Hauling a 3000 lbs truck camper on my new 2022 3500 ho aisin srw

[brillmtb1]

So first off you can see from my pic I have a heavy but nice AF on my short bed 3500. I have gone through many installs as I am very picky on this stuff. Ihave rancho adjustable shocks so I can turn up with camper and down with none, I have overload springs 3500lbs rated that I crank up when loaded and loosen when unloaded. I had the torklift stableloads lowers on but was concerned about all the load on the stock overload spring thats when I added the additional overloads. I am thinking of adding back the torklift with one wedge to engage the stock overload a little earlier. I added the big wig rear sway but to tell you the truth I didnt get earth shattering results with the camper and of course your truck will ride rougher when empty I thought about going to the roadmasters given different mount location and slightly larger size but wondered if that really would do much.

Some have placed a larger front sway bar and had good results. Balanced sway bars are important so perhaps with the camper in and a big sway bar in the back increasing the front is a good idea but we are not racing on a track.

I am very suprised that the front of your truck is heavier. Almost everyone I have spoken to that has weighed in at a CAT scale has reported almost all the camper weight on the back of the truck. I think my 4000lb camper only put hundreds of pounds up front although I was hoping for more. The rear of these trucks I believe support 11k and I am at close to 8K so I went with 19.5 rims and 16 ply commercial tires. Tires and rims rated at 4500 where stock rims 3700 I believe and even my very stout AT tires just about 4000lbs but the sidewalls very different. Harsh empty....you bet but I like the better ride loaded. My plan was on during camping season and off in the dead of winter.

I think if I add back in the torklift stable loads with one wedge and dial in the additional overload springs that will be the best I will be able to do. Perhaps the roadmaster sway bar is that much better but I dont know. I would go with that if I didnt already have the one I have.

Lastly, airbags completely suck for campers, I have them for my last 5th wheel and to level fine but side to side no way...you feel like your going to roll over ....not at all suited in my experience for slide in campers. Outboard better springs much better to control sway.

I also took out my 2inch level kit to allow my camper to sit down into the springs a couple inches thus using the springs to control sway and also not have my headlights blinding folks which it was doing with the level kit.

Good luck!

 

[Turbo Terry]

Good info thanks. So the Stableloads might be a option . Interesting

 

[NIsaacs]

So first off you can see from my pic I have a heavy but nice AF on my short bed 3500.

I am very suprised that the front of your truck is heavier. Almost everyone I have spoken to that has weighed in at a CAT scale has reported almost all the camper weight on the back of the truck.

You have a short bed with a significant rear overhang. The OP has a long bed with very little overhang. He also has a receiver hitch on the front with a generator and misc.

 

[Turbo Terry]

When I get camper off and front basket off in late September I will run it over the scales empty. That should be interesting

 

[NIsaacs]

When I get camper off and front basket off in late September I will run it over the scales empty. That should be interesting

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/new-truck-firestone-tires.271986/#post-2687281

 

[brillmtb1]

I understand the fact that generator up front and long bes but i have never seen CAT scale numbers were front and rear this close. Most reporting a surprising amount of weight over rear wheels

My COG similar to neighbors longbed with next size up artic fox so im not so sure its the overhang vs COG and how bed weight really doesn’t increase front end weight as much as i thought it might

 

[AH64ID]

I understand the fact that generator up front and long bes but i have never seen CAT scale numbers were front and rear this close. Most reporting a surprising amount of weight over rear wheels

My COG similar to neighbors longbed with next size up artic fox so im not so sure its the overhang vs COG and how bed weight really doesn’t increase front end weight as much as i thought it might

The same CG on a reg cab will put more weight on the front axle than on a CC truck if the CG is forward of the rear axle. Weight in the bed that is aft of the rear axle reduces front axle weight, and weight forward of the rear axle increases front axle weight. The closer to the front axle the more weight it adds, which is why a reg cab gets more weight on the front axle with the same CG as a CC.

The front and rear being close is great for handling. Our last trip with our 5th wheel only had 500lbs difference front to rear and it rode/handled amazing. 5900/6400, which put us right at the 12,300 GVWR. It’s the heaviest I’ve been on the front yet.

The most important thing for handling is that the CG is forward of the rear axle so it doesn’t pull weight from the front axle.

