Lawyer Language?

[Dieselnerd]

The camper loading information sheet in my new 2014 3500 DRW says "Slide in camper not recommended". How dumb is that? I carried the same small Lance that weighs around 2400 pounds wet in my SRW that also said camper not recommended.

I understand the statement for a SRW because they were easy to overload but with the camper in my new DRW I will still have about 3800 pounds of load capacity left.

Why do they think people buy a dually if not to carry heavy things? I just wonder why that statement is on the sheet, it must be some kind of lawyer warning in case you flip it over or something and try to come back at Dodge.

 

[EGroeneveld]

So is there a ''Camper'' heavy duty package available that you did not get? Or rear sway bar or something?

 

[rrl989]

Any truck built with the snow plow prep option gets the the same "not recommended...", been that way for years now.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Any truck built with the snow plow prep option gets the the same "not recommended...", been that way for years now.

That's interesting because mine has the snow plow prep. It consists of a bigger alternator and a skid plate under the transfer case. I knew the "not recommended" was kind of strange because it was discussed on here a number of times in years past. As I remember it started with the 3rd Gens. I was just surprised to see it on a dually. Guess what? I'm not going to install a snowplow. That makes my Laramie the same as the other Laramie DRW's that are listed as OK with a camper.

 

[Sticks]

It's probably not the weight, it the center of gravity shift that the suspension can't handle.

I also find it amusing that at least on the 2nd gens, the in cab weight capacity with a snow plow installed was somewhere in the neighborhood of 250#.

 

[Dieselnerd]

It's probably not the weight, it the center of gravity shift that the suspension can't handle.

Now that makes sense. I suppose they think that if you order the snow plow prep you might be installing a snow plow. That would definitely change the center of gravity!

I've never seen a snow plow with a slide in camper but I guess they need to warn you, just like the warning on baby strollers that says "Do not fold with infant inside".

 

[DonFitzwater]

I had a blizzard 8' 6" on my 97 regular cab 2500 and ran it for a day with my arctic fox 9.5. Holy crap was it overloaded! It was snowing like hell and I didn't feel like taking the camper off.

 

[Sticks]

I was thinking more of the height of the center of gravity changing. I'm sure that the campers are built to have the weight properly distributed over the rear axle - ergo still OK weight wise on both axles, but going into a turn you are putting significantly more weight on one side (leaning) that the suspension will get maxed out and ...rollover hazard. Thank gods they have not put a stamped line on the back of the cab (Do not load past this point) like they do roll off dumpsters.