Last month a tree fell and destroyed my camper! It was my first camper and like many did not think about truck requirements, options...Considerations for the next camper:My truck is a 06 Dodge 2500 crew cab long bed diesel, beefed up suspension with extra leaf springs installed.I will be full time camping next year, just me, no wife, kids, pets.I need to have AC, electric jacks.I will be boon-docking occasionally so what options for generator?Camper will be used as my budget is approximately $18,000.So, any advice greatly appreciated.Note: Many have suggested a WolfCreek 850 as a option, newer than 05?

SIL bought a 9 foot Bigfoot to mount on his 3500 Dodge. He now wishes he had listened to me and bought a dually. You simply not going to like loading that much camper on your truck.

Wolf Creek 850. Dry Weight, 2008 lbs,

*Wolf Creek 850: dry weight, 2,008 pounds + 33 gallons fresh, 275.2 pounds + 6 gallon full hot water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20-pound full propane tanks, 40 pounds + 2 batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 3,003.2 pounds

Because you have a crew cab, and a long bed, the weight of a camper will fall on the rear axle almost completely. The best suggestion might be to fill your truck with fuel and what things you might carry, then weigh the axles. Look at your tires and see what their capacity is at maximum. That difference then becomes your ability to carry a camper loaded with a years supply of everything you need. You may need 19.5 wheels and tires to make it work for you if your axle is rated high enough for the load.Remember, the posted dry weight of a camper does not include jacks or A/C either, and generally without any options, so weight really adds up.Good luck.

We really liked our Bigfoot 10.6 We ran it on a 1994 Dodge 2500HD diesel with airbags, rancho 9000 shocks and aftermarket sway bar. We did order it without A/C and Genset to save weight as we only had a 2500. IMO that was a great set-up albeit overloaded per manufacturer sticker for GVWR. When we replaced it with a larger camper we also traded the truck in for a 3500 dually.

Help deciding camper | Good Sam Community

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Dec 29, 2017
Because you have a crew cab, and a long bed, the weight of a camper will fall on the rear axle almost completely. The best suggestion might be to fill your truck with fuel and what things you might carry, then weigh the axles. Look at your tires and see what their capacity is at maximum.

That difference then becomes your ability to carry a camper loaded with a years supply of everything you need. You may need 19.5 wheels and tires to make it work for you if your axle is rated high enough for the load.

Remember, the posted dry weight of a camper does not include jacks or A/C either, and generally without any options, so weight really adds up.

Good luck.
Freeborn530
Explorer
Dec 29, 2017
*Wolf Creek 850: dry weight, 2,008 pounds + 33 gallons fresh, 275.2 pounds + 6 gallon full hot water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20-pound full propane tanks, 40 pounds + 2 batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 3,003.2 pounds
Freeborn530
Explorer
Dec 29, 2017
Wolf Creek 850. Dry Weight, 2008 lbs,
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 29, 2017
SIL bought a 9 foot Bigfoot to mount on his 3500 Dodge. He now wishes he had listened to me and bought a dually. You simply not going to like loading that much camper on your truck.

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