 

[Turbo Terry]

It’s very interesting. A regular cab long box is a thing of the past. It’s all I have ever owned . The camper fits it and it fits in the garage with basket off and slide in off. For our long winters etc It’s amazing that the weights are that close to the same . The center of gravity is pretty balanced . The front basket Honda and gas adds some to the front but not really that much. I’m running 65 front and 80 rear . So today I went for a drive up a mountain road. Tight curves up and down etc. road out of balance side to side and it actual handles very well. Oh and a Honda 2000 20 year old gen will start a 13.5 btu ac easily. With a soft start

 

[Turbo Terry]

Ac works great. So I’m torn on spending 1 k on something I may not really need. And might lose my fairly nice winter ride. It’s not really the money. Will I really get that much improvement. I’m a pretty balanced load right now. I don’t really know

 

[Turbo Terry]

So far the factory Firestone have been ok. When they wear out I will try some coopers That could only help .

 

[brillmtb1]

What are your front and rear weights again. I dont think there are any tires at those pressures recommended for that weight. You are blessed to have the balance front to rear but i would get some better tires rates at 4000lbs which are going to be 80psi generally

 

[brillmtb1]

Why my AF COG wasnt designed to be in front of axle is crazy but it will s slightly behind. Wierd as frig air conditioner at front of the bed. Water tanks low and forward

 

[NIsaacs]

What are your front and rear weights again. I dont think there are any tires at those pressures recommended for that weight. You are blessed to have the balance front to rear but i would get some better tires rates at 4000lbs which are going to be 80psi generally

"Full of fuel 28 gallons water 18 gallons gen etc wife and me it weighs 11600 lbs total and 5880 lbs front and 5720 lbs rear. "

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...mper-on-my-new-2022-3500-ho-aisin-srw.272978/

 

[JPM]

So no StableLoad users

I got the lowers and they really help, no place for the uppers

No air bags needed

I gravely forgot the addition of 3500 series Helwig overload springs, so sorry.Without them I would be unlevel with my 16 ft trailer loaded.
2014-2022 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup 2wd 4wd - 3500 lbs Helper Springs - LP-35 [Progressive] (pair) [3527] | $426.57 | SD Truck Springs | Leaf Springs, Helper Springs and Suspension Parts

 

[JPM]

my advice
get the biggest truck you can afford(within reason) and the smallest lightest camper you can live with

One more thing , out of all the mods I made the 19.5" tires/wheel made the most difference, in control, sway, capacity.

Note ,not all 19.5s are created equal, mine are rated at 4900lbs each

 

[Turbo Terry]

So what are the factory Firestones and rims rated for on this 3500. 3200-3400 lbs each. Yes better tires will be a asset. But I think 19.9 would be not only expensive. New rims and tires I do like the 18 better than the 16. Remember I hauled this camper for years on Michelin lTX 16 inch tires no problem. 80 psi rear and 70 psi front

 

[AH64ID]

3500 on the wheel and 3640 on the tire. Popular belief is that the rims are likely capable of 4K plus, but Ram just did 1/2 of the axle capacity… Similar to how the old DRW rims were rated lower than SRW rims.

 

[brillmtb1]

My vision 19.5 say 4500 in one place and 4900 in another. I just work with the lower values.

Agree with biggest truck you can afford and lightest camper you can get by with. The AF are heavy but really all of the slide out versions in just about all the top rated come in within something like 500lbs. Lots of variation due to capacity of tanks. This AF has a 50gal fresh and two large propane, a generator and a large fridge for a camper. That adds up

 

[Ozymandias]

So what are the factory Firestones and rims rated for on this 3500. 3200-3400 lbs each. Yes better tires will be a asset. But I think 19.9 would be not only expensive. New rims and tires I do like the 18 better than the 16. Remember I hauled this camper for years on Michelin lTX 16 inch tires no problem. 80 psi rear and 70 psi front

The 19.5 would especially ruin your empty ride, they are good on perfect tarmac - but Alaska roads are far from that. Just forget about that size. Your 18" are the perfect size for the weight.

And we have never heard from broken factory rims - not with the worst abuse, so they just be pretty capable.

 

[Turbo Terry]

So it appears that I’m about 2400 lbs under the rim rating and 2900 on the tires. Will rotate the tires all 5 at about 10k in November. See how the tires look next spring to make it thru the summer hauling camper etc keep the best one for a spare and buy 4 new 10 ply e rated Coopers when needed. I’m still thinking about a road master install this winter .