Slide-in Camper

[steved]

I still need owners from RegCab,SRW,LongBed owners. Not DRW short/long bed owners those trucks have different bed payloads and their spring assy's are different than mind. The Tacoma is to small to consider due to it's small bed payload. Thank you for your advice,but if their is anyone out their in the Regcab 5. 9L or 6. 7L diesel 4x4longbed with a bed rating of 2500 to 2800lbs who loads to 1800-2000lbs in his bed this is the advise I seek. Airbags might due it but limit axle travel unless you go with the long travel airbag systems,but the cost's go way up,I have seen price's at around 500-800 dallors. And that's just for the bags not to included the conytroller's. Thanks for the advice so far. Keep it coming

I have a 2004. 5 regular cab 2500 4wd...



Although my camper isn't huge, it was/is around 1500#s I'd guess. I ran for over two years WITHOUT anything extra... it set the truck down about 1. 5"s, rode a little soft.



My first "upgrade" was to new shocks (Skyjacker Nitros) which took most of the sway (or wobble) out... mine would simply roll back/forth side-to-side real slow... but it never acted squirrelly. It would probably make some people sea-sick, but again, it never got out of hand or acted in any manner that I felt would cause me any reason to fear the handling of the truck.



My second upgrade was to Firestone Airbags... took about 30psi to level the camper, 43psi if it was loaded heavy. They did/do everything I needed. Plus, you drop the air out when not needed and the ride is unchanged. I would measure the height of the fenderwells (front and rear) before loading the camper, then inflate the bags so that it was "level" (taking into account the suspension compression in the front as well as the rear).



I'm not sure of your suspension, but the OE suspension won't flex enough to damage the springs... I've literally had one front and one rear tire in the air at the same time, and the bags are still working quite nicely.



Overall, I'm very happy with my airbags. I'm about due for new shocks... the darn boots have caused the tops of the shocks to almost rust out!



steved

 

[MSicotte]

One thing I did for my truck camper (Arctic Fox 860 - 4900lbs loaded - yes 4900) was to add a piece of 2. 5" box tube to lower the frame mounted rubber bumper for the overload springs so they were much closer to the spring. I made them easily removable because the unloaded ride would knock your teeth out. This handled my camper very well, the truck sat level with a full load. A sway bar would definitely help, and is on the "to do" list. I have since gone to 12 pack deaver springs to get a better empty ride and a set of Firestone air bags, not nearly as good as my previous set up and way more side to side sway. I am going to take a step backwards and do some work to put the overloads back in and build different overload stops. Hope that helps.

 

[AH64ID]

With that much weight I hope that was in a dually...

 

[MSicotte]

Yeah, the brochure said 3200lbs with options, the scale said a whole lot more. (12200lbs total loaded, 7400lbs on the rear axle) Quad cab short box single wheel. Only 2300lbs over GVW... ..... ooops. Plus the trailer on the end of a Torklift Superhitch. At least none of the po po's up here care. Unless you go into British Columbia, then the RCMP get a little touchy if you look like you're overwieght, they will weigh you. Good thing Toyo has the 295/70r17 with 3960lb load rating, just enough... ... .....

 

[AH64ID]

I wouldnt be worried about the po po... I would be worried about the rear tires... . thats 1100 over what the stock tires are rated for at 80 psi... real good thing about the toyos... one of the reasons I am going to be putting 285 toyo's on my truck.

 

[jeepit]

I have an 8' Lance lite which comes in at 2300lbs wet. I have the camper package on the truck and all I did was add adjustable Rancho shocks and I have no compalints.

 

[eridenour]

Camper Suspension Questions

I am shopping for a new suspension for my '06 Quad cab CTD Laramie and with my slide in Four Wheel camper at probably 1,000 lbs loaded my questions are:



1) Is anyone using the Fox adjustable remote reservoir 2. 0 shocks?

2) Anyone using the Lorenz dual purpose full replacement rear springs, or the Carli full rear leafs from Deaver? I'm thinking I'll be better off ride quality wise by going with full replacement rear leaf springs vs. the mini pack add-on leaves.

3) I'll consider airbags after the suspension upgrade.

 

[Bob4x4]

I am shopping for a new suspension for my '06 Quad cab CTD Laramie and with my slide in Four Wheel camper at probably 1,000 lbs loaded my questions are:



1) Is anyone using the Fox adjustable remote reservoir 2. 0 shocks?

2) Anyone using the Lorenz dual purpose full replacement rear springs, or the Carli full rear leafs from Deaver? I'm thinking I'll be better off ride quality wise by going with full replacement rear leaf springs vs. the mini pack add-on leaves.

3) I'll consider airbags after the suspension upgrade.

Carli full leafs here,lt airbags as well.



Bob

 

[Big A]

I'm hauling a 8. 5' 2004 Northland Grizzly w/ slide on my '01 4x4 Quad cab, w/ camper prep. All stock, and no sway or problems.

Big A