2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Will my truck be max'd-out?

[ENepomuceno]

I need advise if my truck can carry a camper that I have in mind and also

pull my boat without killing myself nor my truck.

I'm calculating all the weight ratings, and they don't add up to the payload--

to me anyway--need help.

I have a 2002 stock quad cab, auto, 4x4, long bed weighs a tad over 7000#

and has the stock 265 load-Es.

It has the camper option from dodge but don't know how much it will help.

The camper is a Lance 1030 weighing 2770 dry but 3500# after options.

My boat is 3300#.

The GVWR sticker says 8800, GAWR front 5200 and rears 6200, but my dodge brochure says 7500 with the cummins. The springs are rated at 4850 front and again 6200 or 7500 rear depending on which one is real.

Here are the calc's--are they correct?



Payload=GVWR8800 - Trk7000 =1800--huh, can't be!The book says 2980#.



The weight on the axles:

Truck 7000

camper 3500

gear/food 500

pssgrs 600

tng wt 500

total= 12100#



The best the axles can carry is 11400 or 12700 depending on the figure.

I'd be either about 700# over or under. Is this do-able?

I can't match this to the payload the truck is suppose to carry.

The truck should beable to yank all this weight.

I just don't know if it can carry it--buying a 3500 is not an option.

 

[rrl989]

Doesn't matter what the book says, 8800-7000= total payload, most disregard that info and buy whatever camper they wish. My "real" payload is 3800 lbs. You are right to question your payload first! I had a "wet" 3600 lb 1110 Lance, and with fuel, passengers, "minimum" camping stuff, I scaled over my 11000 gvwr. I am now looking for a much lighter, non-slideout camper for my dually. You may want to consider a popup slide-in, like an "Outfitter" if you are concerned about staying your limits. Safety is the biggest factor for me. Good Luck

 

[SnoKing]

You need a dually! Snoking

 

[Lordsman]

Camper set-up

My '99 QC 4x4 LB, carries a Lance 880('93), and weighs 3000 lbs wet. Loaded(w/ 2 people) it probably weighs around 4000 lbs. or more, as I also have a photovoltaic setup with golf cart batteries in the generator compartment. I do have airbags(Airlift 5000), and truck has factory camper overloads. Factory camper load sheet says I can only carry a 1420 lb camper. You should have no problem if you add airbags. The Lance dealer here put them on for me in '99 for $450 and is a standerd procedure for them when setting up trucks for campers. I haul the camper all over through Colo. , Wyo. , Idaho, Ariz. , etc. . , never had a problem, tires are 265/E Michelins. Air pressure in tires w/ camper loaded are 65lbs/front and 80/rear(cold). Hauling your boat may require receiver modifications if you extend the hitch out over 18". MAKE SURE you are set-up properly to haul your boat. The air bags are nice as you can level up the truck nicely.

Mike

 

[pwerwagn]

A lot of people have this dillema. Once you put gas and people in your truck, there aint much left in the way of hauling weight. Legally, you have to stay within your trucks limits. It is not enforced in most places, but if an accident were to happen and your truck is overloaded, insurance may deny your claim. Having said that, I have overloaded mine often. Not intentionally, but it just happened. I even go well over my towing capacity often. My grandpa has an 02 dually with a lance camper and he tows a jeep on a car hauler trailer. He is even over his GVW, and he has a dually. (I think he has a 11. 5' lance, and the trailer/jeep with all gear weighs ~7K). My other grandpa has a 96 and he also hauls a lance camper and boat, and he is overloaded everytime also. It is hard to stay within the limits of these trucks, legally. However, they handle it fine. Make sure your boat has some good brakes to help with safety. A good set of airbags on the back goes a long way to help with the weight also.

Power wise, you will be fine stock on all but the biggest hills. The cummins only gets better the more you load it!!!



--Jeff

 

[ndurbin]

Call and talk to your local state DOT or highway patrol office about being overweight. Then call your insurance agent/company and ask them if being overloaded somehow voids your insurance policy. If you did get in a wreck and their are no clauses about being overweight, they should/would be required to pay if your policy was current at the time, but they'll most likely drop you like a hot potatoe afterwards. The 8800 GVWR is a joke for these trucks but it's what the sticker says unfortunately. But DC makes no sense putting the GVWR that far below the combined axle ratings.



Nathan

 

[ENepomuceno]

Guys, thank you! This is what I really needed was to here others loading their rigs.

Looks like I'm gonna have to drive carefully and stay with the nonslide camper to minimize weight and add air bags + the extension.

I'll look into my insurance and ask some CHPs regarding weights.

Thanks again.

 

[DPelletier]

Your 1800 lbs is your real legal capacity. You have the lower of the two axle ratings, because of your auto (D70). I had the EXACT same truck as you do and hauled the camper in my sig (loaded at 3217 lbs) which was both lighter and shorter than yours. Custom 5 leaf overloads and Rancho 9000X's and it was borderline with my camper, but made me totally uncomfortable with my trailer hooked up.



Bottom line: IMO you need a dually for what you are considering. I suggest a maximum of 2500 lbs on a HD 3/4 ton SRW and NO TRAILER. You will likely be over the legal limits with a dually as well, but at least it'd be close.



Dave



ps. the advertised payload figures are garbage as they are based on totally unrealistic truck weights.

 

[Rman]

I have a lance 1030 and haul it with my 02 6 speed 3/4 ton. It's way over loaded, and way illegal. I got duped by the dealer and didn't do my research until after i bought everything. I have made some improvements with airbags and better brakes. I'm comfortable towing it because I always stay well under the posted speed limits and try to avoid "situations". But still, it comes down to being legal and I'm just not, period.



I've even towed a dual axle car trailer with this setup... only loaded with a dirtbike and 4 wheeler and some misc. camping gear. Truck pulled and stopped fine, but I'm sure I was just a few thousand pounds over my limit.