2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Truck Camper weight

[TboneMan]

This past weekend I ran across a truck camper. Its "new" and the dealer has been stuck with it for nearly 3 years. My guess is I can get it for a pretty good price.

The dealer has turned away several potential buyers because they didn't have enough truck to haul it.



The gross weight of the camper is 2500lbs. My truck weight empty is about 7100 lbs. That would put me gross vehicle weight at 9600lbs dry (800 lbs over DC the rated total vehicle weight).



I have the camper special and towing package on my truck. Is this camper too heavy for my stock truck?

 

[Big MAK]

7100 is pretty heavy for a 3/4 ton. Does that include the fiberglass topper? Those things are very heavy. I suspect that w/o the fiberglass topper added in you'll be at or just under the trucks rated weight with the slide-in camper. Also; check the rated load and/or bed weight. I think it's more then 2500 lbs; so you shouldn't have a problem. Of-course don't overload; but it's ultimately a personal call if it's close.

 

[RADdodge]

A 2500 4x4 has a payload capacity of about 3,000 lbs. It looks to me like you should be ok if the camper is really 2,500 lbs. I have a 3500 with a Lance camper and it weighs in at 3,860 wet, loaded and not counting people.

 

[WyoJim]

I haul an S&S Camper that has a plate saying it weighs 2630 lbs. Before I went cross country last week I weighed it. WET. Rear axle weighed 5440, Dodge limit 6080. Total weight 9720, Dodge limit 8800. 245/75 R16 tires, 80# rears, 60# front. Handles like a dream.



Got hit with what the radio said was a 50 mile an hour cross wind in Wyoming. Tie down pulled the rear bumper up 2 inches on one side, but she didn't go over. Haven't took it off to look for bed damage yet.



It has about 30,000 on it with the camper on and this was the windiest 4200 miles I ever drove. With the EZ it still got 14. 6 MPG overall and a hill don't mean nothing to it.

 

[LandShark]

Tbone: There are many 2500 owners that carry similar camper weight. You didn't say what the camper is, but I suspect that it weighs 3 to 500 pounds more than the tag.



If you drive like you're in a race and are always in a big hurry, you need a 3500. If you can cope with the limitations of the truck then the 2500 will be fine. You may need air lifts and it would be wise to use frame type tie-downs for at least the front, to minimize bed damage.

 

[BV]

Been there and done that and now I have a travel trailer because I was uncomfortable in the legal sense of being that much over the gvwr.

If you do go that heavy you would be better off going with the mounts that go to the frame like those made by Torklift instead of those by HappiJac

 

[LMautone]

What kind of camper is this. A 2500# camper is not heavy in the world of slide-ins. Actually it's probably on the light side. This makes me wonder why a DEALER would have a hard time finding a buyer with enough truck to haul it. Double check everything. And of course good luck if you get it.

 

[brobeson]

Over wieght?

My 1998. 5 2500 with 4 people, 1/2 tank of fuel, 5er hitch, tool box, etc. wieghs 7700#. With an 8800# limit, I would be over grossed. The truck will handle the wieght fine, its the laws that you have to worry about, but no one does.



If you do it, make sure your tires are good and rated for your wieght and speed.



Good luck.



Bob

 

[Lordsman]

T-Bone,

Weak link on Dodge 3/4 ton trucks are the wheels & tires. Beef them up, add some air-bags to keep it level(no sag) in the rear and your off. I too wonder about the dealer saying they won' t sell that camper because of weight. I have a '99 with airbags, my camper(Lance) weighs 3050lbs wet(water & propane full) and no problems. I figure my load to be somewhere in the 3800-4000 lb. area loaded and with the family aboard. The Lance dealer here in Denver(Sundance RV) always adds airbags 3/4 or 1 ton trucks regardless. Better to have a dually in my opinion(safer), but a 3/4 ton can do the job.

 

[Deezul1]

I had a 3/4 ton Ford 4X4 rated 7700 and the truck wieghed 5800 and I put a 3100 lb Dreamer on it with air bags and upgraded tires and wheels and premium brake shoes and used it for years with no trouble. The truck will do it if you pay attention to the details and dont try stupid stuff with it.

Good Luck

 

[Cobra]

Tbone,

I have an 01 2500 with the towing pkg and camper pkg. It includes the larger wheels and tires (Michelin 265R75x16E). I haul a Coachman Ranger which weighs in at more than 3200#. My gross vehicle weight is 10,400#. The truck will handle it with no problems. I know the GVWR on the door jam is only 8800 but my truck is identicale to a 1 ton, RAM 3500. I checked out all of the specs at the dealer and there is no difference between my truck and a 1 ton, with the larger tires.



I too would be concerned about that dealer. A camper which weighs 2500# can be handled by many pickup trucks and by any Dodge with a Cummins.



