Sold my travel trailer awhile back and have been looking into truck campers the last couple days. I would be purchasing a truck as well as the camper. This would be for a short trips a few days/ weekends etc. Nothing long term. The camplite 6.8 caught my eye and sounded like a solid camper. Its supposed to be lightweight as well. I also want to carry a few dirtbikes on a hitch carrier which would equal about 600lbs. I thought I could swing all this with a 2500 series 4x4 crew cab silverado but tonight I started looking at the numbers and It seems like I need at least a 3500 for all this? I'm kinda shocked that the smallest truck camper they make still needs a 2500-3500 series truck. The camper dry weighs about 2000lbs, wet they say 2800lbs. Plus my 600lbs of dirtbikes brings us to 3400lbs without any gear or people. The long box crew cab silverado is only rated for 3200lbs so i'm already over. Am I doing the math right here? I really need a 3500 series truck to pull this off safely and comfortably? And they claim this camper is made for 1/2 ton pickups?!?

I've been the 2500 and a camper, every time I took it out I wished it was a 1 ton.It's advisable to load as much as you can on the front "grill carrier"We finally went to a tag-along trailer because of the sway of the camper.

We TC's for several years. For anything but the lightest 8', I would want a dually next time. A SRW may haul it fine but I would want the handling benefits of a dually.

You're doing the math right but you're looking at the GVWR and most TC owners are over that. We typically go by axle and tire weights. However, I see no real disadvantage to getting a 3500 for your application. Why not get one?My own 11' camper fully loaded for a trip with my family in my crew cab dually put's me 1,600 pounds over my GVWR but I'm not over on axle or tire weights. I don't have a basement model and I don't have slides so even though it's a long camper it's not as heavy as many others on the road. I would personally never want less than a 3500 for a truck camper. I used to haul this same camper on a 3500 SRW, I was 1,200 pounds over the GVWR with that one and it was a regular cab and I had no children yet.

There isn't much of a difference in 2500 and 3500 unless the 3500 I'd drw. Going bigger will give you room to grow.

My question is "few" bikes on a hitch carrier? I could see 2 kids bikes or maybe even 2 big bikes, but that's a lot on a hitch carrier. I would reccomend a little trailer. Far easier and less stress on everything. Otherwise, aside from Rams with 3/4 ton coil springs, 1 ton and 3/4 are basically the same trucks with lighter rear springs.

Need a 3500 series monster truck for a camplite 6.8?

Jonnygsx
Explorer
Mar 11, 2018
Grit dog wrote:

Fair enough, but 3 bikes I’m pretty sure will require hitch racks front and back.
And when I suggested a traielr I was thinking a little 8’ utility trailer that weighs almost nothing, or even better a small cargo trailer. I mean, where do you store enough fuel for 3 or more bikes for multiple days (assuming you are wanting a compact tc and no traielr to get off the beaten path.)?
Either of these will be insignificant to pull compared to a toyhauler.

Not sure why you jumped to 3 bikes. I said a few, 2. Gas will go in the bed of the pickup or worst case on hitch carrier. If I even need to bring gas at all.

valhalla360 wrote:
Keep in mind, those bikes are way behind the rear axle, so they will add far more than 600lbs to the rear axle (I'm assuming the bikes are only around 450lb as the hitch and rack will likely push 150lb). You are probably looking at the bikes adding 900lbs to the rear axle because the center of gravity for them is probably 80" behind the rear axle, so the leverage effect will transfer around 300lb from the front tires to the rear. Add in the base curb weight plus 2800 for the camper and you are probably north of 6500-6800lbs on the rear axle.

Check the specs but that is probably over the axle limits.

Rear axle lists at 7050lbs on the 3500. 500lbs for the two bikes, 100bs for the double hitch hauler, I don't buy the whole leverage thing. Leverage on the hitch ok, because that has a point of contact you are leveraging against. But 600lbs on the rear axle is 600lbs. There isn't leverage connected to it.

