04.5 truck camper

[mfrost]

Was kicking around the idea of getting an in bed camper for my 04.5 dually just to be more mobile than towing my 5th wheel. Thought I read somewhere that the frame on the o4.5 was not recommended for a camper because of the hydo formed frame. Is that true? I think the payload is 4600 lbs but not sure. Don't know what a camper would feel like on it. Looking for a little input on what to do. thanks

 

[Grizzly]

Not true. I had an 11' 3" Lance truck camper on my 95 and 05 Dodge dually. I called and asked a Chrysler Rep that same question about my 05 and was told that it was ok. The 05 supported the Lance camper much better than the 95.

george

 

[Bill Stockard]

Not true. I had an 11' 3" Lance truck camper on my 95 and 05 Dodge dually. I called and asked a Chrysler Rep that same question about my 05 and was told that it was ok. The 05 supported the Lance camper much better than the 95.

george

Yep, the same for over 40k miles hauling a heavy 11'6" slide-in truck camper on my '03 3500 dually at slightly over the GVWR with no problems, and like Grizzly, it handles big campers better than either of my previous 2nd generation 3500 dually trucks.

Bill

 

[Gonzo 1066]

My 04.5 dually Handled the Alpenlite camper MUCH better than my 01 dually. The whole truck felt much more capable, stiffer frame made handling nicer. I hauled a truck camper for about 90,000 miles on the 04 and never had a issue.

 

[Shadrach]

I drove over 7000 kms (4400+ miles ) to Columbus and back last June with a 9'9 on my 03 3500 SRW. It handled fine although there was a couple times in Montana when it was real windy I wished I had a DRW truck. David

 

[nunya]

06 dually with a 92 Lance 8`6 on the back, no problem.

 

[jeepit]

2002 SRW with 8ft Lance. No problem.

 

[mfrost]

Not true. I had an 11' 3" Lance truck camper on my 95 and 05 Dodge dually. I called and asked a Chrysler Rep that same question about my 05 and was told that it was ok. The 05 supported the Lance camper much better than the 95.

george

Thanks for all of the input. Thought it would be ok. How does your mpg drop with the camper on?

 

[Gonzo 1066]

With the 04, Alpenlite 10' camper and a 8x16 tandem cargo trailer behind I would get between 10 and 13.5mpg. 10mpg at 68mph and 13.5mpg at 55mph Depending on SPEED, truck campers are VERY restrictive to air and hence speed makes a huge impact.

 

[mfrost]

With the 04, Alpenlite 10' camper and a 8x16 tandem cargo trailer behind I would get between 10 and 13.5mpg. 10mpg at 55mph and 13.5mpg at 55mph Depending on SPEED, truck campers are VERY restrictive to air and hence speed makes a huge impact.

So I would guess that without the trailer it would be about 15mpg with no wind and level terrain at 1700 rpm. THat is 63mph for me.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Actually there was not much change when I unhooked the trailer. The biggest factor is the air resistance of the camper.. Sorry I corrected my previous post, That was 10mg at 68mph and 13+mpg at 55. I would assume that you MIGHT be able better those numbers on flat freeway with a tail wind.

 

[mfrost]

Actually there was not much change when I unhooked the trailer. The biggest factor is the air resistance of the camper.. Sorry I corrected my previous post, That was 10mg at 68mph and 13+mpg at 55. I would assume that you MIGHT be able better those numbers on flat freeway with a tail wind.

Well, thought it would be more. That is what I get pulling my 5th wheel. Not much of an advantage to change except for maneuverability.

 

[Bob4x4]

To beat the wind you'll need a pop-up,but you will loose some space.

 

[Bill Stockard]

My '03 Ram 3500 dually is not a daily driver and 90-95% of the 40,688 miles on the odometer has been hauling a heavy 11'6" Lance truck camper with a slide out room and every available option including a built-in 3.6kw LP generator from the factory at the time it was built. I have kept a record of all of my fuel purchases on a MS Excel spread sheet program that I designed since the truck was driven off the dealer's lot. So far, I have purchased 2,882 gallons of diesel fuel ($6,455.51) which calculates to an average 14.1 mpg. I always fill the fuel tank until the automatic fuel nozzle clicks off then usually continued to the next even dollar amount. I didn't always get to the even dollar amount for some reason as shown by the cents in the fuel cost figure. The per tankful mileage has varied been between a low of 10 mpg to a high of 18+ mpg which depended on the wind conditions, elevation changes, how level the truck was when parked at the fuel island, and where the automatic fuel nozzle clicks off.

Bill

 

[fkovalski]

.... not recommended for a camper ....

There is the camper loading diagram placed in the glove box of every new delivered truck regardless of brand. Many Dodge Rams have a "not recommended for slide-in camper" disclaimer.


In my un-scientific, due-diligence research the best I could find as to why very capable trucks have the camper admonishment is this:

Identically built trucks with every option the same except for one: snow-plow prep

Trucks that have the snow-plow prep have the disclaimer;
Trucks that do not will have the loading diagram with specifications filled in.

Not a guaranty that this is the situation in all cases, but it is tending to indicate what I found as to the disclaimer.

 

[Grizzly]

mfrost,

I'm much like Bill Stockard. My Lance camper may not be quite as heavy as his but it was 11' 3", mod # 945. It did have a 34KW onboard generator and everything I could order on the camper, but no slideout, which wasn't available in 98. I'd get 14 mpg, sometimes a little more. With the truck empty at about 65 to 70 mph, I'd get up to 20 mpg. With my 27' Arctic Fox 5th wheel, I get 10.5 to 11 mpg depending on how many passes I go over. Independence Pass and Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado will use the most fuel.

george

 

[Bill Stockard]

mfrost,

I'm much like Bill Stockard. My Lance camper may not be quite as heavy as his but it was 11' 3", mod # 945. It did have a 34KW onboard generator and everything I could order on the camper, but no slideout, which wasn't available in 98. I'd get 14 mpg, sometimes a little more. With the truck empty at about 65 to 70 mph, I'd get up to 20 mpg. With my 27' Arctic Fox 5th wheel, I get 10.5 to 11 mpg depending on how many passes I go over. Independence Pass and Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado will use the most fuel.

george

Hey Grizz,

I looked back at my fuel chart and one of the 10 mpg tanks occurred hauling the camper from Walsenburg, CO over La Veta Pass and Wolf Creek Pass to Durango, CO. There is usually a stiff head wind blowing from west-southwest driving towards La Veta Pass.

Bill

 

[Grizzly]

Hey Bill,

It's hard to beat a Lance camper. I do miss it at times, like the better mileage, the ease of backing into a camp site and the ease of going into and out of a refueling station. I don't miss the lack of space, especially on an extended trip like a two month trip to Alaska, the lack of storage and loading and unloading the camper after every trip. I was using my truck for my General Contracting business. The only issue I ever had with my Lance, which I had for 10 years, was the Dometic refrigerator. After I sold the camper they had a recall on that refrigerator.

george