Camper/overload springs/and more

[petersonj]

but I never like running things to the near max hence the 19.5 rated at something like 4500-5000 each, much stiffer side wall which adds more than just weight capacity and they supposedly run cooler and longer under heavy loads.

I do understand what you are saying here and I am the same way. But, you are still limited by the 3500 SRW suspension and braking capabilities for that heavy high center-of-gravity load - so you are "running things to the near max."

My son-in-law was in a very similar situation with a 2004 2500 4WD long box. His Arctic Fox camper was slightly heavier than yours. He added all of the things that you have added, including the 19.5 inch wheels / tires. It all made it better, but there was no room for a margin of error while driving it.

After he had done all of these mods, his truck (without the camper) was involved in an accident while waiting at a stop light. The truck was totaled. I told him that sometimes when something bad happens, something better can come out of it. I suggested getting a used 3500 DRW long bed. He ended up with a 2006 model. After his next camping trip, all he could say was, "I just can't believe the difference - and I haven't even done any improvements on the truck!"

As far as a dully, my understanding is that the rear weight capacity axle wise is identical but I would then need a long bed

I think this statement answered my earlier question - you currently have a short bed truck. Another negative when hauling a heavy high center-of-gravity load.

I am not advocating that you buy another truck, just understand (and I think you do) that you are always going to be limited by the suspension capabilities and the braking capacity of your truck. And, one could get into trouble should a necessary abrupt braking and steering maneuver be required. I know that I felt that way when I had my slide-in camper.

- John

 

[brillmtb1]

I wonder how a dully is that much safer with same brakes, same rear axle weight capacity and with my 19.5 the tires are fine. I dont think the springs are any more heavy duty either. The only difference would be that the COG for the camper more forward which would be nice in my case but sway, axle carrying capacity should not be better with a stock dully especially when I added rear roll bar, overloads, 19.5 tires, adjustable shocks?

I also dont think any truck with a camper over say 3500lbs and tall is going to handle well ever....just have to be careful....lots of idiots out there.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I find all of this topic very interesting. I had a 1999 2500 regular cab long box 5.9 I hauled my 8.5 3k slide in truck camper with it for many years. I had a exhaust brake and Firestone air bags that I ran loaded at 100 psi. I pulled a small trailer max weight 2 k a lot also. 5 position Rancho shocks set to 5 rear and 4 front loaded and stock Michelin tires aired to 75 front and 80 rear 10 ply. Truck had a sway bar rear. It never really felt too top heavy driving it. It did very well in most normal windy situations .Even the fuel economy was pretty good about 19 mpg just truck and camper. In all realty the truck would seem to be overloaded but when the weight went on the truck it never even sagged etc.I see in my travels slide in campers that are huge with slide outs. Sometimes grossly sagging in the rear. Then theres the dual rear trucks. Not for me to wide in the rear to park fit in the garage and then there’s our snow here in Alaska. So I have my new srw drive 2022 3500 regular cab now to do the same job as above. It does it really well but no rear sway bar and it does get to swaying pretty good on slow speed turns not bad on the hiway or normal winds to like 25 mph but a sharp turn off a intermediate road into a sloped down hill parking lot will really get your attention. I would gladly pay the $1k for a rear sway bar install but I’m very concerned about the off season ride empty Our roads are really rough in the winter and early spring. I’m trying to figure out how to go forward with this. Ideas etc

 

[petersonj]

wonder how a dully is that much safer with same brakes,

I stand corrected regarding the brakes. In the example I used with my son-in-law, the difference was going from a 2500 SRW to a 3500 DRW, not from a 3500 SRW to a 3500 DRW.

However, according to an on-line source, the front track width of a 3500 DRW 4WD is almost 2 inches wider than the front track width of a 3500 SRW 4WD. The rear track width of a 3500 DRW 4WD is over 8 inches wider than the rear track width of a 3500 SWR 4WD. This will definitely increase a heavy high center-of-gravity stability.

- John

 

[AH64ID]

I stand corrected regarding the brakes. In the example I used with my son-in-law, the difference was going from a 2500 SRW to a 3500 DRW, not from a 3500 SRW to a 3500 DRW.

However, according to an on-line source, the front track width of a 3500 DRW 4WD is almost 2 inches wider than the front track width of a 3500 SRW 4WD. The rear track width of a 3500 DRW 4WD is over 8 inches wider than the rear track width of a 3500 SWR 4WD. This will definitely increase a heavy high center-of-gravity stability.

- John

To be fair a 2500 and a 3500 DRW utilize the same brakes.

