Ram 2500 with slide in camper

[Trizae]

I have a customer considering purchase of a new pickup, the truck will be used for a wide variety of things including carring a slind in camper. The factory does not recommend use of a slide in camper with the diesel on a quad cab long bed, however they do with a hemi, Just loonking for anyone carrying a slide in with a 2500 to get some feed back to pass along to my customer

 

[HBarlow]

Trizae,



Don't let your customer buy a 2500 thinking he can carry a slide-in camper. He won't be happy with his truck or with you. Yes, it can be done. Even Toyota pickups carry slide-ins but poorly and in an unstable manner. The factory knows best. Encourage your customer to buy at least a 3500 SRW. A 3500 DRW would be the minimum for most buyers.

 

[RonCar]

I would not turn him away from the purchase but I would advise him that with either of the purchases (2500/3500) he will probably be adding some kind of load enhancing device. I personaly love my Timbren's or there may be several others here that recomend airbags. The difference between the 2500 and 3500 (SRW) as you may well no is only the overload leaf on top of the rear leafs, and in my opinion lets the truck sag way to far before contact and helping. gOOd luck...

 

[RustyJC]

A 2500 is the wrong truck for the job. Get as much GVWR as possible, and that isn't a 2500.



Rusty

 

[RonCar]

A 2500 is the wrong truck for the job. Get as much GVWR as possible, and that isn't a 2500.



Rusty

I got a question for ya, Is your comment based on the physical difference between the two or legal differences?

 

[dalee]

98 1 ton

I have hauled with both a 2500/3500. They are right the GVW is one thing but you cant change the center of gravity. The 2500 is way to tippy if you find yourself in a cross wind or unexpected tight turn. Unless he is looking at a pop up type. Also has to watch his tire weight rating.

 

[Regcabguy]

He needs the stability of a wide tracking dually. Everday handling is one thing,but the current state of driving habits of other vehicles will require an emergency manuever and that rig's going to roll. I've been carrying a popup on my back for five years now and feel it's the maximum I'd feel comfortable with and I've puckered up many a time. 2wd will minimize the problem but I've got a 4wd.

 

[KWinterborne]

Unless I missed it, I don't believe the size of the slide in was mentioned. I carried a Lance Lite (about 3,000 pounds) 9'6" TC for many many miles, a lot of which were also flat towing my Jeep and never once felt uncomfortable or that the truck was struggling. This is a completely stock truck and suspension. The only thing that I really could have used was an exhaust brake.
http://members. cox.net/its4sale/camper.htm

Granted, if the TC is a 4,000+ pound unit then yeah, a dually is the way to go. But if your customer does not need/want that big of a TC, then a 2500 may work just fine. There are a lot of nice TC's out there around 3,000 pounds and under.

Ken

 

[Grizzly]

I can't believe everything I'm reading here. A 2500 will work find if you stay within the GVWR with the truck and camper fully loaded for the trip. That may be an 8' to 9' camper. If you want a larger camper then you should get a larger GVWR truck. You should not have to rely on air bags, they just help hold the rear of the truck up but don't add GVWR.

 

[jeepit]

I can't believe everything I'm reading here. A 2500 will work find if you stay within the GVWR with the truck and camper fully loaded for the trip. That may be an 8' to 9' camper. If you want a larger camper then you should get a larger GVWR truck. You should not have to rely on air bags, they just help hold the rear of the truck up but don't add GVWR.

Thanks for clarifying that Grizzly.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I can't believe everything I'm reading here. A 2500 will work find if you stay within the GVWR with the truck and camper fully loaded for the trip. That may be an 8' to 9' camper. If you want a larger camper then you should get a larger GVWR truck. You should not have to rely on air bags, they just help hold the rear of the truck up but don't add GVWR.

Someone here might throw in a few items that do add GVWR just to assist in understanding the difference between a 3500 SRW and a 2500 HD.

 

[MDM]

I have a 01 2500 4x4 and carry a 10FT northernlite so far have had no problems. The only time I can feel its on there is when I stop. You can feel the extra weight. But as far as driving it there is no pucker factor. MPG-12 to 15 on 20 to 24 off.

 

[Grizzly]

I have a 01 2500 4x4 and carry a 10FT northernlite so far have had no problems. The only time I can feel its on there is when I stop. You can feel the extra weight. But as far as driving it there is no pucker factor. MPG-12 to 15 on 20 to 24 off.