Anyways, I didnt come here to discuss the bikes, I was only adding that to the list because of their weights. Sounds like a 3500 will do the trick. Now that I realize the 3500 isn't a step up from a 2500 in the same way its a step up from a 1500 to 2500 I guess its not that big a deal.
mkisamore
Explorer
Mar 11, 2018
wanted to chime in here s bit i had a camplite 8.5 on a 2011 2500 hd and pulled an 18 foot enclosed trailer behind it. the camper weighed in at 1850 lbs . i also pulled a horse trailer behind with no problems. i did mount a hitch on the front of the truck to carry my generator when boon docking. i just recently moved up to the big guys with a new 2017 2500 hd duramax and a toy hauler. a 6.8 camplite and a 2500 should be a good combination as far as the bikes i reccomend a trailer ,reese makes a hitch extension that i used with my set up and worked well .can send you a picture of my old set up if you like
Jonnygsx
Explorer
Mar 11, 2018
mkisamore wrote:
wanted to chime in here s bit i had a camplite 8.5 on a 2011 2500 hd and pulled an 18 foot enclosed trailer behind it. the camper weighed in at 1850 lbs . i also pulled a horse trailer behind with no problems. i did mount a hitch on the front of the truck to carry my generator when boon docking. i just recently moved up to the big guys with a new 2017 2500 hd duramax and a toy hauler. a 6.8 camplite and a 2500 should be a good combination as far as the bikes i reccomend a trailer ,reese makes a hitch extension that i used with my set up and worked well .can send you a picture of my old set up if you like

Maybe the old 8.5's were lighter, but the current weight of the 6.8 is 2000lbs, and the 8.5 is 2500lbs. And thats dry. So you had to be overloaded then right?
mkisamore
Explorer
Mar 12, 2018
my camper was a 2013 i looked up the new campers and there alot heavier than the one i had by alot mine was even 6 inches taller than the standard models, dont know where the extra weight is in these but it does push the limits of a 2500 without airbags good luck in your decision
Jknight611
Explorer
Mar 12, 2018
I had a very nice Chevolet 2500 SWB Crew Cab, that when I added the published weight from the manufacturer’s sticker we were under gross weight. The truck seemed to handle the weight “OK” with a Big Wig sway bar and air bags. We were over gw, under axle and tire gw as per the local CAT scale. We upgraded to a new Chevolet 3500 LWB dually and the difference in driving is astounding! The long bed dually is not as bad to drive as I thought it would be, it is longer and wider.

Anyway, my point is the dually long box is way better driving truck than my 2500 SWB with my 3,400 wet weight camper. Expensive lesson learned!
valhalla360
Navigator
Mar 12, 2018
Jonnygsx wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Keep in mind, those bikes are way behind the rear axle, so they will add far more than 600lbs to the rear axle (I'm assuming the bikes are only around 450lb as the hitch and rack will likely push 150lb). You are probably looking at the bikes adding 900lbs to the rear axle because the center of gravity for them is probably 80" behind the rear axle, so the leverage effect will transfer around 300lb from the front tires to the rear. Add in the base curb weight plus 2800 for the camper and you are probably north of 6500-6800lbs on the rear axle.

Check the specs but that is probably over the axle limits.

Rear axle lists at 7050lbs on the 3500. 500lbs for the two bikes, 100bs for the double hitch hauler, I don't buy the whole leverage thing. Leverage on the hitch ok, because that has a point of contact you are leveraging against. But 600lbs on the rear axle is 600lbs. There isn't leverage connected to it.

Anyways, I didnt come here to discuss the bikes, I was only adding that to the list because of their weights. Sounds like a 3500 will do the trick. Now that I realize the 3500 isn't a step up from a 2500 in the same way its a step up from a 1500 to 2500 I guess its not that big a deal.

I the first post you were talking about a 2500 which has a lower rear axle rating. (I found 6200 online).

You may not believe in physics but physics doesn't care. If the bikes are 6-7' behind the rear axle, they will add far more to the rear axle load than just their weight as the leverage will take weight off the front axle and put it on the rear axle.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Mar 12, 2018
Jonnygsx wrote:
Grit dog wrote:

Fair enough, but 3 bikes I’m pretty sure will require hitch racks front and back.
And when I suggested a traielr I was thinking a little 8’ utility trailer that weighs almost nothing, or even better a small cargo trailer. I mean, where do you store enough fuel for 3 or more bikes for multiple days (assuming you are wanting a compact tc and no traielr to get off the beaten path.)?
Either of these will be insignificant to pull compared to a toyhauler.

Not sure why you jumped to 3 bikes. I said a few, 2. Gas will go in the bed of the pickup or worst case on hitch carrier. If I even need to bring gas at all.

valhalla360 wrote:
Keep in mind, those bikes are way behind the rear axle, so they will add far more than 600lbs to the rear axle (I'm assuming the bikes are only around 450lb as the hitch and rack will likely push 150lb). You are probably looking at the bikes adding 900lbs to the rear axle because the center of gravity for them is probably 80" behind the rear axle, so the leverage effect will transfer around 300lb from the front tires to the rear. Add in the base curb weight plus 2800 for the camper and you are probably north of 6500-6800lbs on the rear axle.

