advice on slide in camper requirments...

[tobaccogrower]

my wife and i are borrowing a 2004 lance slide in camper. i know our 2004. 5 short bed 4x4 isnt set up to accomidate the camper(it said so in the glove box) the question is:

what are you guy's doing to prepare your rig's for slide in's? i need all the advice i can get. do i need a sway bar? how bout air-bags? thanks in advance... . james

 

[TAllen]

I have a 04. 5 longbed that I bought for hauling a slidein camper. When I got home I looked in the glovebox and saw the same thing, not recomended for a slidein camper. Don't worry about it. I have a Lance 1030 camper that weighs around 4300lbs loaded and ready to roll. The extras I have are airbags and 19. 5 wheels. I did put 3000 miles on it with 17inch tires(loade range E) but they made me nervous. Good luck



Tim

 

[hammersley]

Why the camper problem?????

What is the actual (real) technical difference between the 2500/3500SRW and DRW? I mean axle ratings/brakes/etc? The frames are the same. Tires can be the same. As I understand the 3500 DRW has extra carrying due to the extra wheel NOT the axle itself.

 

[DPelletier]

What weight is the camper? what is the length? center of gravity? How far are you going? Mostly highway or?



Dave

 

[PJ]

Back in 1998, I bought a new Lance 11'3" slide in camper for my 98 2500 4x4 Cummins. Woooo, what a mistake. Once I got home, i off loaded the camper and went to the tire shop and had a set of Firestone ride rites installed. Well, they helpped a little but it still felt like the slightest cross wind would tip me over not to mention that every turn was a butt pinching experience on my front seat. Within 2 months, I sold the camper and said some day, when I own another duelly, Ill buy another Lance. I must say that Lance builds one of the finest campers, but, there is NO WAY I will ever haul one on my SRW Dodge. Just my opinion. . For the record, i sold it for about what I paid for it. The guy that bought it was about 70 years old and said I was a ***** for not wanting to drive it on my truck. (His truck was a twin to mine). Funny thing was, 3 weeks later, I saw his for sale add in the local paper selling the Lance. since then, ive owned a 26' Class C Gulfstream motorhome with the Furd V-10 5mpg motor and now own a 2000 Salem bumper pull trailer that I might add is a dream to pull! I have a picture of it in my readers rigs folder. Its for sale as i plan to go bigger as soon as it sells.

Good luck but, I highly recomend that you pass on the Lance and make reservations with Motel 6. Alot less stressful!

 

[DPelletier]

OK, some rough guidelines;



- 2500 short box; very light camper 2,000 lbs dry maximum (you'll be over GVWR no matter what on all 2500's). Preferrably 8. 5' or less and its better if it is a purpose built camper meant for SB trucks as the center of gravity is farther forward.



- 2500 long box; same as above, but you could go up to 9. 5' as long as the weight is reasonable (again, you WILL be over GVWR no matter what). A camper package with overloads and rear sway bar is recommended on 2nd gen trucks



- 3500 SRW long box; you now have an extra 900 lbs to play with. It is possible to be within GVWR ratings with a light camper (less than 3,000 lbs, wet and fully loaded).



- 3500 DRW; required for any medium sized slide-in such as most basement models or models over 9. 5'. My 25C9. 5 is the smaller of two in the mid-size range of Bigfoot's lineup. Camper weighs 2350 dry, 2714 loaded, 3217 loaded with full 50gall water tank and 40lbs of propane. This puts me at 11,555 lbs on my truck rated at 12,000 lbs GVWR.



- the really big campers; 10. 5 - 11. 5' long, and ones with slide outs and the extra weights of AC units and generators, etc. can only really be carried (legally) by a Ford F-450 or F-550 or equivalent truck.



I realize that if you are borrowing a camper for a short period of time, you may not be as concerned with having too small a truck.



Hope this helps,

Dave

 

[jsimpson]

I had no problem with my Lance 900 with generator on my 89 dually, my 94 dually, or my 03 dually. The 89 and 94 required air bags. The 03 handles it fine just as it came from the factory. I also used a Reese Titan hitch with a four foot extension bar to clear my camper overhang. I regularly pulled an enclosed trailer with up to three Harleys or Horse trailer with two horses, with Lance loaded. But there's NO WAY I'd carry a Lance with a SRW! I don't even want to THINK about the results of a rear wheel blowout, especially on a curve!!!

