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Cr480mx's avatar
Cr480mx
Explorer
Jan 10, 2017

Jayco Sportster 9.5'

Hello all, i recently acquired a Jayco Sportster 9.5'. Good condition. I have the owners manual, but it doesnt say if its good for a shortbed or long bed. I have a 06 dodge 2500 diesel shortbed. i did check the center of gravity and its within the limits of the truck. Besides it sitting kind of far back, and looking awkward is there any reason to consider not running it in a shortbed? I plan to switch out to 1 ton leafs, and possibly make a hitch extension brace so to speak to possibly take some of the weight.

Opinions?
Truck Campers
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Jan 11, 2017
    The information I'm finding on the 9-1/2' Jayco Sportster indicates that it was manufactured in the 1980's and 1990's. So it is almost certainly a long bed camper.

    A short bed camper will have storage compartments added to fill in the 18" gap between the rear of the camper and the rear of the truck.

    As with the other "long bed camper on a short bed truck" I just replied to, your main concern is STRUCTURAL. The camper was likely designed to be transported with the first 8' of floor supported in a long bed truck. It may not hold up to having the extra 18" hanging off the back, but there's no way of knowing without trying.

    If you don't have much invested, the worst that can happen is the camper starts to sag in the rear and you'll have to stop using it, or you can keep using it until it's so bad you have to junk it.

    Some people have had great success with long bed campers in short bed trucks.

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