Truck camper purchase for 12 Ram 3500 LB SRW??

[Ebo]

Hello all,

just purchased a 2012 Ram 3500 6.7 Long Bed SRW. Planning on purchasing a cab over camper. I was looking into what brand would be my best option. Also, I’ll be using the truck to tow my ocean boat which weights about 7k. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated of size of camper and suspension upgrades I should look into.

thnx
Eric

 

[lpennock]

First thing to do is get your truck weighed so you know how much payload and gross axle weight you have to work with.

Then go to truck camper magazine buyers guide and find campers where the wet loaded weights are less than what you have to work with.

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/truck-campers-buyers-guide/

Hint. Non slide out 9.5 or slide out 8.5 are about all a 3500 SRW can handle.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Good advice above. I have a 8.5 cache camper

 

[Tuesdak]

One of the lighter hardside campers are the fiberglass Northern Lite or Bigfoot. You have 700 LBS or so, weigh it with the boat in tow, on the hitch taking away payload.

 

[JPM]

some name drops

look at Lance,Hellwig, Superhitch,Torklift,Stableloads, Fastguns, Bilstiens, 19.5"

 

[Turbo Terry]

I kind of like northern lights aluminum frame and a pretty much seamless exterior and roofline should not leak as fast as others when it’s outside in the weather all the time. And fairly light weight as well

 

[Turbo Terry]

My camper fits me very good but has a wood frame and metal with caulked seams. I’m always on the look out for leaks and then mold. Plus it’s rather on the heavy side but holds up well to our rough roads. And remember less is more. Warm dry safe comfortable bed no bugs some food. Its camping not the Hilton

 

[lpennock]

I kind of like northern lights aluminum frame and a pretty much seamless exterior and roofline should not leak as fast as others when it’s outside in the weather all the time. And fairly light weight as well

Northern Lite is fiberglass shell like a boat. Same with Big foot. No frame in them.

 

[JPM]

Hello all,

just purchased a 2012 Ram 3500 6.7 Long Bed SRW. Planning on purchasing a cab over camper. I was looking into what brand would be my best option. Also, I’ll be using the truck to tow my ocean boat which weights about 7k. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated of size of camper and suspension upgrades I should look into.

thnx
Eric

After doing this for while I found, get the biggest truck, and the smallest camper that will work for you. Your driving experience will be better. Northstar made in Iowa makes great campers ( for nonbasement models) And Cirrus is way cool .

 

[SSchang]

x2 on the Northstar campers. We bought a new Northstar a year ago, just before Covid. Have spent 78 nights in it so far, it's a well thought out, exceptionally well built camper. Had to have a non basement camper so it would fit through the 12' door in the pole barn. Also needed a non slide for the payload capacity on our 2020 Ram 3500 longbed.

 

[Ebo]

I received my Tork lift kit for the truck this week and plan on installing the kit this week. Where is the best place to install the 7;pin connector in the bed. I bought a 7 pin cable that ties into my OEM harness but the cable is about 7ft and I have a LB. I’m thinking that might be too short. Any ideas?

 

[Turbo Terry]

Mine from my camper builder is on the inside of the box drivers side between the rear fender well and lert front of the corner so when you back under the camper when it’s still up in the air you can reach in and plug it in. It’s a double ended cord

 

[Turbo Terry]

I don’t know how todo pictures here but can do text pictures if that helps. Let me know. Can do a private message

 

[SnoKing]

First thing to do is get your truck weighed so you know how much payload and gross axle weight you have to work with.

Then go to truck camper magazine buyers guide and find campers where the wet loaded weights are less than what you have to work with.

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/truck-campers-buyers-guide/

Hint. Non slide out 9.5 or slide out 8.5 are about all a 3500 SRW can handle.

And he will have 700-1000 pounds of trailer tongue weight, hanging off and extended hitch. Seems that the wrong tool has been purchased to fulfill his desired use! Should a, could a and will some day get a dually to do what he has planned. Or he will have to scale back on what he has planned.

 

[SnoKing]

View attachment 128427 x2 on the Northstar campers. We bought a new Northstar a year ago, just before Covid. Have spent 78 nights in it so far, it's a well thought out, exceptionally well built camper. Had to have a non basement camper so it would fit through the 12' door in the pole barn. Also needed a non slide for the payload capacity on our 2020 Ram 3500 longbed.

And you went to 19.5 rims and tires to handle the weight? Bagged it?

 

[SSchang]

And you went to 19.5 rims and tires to handle the weight? Bagged it?

Yes, 19.5s and air bags.

 

[lpennock]

And he will have 700-1000 pounds of trailer tongue weight, hanging off and extended hitch. Seems that the wrong tool has been purchased to fulfill his desired use! Should a, could a and will some day get a dually to do what he has planned. Or he will have to scale back on what he has planned.

Agree that he will have to keep the tongue weight in mind when doing the calculations. With proper use of a weight distribution hitch it can be done. Forgetting the bogus GVW rating he should be able to stay within GAWR with the combination. An upgrade to a E129 tire or moving up to 19.5s will give plenty of margin even if slightly over the Ratings.

 

[Ebo]

Hello all
I ended picking up a 16 adventurer 86fb which is about 2400lbs dry. Installed the tork lifts last week and Timbren SES suspension kit. Would you folks recommend placing plywood under camper or a rubber mat? I’ll need to improvise when I pick it up b/c my rubber mat for the bed is on order still. Lastly, does the front of the camper need to be flush cab of bed? The previous owner used a few 2x4s in the front near cab to off set the camper to adjust the center of gravity over the axle. Hopefully this it a big red flag he has used the camper like this for a few years will no issues.

 

[lpennock]

Congratulations on the camper.

You should use a rubber mat under the camper. It helps to keep the camper from sliding around. If you need additional height to clear cab or rails, put plywood under the rubber mat.

CG doesn't need to be directly over axle, it just shouldn't be behind the axle more than a couple inches.

 

[Ebo]

Congratulations on the camper.

You should use a rubber mat under the camper. It helps to keep the camper from sliding around. If you need additional height to clear cab or rails, put plywood under the rubber mat.

CG doesn't need to be directly over axle, it just shouldn't be behind the axle more than a couple inches.

Thanks, I’ll post pick once it’s on my rig.