Dy,
On first blush it is a mystery as to why manufacturers are so tight and so low with their GVW and GAW information. Buying a new 2001 truck at the beginning of the Diesel Warz I see a pattern evolving from trying to out max the competitor to severely under rating the rear axle capacity and then back again. Some of this is a result of their cadre of lawyers trying to keep their exposure to lawsuits at a minimum, "for safety reasons", some is a result of the measly tire capacity rating, "for safety reasons", and some is an effort to make you pay less on the registration due to the weight rating. My 2001.5, Generation 2 Cummins with a Dodge nameplate Dana 80 rear axle is rated at 6084 pounds stock and 7500 pounds with the Camper Package, "for safety reasons" as to not go over the single rear tire maximum weight rating of the tires that came with the truck. Dana rates the exact same axle @ 11,000 pounds. That's a pretty good safety margin.
Be sure you have some 'overage' in the GVW department, no matter how you get there:
1. if singles, tires AND wheels that are rated between 4100 pounds each to about 5000 pounds per. These can handle light off-roading and boon docking if you avoid deep sand.
2. Some kind of suspension help. There has been tome after tome written on here as to how to carry the load in a more controlled manner. Notice I did not say safer manner as there is really no way to raise the numbers of the manufacturer's load rating sticker, found either on the door pillar or on the glove box door.
3. Get the right truck for the job right away. If you are going to bivouac in the projected camper for two years, you want both the largest camper you can afford with solar and AC, and the largest, highest load rated truck to carry it. The longer you are on the road, the larger and better equipped you want both the camper and the conveyance to be.
If it were me, I would search for a 4 or 5 series truck with 19.5's with a camper already installed. You may have to search far and wide but the result should be satisfactory even if you have to pick up said rig in a far off locale.
jefe
Speaking of far off locale, here we are in June/2003 in Cold foot AK, well north of the Arctic Circle at a bug free camping spot in a gravel pit. Such a tiny rig for extended travel, but for a month we could take it. Two years: no.
