1875# wet wt camper on dodge ram 1500?

The Lance 815 was touted to be able to be loaded on a 1 series truck. My Lance 165-s is 1742, wet per spec sheet. I bought it from a guy that had it on his 1 series Dodge p.u. and he had air bags and upgraded tires. He said it handled O.K. I loaded my new purchase on a 2 series Dodge truck with lots of suspension upgrades and it works fine, and has never felt unsafe.
The truth is, it can be done. Many, and some on here, have made the smallest hardside on a 1 series work, usually as the first step in TC nirvana. The ultimate truth is, you are closer to the Overload Abyss, and have little margin of safety, and extra carrying ability. As Clint Eastwood said, "Are you feeling lucky?"
jefe

I carried a dry wt 1750 camper on a 2008 Tundra, which did have a 1500lb payload. I put on air bags and upgraded to e class tires. Tundras are a bit overbuilt compared to other 1/2 tons but I realized soon that this was a short term deal. When those tires were at 80lbs and the air bags @ 60 everything went well but I could tell that the suspension was loaded. Take the tires down to 60 and it was not a good ride at all. I would venture that that truck has closer to a 1200lb payload being older. Not what you want no matter how good a deal it looks at first you will be unhappy after a trip or two. If you are driving through passes it won't even take that long. Do yourself a favor and look for a one ton, the price difference is not much. You will be glad you did.

ruthiebaby888 wrote:
safe handling for driving all over the USA at fast speeds - good stopping etc.

No that wouldn't be a safe idea. Yes it obviously has been done by the current owner, but do you know how fast he drives.? But that really doesn't matter we all can be lucky and buck the odds for awhile. A 3/4 ton is a much better idea.
I thought you were kicking around the idea of 1 tons and DRW for this camper. And now you are ready to roll with an older 1/2 ton?

SugarHillCTD wrote:
Then it looks like 2500+ lbs. On a 1/2 ton????

Yep !

And since the Ram is a club cab, don't ask.

Add 4 people, dogs & whatever else ?

Then it looks like 2500+ lbs. On a 1/2 ton????

SugarHillCTD wrote:
That wet weight- who says it weighs 1875?

While getting to a scale is a good idea, driving with it on a half ton wouldn't be.

Remember that you will be adding to that weight which will easily have you over 2000# even if the 1875 figure is accurate.

Hold that thought for a few minutes- the "weight police" will be arriving at this thread very quickly. :R I can hear the sirens now......

First of all, 1875# not the wet weight. It's a 2003 Lance 815. Don't ask me how I know that.

As far as I know, 1878# is the dry weight & that depends on options.

That wet weight- who says it weighs 1875?

While getting to a scale is a good idea, driving with it on a half ton wouldn't be.

Remember that you will be adding to that weight which will easily have you over 2000# even if the 1875 figure is accurate.

Hold that thought for a few minutes- the "weight police" will be arriving at this thread very quickly. :R I can hear the sirens now......

I had a camper about that heavy on my old Chev 3/4T and that was pushing it - way too heavy for a 1/2T IMO.

A Payload information sticker never was on any 1998 Ram 1500, only GVWR.

My husband says no.... not unless it's been heavily modified. By the time you load it, your camper will be over 2000 lbs

On edit - a NEW ram 1500 has a payload of around 1500#, depending on the model.

I can't help but wonder if the payload stickers are gone because the owner doesn't want you to know? And he may have used the truck to carry the camper - but that doesn't mean it's advised. I also see sad old Class A motorhomes pulling huge enclosed carhauler trailers at our nearby racetrack..... but it's sure something I wouldn't want to do.