Can you put a short bed camper in a long bed pickup?

Grit dog wrote:

Jonnygsx wrote:

ticki2 wrote:
In the sticky Truck camper university , on the second page , scroll down to TOWING/HITCH EXTENSIONS . THERE are several good threads explaining weight distribution with hitch weight and it's effect on axles , including simple ways to calculate .

Cool thanks, so like I said, not 300lbs

170" wheelbase length
60" hitch to axle distance
500 lb tongue weight

60 / 170 x 500 = 176

Yes, you understand that part. What you're not getting is the rear axle will see an additional 5' x 500lbs in your example, so 2500 ft lbs of torsional force or moment (less because the rear spring hanger is another say, 2.5' back). So actually the rear spring hangars will see about 1250lbs total. Divided by 2 springs, each spring will feel like it has an additional 600lbs pressing down on it....roughly.

It's hard to explain, but again, hold 50lbs with one hand, hanging down at your side (or on your shoulder). Now hold the same 50lbs arm straight out, another 2-3' away. It's still 50 lbs, but your arm and shoulder think its heavier. your truck feels the same way!

Oh well then I'll just give up since there is no truck big enough to haul a 2800lb camper plus dirtbikes. Thanks for solving my issue.

Jonnygsx wrote:

ticki2 wrote:
In the sticky Truck camper university , on the second page , scroll down to TOWING/HITCH EXTENSIONS . THERE are several good threads explaining weight distribution with hitch weight and it's effect on axles , including simple ways to calculate .

Cool thanks, so like I said, not 300lbs

170" wheelbase length
60" hitch to axle distance
500 lb tongue weight

60 / 170 x 500 = 176

Yes, you understand that part. What you're not getting is the rear axle will see an additional 5' x 500lbs in your example, so 2500 ft lbs of torsional force or moment (less because the rear spring hanger is another say, 2.5' back). So actually the rear spring hangars will see about 1250lbs total. Divided by 2 springs, each spring will feel like it has an additional 600lbs pressing down on it....roughly.

It's hard to explain, but again, hold 50lbs with one hand, hanging down at your side (or on your shoulder). Now hold the same 50lbs arm straight out, another 2-3' away. It's still 50 lbs, but your arm and shoulder think its heavier. your truck feels the same way!

ticki2 wrote:
In the sticky Truck camper university , on the second page , scroll down to TOWING/HITCH EXTENSIONS . THERE are several good threads explaining weight distribution with hitch weight and it's effect on axles , including simple ways to calculate .

Cool thanks, so like I said, not 300lbs

170" wheelbase length
60" hitch to axle distance
500 lb tongue weight

60 / 170 x 500 = 176

In the sticky Truck camper university , on the second page , scroll down to TOWING/HITCH EXTENSIONS . THERE are several good threads explaining weight distribution with hitch weight and it's effect on axles , including simple ways to calculate .

Grit dog wrote:
^ No it won’t be the same, unless the moment arms are the same, ie same distance from rear axle to applied point load and from rear axle to front axle.
Johnny I know you don’t want to believe it, but moment = force x distance in a static equation. I didn’t make the rules of statics and dynamics so don’t shoot the messenger. Lol
If you hung the dirt bikes far enough off the back of the truck, you could pop a wheelie with the truck.

I literally don't know what you are arguing here. I agreed that you could shift some weight off the front axle to the rear but that it will be pretty minor.

^ No it won’t be the same, unless the moment arms are the same, ie same distance from rear axle to applied point load and from rear axle to front axle.
Johnny I know you don’t want to believe it, but moment = force x distance in a static equation. I didn’t make the rules of statics and dynamics so don’t shoot the messenger. Lol
If you hung the dirt bikes far enough off the back of the truck, you could pop a wheelie with the truck.

ticki2 wrote:

Jonnygsx wrote:

ticki2 wrote:
Ignoring leverage doesn't make it go away , it is physics . On a seesaw you can easily lift 600# with 100# depending on Where the weights are placed

Thats true. And that scenario would be much closer to how this would function. When the fulcrum is the rear wheel you are balancing the load with the whole front end and engine of the truck. So it isn't the same as a straight lever with no balance to the load. I do not agree that 600lbs on the tongue is multiplied beyond that number. 600lbs is 600lbs. Does your camper weigh more because it also extends beyond the wheel both fore and aft? Didn't think so.

No it doesn't change the total weight . Any weight you put behind the rear axle will to some degree unweight the front axle , how much depends on the weight and distance behind the rear axle . So the weight on the rear axle will be the initial weight plus the weight taken off the front axle .

I could believe that, You'd need to do some actual math to get a real number though. There is far greater leverage and weight forward of the rear axle than there is behind it with a hitch carrier. So I personally don't believe you'd be adding much beyond the weight of the bikes and carrier. Certainly not 300+lbs.

Jonnygsx wrote:

ticki2 wrote:
Ignoring leverage doesn't make it go away , it is physics . On a seesaw you can easily lift 600# with 100# depending on Where the weights are placed

Thats true. And that scenario would be much closer to how this would function. When the fulcrum is the rear wheel you are balancing the load with the whole front end and engine of the truck. So it isn't the same as a straight lever with no balance to the load. I do not agree that 600lbs on the tongue is multiplied beyond that number. 600lbs is 600lbs. Does your camper weigh more because it also extends beyond the wheel both fore and aft? Didn't think so.

No it doesn't change the total weight . Any weight you put behind the rear axle will to some degree unweight the front axle , how much depends on the weight and distance behind the rear axle . So the weight on the rear axle will be the initial weight plus the weight taken off the front axle .

jimh425 wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

jimh425 wrote:
... I do think you'd have to ride with the tailgate off...

Not sure why the tailgate on would be an issue that would require it to be off:h
I could envision it working either way as a user preference option.

If you put the tailgate down, it will hit the dirtbike. ;) I'm assuming the TC door won't open with the tailgate up.

Gotcha, could do a soft tailgate if you want to travel with anything stuck back there, like fuel.

d3500ram wrote:

jimh425 wrote:
... I do think you'd have to ride with the tailgate off...

Not sure why the tailgate on would be an issue that would require it to be off:h
I could envision it working either way as a user preference option.

If you put the tailgate down, it will hit the dirtbike. ;) I'm assuming the TC door won't open with the tailgate up.