I don't know what a Northernlite weighs, but you maybe at the limit of what a 2500 can handle. I had a 10 1/2' Travel Queen (old cab-over) on a 71 F250 Ford camper special and it was swaying all over the road. I installed a big stack of overloads, heavier shocks and a set of super singles tires to help control some of the sway. The super singles made the most difference. Some of us old timers know that Travel Queen campers were very heavy. Who's had a TQ, let me know.

 

[Regcabguy]

I'm carrying an 1800# wet Northstar popup. After food,extra cargo,surfboards,two passengers,I'm weighing in at 8560# just under the max with my reg. cab. On mountainous roads I can safely pass other rigs easily with minimal sway. Approaching vehicles and windy days do require some steering adjustments. I'm leveled out due to T-Rex front end setup and 285's provide further lift which is definately detrimental to my situation. Stock trucks do have a more stable stance due to lower ride height. I'm running Bilstein 7100's all around w/Ride Rites.

 

[mberry]

I got a question for ya, Is your comment based on the physical difference between the two or legal differences?

Actually, it's both. The only physical difference is the one extra rear spring on the 3500 SRW and the spring and axle on the DRW. Those of you who don't have a 3rd Gen truck may not understand the differences in how the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gens handle the weight. My '02 2500 has carried far more weight than my '04. 5 and the '02 was stable. I would not put that much weight in the back of my '04. 5 simply because the rear end would sag so much and probably be hitting the bump stops. I would likely be legal doing so with my '04. 5 where I was no-where near legal in my '02.



That being said, I would advise your customer to get the 3500 DRW version. It would be much more stable for the camper and towing/hauling a heavy load in the bed. Your customer would also likely be installing air bags or something else to level the ride.



Your customer would also be able to carry more of a load legally if they went with a 3500 DRW.



These are only my thoughts and opinions. Take them as they are and remember you get what you paid for.

 

[NevadaBackroader]

My Outfitter pop up weighs 1200# dry so I am carrying about 2000# loaded up. Ride is level with the stock suspension and Bilsteins. Turning into a driveway is another matter. I think the stock rear shock mounting system (bias) is the culprit. It's good for axle wrap but not good at all for side to side loads. I think the rear shocks need to be mounted the old way, behind the axle tilted inward. This would control the side sway without going to stiffer springs. If the camper weighs more than 2000# loaded, go with the 3500.

 

[ECappleman]

I pull a TT most of the time, but have thought about a cab over sometimes.

The only reason I would get one, is to get access to the back country camping. You can't do that with a DRW.



I have seen many, camping up the 4x4 trails, with a slide in and a SRW.

 

[MDM]

Grizzly, The NorthernLite I have is the basement model and weighs 2360lbs. I used to have a Fleetwood Caribou and it weighed about 3600lbs. It would make you pay attention going down the road.

 

[Grizzly]

Actually, it's both. The only physical difference is the one extra rear spring on the 3500 SRW and the spring and axle on the DRW. Those of you who don't have a 3rd Gen truck may not understand the differences in how the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gens handle the weight. My '02 2500 has carried far more weight than my '04. 5 and the '02 was stable. I would not put that much weight in the back of my '04. 5 simply because the rear end would sag so much and probably be hitting the bump stops. I would likely be legal doing so with my '04. 5 where I was no-where near legal in my '02.



That being said, I would advise your customer to get the 3500 DRW version. It would be much more stable for the camper and towing/hauling a heavy load in the bed. Your customer would also likely be installing air bags or something else to level the ride.



Your customer would also be able to carry more of a load legally if they went with a 3500 DRW.



These are only my thoughts and opinions. Take them as they are and remember you get what you paid for.

My 05 3500 DRW carries the weight of my camper much better then the 95 3500 DRW did and the 95 had a rear sway bar. The 05 does not have the sway bar and I get less sway due to the box frame. The 95 squatted much more then the 05. Same Lance camper. I loved my 95, but I think the 05 is better and has more power.

 

[Rman]

I pull a TT most of the time, but have thought about a cab over sometimes.

The only reason I would get one, is to get access to the back country camping. You can't do that with a DRW.



I have seen many, camping up the 4x4 trails, with a slide in and a SRW.

This is precisely why I wanted a slide in. I take my camper back into where most tent, or plain just don't go. There's a certain pucker factor that I've had to get used to in doing this, but sleeping in the warmth of a camper when it's 10 degree's out while hunting is something I sure can appreicate.



I'm surprised at how well my airbags and my truck have performed off road with the camper on. There's been times where I thought for sure I'd tear an airbag loose, but they've held up to the worst of it so far.