Payload on used truck?? -- can't weigh beforehand

Have you thought about a trailer instead of a slide in camper?

A lighter duty truck could handle it, much more room, more availability and much better prices.

GordonThree wrote:
Just curious but why 12+ year old trucks? Do you like the smaller and lower body style of that generation or something else?

Price. We are hoping to stay around $18k, with <150k miles - and this seems to be where it lands is, age-wise.

Thank you all for the info and advice!
So deceptive that every photo you see of a truck camper is on an SRW.
And the manufacturers say these things can go on a half-ton or one-ton!
Whatever!!

So now I need to research how much off-reading (basically talking about forest service roads and such) a dually can do -- or decide whether I'm willing to live for 2 years in sometimes winter weather in a much lighter camper. (Can't go pop-up because of the winter thing)

Blargh nothing is easy!! But THANK YALL for your wisdoms!!
-k

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.

Since a truck camper puts nearly all its weight on the rear axle of the truck, you can work with a couple of educated guesses...

Generally speaking a 2500 class pickup weighs in around 2800-2900lbs on the rear axle empty with nothing in the bed. The RAWR is around 6100lbs. That leaves you about 3100-3200lbs of payload before you reach the axle rating.

Generally speaking a 3500 class SRW pickup weighs in around 3000-3100lbs on the rear axle empty with nothing in the bed. The RAWR is between 7100 and 7400lbs depending on the year of the truck and how it's equipped. That leaves you about 4000lbs of payload before you reach the axle rating.

Generally speaking a 3500 class DRW pickup weighs in around 3200-3300lbs on the rear axle empty with nothing in the bed. The RAWR on DRW trucks can vary quite a bit between 9000 and 10000lbs or more. But, you get the idea here right?

Basically you just need to know the RAWR, which you can get off the door sticker, to make an educated guess on the truck's payload.

That said, you will probably want to add some suspension helpers when approaching these heavy weights, because the truck is not designed to sit level with a full load, and a level truck drives better.

Just curious but why 12+ year old trucks? Do you like the smaller and lower body style of that generation or something else?

op wrote:
I am hoping I can make it with either a:
+ 2006(ish) Chevy 3500 4x4 crew cab (NADA puts payload at 4300)

Gas or diesel ??
Actual payload of any pickup is gonna' be how much load can be placed in the bed which most if not all TC weight will be on a 3500 SRW chevy trucks 7050 RAWR.
I have no idea where NADA comes up with 4300 lb payload
These trucks simply don't have the OEM wheel/tire or rear spring pack capacities for 4300 lbs.
Just estimating some numbers for you.......many 3500 SRW GM trucks rear axles can weigh in the 3200-3300 ln range leaving around 3600-3700 for a max payload in the bed.
If your set on a one ton SRW truck for a big truck camper start thinking 19.5" tires and wheels and air bags on the rear.

op wrote:
+ 2006(ish) Ford F350 4x4 crew cab (NADA puts payload at 3900)

Oh my ....... you better do lots of homework here if its a diesel. This will be Fords infamous 6.0 engine they quickly did away with. The 6.0 diesel engine was a fiasco for Ford and a very costly experience for many owners who many of us know first hand.
Check out a couple of the Ford diesel forums on the 6.0 engine for input straight from those that used them.

Buy a DRW or keep the C and pull a Jeep.

GM Increased the GVWR of their trucks in 2011, so they have higher GVWR ratings than the 2001-2010 HD trucks.

only real way to run either one of those campers and not exceed the tire capability is to upgrade the wheels and tires to commercial 19.5s (245/70R19.5s)for around $3500. I did that after a blow out and near roll on my 2003 F350 CC Longbed 4x4. Needless to say years later I upgraded to a Dually 4x4 and I'm glad I did as it handles the load so much better than my old SRW

Check out James O'Neil Dodge Chrysler Ram in Breman, Ga. they usually have the best selection of HD trucks around. Purchased our truck in sig. three years ago from them and saved a lot of money.

I've driven mu dually into Atlanta on numerous occasions without incident. Parking can be tricky but doable.

Good luck with your search.