overhead camper question

[VeggieCummins]

anyone run an auxiliary tank with a lance type over head camper?my truck in sig. long bed and i have airbags. dont care about the gap but am concerned about knew to the center of gravity issues over the axle and am a bit of a newb to the camper/rv world. thanks in advance

 

[Bob4x4]

anyone run an auxiliary tank with a lance type over head camper?my truck in sig. long bed and i have airbags. dont care about the gap but am concerned about knew to the center of gravity issues over the axle and am a bit of a newb to the camper/rv world. thanks in advance

The 97 is probably over it's gvw already,I wouldn,t add more weight

 

[Bill Stockard]

The 97 is probably over it's gvw already,I wouldn,t add more weight

I agree with Bob. If you move the camper further back in the bed for a fuel tank, you will move the camper's center of gravity further to the rear which places more load on the rear axle and may exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and less load the front axle. Unloading the front axle could cause driveability and steering control problems.



You should weigh your truck and camper at a commercial scale, including the individual axle weights, with your camper loaded and ready to travel before making any changes. Compare these weights to the ratings on the decal on the truck's door frame. You might be surprised/shocked.



Bill

 

[VeggieCummins]

Wha about a pop up one for a short bed truck?

 

[CKelley1]

there is a better option i have a 12 valve 98 with a huge jayco on it. transflow makes a 40 gallon tank that fits where the spare tire is. i have had it all over the us.

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[Bill Stockard]

Wha about a pop up one for a short bed truck?

A pop up camper would probably be lighter than many hard side campers; however, you should weigh your truck, including each axle separately, without the camper and compare the weight to the GAWR and GVWR decal on your truck's door frame in order to get an idea of how much you can haul.



A slide in camper designed to fit a short bed truck will place quite a bit of weight on the rear axle since the camper's center of gravity will be further back in your longer truck bed and possibly behind the rear axle center line causing driveability problems. Most slide in camper manufacturers show the empty weight and the center of gravity figures in the specifications and this information might be found in the camper's Owner's Manual.



CKelly1:



You need to pump up your air bags on that 2nd gen with the camper to make it level!



Bill

 

[richardcoxid]

I agree with the other posters about weight concerns, if you are under weight capacity and still want extra fuel capacity why not look at a AERO TANKS 60 gal direct replacement fuel tank. That way you won’t have to move the camper back.



This tank is an Aluminized steel direct replacement tank for the factory plastic tank, you use the stock fill and your stock fuel gage still works and it has a drain plug.



I have had one on of each of my last 2 D/C trucks, see sig. Just remember to ask Aero Tanks for the weight of the tank and that Diesel fuel weights about 6. 3#/gal.



I think that their web site is- aerotanks.com

 

[Grizzly]

I like Tractorat suggestion on another thread:



I made the trip up the Alcan about 4 years ago. Someone on the TDR said to just drive on the top half of my gas tank (which I always do anyway), and I would be fine. The added benefit of driving on the top half of the tank is that you get to get out and stretch. On the long slow drive up the Alcan, 150 miles can be a long time sitting in the drivers seat.