2020 3500 DRW ordering for a 5000+lb camper

[AH64ID]

Ram states the cab to rear axle is 56.8", so anything with a CG of less than 56.8" will put weight on the front axle regardless of cab configuration.

The Arctic Fox 1150 has a CG of ~56", dry. The rest of them all have shorter CG's.

mine does by 100lbs,had it weighed , its the rear overhang

You have a short bed, so that is a very different scenario. Even then the dry CG is forward of the axle, but not by much. Loading will have a big impact on front axle weight.

The Lance 1172, flagship, will reduce weight on the front axle as it has a 60" CG.

 

[AH64ID]

duplicate

 

[gsbrockman]

dually with a much larger camper

I could see that one having a small amount of weight removed from the front axle when wet.

 

[Cummins12V98]

JPM, not a fair comparison you have a SHORTY.

Lance on the ford may lighten the front with the big rear overhang.

 

[Ozymandias]

Campercabs with the CG behin the rear axle are very hard on the frame, the problems will come soner or later.
Also they tend to make more chucking to the vehicle going down the road, i hate them for this.
My old Cab was that way and it was a pain to drive on majy roads, I'll never have a Cab again in the future with a CG behind the axle.

 

[Tunnel Vision]

I have an Arctic fox 1150B, and before I bought the Ram last year I had a 2008 F450 Pickup. I have to say the Ford carried the weight very well. I did Have to add a Hellwig sway bar to the Ram, it was a little white knuckle to drive in the wind, where as the F450 never did. Now my biggest issue is the shocks on the Ram, with the factory air ride, the shocks don't have the rebound for the load. I felt the shocks were just OK pulling my 40' fifth wheel, and horrible with my AF 1150 and pulling a 7k boat behind!

I hope to dig into the shock issue this weekend, as many of you know the shock for a factory air ride trucks are ONLY available through the dealer and don't have the rebound some of us need.

 

[Ozymandias]

@Tunnel Vision , dont go into any shocks from the shelf, dont waste your money, buy some custom tuned 2.5 KING piggyback Shocks for you and be done, once and for all. I've not found any shock that can really handle that weight and high CG from a Camper.
You just need the rear one, the front are optinal for this application IMHO.

 

[Tunnel Vision]

@Tunnel Vision , dont go into any shocks from the shelf, dont waste your money, buy some custom tuned 2.5 KING piggyback Shocks for you and be done, once and for all. I've not found any shock that can really handle that weight and high CG from a Camper.
You just need the rear one, the front are optinal for this application IMHO.

I have a hard time justifying the cost for Kings or Fox's. In pass rigs Rancho 9000xl's or Bilstein worked great. I think I will go Rancho on this truck though.

 

[AH64ID]

I have a hard time justifying the cost for Kings or Fox's. In pass rigs Rancho 9000xl's or Bilstein worked great. I think I will go Rancho on this truck though.

In previous rigs I've put Rancho's in the garbage category and Bilstein's have worked great. I'll never run another Rancho product.

 

[Ozymandias]

I had the Bilsteins from Genos - waaaaaay to soft to keep up with the load, just a tad better then the old OEMs.
For my opinion - not safe to drive.
I want a road feel with the camper on the back similar or better then with the plain empty bed.
No downgrades are acceptable for me in this case, safety is the top priority.
If i have to dodge a moose on the road they pay back multiple times.

 

[JPM]

@Tunnel Vision , dont go into any shocks from the shelf, dont waste your money, buy some custom tuned 2.5 KING piggyback Shocks for you and be done, once and for all. I've not found any shock that can really handle that weight and high CG from a Camper.
You just need the rear one, the front are optinal for this application IMHO.

they don't give them away! might look into them anyways
http://www.pmfsuspension.com/Custom-Rear-King-25-Piggyback-Reservoir-Shocks_p_126.html

 

[Tunnel Vision]

they don't give them away! might look into them anyways
http://www.pmfsuspension.com/Custom-Rear-King-25-Piggyback-Reservoir-Shocks_p_126.html

I have, just don't think I need them. The Rancho's have worked fine for towing and hauling a camper. I mean $1000 for a shock? that's like throwing $500+ at a CAI. Just not for me.

 

[Newsa]

mine does by 100lbs,had it weighed , its the rear overhang

View attachment 116650

I bet when catching the wind it unloads it even more

 

[Wiredawg]

Wow, I've been reading this thread and am amazed that a max tow, rated at 14Klbs GVWR, isnt superior in performance at hauling a heavy cab over camper. Even Host shows a Ram 3500 hauling their hallmark unit the Mammoth.

One upgrade I've done on every Ram I've owned is get rid of the whimpy OOEM rear sway bar and upgrade to a beefy Hellwig one. 1.5 inches and polyurethane bushings.

Just FYI, I tried really hard to talk my wife into getting rid of our Mobile Suites and getting a loaded Mammoth, but she wouldn't do it.

Anyhoo, I'll be interested in how the OP gets his new truck up to hauling a big cab over camper.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Ozymandias]

Its 1000$ for the pair.
And compaired to a CAI that actually kills your engine on the long run - then the money is well spent.

Just said - i never met a person with KINGS that would go back to generic shocks, all and everyone is just frenetic about them.

But its up to you, i suggest things that i know, what you do with that information is entirely yours.

 

[Tmartin000]

Ron,
I'm in that mode now. The Lance's 1172 is less weight and would fit the bill, but the Mammoth is ideal. But I'll be damned if I have to get a 4500 to carry the load! The 9750 on the aft axle is troubling. If I pull a boat with 400lbs of tongue weight, with the Lance, I'd be good. With a Host and a boat, its over the 9750.

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron,
I'm in that mode now. The Lance's 1172 is less weight and would fit the bill, but the Mammoth is ideal. But I'll be damned if I have to get a 4500 to carry the load! The 9750 on the aft axle is troubling. If I pull a boat with 400lbs of tongue weight, with the Lance, I'd be good. With a Host and a boat, its over the 9750.

I know, I'm in San Antonio area and went to dealer in North Austin where they had all the big boy cab over campers. We checked out around 8 units, Host, Lance, Arctic Fox. Sure wished I could sell me wife on getting a Mammoth. You can even get a Splendide washer/dryer in one. We both hat washeterias.

I can't argue the benefits of using a 4500 or 5500 for hauling a big cabover camper AND a heavy boat...they are designed to carry big weight. If you look in the Cab and Chassis forum here on the TDR, you can see a member who bought a 2018 5500 for the primary purpose of hauling a Mammoth and towing either a new Jeep Rubicon or a big enclosed trailer. Maybe it worth looking at. I know I got tired of buying just enough or actually, just short of what I needed... That's why I decided on a Max Tow 5500. Its a great thread.

Anyhoo, good luck figuring it out and look forward to seeing the results.

Cheers, Ron

 

[JPM]

got a "shorty" a small camper and a small trailer , loaded I have about 8200 lbs on the rear axle. Bigger things would have bigger numbers

 

[Cummins12V98]

Ron,
I'm in that mode now. The Lance's 1172 is less weight and would fit the bill, but the Mammoth is ideal. But I'll be damned if I have to get a 4500 to carry the load! The 9750 on the aft axle is troubling. If I pull a boat with 400lbs of tongue weight, with the Lance, I'd be good. With a Host and a boat, its over the 9750.

At 10,560# on my rear axle the air ride is still maintaining the same stance. Rear tires have lots of capacity left.

 

[Ozymandias]

Does one know where the Airspring goes into Overload and quits working?