Will this Camper work with my truck...?Don't know the camper model... maybe you can help me. It's a 1995 Veri Lite, truck bed box measures 48" wide x 104 1/2" long, extends past bumper 48". Door is at back corner. Truck is 2001 Dodge 2500, Diesel, 8 ft long bed.I'm not sure of the camper's weight... and I didn't get the Vin number before I drove away. This may not be much to go on, but I hope you Guys and Gals can get me started doing the right thing first. thanks... Dan

Your 2001 2500 only has a 'payload' of 2200# before any passengers/stuff is loaded.That 1995 Veri Lite is a misnomer ........at 11' long it most likely starts at 3500# (not much available about their specs)Found this old post from 2012.........LINK

I'm a bit confused....are you looking to buy this camper and want to know if your truck can handle the weight?Start looking for the cargo carry capacity (CCC) of your truck, it will either be on the drivers side door jam, glove box lid or on a piece of paper that came with the truck.The truck camper weight can be found on the back of the camper or on an inside door cabinet.2500 trucks are pretty limited in their CCC.

Even if the truck might handle about 4000 lb, the camper weight will go almost 100% on rear axle, what will make 20-30% overload. Roughly any camper longer than 10' needs dually.

http://www.visualsc.com/tc_calc.htm

The camper extends past the truck's rear bumper 48"? Wow, that's a long one.It will put any 2500 overweight, no question on that. That doesn't mean the truck can't be modified to handle the weight. 19.5" rims and tires, super springs or air bags, HD shocks, etc. can be added to physically make the truck more capable. It will still be overweight by the door sticker but not necessarily by physics.However, as someone who's carried a camper about that large on a 3500 SRW and then switched to a 3500 dually, don't bother with modifying that truck. Trade it for a dually or get a different camper.

Camper Weight vs My Truck....? HELP.... QUICK...LOL.

35 Replies

Reddog1
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2016
Now, we are getting on track. I think there may be times that each of us should be on meds.

Wayne
brothers
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
LOL.....
d3500ram
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2016
Ya' know- there are some folks who do need medicine for various reasons... and in the context of topic conversation to just blurt out that "one may need to take medicine" is offensive to those who need to take it on a daily basis.

...that said, where is my bottle of Jack Daniels.
:B :W ;) :)
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2016
brothers wrote:
but to make me sound like I'm calling helpful Guys a liar... that's just over the top... he needs more than medicine for that attitude.

Yep, it's completely reasonable to tell people they need medicine though. ;)
brothers
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
I just hauled it 20 miles with white knuckles. I have no intentions of using it the way it is. I'm sure it's underrated... no argument there. Right now it's off the truck, awaiting some repairs, then I'll get the truck weighed empty... just for information. I would not use it on a regular basic without getting into tires, springs, and whatever in order to be safe.

First things first... thanks....

Ps... I'm totally okay with someone telling me not to be over confident... but to make me sound like I'm calling helpful Guys a liar... that's just over the top... he needs more than medicine for that attitude.
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2016
brothers wrote:
Mkirsch... you need to get back on your medicine.... quick

Not to speak for mkirsch, but the point is that he doesn't want you to be overconfident based on your small sample. The sticker is a guideline and doesn't mean a lot by itself.

For example, your truck is around 16 years old. I'm assuming it doesn't have the original tires. Did you put tires with a higher load capacity or lower? Are they new or old?
brothers
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
Mkirsch... you need to get back on your medicine.... quick
Reddog1
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2016
mkirsch, I do not see where anyone has called "everyone here are liars". I think you are out of line with that comment. We are all entitled to have our own experiences and opinions. I don't see where any of us are liars due to that fact.

Wayne
Moderator
mkirsch
Nomad II
Mar 14, 2016
brothers wrote:
I got it home okay... no problem at all. I thought it would have swayed more, but it handled way better than I thought it would at 60 mph.

You've experienced a far-from-ideal situation under ideal conditions. Looks like it was a beautiful dry day, no wind, short drive, straight level smooth roads... You might have gotten it up to 60, but not for very long and you probably didn't meet any tractor trailers doing 60MPH in the opposite direction.

You also haven't filled the tank with water, or put anything in the camper. Camper weight is going to go up by at least another 500lbs.

In short, that wasn't a good sample of the overall driving experience, so do not declare victory and call everyone here liars yet.
brothers
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
Reddog... I do love that setup of yours...I saved the pic into my favorites...my wife is a Red-Alholic.

I'm not going to get into any kind of a hurry and I'm taking everything you Guys say as Wisdom.

Right now it's jacket up in the yard awaiting some needed repairs.

I'll get the empty truck weighed first, and then try to figure out what I have to work with from the Vin number and Truck weight tag. Then I can reinstall the camper...get it all weighed... and then figure out the best route to go with tires, springs, hangers, hitch, etc etc.

I believe you Boys have me on the right track.... thanks...Dan