, and hauling the same "light" camper, we have about 900 lbs of reserve carrying capacity when fully loaded. The stronger suspension, dual rear wheels, and lower center of gravity of the 2wd all contribute to a pleasurable driving experience, rather than the "nail-biting" anxiety we used to have with the 2500 swr.



My $. 02 worth

 

[Mr.Goat]

Stick with the tent Definately



You definately do not have the truck for what you want to do. The previous post gave you some very sound advice. I have a smaller slide in. My size they don't even make anymore, in this age of bigger is better.

My 03 is a reg cab 4x4, stock except for some timbren blocks on the rear to stop the camper roll from side to side. My camper weight is 3000 Ibs. + when loaded. The truck carries it very well as equiped. But Iwouldn't want to push it any further.

I spent 9 weeks in Alaska/Yukon/BC with no mechanical, suspension or handling problems. I was confident if I had to stop quick or make a sudden move to avoid something I could do it within reason and live to tell the tale.



As pointed out you have several strikes against you. 1) the 6" lift, your centre of gravity is very, very high. ( two sea kayaks (120 Ibs) on the top of my camper makes a difference in my handling) and I'am lower and way lighter than you.

2) the weight of your camper and boat is too much in my estimation for the truck at present.



Better to be alive in a tent than dead in your truck/camper!!

My . 02 worth. Now your up to . 04 of free adice!!!!!!

 

[CEckardt]

Thanks for the quick answers. I kind of figured that's the answer's I would get, but it doesn't hurt to hear it from people that have no connection to the deal. Thanks again for the honesty!

 

[Tee]

Have you looked into one of the lighter pop up campers? This might be a viable alternative.



1) They are lighter. Usually anyway, in any event they are not as heavy up top.



2) They are not as top heavy when traveling and won't catch as much wind (cross wind) when traveling.



3) You still get that "open to the wilderness in a tent" feeling. (that is the only thing I miss about my old Tent Trailer!)



We have a Lance Lite 845 that I used to haul around on my 04. 5 2500 SWB 4x4. I was fairly comfortable hauling it around, even in cross winds. However I wouldn't have wanted to be any taller with lift and tires and still done it But I have a Mega Cab Dually now! What does that tell ya Hope to take it out the first trip in a couple weeks. I can then with experience talk about all this Dually vs. Single jiberish!!!



Just a thought. (your up to . 06 now I believe )

 

[Bob4x4]

No way any over head camper on a 2500 sw with a 6 inch lift would be safe :-laf



Bob

 

[Cohomojo]

Since we're talking about campers, If been thinking about putting a camper on my truck also. I have a 04. 5 SRW 3500 4X4. I read that Chrysler doesn't even recommend putting a camper on the truck. With that said, what size camper would work with my truck.

 

[steved]

Since we're talking about campers, If been thinking about putting a camper on my truck also. I have a 04. 5 SRW 3500 4X4. I read that Chrysler doesn't even recommend putting a camper on the truck. With that said, what size camper would work with my truck.

I haul a 8 foot slide in hard side with mine with absolutely no problems... even drove the 80 miles to camp in 40+mph winds and a windy back road... wasn't scary in the least. I plan on going for a week long joyride and I'm not worried in the least.



Don't get me wrong, I can tell it's back there because there is more "roll", but it isn't scary. I doubt mine weighs more than 2500#s loaded... it is a pretty basic model. The tires didn't even need adjusted from the 45psi I had in them.



As for the comment that pop-up are lighter... not always... I looked at one, it weighed 3200#s (and was only an 8 footer!)... also, they might be just as bad to drive with even though they are lower, since the entire roof is a 3/4" flake/chip board construction (heavier than aluminum over wood frame). Just make sure you check the weight tag before you assume it might be lighter!



steved

 

[CEckardt]

Well, Yesterday I thought I wouldn't order it and cancelled the deal. Thought it over today and changed my mind. Looked at 3500 srw and all I could come up with for a difference in truck was the overload springs. Axle and rest of truck appear to be no different than 2500 diesel's. Going to try it out and if it doesn't work I'll get another dually! Wondering if anybody know's of a rear sway bar for the 2500, probably need one of those. Already have airbags. My lift is tuff country, but wonder if kore has anything to change it up. Have a month to get my truck ready or get rid of it.

 

[EEdmondson]

I hope you don't hurt or kill any innocent people. Where are located? Hopefully a long way from me.

 

[CEckardt]

Eedmondson- Pretty heavy comment don't you think!



First and foremost you don't know me, my driving skill, or anything else about me or my vehicle.

I have had a dually and as posted before "if" I don't think it's the right way to go I would change the truck to such if necessary.

I have seen a good amount of trucks dialed out this way. The truck overall will be very capable of the job! The only difference mine will have is a bit higher stance and no dual rear wheels. Braking power and everything else is same. I know the higher truck will need to be watched on turns and driven accordingly. Drop it 4 inches and it is no different than anything out there.

Obviously I will need to be careful driving, that's while people like me drive defensively!

 

[EEdmondson]

Yes, it's a pretty heavy comment. I was just trying to enforce what most of the other people said who answered your post. It doesn't matter how well you can drive when you have to quickly react to an emergency situation with a grossly overloaded truck with a very high center of gravity.

No way any over head camper on a 2500 sw with a 6 inch lift would be safe :-laf



Bob

BTW, you didn't answer my question... Where are you planning to drive this unsafe vehicle?



Please fill in your signature and profile.

 

[CEckardt]

Your neck of the woods> SF Bay area!

 

[Grizzly]

I won't be as rude as EEdmondson. He could have been more tactful. Having said that, take everyone else's advice and don't put any cab-over=camper on your truck the way it is. I had a 10 1/2 ft cab-over on a F250 Ford gasser. It was 2WD and no lift. Still a bad mistake. I had to put more springs, a big stack of over-loads, super singles rear tires and heavier shocks. Even with all that I still had a pucker factor every time an 18 wheeler pasted me, or I'd get into heavy wind. Don't do it, not worth it.

 

[CEckardt]

Grizz, thanks for the reply, taking all into consideration. Will probably take the purchased camper when it's done or one similar before on a test run and see just how much different it is from my previous dually camper setup. I'm not against dually at all, and safety is my primary goal.

 

[EEdmondson]

I won't be as rude as EEdmondson. QUOTE]



Sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude. CEckardt asked for advice and then he told us he was going to ignore it. I was just trying to get through to him by coming on a little strong.

 

[CEckardt]

Eedmudson - Get over yourself- I'm in no way ignoring any of the advice.