Check the specs but that is probably over the axle limits.

Rear axle lists at 7050lbs on the 3500. 500lbs for the two bikes, 100bs for the double hitch hauler, I don't buy the whole leverage thing. Leverage on the hitch ok, because that has a point of contact you are leveraging against. But 600lbs on the rear axle is 600lbs. There isn't leverage connected to it.

Anyways, I didnt come here to discuss the bikes, I was only adding that to the list because of their weights. Sounds like a 3500 will do the trick. Now that I realize the 3500 isn't a step up from a 2500 in the same way its a step up from a 1500 to 2500 I guess its not that big a deal.

Look man, few =3, couple = 2. Can't put much gas in the truck bed......if there's a camper in it, but maybe you plan on using less than a tank of gas?
This is getting silly like the short bed long bed thread. Maybe just do some research because you're not liking the answers you're getting and you don't know much about moment arms. Regarding g your hitch comment and leverage, look at it this way. Hold The full gas can you won't need in your hand, arm at your side. Now hold it straight out and tell me it isn't heavier.
Jonnygsx
Explorer
Mar 12, 2018
Grit dog wrote:
Jonnygsx wrote:
Grit dog wrote:

Fair enough, but 3 bikes I’m pretty sure will require hitch racks front and back.
And when I suggested a traielr I was thinking a little 8’ utility trailer that weighs almost nothing, or even better a small cargo trailer. I mean, where do you store enough fuel for 3 or more bikes for multiple days (assuming you are wanting a compact tc and no traielr to get off the beaten path.)?
Either of these will be insignificant to pull compared to a toyhauler.

Not sure why you jumped to 3 bikes. I said a few, 2. Gas will go in the bed of the pickup or worst case on hitch carrier. If I even need to bring gas at all.

valhalla360 wrote:
Keep in mind, those bikes are way behind the rear axle, so they will add far more than 600lbs to the rear axle (I'm assuming the bikes are only around 450lb as the hitch and rack will likely push 150lb). You are probably looking at the bikes adding 900lbs to the rear axle because the center of gravity for them is probably 80" behind the rear axle, so the leverage effect will transfer around 300lb from the front tires to the rear. Add in the base curb weight plus 2800 for the camper and you are probably north of 6500-6800lbs on the rear axle.

Check the specs but that is probably over the axle limits.

Rear axle lists at 7050lbs on the 3500. 500lbs for the two bikes, 100bs for the double hitch hauler, I don't buy the whole leverage thing. Leverage on the hitch ok, because that has a point of contact you are leveraging against. But 600lbs on the rear axle is 600lbs. There isn't leverage connected to it.

Anyways, I didnt come here to discuss the bikes, I was only adding that to the list because of their weights. Sounds like a 3500 will do the trick. Now that I realize the 3500 isn't a step up from a 2500 in the same way its a step up from a 1500 to 2500 I guess its not that big a deal.

Look man, few =3, couple = 2. Can't put much gas in the truck bed......if there's a camper in it, but maybe you plan on using less than a tank of gas?
This is getting silly like the short bed long bed thread. Maybe just do some research because you're not liking the answers you're getting and you don't know much about moment arms. Regarding g your hitch comment and leverage, look at it this way. Hold The full gas can you won't need in your hand, arm at your side. Now hold it straight out and tell me it isn't heavier.

Few means more than 1. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/few Do they even make 3 bike hitch carriers? If you have a long bed pickup and a short bed camper you might be able to throw a few 5gal back there, but like I said this is dependent on where you are riding if you even need to bring gas. And also like I said, can always strap it to the hitch carrier or hell the **** ladder could hold it.

I understand the physics. Tongue weight and axle weight are not the same thing. The fulcrums are different. Anyways i'm trying to avoid being in the position where 100lbs is going to put me overload so it really doesn't matter does it?

Am I not doing research by starting these threads? I thought that is what I was doing, my mistake.
Jonnygsx
Explorer
Mar 12, 2018
valhalla360 wrote:

I the first post you were talking about a 2500 which has a lower rear axle rating. (I found 6200 online).

In the first post I was literally describing how the 2500 doesn't suit my needs. Pretty much eliminated the 2500 as an option at this point. Its 3500 or nothing.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2018
I was building my dually on Ford site and don't remember the dually adding that much to the price. New dually makes 16-17 mpg empty or 12-13 with 6000lb camper, so higher fuel consumption is not an issue neither.
The only bummer for me was that dually did not have lockable differential option that SRW do. Had to buy LSD.
So IMHO > even if you only "think" the SRW might be marginal - get dually and don't look back.

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