Hmm - after looking at some trucks and the payloads prescribed - it seems someone would be very lucky to find a 3/4 ton that can carry their camper. However, so many are recommending a 3/4 ton (and dealers even rec a 1/2 ton telling me that it has 8000# payload!)
I looking at the specs over the years it seems trucks payloads are getting significantly less the newer the truck is. An attempt at better gas mileage?
It seems funny to me that the trucks can tow 5 million pounds roughly, but can only carry a couple thousand in the bed. I suppose it's because the engine is powerful, but the parts supporting the weight are not?
People say that a truck/camper combo will get better gas mileage than a Class B or C, but I don't see how that can be true.
I developed my payload requirements by following the payload calculator advised by truck camper magazine. The recommend taking the dry weight and then adding the weight of full tanks and the battery to come up with the wet weight. Then adding 500# to the wet weight for people and gear. I decided to add 1000# for people and gear since I would like to be able to transport 4 adults.
That's how I came up with the payload requirement of 3200-3900 pounds. The lightest dry weight of a camper I found was 1875#, but once you fill the tanks and add people I came up with 3204#.
Many times we may go with only the 2 of us. I wonder if 1000# was overly cautious, perhaps I should have stuck with 500# for people and stuff. That's the number they used in the magazine article.
