Slide-in Campers

[DPelletier]

Musclefixer,

I have a 2500 series 25C9. 5 on my 2500 ram with the camper package (sway bar and overloads) and Rancho RS9000x's. No air, no generator. The truck handles the load OK, but this is absolutely the biggest camper I would put on my truck. I just got back from a 3000 mile trip to Baja and back. Experienced virtually every condition such as high winds, high speeds, off road, etc. My observations; can my truck handle the weight safely, yes IMO. would I be more comfortable and happier with a dually, yes. My friend Greg has a 25C10. 6 on his 3500 dually and he says it is very nice to drive. I think I'll take his truck and camper for a comparison cruise just to see the difference first hand. As I am now planning to tow a Wells Cargo EW1622 (2300 lbs empty) as well, i am thinking of converting my truck to DRW's. I have spent a fair bit of time and money getting my truck just the way I want it and i don't feel like getting a new truck and starting over. I believe that all I'll need is the front rotors, new rear wheel studs and the tires and rims. I should be able to sell my factory alloys for a pretty penny. This of course won't help with the door sticker, but I am not that concerned about the sticker issue, just as long as I feel safe and comfortable driving down the highway.

My thoughts for what there worth! Probably not much!



Dave

 

[musclefixer]

Thanks alot guys. I'll probably end up going with the 3500 DRW and the 5spd/6spd.

I should have bought this instead of my 2500 to begin with. :{

Anything special I should look for on the dualie?

Increased registration costs,

any type of road tax, being that its a larger vehicle... etc...

Thanks again for the assistance.

 

[dresslered]

musclefixer-

Since you live in Kalifornia as well, I pay $250 just in weight fees on my 3500 (other fees added, I'm now down to $500/year for registration). Ouch! The dually is really not that hard to drive compared to the 2500. If your front mirrors clear, the training wheels will as well! I find that I often back into parking spaces however, which allows the people that park next to you to get out past the fenders.

 

[mbaston]

Boy do I remember California vehicle registration costs. In Alaska, I pay about 150. 00 every two years for my one ton. I also pay an additional 75. 00 borough tax every two years. Pretty cheap!

I made the change to a dually and do not regret. I love the 6 speed although it took a bit to get used to shifting it in comparision to my previous 5 speed. The only thing I haven't been impressed with is my fuel mileage. I hope it improves as it gets further broke in.

 

[dresslered]

Good Point

I hope it improves as it gets further broke in.

I have been getting 15 mpg since new (46,000 miles). Doesn't seem to matter what kind of driving I do. It drops to 11 mpg with my camper. It's definitely not a Neon!

 

[mbaston]

I have been getting 15 to 16 lately with number one fuel and PS supplement. With my camper, I get 10 to 12. I was able to get a tank of #2 and I gained about 1. 5 to 2 mpg. I only have 3000 miles so we will see. I got 21 with my 95 2500 and 19 to 20 with my 2000 2500. I know I am going to loose some with the one ton and extra horsepower. (all 4X4)

 

[roadranger]

Originally posted by lrutigliano

I've owned a 93' Lance but outgrew it. Went shopping at the RV show after looking at Arctic Fox, Lance, Elkhorn, S&S, Citation, etc and ended up buying a Eagle Cap.



Go to http//www.eaglecapcampers.com



They make a very nice slide-out with welded aluminum frame and fiberglass shell with every conceivable "option" as standard. The price is $8k to $10k less than a comparible Lance. They are out of La Grande, OR.

Just got my Eagle Cap 950--NICE unit!



They have all aluminum frame construction, so no dry rot of wooden frame. They also have closed cell insulation that repels water, and fiberglas filon exterior which is less prone to leakage.



Eagle Cap also offers LITE units for those that are weight conscience.

 

[L_Rutigliano]

Roadranger. Congrats on the new Eagle Cap 950. We love ours, the slideout make a night and difference in interior space and also you can seat 4 real people at the dinette. When we bought ours, Jody from Eagle Cap had many visuual aid examples of why theirs is better (wiring connections, plumbing, insulation, no staples, etc, etc) Then we just looked at it real closely, it was so nicely done compared to the others. I also like the fact that Eagle Cap has no components mounted to the exterior of the camper where it fits in the truck bed. This makes backing under it so easy due to not having to worry about the tailgate opening rubbing part of the camper. The bathroom is huge also, you can actually sit on the toilet and not feel cramped.