I installed air bags on the rear but I don't think they are needed and I am considering removing them.



In the most recent issue of the TDR on page 54 you can find a comparison between the RAM 2500 and 3500. It clearly show the trucks being the dame other than tires and wheels. The camper pkg corrects this discrepancy.

 

[HomerDog]

T-Bone,



A 2500 lb camper for your truck is nothing. I used to haul a 2000LB camper in my '95 1500 Ram 4x4 with no problems, and I pulled a boat as well. My new camper weighs in at 2K and it hardley even squats my truck down (although it is a 3500). If you have concerns, put on some Rancho 9000's and some good air bags to level the load. I think your truck would be just fine. Just curious, what kind and how much$$?? Let us know if you have camper specific questions... .



Dave

 

[GSmith]

my first post... I have been enjoying this board for sometime now and since I have decided to get a new cummins I thought I should be posting a little.



I see you guys mention the truck will be over gvw. I was wondering is this for the dodge truck itself or for the department of motor vehicles?



I have a ford 250 diesel that they originally tagged at 7000 lbs so I went to the DMV and had them change it to 10,000lbs. Maybe you can't do that in all states but you can in MD. It did cost me an additional $30 for a two year registration.



Great board

 

[Dieselnerd]

With my Lance Camper on the truck it weighs 9600#. I'm sure it weighs more when I am packed for a fishing trip with full water and tools and small generator along. Front 4300#, Rear 5300#. I have never had a problem. Drives nice and I do go on forest roads and once in a while no roads on my hunting land.

 

[jsimpson]

Anyone know what a Lance 900 with generator and electric shocks and all the options weighs? It sticks out 38" from the rear of the truck and has a queen overhead, but I can't find the weight on any of the tags and Lance can't tell me!

 

[Steveo]

I looked at this same model camper today, it's dry weight is 2840

 

[Regcabguy]

I haul an S&S Camper that has a plate saying it weighs 2630 lbs. Before I went cross country last week I weighed it. WET. Rear axle weighed 5440, Dodge limit 6080. Total weight 9720, Dodge limit 8800. 245/75 R16 tires, 80# rears, 60# front. Handles like a dream.



Got hit with what the radio said was a 50 mile an hour cross wind in Wyoming. Tie down pulled the rear bumper up 2 inches on one side, but she didn't go over. Haven't took it off to look for bed damage yet.



It has about 30,000 on it with the camper on and this was the windiest 4200 miles I ever drove. With the EZ it still got 14. 6 MPG overall and a hill don't mean nothing to it.

I had Fred install a Pacbrake and Smart Controller on my '98.5. It had a DTT trans also.
That instilled some confidence in the braking ability.

 

[SnoKing]

I towed a 5th wheel with a Std Cab equiped with the same options. Had 2600-3000 pin weight on the rear axle. Did not need air bags.

What law are people concerned about breaking if they go over a pickups GVWR? If you are in a state that license tonnage, be sure you have enough. I was licensed at 12K with the 2001.5 4x4 auto, std cab LB 2500. 265 tires give you 6830 pounds capacity on the rear axle. Get it and go camping. Turn the Rancho 9000's up before you head out.

ETH = 6 speed manual and Dana 80, right. Make sure you have synthetic lube in the diffs. My was an auto ETC with Dana 70, never a problem. Combined weight was 20,500, with around 325HP and /650 at the rear wheels. Loved my Banks exhaust brake.

Enjoy! These 2nd gens SRWs with camper option were SRW 3500s in hiding!

 

[NIsaacs]

I towed a 5th wheel with a Std Cab equiped with the same options. Had 2600-3000 pin weight on the rear axle. Did not need air bags.

Enjoy! These 2nd gens SRWs with camper option were SRW 3500s in hiding!

I agree, with 285/75x16 (3750 lb each) 3k pin weight is a nice load for me. I do wish I had a 2 speed rear axle with about a 3:00 high and a 4:56 low

Nick

 

[Monstermaker]

I looked at this same model camper today, it's dry weight is 2840

Camper "dry weight" is a meaningless and misleading number that you should never take as fact. In the real world, truck campers are generally 1000 pounds heavier. "Dry weight" doesn't just mean empty tanks (and you don't leave on a trip with empty tanks anyway!!) but no equipment - no battery, no A/C, no nothing but as bare and stripped a shell as possible, so as to be able to post a small number.

On the flip side of the coin, the trucks can handle plenty more than the little sticker says and there's no law that says you have to stay under the mfgs' rating.
You really only need to be within what your tires are rated for.

All the people who claim legal issues with going over the rated gvw are just plain making it up and haven't read the actual DOT laws. The government does not care what your owner's manual says. They care about how much weight is on what size and how many tires, within what amount of space.