GVWR; how close are you?
I guess there is no way to post a poll on this forum. But with several threads discussing ways to increase the carrying capacity of trucks used to haul slide in campers I got to wondering how everyon...
Forum Discussion
After years of lurking, I joined just because of this subject. I had a Lance 11'6" on a 94 Chevy C3500 dually years ago and never thought about total weights. We went everywhere in it and I pulled a big ski boat, a couple different race car trailers with never a problem. Got rid of the TC when family started growing but always missed it.
After kids went off to college, picked up a Lance 1121 to go on my 2000 Chevy C3500 DRW. Had it a couple years been a bunch of places and really like it. Earlier this year, I had an inside dual blow and rip the fender off. Now I keep up on tire pressures, use good tires (the one that blew was a Goodyear with only about 5k miles on it). Pulled the wheels and the other side inside tire was cracked all around the sidewall. Naturally, now I'm kinda skittish about the whole weight deal and spent a bunch of time here trying to figure out if or how bad the tire problem is.
Our truck with a camper shell and tail gate on is 6800 lbs with a full tank of fuel and me in the truck. I figure the shell and tailgate are 300-400 lbs or so. Pulled the shell, put the camper on and the truck is 10,720 with no water and only minimal stuff. That's about 720 over the GVWR but well under tire ratings (new Michelin tires rated at 2480 ea as duals)....
So I'm trying to decide, sell the camper and buy something lighter. Kinda my preference as I like my truck and it's paid for. DW hates the idea of any camper with a wet shower. Alternatively, do I keep the camper and buy a new truck. Wife likes that idea but we only drive the truck about 5000 miles a year and I hate the idea of tying up $50k or so on something I don't use all the time....
We're off to Whiskytown lake over Labor Day and gonna try to come up with a plan...
After kids went off to college, picked up a Lance 1121 to go on my 2000 Chevy C3500 DRW. Had it a couple years been a bunch of places and really like it. Earlier this year, I had an inside dual blow and rip the fender off. Now I keep up on tire pressures, use good tires (the one that blew was a Goodyear with only about 5k miles on it). Pulled the wheels and the other side inside tire was cracked all around the sidewall. Naturally, now I'm kinda skittish about the whole weight deal and spent a bunch of time here trying to figure out if or how bad the tire problem is.
Our truck with a camper shell and tail gate on is 6800 lbs with a full tank of fuel and me in the truck. I figure the shell and tailgate are 300-400 lbs or so. Pulled the shell, put the camper on and the truck is 10,720 with no water and only minimal stuff. That's about 720 over the GVWR but well under tire ratings (new Michelin tires rated at 2480 ea as duals)....
So I'm trying to decide, sell the camper and buy something lighter. Kinda my preference as I like my truck and it's paid for. DW hates the idea of any camper with a wet shower. Alternatively, do I keep the camper and buy a new truck. Wife likes that idea but we only drive the truck about 5000 miles a year and I hate the idea of tying up $50k or so on something I don't use all the time....
We're off to Whiskytown lake over Labor Day and gonna try to come up with a plan...
