#4000 camper on a 2500 QC 4x4

[klaybus]

Dilema...

My inlaws took their #4000 camper to the manufacturer in Oregon to be repaired & now it's ready for pickup... . The problem is they have a 2wd dually 1-ton & there's lot of snow on the passes.

I'm considering taking my truck to Oregon to pick it up for them but am concerned about the weight involved. #4000 is an aweful lot of weight to put in the back of my 2500 4x4. I should note it's about a 350 mile trip over at least (2) passes. What do you guys think? Ohnest answers please.



Thanks,

Clay

 

[JDHenning]

4k lb camper

Well... . is it one of those campers thats 10' or so long? The extra overhang wouldn't be a good thing. All in all I think you will be ok, those users who go by the GVWR of the truck will chime in and disagree, just watch the cross winds. BTW what kind of shape are your tires in? Another thought would be a set of chains for the 2wd dually. With that much weight it would go great. Getting there empty could be a trick though. Be safe, heck a Dodge CTD will haul anything you can fit in the box, right!? Toodle-oo

 

[klaybus]

Well... . is it one of those campers thats 10' or so long? The extra overhang wouldn't be a good thing. All in all I think you will be ok, those users who go by the GVWR of the truck will chime in and disagree, just watch the cross winds. BTW what kind of shape are your tires in? Another thought would be a set of chains for the 2wd dually. With that much weight it would go great. Getting there empty could be a trick though. Be safe, heck a Dodge CTD will haul anything you can fit in the box, right!? Toodle-oo

Actually it's a touch over 11' with a single slide. Thats the problem, getting there empty in a 2wd dually with my 72 yo father in law behind the wheel. I'm hoping to find someone with some real life experiences in regards to this. 350 miles I would think wouldn't be too bad if we take our time but it's alot of weight regardless. I'm running 295 BFGs with good tread. I'll have to get online to check the weight ratings for sure.....



Clay

 

[MAshley]

I think you would be about 2000 lbs over your stiker rating of your truck, Do you have tie downs for said camper? Is your truck in stock form or is it lifted? Do you have the plug in for the lights on the campers. Do you have any clearance issues with the rear end, and with the campers? tail gate ETC. I don't think the 1 ton would be all that bad, honestly in the snow on a interstate, it's not like your going down some fishing trail to a camp site, or plowing through 18 inches of powder. If you really need or want to you could allways load up some weight in the back, of the 1ton for the trip down, gravel, sand, water, stuff for other people.



In comparisons My 06 1 ton dully is reated for 12,200 - empty weighs in at 7500lbs for the truck of 4700 payload. In real life, my junk included truck weighs in at 8500-8900 lbs, so even my truck would might be a little over.



I think your truck would be a low rider in the rear, and with a slide out may even be a little bit of a sawing down the highway. Can you do it sure why the hell not, will you enjoy it, depends on winds and if your load is really 4K lbs.



Let us all know what you do.

 

[klaybus]

Ya, probably gonna pass. I may just make my father in law buy some friggin chains & we'll take our chances with his rig!



Clay

 

[JStrasser]

Smart move. Go with the dually and chains.



If you are using the published weight or the weight displayed on the stamped plate at the back of the camper, the unit might be quite a bit OVER 4000#.

Way too much for a SRW that hasn't at least been properly set up for that load and given the weather conditions you describe- you would probably regret doing that good deed.



Someday, in good weather, try having that camper just sit in the bed of your truck. These things are friggin' HEAVY. I know- had a medium weight one a few years ago and my properly set up 3/4 ton GMC felt badly overmatched.



Good luck.

John

 

[seemore]

Unless you FIL needed the camper right now I would leave there 'till Spring or at least good weather.

 

[klaybus]

Leaving it there until Spring isn't an option, thats the problem. The manufacturer wants it outta there. Taking up space in their facility that they apparently don't have to spare.

Thanks for the replies guys.



Clay

 

[PatrickCampbell]

If you have 265's on your 2500, you will be Ok. These are rated to 3415*2 = 6830 - 4000# for the camper leaves 2830... stock rear end weight is closer to 2300 giving you a good 500# of room to breathe.



If you want to take the 3500 go for it... Slow and steady. Chains will be good but they are a pain. Not sure if you have any sort of "Free" weight you can pile in the 3500's bed for the trip, like snow will work well. Good luck...

 

[klenger]

Can't it wait a few days till the roads are cleared?

 

[frankram]

I haul my 4000 lb. Lance camper on my 2500 quad cab all the time. Never any trouble. I have the camper special, and had air bags installed, but even without the air bags she did dag very much. You will need lights and tie downs. I know I am overweight but the truck handles very nice with

the camper on. Good Luck!

 

[Grizzly]

Leaving it there until Spring isn't an option, thats the problem. The manufacturer wants it outta there. Taking up space in their facility that they apparently don't have to spare.

Thanks for the replies guys.



Clay

I would not haul it on your 2500, you would only be asking for trouble. Is there any kind of storage facility in Oregon where it can be stored till spring. What part of Oregon are we talking about. Maybe a TDR member with an appropriate vehicle who is in close proximity could pick it up and store it for a short duration.

 

[steved]

Dilema...

My inlaws took their #4000 camper to the manufacturer in Oregon to be repaired & now it's ready for pickup... . The problem is they have a 2wd dually 1-ton & there's lot of snow on the passes.

I'm considering taking my truck to Oregon to pick it up for them but am concerned about the weight involved. #4000 is an aweful lot of weight to put in the back of my 2500 4x4. I should note it's about a 350 mile trip over at least (2) passes. What do you guys think? Ohnest answers please.



