Hi everybody,Looking for some advice. We just sold our 33 LCDTS Silverback fifth wheel and are downsizing to a camper. We have a 2010 heavy duty 2500 diesel with Firestone air bags. We have taken a fancy to a...2000 Adventurer 90FWS EXT Camper.. We are going to view it at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Our truck is only a 6' 4" box but the fella said with the tailgate down we should be able to haul it. The previous owner apparently did. I think he said it's 2038 lb. I was just wondering if anybody else owns that same camper or similar to it and if you're happy with it. Also wondering what you are using to haul it with. Any bit of information you care to share with me would be greatly appreciated..Thanking you in advance.RegardsJo

Two most important considerations when matching a truck to a TC are the truck's rated payload which should be equal to or higher than the total weight of the truck camper plus everything else in the bed (equipment, tools, fuel, water, etc.) and cab (driver, passengers, etc.), keeping in mind the weight posted on the TC might be underestimated. Nothing you can do or add to your truck such as air bags, stabilizers, etc. can change its payload. Second factor is the TC's centre of gravity which must be above or in front of your truck's rear axle. The rest is a question of preference.

ykphil wrote:Two most important considerations when matching a truck to a TC are the truck's rated payload which should be equal to or higher than the total weight of the truck camper plus everything else in the bed (equipment, tools, fuel, water, etc.) and cab (driver, passengers, etc.), keeping in mind the weight posted on the TC might be underestimated. Nothing you can do or add to your truck such as air bags, stabilizers, etc. can change its payload. Second factor is the TC's centre of gravity which must be above or in front of your truck's rear axle. The rest is a question of preference.I guess I have been doing it wrong for almost 30 years. What is your truck and camper history and experience?

work2much wrote:ykphil wrote:Two most important considerations when matching a truck to a TC are the truck's rated payload which should be equal to or higher than the total weight of the truck camper plus everything else in the bed (equipment, tools, fuel, water, etc.) and cab (driver, passengers, etc.), keeping in mind the weight posted on the TC might be underestimated. Nothing you can do or add to your truck such as air bags, stabilizers, etc. can change its payload. Second factor is the TC's centre of gravity which must be above or in front of your truck's rear axle. The rest is a question of preference.I guess I have been doing it wrong for almost 30 years. What is your truck and camper history and experience?Not here to argue about one's experience or history with trucks and TCs. I am simply stating two demonstrated facts, that truck payload and TC's COG in relation to the truck are important factors to consider when matching truck and TC.

The COG required to be in front of the rear axle isn’t so much a fact as a common suggestion. The manufacturers don’t agree.

dezldog1 wrote:Hi everybody,Looking for some advice. We just sold our 33 LCDTS Silverback fifth wheel and are downsizing to a camper. We have a 2010 heavy duty 2500 diesel with Firestone air bags. We have taken a fancy to a...2000 Adventurer 90FWS EXT Camper.. We are going to view it at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Our truck is only a 6' 4" box but the fella said with the tailgate down we should be able to haul it. The previous owner apparently did. I think he said it's 2038 lb. I was just wondering if anybody else owns that same camper or similar to it and if you're happy with it. Also wondering what you are using to haul it with. Any bit of information you care to share with me would be greatly appreciated..Thanking you in advance.RegardsJo3/4 ton is ok for a light hardside but I think you will find that the short box might be an issue for COG. Also that weight of 2038 isn't realistic. We carried a Bigfoot full-size on a 1994 Ram 2500 longed. I think we were 2k over GVWR going down the road but the COG was good and it had a dana 80 axle (basically a 1 ton truck minus the spring pack) so the running gear and air bags made it a well handling rig. We have never had a truck and camper combo that was under the trucks GVWR. We have always been under axle, tire and wheel ratings. GVWR are a licensing marker not a true designation of the trucks capacity. In general I don't reccomend a long bed camper for a shorted truck. Others here may offer a different opinion and some campers are specifically designed for both and people have made all kinds of things work.Short bed trucks can be tougher to find a suitable camper especially for one designed for a longed. I would take anything any seller says with a huge grain of salt.

Help....advice on purchasing truck camper | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

wnjj
Explorer II
Apr 19, 2019
The COG required to be in front of the rear axle isn’t so much a fact as a common suggestion. The manufacturers don’t agree.
ykphil
Explorer II
Apr 19, 2019
work2much wrote:
ykphil wrote:
Two most important considerations when matching a truck to a TC are the truck's rated payload which should be equal to or higher than the total weight of the truck camper plus everything else in the bed (equipment, tools, fuel, water, etc.) and cab (driver, passengers, etc.), keeping in mind the weight posted on the TC might be underestimated. Nothing you can do or add to your truck such as air bags, stabilizers, etc. can change its payload. Second factor is the TC's centre of gravity which must be above or in front of your truck's rear axle. The rest is a question of preference.

I guess I have been doing it wrong for almost 30 years. What is your truck and camper history and experience?

Not here to argue about one's experience or history with trucks and TCs. I am simply stating two demonstrated facts, that truck payload and TC's COG in relation to the truck are important factors to consider when matching truck and TC.
work2much
Explorer
Apr 19, 2019
ykphil wrote:
Two most important considerations when matching a truck to a TC are the truck's rated payload which should be equal to or higher than the total weight of the truck camper plus everything else in the bed (equipment, tools, fuel, water, etc.) and cab (driver, passengers, etc.), keeping in mind the weight posted on the TC might be underestimated. Nothing you can do or add to your truck such as air bags, stabilizers, etc. can change its payload. Second factor is the TC's centre of gravity which must be above or in front of your truck's rear axle. The rest is a question of preference.

I guess I have been doing it wrong for almost 30 years. What is your truck and camper history and experience?
ykphil
Explorer II
Apr 19, 2019
Two most important considerations when matching a truck to a TC are the truck's rated payload which should be equal to or higher than the total weight of the truck camper plus everything else in the bed (equipment, tools, fuel, water, etc.) and cab (driver, passengers, etc.), keeping in mind the weight posted on the TC might be underestimated. Nothing you can do or add to your truck such as air bags, stabilizers, etc. can change its payload. Second factor is the TC's centre of gravity which must be above or in front of your truck's rear axle. The rest is a question of preference.

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Help....advice on purchasing truck camper

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