How heavy?
I'm looking to buy a truck soon for general use and for a few weeks each summer I'd like it to carry a slide in camper. I'm mostly interested in a used camper through Craigslist since I'm not going t...
Forum Discussion
The older the camper the heavier it is likely to be. The campers also fall into 3 general categories in terms of weight. The lightest will have a cassette toilet and no shower. Mid range are the ones with a wet bath. Going to the dry bath models and you have the longest and heaviest camper models.
All campers have a sticker on them that has the weight of the camper when it left the factory. Any seller can provide you with that number. Add 800-1000 lbs. for the overall load weight on the truck and you will be in the ball park.
The 2500 class trucks load capacity varies by make and by model year. The 2011 and later GM/Chevy trucks and the 2013 and later Ram trucks have equally strong frames and suspensions with their 2500 and 3500 SRW trucks. Not so for Ford where I would want a F-350 for hauling a camper around.
Most SRW trucks will be the same for 2500 and 3500 trucks but for the leaf packs provided and the rims and tires used. Both these aspects are easily changed and even with a 1-ton the tires are often the load limitation with 2 tires rated at 3195@80 PSI limiting the rear payload to about 3,000 lbs. after you have subtracted the weight of the truck at the rear from 6400 lbs.
Easy to add SuperSprings if there is sag at the rear with the camper in the bed (can get up to 5,000 lbs. of support). There are 3750@80 PSI tires from Toyo, Nitto, and BFG that will fit on the factory rims.
Good light campers include ones from Northern Lite, Lance, and Wolf Creek. They have ones that have a dry weight from the factory of around 2,000 lbs. and are far from being Spartan in terms of conveniences provided.
With campers the availability of 2 batteries is great for boondocking and for camping in general the capacity of the holding tanks is an important consideration. Check this out by downloading current or past model year brochures from the manufacture's website as with Lance or by getting the details from the seller who should have the documentation for the camper. Fridge capacity can also vary with 4, 6, 8 cu ft fridges in campers. We use a 6 cu ft. and it works for the two of us. With more people a 8 cu ft fridge might be important.
Many campers will be described as sleeping 4 people but with the campers for the short bed trucks this often means 2 adults and 2 short children. Good to check before you buy if you need more space.
If the turck
All campers have a sticker on them that has the weight of the camper when it left the factory. Any seller can provide you with that number. Add 800-1000 lbs. for the overall load weight on the truck and you will be in the ball park.
The 2500 class trucks load capacity varies by make and by model year. The 2011 and later GM/Chevy trucks and the 2013 and later Ram trucks have equally strong frames and suspensions with their 2500 and 3500 SRW trucks. Not so for Ford where I would want a F-350 for hauling a camper around.
Most SRW trucks will be the same for 2500 and 3500 trucks but for the leaf packs provided and the rims and tires used. Both these aspects are easily changed and even with a 1-ton the tires are often the load limitation with 2 tires rated at 3195@80 PSI limiting the rear payload to about 3,000 lbs. after you have subtracted the weight of the truck at the rear from 6400 lbs.
Easy to add SuperSprings if there is sag at the rear with the camper in the bed (can get up to 5,000 lbs. of support). There are 3750@80 PSI tires from Toyo, Nitto, and BFG that will fit on the factory rims.
Good light campers include ones from Northern Lite, Lance, and Wolf Creek. They have ones that have a dry weight from the factory of around 2,000 lbs. and are far from being Spartan in terms of conveniences provided.
With campers the availability of 2 batteries is great for boondocking and for camping in general the capacity of the holding tanks is an important consideration. Check this out by downloading current or past model year brochures from the manufacture's website as with Lance or by getting the details from the seller who should have the documentation for the camper. Fridge capacity can also vary with 4, 6, 8 cu ft fridges in campers. We use a 6 cu ft. and it works for the two of us. With more people a 8 cu ft fridge might be important.
Many campers will be described as sleeping 4 people but with the campers for the short bed trucks this often means 2 adults and 2 short children. Good to check before you buy if you need more space.
If the turck