Thanks,

Clay

If you have the camper special, then basically you have a SRW 1-ton...



I have hauled over 3500#s on my 99 2500 (camper special) before without any issue (sat down maybe 2 inches)... campers balance better than most loads... but an 11 footer would still be tail heavy... not to mention top heavy...



steved

 

[Grizzly]

If you have the camper special, then basically you have a SRW 1-ton...



I have hauled over 3500#s on my 99 2500 (camper special) before without any issue (sat down maybe 2 inches)... campers balance better than most loads... but an 11 footer would still be tail heavy... not to mention top heavy...



steved

Your not comparing apples to apples here. Hauling 3500 lbs in the bed of your truck is far different then hauling a 4000 lbs of top heavy camper hanging out 3' beyond the bed.

 

[steved]

Your not comparing apples to apples here. Hauling 3500 lbs in the bed of your truck is far different then hauling a 4000 lbs of top heavy camper hanging out 3' beyond the bed.

Ummm, did you NOT read my entire post??????????



And explain to me why?? 3500 pounds placed in the bed over the axle isn't much different than placing 8 feet of overhang to the FRONT of the truck and 3 feet to the REAR of the truck... campers balance pretty good...



While it is top heavy, and most likely will sag in the rear, just because the 3500 pounds I hauled doesn't look like a camper doesn't mean it doesn't REACT the same way...



Man some of you really think others are completely stupid don't you?



steved

 

[tandersen]

Well you guys can hope and wish this combo will work but without mods to the 2500 it will be a scary ride. I know from experience with a 5000# camper on my 2500. I ended up with air bags, load range H Ricksons and Tork Lift tie downs all which made a big difference. You still have the weight up high especially on a 4x4. On snow and in heavy crosswinds it was still a wild ride. Take the dually and take it easy in the slippery stuff is my vote.



Tom

 

[MAshley]

Ummm, did you NOT read my entire post??????????



And explain to me why?? 3500 pounds placed in the bed over the axle isn't much different than placing 8 feet of overhang to the FRONT of the truck and 3 feet to the REAR of the truck... campers balance pretty good...



While it is top heavy, and most likely will sag in the rear, just because the 3500 pounds I hauled doesn't look like a camper doesn't mean it doesn't REACT the same way...



Man some of you really think others are completely stupid don't you?



steved

Steved I'm not trying to mock or **** off any one, and I think everybody is in the same boat here.





The way I read it was like this.



you hauled 3500 Lbs Were discusing 4000 lbs



500 lbs differance



Did you actually know the weight or is this an estimate?



I assume the camper weighs more then 4K honestly, upgrades, water in the lines, propane bottles filled, extra clothing, dishes, TV vcr, etc.





you hauled some item that was shorter and smaller, most likly fit in the bed and below the cab.

Yes a camper should ballance out the load more to the front then your item, but the support is still from the bed area.



Wind ? Camper is like a hudge sail on a boat, Good and bad.

Leverage of being tall, think about that AC unit on top, a little wind, crown in the road and WOW that one tire is supporting another "guessed amount" 1,000 lbs of side load becuase of a nasty wind and being like a sail boat, now were being pushed sideways.



your load "still don't know what it was" unless it was tall and wide, I imagine didn't have any wind affect.



So unless its an apple to apple comparisons, its not going to be then same driving, yes the stance will be simular but driving I would see as being different. On and don't forget the snow factor in all of this.



The bidest Q I see from the original post is, would this be a safe act to do?

Most agree that you can haul it,

Most ask are you setup for it, tie downs, lights ETC

Most agree there is a better solution. IE the 1 ton

Most agree that you can safely put 4K lbs on a 3/4 truck, tires, suspension, and axle are very close. in there ratings.

Most agree that your capasity is 1 lbs less then what ever it takes to break something. you could mostlikly put 10K lbs in the back of a a truck before something breaks but it sure isn't going to be safe at 9,999 lbs



Have a great day every body, and again this is just how I read everything. No flame wars needed. Remember were all just providing an opinion of what we would do. Oo.



Happy New Year

 

[akshadow]

trailer option?

many campers can be placed on a trailer without much problem. Would this be an option for you?

 

[Grizzly]

Man some of you really think others are completely stupid don't you?



steved

YES. Don't get yourself worked up over this. Have you ever hauled an 11' camper with a 3/4 ton truck? I have and that's why my last two trucks have been a 1 ton dually. It can be done, but you will have to make some changes to suspension, wheels and tires. Have a HAPPY NEW YEARS.

 

[steved]

YES. Don't get yourself worked up over this. Have you ever hauled an 11' camper with a 3/4 ton truck? I have and that's why my last two trucks have been a 1 ton dually. It can be done, but you will have to make some changes to suspension, wheels and tires. Have a HAPPY NEW YEARS.

And that's why I made it a point to call it out as a 1 ton SRW (which is what the camper specials actually were)... is your dually's suspension really more than one ton?? Two extra wheels don't mean jack if the suspension isn't stout enough to begin with.



And 3500 was a low estimate... hmmm, the SKIDS of concrete we loaded were in the 4300# range (I just checked, as I did it not once, but several times and hauled it well over 100 miles). . so yes I think it might just add up to the weight of a camper (or two), of which I also own one of those too, albeit not as big.



And that was on a completely STOCK 2500 (camper special) truck... it just sat me onto the extra spring packs and made the truck level. I guess camper special on these trucks doesn't mean anything either?? Maybe they should have called them "not-that-special" or "tent specials")????



I am done with this thread.



steved