 

[rrl989]

Even after the cost of installing air bags, adjustable shocks, stabilizers, cab over shocks, etc. you will see why no camper is recommended for your SB 2500. You will be overloaded with just about any SB hardside camper, and, unfortunately, nothing you add will change that. You may want to consider a pop-up slide-on for your truck Even my truck was maxed out with my Lance. If you want a slide-on, I recommend getting a DRW truck. In 98, the 3500 front and rear brakes were not the same as the 2500, not sure what they are on an 05 as the brochures really useless. Decode your VIN # and see what your brake system capacity is.



Ron



Ron

 

[jponder]

I have a 94 lance squire 8000. I went across the scales the other day at 11060. a measley 2260 over GVWR but within both axles. It handles great with the camper package and ant sway bar. I am going to add the airbags for when I do get in cross winds and an an exhaust brake for the hills.



Would I do it again? You betcha. I have ricksons 19. 5 and one of my tires is rated way higher than both tires on a stock duallie. Hrate at 6400 lbs a peice. You dont need a dualie. Take it easy and perr down the road at a reasonable speed and you'll be okay



With my throttle cable set at 50 MPH I have been averaging 18. 5 MPG and that is rolling at 11K.



I am happy as heck!

 

[InThinAir]

I see alot of people talking about the weight rating for the tires as being so high, But I don't know of a rim that is rated for that much weight. Near as I can tell the ricksons Alum. 19. 5s are rated the highest at 4500lbs a piece. I don't know why to get such a high rated tire, extra$, when the rims are not rated as high?



But on the topic, I ran my 8. 5 foot pop up in my 1500, for like 2 trips, bought a 2500 SWB worked fine for about 2 years, then I hooked it to the horse trailer, for like 1 trip and then I bought a duallie. You can put all the stuff on your rig you want, I did, air bags, ranchos, sway bar, but there is truly no replacement for a big duallie for being loaded down...





---Doug

 

[jponder]

I see alot of people talking about the weight rating for the tires as being so high, But I don't know of a rim that is rated for that much weight. Near as I can tell the ricksons Alum. 19. 5s are rated the highest at 4500lbs a piece. I don't know why to get such a high rated tire, extra$, when the rims are not rated as high?



But on the topic, I ran my 8. 5 foot pop up in my 1500, for like 2 trips, bought a 2500 SWB worked fine for about 2 years, then I hooked it to the horse trailer, for like 1 trip and then I bought a duallie. You can put all the stuff on your rig you want, I did, air bags, ranchos, sway bar, but there is truly no replacement for a big duallie for being loaded down...





---Doug

I agree totally about the tires. Why would anyone buy a 6400 lb rated tire and then put it on an aluminum wheel. I'll never understand that. GO WITH STEEL!! They are indestructible and hell if need be they can actually bend.

 

[IMunro]

Perhaps you should borrow your friend's truck too!!?? You would have to have a camper made for a short bed, otherwise your center of balance is going to be behind your rear wheels, which will mess up your steering and your ability to control your truck.



It would seem hardly worth while to make all these alterations to your truck for just one trip. You'd probable be cheaper to stay in Motels!



I have just completed a search for a suitable camper for my Y2K 2500 LB 2 WD and was fortunate to land a very light FG camper (Dry 1175#) and it is a pleasure to drive in comparison to my previous rig, where anything over about 50 mph became very stressfull, as I knew my brakes were inadequate and I could feel the rolls on the corners. This was with HD 1 ton springs. At the end of each day, a sigh of relief was felt that I had survived and cheated death, once again. (A slight exaggeration, I grant, but I'm sure you get the picture)



Ianonhercules

 

[JimB1]

Heavy weight haul plan should be based on thinking about reasonable worst case senario's one might expect to encounter. Panic stop, abrupt swerve, large oncoming truck bow wave, severe unexpected side wind gust. These events last only a few seconds but if you can't survive them you're in for big trouble. DRW has the stability to get through this. Nothing can be done to SRW to get it anywhere close to DRW stability. Good luck, Jim.