Enjoy!

 

[roadranger]

lrutigliano- Yes, we love this camper!

Traded in our '01 Lance for it...

WAY bigger space inside it, and the holding tank capacities are awsome.



We just made it thru the weather window, and brought it home from the Big Sky dealer just before this blizzard we're having now.



I've got it on my 2500, and when we weighed it at the scale before leaving Montana- full of water, lp and all the personal gear transfered over from the old camper- found it weighed just under 4200 lbs.



The rear axle was showing 7060 lbs on it, and that was 230 lbs over the 16in. Michelin weight ratings, so we took it easy on the ride back home to Colorado, and made it OK. The truck handles the camper just fine, it's just over the tire weight rating.

... ... So now I'm looking into 19. 5 wheels/tires.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Had a 2500 now 2 3500s

We used to carry a 9. 5 Alpenlite on our 2500 1995 5 speed truck. We put about 120,000 miles on it with the camper on and a 16' cargo trailer behind. I installed a heavy sway bar and air bags and was quite happy with the way it handled. In 2000 we bought a 3500 6 speed and just slid the camper on with NO modifications and have been EXTREMLY IMPRESSED with the better handling. There is no downside to the change as far as hauling the camper. With most trips we are at 18,000# GCVW and does great. When there is some red tractor in a field for me to look at my wife stears from the passenger seat with no problem. (this does not happen in town or busy freeway traffic)



P. S. be sure to order the camper package with your new truck.

 

[NETim]

Eagle Cap

I wish we had a local Eagle Cap dealer. I've got a Lance dealer about 2 hours away and now I've learned that we have an Arctic Fox dealer about 1. 5 hours away. The closest Eagle Cap dealer to me is in Montana apparently.



The Eagle Caps do look like a nice unit but I am uneasy about the dealer situation.



I'll have to go look at the Arctic Fox dealer and have a look see.



Still leanin' towards the Lance with all things considered though.



Tim

 

[roadranger]

NETim- Don't worry about no local Eagle Cap dealers for service work--they will authorize service at any local RVIA dealer/repair facility.



Most problems are with a component, anyway, like water heater, refrigerator, etc. which does NOT require going back to the selling dealer anyway.



We are in Colorado springs, and bought our EC from Big Sky Rv in Bozeman. Just made a long weekend road trip to trade in the Lance on it.



PLUS- there's no sales tax in Montana

 

[Boomer II]

How much is the 11. 5 and the 9. 5? I didn't see any prices on the site.

 

[L_Rutigliano]

I paid $17,300 (without any haggling) at the Portland RV show for the 950 and it included every option except the generator. The price included Coleman 13. 5k Btu AC, rear awning, amplified TV antenna, cable and phone hookup, dual door fridge, electric jacks, microwave, fantastic vent and skylight in bathroom, R-13 insulation, spice rack, knife rack in counter top, magazine rack, outside shower, real wood drawers and cabinets, slide-out dinette, even the battery, full propane tanks and truck to camper cable. The 1150 was $19,300 or $19,500.



This is for a filon siding, welded aluminum frame camper that looks out of this world. It is extremely nice.



All the new campers out there are extremely nice, however, the Eagle Cap is priced substantially lower. Plus, they are made in Oregon, so I am supporting the local economy!



I had a minor cosmetic issue with one of the jacks, called Eagle Cap direct and they sent me a new jack to my house so I didn't have to drive 50 miles to the selling dealer.



So far, I am very pleased.



Hope this helps.

 

[Boomer II]

Thanks for the info lrutigliano, compared to the others that seems like a good price. It's a bit far for me to travel, but if I decide to go the slide in route I'll for sure check these guys out.

 

[Cobra]

Eagel Cap

lrutigliano



What is the web site address for Eagel Cap?

 

[L_Rutigliano]

Cobra,



www.eaglecapcampers.com