Happy with the weight

My Chevy 2500HD 4x4 diesel weighs about 7,700 lbs. with me and a half tank of diesel. With my moderately loaded NL 8'11" Q Classic on the truck, the total Cat scale weight is 11,220 lbs....4,600 on the front axle, 6,620 on the rear axle. The truck MGVW rating is 10,000 lbs. with a 6,000 front axle incl in the plow package. I think the rear axle is rated at 6,200 lbs., although, American Axle Co. rates that axle somewhat higher. I have Michelin tires rated at 3,520 lbs. each, Roadmaster Active suspension and Rancho 9,000 shocks. It works well, but I try to keep the camper weight down as much as I can.

When the NL Camper was new with only full propane and no water or gear, the Cat weight was 4,420 front axle and 6,400 rear axle.

scout4trout wrote:
Rustofer, if your truck weighs just about 8000 lbs., sounds like it's a diesel. In a way that would be good because it would offset the weight on the rear axle, and as I said in a previous post, our unit pulls weight off the front. We're carrying about 4,000 pounds when we're loaded and ready to go with full tanks, so it makes sense that you'd be around 12,000 lbs. Love Vancouver Island - have fly fished a few of the rivers.

We used to fish for Browns in the Cowichan.
My truck is actually a 6.2 gas, long bed. It's factory weight is 7262; plywood, bed mat, tie-downs, front hitch, tool kit, full fuel and us bring it to 8k. I do carry some of the camper weight on the front axle ~300 lbs.

Me and scout for trout have the same camper and truck so if I can drive down the road at 10600 pounds or less, I feel safe about my rig.

It appears truck camper magazines buyers guide is pretty close to your actual weight.

*Northern Lite 8-11Q Classic Sportsman: dry weight, 2,168 pounds + 33 gallons fresh, 275.2 pounds + 6 gallon full hot water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20-pound propane tanks, 40 pounds + 2 batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 3,163.2 pounds

6780 for your truck plus 3163 for the camper equals 9943 pounds..They seem to be as close as one could get to "estimate" what a TC would weigh loaded and ready to camp depending of course, on different folks take different stuff.

Rustofer, if your truck weighs just about 8000 lbs., sounds like it's a diesel. In a way that would be good because it would offset the weight on the rear axle, and as I said in a previous post, our unit pulls weight off the front. We're carrying about 4,000 pounds when we're loaded and ready to go with full tanks, so it makes sense that you'd be around 12,000 lbs. Love Vancouver Island - have fly fished a few of the rivers.

scout4trout wrote:
The weight of our NL Sportsman (as equipped) according to the paper in the closet is 2,630. I don't know how NL still advertises the weight as 2,250 - we don't have 380 pounds of options. Could you tell me what your Sportsman's weight is? Our unloaded truck weight with tailgate is 6,400 lbs.

Interesting!! My 9.6 Sportsman cabinet sticker says 2695. I wondered it it was an error - but it appears not. Options are back porch, boat rack, power jacks, front window. Our '17 F350 4x4 CC with two of us in it weighs just about 8000; I have trouble keeping our gross with camper under 12k.

Yes, we have the camper package and 18" tires. But that weight should be offset by the fact the truck is 350 pounds lighter than the 2016 because of the aluminum body. I agree - the numbers are close. Can't wait to take it out later this month - cold and snowy today! We used it over 100 days last season. Make sure you vent it when using the heat. We had a damp spot on the ceiling that Keith suggested could just be condensation (happened when we were in Yellowstone late September). Hope so since I'd hate to think that the roof would need recaulking already.

I had water in the water heater, but the water tank was empty so that is about 250 pounds plus you said you had a awning I don't have that so our numbers are really close.

I am guessing your truck could be heavier,I don't have the camper package or air bags, you could have a sway bar. I believe your tires are bigger than 17 inch rims. I loved my 2010 Lance 825,but this camper is a lot nicer with more room.

I'm beginning to think that the weigh station that we use is off a bit. The camper's outside weight label says 2,160 dry without options and 2,456 wet. The inside label says 2,630 which I thought was the weight as it leaves the factory - with options but without batteries or filled propane (since they don't know what type of batteries the dealer will install). So based on your weights and the 10,060 number in your original post, my setup should not be any more than yours since our truck is lighter (and we don't overpack). I guess it doesn't matter a whole lot though since the truck certainly handles the camper well. Just like the idea of being pretty close to GVWR.