 

[jponder]

Heavy weight haul plan should be based on thinking about reasonable worst case senario's one might expect to encounter. Panic stop, abrupt swerve, large oncoming truck bow wave, severe unexpected side wind gust. These events last only a few seconds but if you can't survive them you're in for big trouble. DRW has the stability to get through this. Nothing can be done to SRW to get it anywhere close to DRW stability. Good luck, Jim.

After reading this I aint going NOWHERE! I'm going to stay home and watch the travel channel!



I say if people are skeered and need training wheels on their truck then fine.



I'll take 2500 everyday of the week and I aint SKEERED!

 

[tobaccogrower]

this camper weighs 2009 loaded with accessories. they have it in a 1999 srw short bed 1500. i figure in a 04. 5 2500 srw short bead will be ok with a sway bar and air bag's. we are borrowing this camper for a month to go from connecticut to stay for 30 day's in key largo flordia. the site costs $1900 on the water. i'm going to get the happy jack's and sway bar and try the camper out. hope it's all right..... james

 

[jponder]

Man, Its on a 1500 now HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAH! That is funny as heck! I know a guy with a Lance 845 on a ford 150, its got to be 2500 lbs wet. Dangerous thing about those 1/2 tons is people have actually sheared off the lugs on a 5 bolt pattern.



Its nice to know I got a Dana 80! Take it easy, It aint going to drive like a corvette. You'll be okay. You got a boat? Lets go fishing!



If these guys have convinced you that you will surely die, then I will pull it down there with my 2500 and all you got to do is buy my diesel food and bring me fishing or diving

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I have an older 1985 Lance camper Model 200. Weighs 1950 lbs. With my LWB 2500, I traveled over 4,000 miles this summer through Northern NM, AZ, and back home.



Loved every minute.



Only time I have ever been frightened was crossing the Missouri river in KC with a 30 MPH sustained wind with gusts up to 45 MPH.



Sucked up the seat cover on that one!

 

[DPelletier]

Jumbo Jet,

Your camper is reasonable for a 2500. I'm sure it works fine.



JPonder,

I'm not sure if you're referring to me as one of the doomsayers, but I will say that your 19. 5" tires and wheels are a significant upgrade from the stock 16" (or 17") load range E tires. I seriously considered going that route on my 2001. 5 2500 LB camper special, but by the time I factored in the HUGE cost of the 19. 5's and considered that I hated my 47RE anyway, I decided just to get a new dually 6-spd and be done with it. Plus now I'm legal. Not saying either solution isn't a good one, just telling you what I did for my situation.

Also, my "guidelines" are just a rough attempt to get people in the ballpark. IMO any real 3/4 ton truck (ie. not a Ford or GM heavy half/light duty 3/4) is light years ahead of a half ton truck. No half ton should carry any camper.

James;

- 2009 lbs loaded is really light for a camper. I think you will be just fine and actually fairly close to being legal too.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[DPelletier]

James,

Sorry, I forgot; the air bags are useful additions for load leveling. After much experimenting, I think they do very little for sway control. The sway bar would be a useful addition and I always use Rancho 9000X adjustables on the max setting: they make a noticeable difference. If it were me, I'd wait to see if you need to raise the back of the truck before getting air bags. Timbrens are also a low cost item that can help with load leveling without adversely affecting sway.

Last item - air your tires up to max pressure. I ran mine at 80psi with my camper on my 2500.



And lastly,... ... ... .



have fun camping,

Dave

 

[PJ]

Man, Its on a 1500 now HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAH! That is funny as heck! I know a guy with a Lance 845 on a ford 150, its got to be 2500 lbs wet. Dangerous thing about those 1/2 tons is people have actually sheared off the lugs on a 5 bolt pattern.



Its nice to know I got a Dana 80! Take it easy, It aint going to drive like a corvette. You'll be okay. You got a boat? Lets go fishing!



If these guys have convinced you that you will surely die, then I will pull it down there with my 2500 and all you got to do is buy my diesel food and bring me fishing or diving

As I stated, I wouldnt do it. I have done it and it isnt worth the stress. I see that there are a few here that Im glad are not next to me on the highway in their overloaded trucks. If you choose to overload your truck, best of luck and R. I. P.