Center of gravity/weight question

The only reason the COG is further forward on the 8.5' camper is because it's designed for short bed trucks. If both campers were long bed campers, the COG would be in about the same place, and the difference in handling would be negligible.

I would not let the COG dictate what camper I chose. Go with what you like best. A 5000lb camper with a COG 6" behind the rear axle only has the effect of a 500lb trailer tongue at the bumper.

Area13 wrote:
Here is the brochure for the models (2015) with weights and COG.

We are looking at the 86SBS and the 910DB

The 86SBS is the one I prefer and weighs less along with a further forward COG by 14". I would think that along with 200lbs less would make it easier on my SRW along with more weight on the front wheels??

http://www.amlrv.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2015-Adventurer-Brochure.pdf

Good choice. I have a 86FB on a Ram 3500 SRW LB and hardly notice the weight. Fuel mileage drops due to wind resistance

Rough calculation, not counting water tanks and other internal stuff is pretty simple.
When you have so called 8 foot camper, you have about 11 feet of the camper (including cab-over) in front of the long bed axle, when 4 feet behind it. So center of gravity is way up front.
When you have 10' camper, the front is still 11 feet, but you are going to have 6' behind the axle and not only taller rear is much heavier than cabover, but often holding tanks (read heavy) are located at very rear.
So even 2 feet might not sound like much more, but the rear axle will get good beating with it
Per my observation manufacturers don't pay attention to make center of gravity up front.
Generators, propane tanks, batteries usually are mounted in the rear.

If CG is 37" in a 6.5' bed, it is 37" in an 8' bed. Both measured from the front. The CG is for the camper, NOT the truck.

The CG of any given camper is specified by the camper manufacturer at the time it left the factory. Dealer add-ons will change the CG, either forward or aft. Generally adding AC is located on or near the CG. I have a Travel Lite 840SBRX with a CG of 37.5" measure from the front of the bed.

My Dodge truck manual specifies a CG from 25" to 75" measured from the rear of the bed. The above TC places the factory CG at 38.5" from the rear. Well within the truck specs. However, that places the CG about 1" to the rear of my rear axle. Not really a problem because now we have to load it. Putting more weight in the front than the rear will pull the overall CG forward.

Caution must be taken not only with loading up the initial loads, but be aware of the transfer of fluids from the front to the rear as you fill grey water and blackwater while lightening the load on the front because of the fresh water being used.

with my fresh water tank empty and my grey & blackwater tanks full, my CG mover rearward 12", still 2" in front of Dodge minimum but it does get a little light on the front end so empty those tanks as soon as possible.

Through experience, storing food, clothes, generator, misc. as far forward as you can get it, the CG will only move about 8" front to rear of the rear axle. Each camper is different because of closets, cabinets, etc. so you will just have to experiment to find your best average.

Here is the brochure for the models (2015) with weights and COG.

We are looking at the 86SBS and the 910DB

The 86SBS is the one I prefer and weighs less along with a further forward COG by 14". I would think that along with 200lbs less would make it easier on my SRW along with more weight on the front wheels??

http://www.amlrv.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2015-Adventurer-Brochure.pdf

Yeah, I think my current camper drives better with the water tank full (more weight forward).

I assume those CG measurements are from the front (different builders seem to do it differently)? And if one is a short bed model and measured from the front, will it be the same place relative to a long bed pickup? 37" aft in a 6'6" bed could be 55" aft in an 8', depending on where it ends up?

14" forward CG will make more difference than the 200 lbs difference in weight, in my experience.

I was just giving an observation that 200-300 lbs in a different place can make the same camper feel different. In effect, the COG moved when the weight was added.

The COG of the 2 campers i'm looking at (same company) is-

8.6'--37" Advertised short or long bed model.
9.10'-51" Long bed only.

Seems like 14" froward would put some weight on my front?

I typically run with empty or close to empty holding tanks when possible. Not sure if the tanks are in different spots on these 2 similar models by same company.

"It depends". I found my BF 10.5 drove better than the BF 9.6, despite being 600 lbs heavier. In the 9.6, propane tanks, batteries, and holding tank were in the overhang, fresh water tank in the middle. In the 10.5, propane tanks, batteries, holding tank, and fresh water tank are nearly against the front bulkhead, well forward of the axle.

If everything is distributed the same, shortening the camper by 16" will move the CG 8" forward. Moving 150 lbs of batteries from the back to the front can move the CG forward by about 6". If CG is the concern, I would look closely at the details of the individual campers, including manufacturer claimed CG if available.