New Cabover Camper, Too Heavy?

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I could use some advice regarding my recent purchase of a 2001 Elkhorn cabover camper with a slideout. I knew the weight would put me over the pathetic 8800# rating but what can you do.
This camper was designed for my truck, a shortbed quad cab 2500.
I know, get to the point - here's whats got me bugged. I weighed the truck with the camper and it's got me nervous here are the weights.
Front axle 4210
Rear axle 6590
My wheels are rated at 3100# do you think my wheels are going to self destruct? Sorry to ramble just a little nervous.

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99 2500 QC SB 4x4 5sp 3. 54 LSD 285/75/16 Rancho 9000s A. R. E. Camper Shell etc. etc.

 

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I think that running over wheel ratings is scary, but what about the tire ratings??????? #ad


How much is it gonna weigh when you get all your gear in it????????
Water???
Propane????
ETC. . ????

[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 12-12-2000). ]

 

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i have a 11' lance on a 93 4x4 duelly
camper weight 4000, trk about 6500
iam ok weight, i had a 95 1/2 ton chevy w/
sht bed lance weight for light mdl was 3000
not a lot lighted then my new big one
i had air bags firestone cost 200. 00
hardest part was driling frame to bolt them onto, they worked very well. if you continue
to have a concern w/ weight , you may duelly
the short bed , there are some many things that are close to over weight, air pressure
is critical,and 9000 series shocks, on rear
on sht beds front might buck up down some
9000's on frt will help. maybe a cab stabilzer shock,and packing so not to over tax a wheel. weigh all 4 tires w/ camper
1 at a time,, if you dont need trailer hitch pull it, i did on the 1/2 ton, pull tail gate, pull spare,pull heavy muffler
if its the stock one,dont add much opts to camper, i had no a/c no gen, w/ 1/2 ton,camper was 8. 50 ' on 6. 5 bed, now i have
10'9'' on i ton, stock but w/ factory over lds , all is well,watch tire side walls, some tires are weak side walled, stay away from bigger tires that show increased weight cap. a bigger tire w/ same ply as smaller tire , but w. / more weight (bigger size)
will not work as well as a proper size tire w/ more plys and capacity,
mopar up , mopar bill good luck!

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1993 w350 ex cab, banks,
open exaust, pw Injectors are in. Big rig flaps,tach soon to be in. Its loud and goes ok, for a 93,only beat 1 pwr strk furd

 

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Thanks for the replies, I should have said that I have Firestone air bags and 285/75/16 Bridgestone A/T's mounted on 16x8 aluminum wheels also Rancho 9000's.
As far as handling it is acceptable.

 

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I don't think your truck will break. My truck with a Lance camper installed weighs 9600. Front 4300, rear 5300. This is well within the axle and tire ratings but quite a bit over 8800. I have no handling problems but my truck didn't stop as well as I liked. After I replaced my rear wheel cyls. with 3500 cyls. it now stops quite well with this weight. My guess would be that safe stopping may be your major problem.

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Ron

'96 Club Cab 2500 4x4, 4:10LS, Camper/Tow package, Auto, BD Pressure Loc, Mystery Switch, TST 230/605, Cat under "Test", Cummins Chrome, Mag-Hytec rear and trans covers, Boost, Pyro and trans gauges, Optima Red Tops, All black. Tow 14k HitchHiker triple glide 5th Wheel. Also use 9. 5' Lance camper. NRA Life Member.

 

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Are these weights wet or dry?
You didn't mention what the tire rating is?
Can you shift some of the weight to the front axle?
Do you plan to tow with this combo?
Last but not least - It's your conscious.

BTW - I got nervous when I weighed in at 9400 so now I have a bumper pull trailer. I don't need some sue happy person taking me to the cleaners (even if an accident was not my fault) just for being over GVWR.

 

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Thanks for the replies, I'm very confident the truck can handle the load, my concern is the wheels running just above their rating.
I do have the Jacob's E brake and it handles the load perfectly. I think everyone should have one.
I spoke with one of our best tire shops about my concern and they said there would not be a problem, ya still with my family in the rig it makes me a little wary.

The tire ratings are 3300# and yes I'm cutting it close as far as that goes too.
Also this wet weight.
[This message has been edited by RankRam (edited 12-12-2000). ]

[This message has been edited by RankRam (edited 12-12-2000). ]

 

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RankRam: Three of my five Goodyear oem tires came apart at about half of their tread life. Sidewalls got bubbles and then the tread would fly off. Goodyear replaced one under warrenty. I run about the same weight (10,800#) as you with my Elkhorn (see sig for weight and mods). I do a lot of beach camping so I solved the problem with the Ricka dual wheel setup when the camper is on. No tire problems since then and the rig drives fairly well in soft sand!

If you don't care about off road floatation look at the 18. 5" wheels with load range 'F' or 'G' tires (see the TDR ads). Wish I could afford both setups!

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1995 2500 SLT Club 4x4, auto, 3. 54, 3300 pound Elkhorn slide in camper, AirLift air springs, Ricka dual wheel adapters (used only with the camper on), K&N, DC tow hooks, Rancho RS9000, Hellwig rear sway bar.
108,000 miles and counting.