The track width doesn’t make the difference a lot of people think. That added stability feeling is the extra sidewalls. Most of the sway comes from the suspension, which is the same width SRW to DRW.

There are advantages to a DRW over a modded SRW, and there are advantages of a modded SRW over a DRW.

 

[Cummins12V98]

"The main reason people have issues with airbags is that they overfill them and try to get the truck back to empty, or near empty height"


SOOO true! On my 11 DRW I was getting the he!! beat out of me on some of the horrible roads with 4,500# pin weight. Changed to Bilstiens and PacBrake bags set to 30psi LOADED. It did not change the ride height keeping the load on the overload springs. The ride improvement was amazing. USE THE OVERLOADS!!!

Pic with 30psi truck setting level. I know not a Camper but.....

 

[NIsaacs]

Its one of those very nice but heavy AF 911.

Since I weighed my truck at a CAT scale with the camper on I noticed almost no weight goes up front

Is the AF 911 a typo? Your sig says AF 811.

Why so vague, what are the numbers?

 

[Turbo Terry]

So I have noticed that the Firestone HT have a pretty squishy sidewall . This could maybe cause my 2022 3500 srw to sway at slow speeds with 3k in the back. The truck goes down hi-way very nicely no driving issues wandering steering etc. it’s mostly just slow speed maneuvers when the weight shifts from side to side like a slow speed turn on s side hill turn into a driveway . The tires say 10 ply but I wonder what the sidewalls are? Soon these tires will be gone and I will put some coopers on. What’s the most side wall number that I can get. I m still not sold that the ride will not be killer with sway bars when I’m empty which is about 9 months a year

 

[ramshackle]

Read it on thedrive.com

 

[Turbo Terry]

A little to much hang back I would say wonder what really happened. I see campers loaded like this all the time

 

[Turbo Terry]

Looks like it’s got two slide outs door being on the side like that. I had to have a 2 inch lift put on the bottom of my camper to clear the sharks fin and cab. My camper is extra tall already. I’m 6 ft 6 and never hit my head. Also I put a 100 lbs ac unit on top. That’s mostly why I got my side sway issues

 

[Cummins12V98]

Mexican speed bumps

 

[Turbo Terry]

Probably to fast somewhere and hit big dip .I bet it was hard camping that night.

 

[Ozymandias]

Old picture, was all over the i-net a month ago.
I can't remember all the details but I think he had it on it full time for 100k or so till the frame gave way. And it was overloaded by a 1000lbs or so - behind the rear axle which is always bad.
Ah and he pulled a trailer which added tongue weight to the frame too.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Very stupid

 

[Ozymandias]

Indeed

 

[NIsaacs]

Old picture, was all over the i-net a month ago.
I can't remember all the details but I think he had it on it full time for 100k or so till the frame gave way. And it was overloaded by a 1000lbs or so - behind the rear axle which is always bad.
Ah and he pulled a trailer which added tongue weight to the frame too.

Actually, per the article, the camper was hauled for 25k miles. I am kinda surprised that Ram didn't jump all over that truck so the engineers could study the failure. Every time a new generation comes out, they stress how much they have strengthened the frame.....

I think the 3500 is rated at 23k bumper pull. Ram might want to rethink that...

With the new boxed frames, all attaching mounts are now welded on as there is no access for bolts/rivets like the c-channel frames were. With the rear cab mount welded and the front bed mount welded that location might be compromised.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...ehqqhlGcH8Qs7WcQaj9SpHpWsoc8ZXA3H0xlXqToGEZkk

 

[Topzide]

Dry weight of those campers are 4900#'s! Then add in the extra weight on hitch and towing! Accident waiting to happen when you add the Baja roads! Can't imagine they payload in that truck. Rumor was also that camper mount was welded which could make things worse. Either way, Ram bailed due to overloading of the truck!
https://www.eaglecapcampers.com/eagle-cap-1165 , this appears to be the camper. Has 154 gal total water capacity. (66 fresh, 41 black, 41 grey and 6 in water heater). That adds 1200#'s +!

Edit to add camper link.

 

[AH64ID]

Has 154 gal total water capacity. (66 fresh, 41 black, 41 grey and 6 in water heater). That adds 1200#'s +!

Very rare to have all the tanks full, but that's still a decent amount of weight.

Dry weights are notoriously low too.

 

[kthaxton]

Based off what I have heard (either here on the other forum, or on Youtube), it appears like the owner heard of the max payload capacity of a Ram truck....which applies to a 2wd DRW with a hemi, and thought it applied across the model line.