camper size

[tandersen]

I have a question concerning what size camper I can use on my 2001. 5 2500 QC. (auto, 3. 55) I know what the payload is but it is so low that even the smallest Lance camper is to much. I can't really believe that this is so. What size campers are you people using? Thanks for your comments.

 

[Dr.Kayak]

I have a pop-up camper only weights 650 lbs..... Something to think about. The truck drives like the camper is not even there.

 

[wyosteve]

I have a 9. 5' Jayco slide in. Weighs about 1500.

 

[CTRam]

I have a Palamino slide in pop up truck camper that wieghs 1500lbs on my 2001 2500 LWB and it rides great, almost like there is nothing there. My first trip with it this year was about 800 miles round trip.

 

[illflem]

I have a 1800 lb cabover pop-up Alaskan camper I use on my 2500. I can definitely tell it's there, but it doesn't slow me down.

 

[Happy Camper]

I have a 97 Lance Ledgend which puts me right at my gross maximum of 11,000. I ran with the same camper on my 97 ram but got concerned about being overweight and unsafe. Pickup had not problem handling it except the SRW was a little iffy sometimes.

 

[VicR]

so many pop-ups!

Didn't realize there was such strong representation of pop-ups on the board. I have a 2000 Sunlite Eagle SB pop-up on my ram and the only impact it makes on driving is the ride is a lot smoother, and it costs me about 2 MPG on the freeway (but I still got 19 mpg going over Beartooth Pass last September). Data plate says its 1030 lbs dry.



-Vic

 

[roadranger]

Weight?

Do you realize that if your 01. 5 has the camper package on it, that it has the beefier rear axle of the 3500, the helper springs, and has the exact same axle, spring, and brake components of the 3500, minus the training wheels.



With the proper Load range E tires on it (comes with camper pkg) your 2500 has all of the components on it of a 11,000 GVW 3500 truck.



There are a LOT of Lance campers running around in Dodge 2500's- and some of them are the 9 and 10 foot models, too.

 

[tandersen]

Thanks everybody for all your replies. Roadranger I do have the camper and tow package and did not realize it had that axle, thanks and Merry Christmas to all!

 

[DocStressor]

I'm one of those guys hauling a heavy Lance (>3000 lb) on a short bed 2500. It can be done easily, but check my mods. You will need them if you haul heavy. The airbags shift more weight to the front axle so the truck will steer straight. The Ranchos check the side to side sway and the cabover stabilizers stop front to rear rocking on irregular road surfaces. Power should not be a problem.

 

[Dane]

I've had my Dodge/Cummins and Lance on a few trips. Some off road in Baja - no problems. The truck feels like it could handle a larger camper easily. My Lance 810 is 1800lbs wet. I don't have the camper package but have added Bilsteins, air bags and Roadmasters.



P. S. For off road traveling with a cabover you don't want a solid camper to frame mount. The flexible Happijacs with a thick rubber bed liner is the way to go imo.

 

[DUNE RACER]

The torklift frame anchors I'm using have springs built into the lower attachment for some flexability, not sure about other frame mounts. I go down some pretty ugly places without any trouble.