Help me choose a slide out Truck Camper!

^From what I just looked up, the old Lance 900 is somewhere around 3000lbs wet and loaded. If that is the case, you're looking at a whole different animal if you're talking triple slides, or even a large single slide unit. Anywhere from 4500lbs min to 6klbs on the big end.
I'm far from being the weight cops too, but I'd temper my expectations of a 20 year old pickup, even though it's a dually and try to stay on the lower end of that spectrum. Like sub 5klbs.
Plenty of roomy dry bath campers with a single slide that will fit your truck. I don't think the Mammoth or other double/triple slide campers are in your trucks wheelhouse.

Dana rates your axle at 11K lbs. Your biggest hurdle will be to stay safely under this maximum once you are loaded, filled and hitched. You'll need a 4' receiver extension to clear the Mammoth rear overhang on your pickup, so remember the leverage you will be putting behind the axle.

daily double wrote:
Before you get a camper, you will want to check what mods you can do to your truck to get it to carry 6k lbs. overloaded is one thing but you would be waaay over I'm thinking. P.S. I'm not the weight police.

To be honest I love doing up grades, but with this Campmper i'll have to pay attention to many things

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Seems the Eagle Cap is pretty much the same camper from what I saw via youtube?

I suppose weight with what they use to build it comes into play next?

I`m pretty sure his Lance all loaded weighs more than 3000 lbs ' my smaller Lance 500 weighs around 4000 lbs and I pack light . for one person and my dog
But I have to agree his 3500 is short of carrying a triple slide of any make , at least my opinion , sure its done
I have a 99` Dodge dually , rear axle would handle it , with spring mods , look at the tire limits though , brakes might - drums - make sure you have brakes on what you tow to help
One major concern I would have is the front axle , how much more weight is going on it , the tires - stock size wont handle much more , look at the door tag , my truck front axle weighs in at over 4500 lbs , maybe the camper will only load the rear , that's a problem too
Since you say you like to do mods , consider getting rid of the unit bearings on the front axle and putting locking hubs like spintech on , you get the benefit of Timken type bearings that will handle a lot more weight
Also the steering on a 97 could help , DSS , upgraded steering box- newer type Delph......
I looked at the 3 slides too , liked the EC , but in my mind would have to have a bigger truck than a 3500

FrankShore wrote:
Lance is a best bet!

How so?

For sure, the rear axle is up to the task. But they don't call it the mammoth because it's light.
Sounds like the OP is also a decent wrench, so that's good. My concern was centered around the average joe that shows up here and asks about wringing out the structural capacity of an old truck without being aware of everything involved.
Don't want one of them super duty frame Sh!thooked in the middle, camper dragging in back pictures!

Heres the one that started the rear slide thing , built by the guy who builds EC now , heavy , but not nearly as the triple slide by Host -EC- Chalet , I`d love to have this camper , wood frame - which is not heavier than alum , I`d jump on this if I was looking

Grit dog wrote:
^From what I just looked up, the old Lance 900 is somewhere around 3000lbs wet and loaded. If that is the case, you're looking at a whole different animal if you're talking triple slides, or even a large single slide unit. Anywhere from 4500lbs min to 6klbs on the big end.
I'm far from being the weight cops too, but I'd temper my expectations of a 20 year old pickup, even though it's a dually and try to stay on the lower end of that spectrum. Like sub 5klbs.
Plenty of roomy dry bath campers with a single slide that will fit your truck. I don't think the Mammoth or other double/triple slide campers are in your trucks wheelhouse.

IIRC the dry weight is about 25-2700, I'm not at home to go look right now, but I will.

okan-star wrote:
Heres the one that started the rear slide thing , built by the guy who builds EC now , heavy , but not nearly as the triple slide by Host -EC- Chalet , I`d love to have this camper , wood frame - which is not heavier than alum , I`d jump on this if I was looking

That one looks very nice!

I wonder what it sold for?

I'm liking more & more the side entry & a double slide would work as well.