Hello folks: Looking for some advice. Wife and I decided to purchase a truck and truck camper. We want to purchase a truck first and then match it to the right camper. We found what we believe is the perfect truck for our needs: a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie / 4X4 / with a 5.9 cummins diesel, long bed, with 136,000 miles. It’s in perfect condition all around, and we are ready to buy except for one thing: at the rear of the bed there is a fairly significant dent that runs from left to right the width of the bed. I include a pic below. Now is this something I should be concerned about if I’m gonna carry a truck camper? We’re looking at an Arctic Fox 811. Should this dent be a deal breaker? Any comments or opinions would be greatly appreciated! Click For Full-Size Image.

I wouldn't worry about it. Just get a good rubber bed mat, it'll be fine.

I don't think it matters for your TC, but it should be possible to straighten.

i would search on the weight of the 811 and what the 2004 can carry.but wonder how they did this damage? dumping large stone from a bucket into bed?almost looks like it had a bed liner sprayed in after the damage was done.I guess as long as its not sticking up hither than the flat surface you will be ok.

It is just the sheet metal that is bent. The crossmember, which can be seen in front of the bend, is visible and that is what will be one of the supports that carries the TC weight. Have you visually checked out the structure from below?If it looks OK, I wouldn't hesitate to load a camper into that bed.

We have the same truck and the bed looks exactlylike that. I put in a sheet of plywood over thebed and painted it, rubber mat over that.Our indention was caused by throwing firewoodIn the truck ..

Pick up bed dent a problem for a truck camper? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Bedlam
Moderator
Nov 09, 2016
I wonder if a thin sheet of plywood or even FRP sandwiched between two thin rubber mats wouldn't offer better support for the TC floor. It seems that where the cross members stick up would cause load points.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2016
Truck campers do have pretty strong floor and mine is having 1 1/8" plywood that can be supported in just couple of points to hold whole weight.
So I would inspect camper floor to make sure it is solid and not worry abut bed dent.
I have Dodge bed on my F350 and the bed is costing me lot of troubles. Seem all the spot welds are cracking metal around and I had to straight it when I bought used bed.
Must be Dodge thing.
bcbouy
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
sorry,but when you offer advice on weight even though the op never asked for it,you're the weight police.shame on you.op asked about the box,not the capacity of the truck.you guys know how we tc people feel about the w/p.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Nov 08, 2016
I have the same truck and my Bigfoot is 4,000 lbs. I would be okay with a heavier TC. I am not a member of the Weight Police.

Keep in mind, not all of the same trucks have the same suspension. My '04 3500 has upper and lower overload springs. I did add a rear sway bar. Not really mandatory, but did reduce the sway. The previous owner installed Stable Loads. They reduce the amount of squat. I added air bags, but only use them for leveling side to side. They will help if I ever haul a heavy trailer with my TC.

I would ignore the bed damage.
burningman
Explorer II
Nov 08, 2016
I wouldn't worry about that. So they tossed firewood or whatever in the bed, that's normal use of a truck. Like has been mentioned, it's just the sheet metal, it appears the crossmember is fine.
It's just a flesh wound. Heck wait till people start using those new aluminum Fords for anything but groceries!
If the truck is a dually, it'll carry that camper with no problems. And that's what it should be if carrying a camper is the main reason you're buying it!
youngm357
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
Ive got to wonder how they treated the rest of the truck....
towpro
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
bcbouy wrote:
weight police strike 3 posts in. nice.

I only brought that up because I had a similar truck (2006 3500 SRW Dodge) and it was loaded pretty much to the max of stock truck with a wolf creek loaded at #3100 lbs.

Offering the buyer advice to check the weight carrying capacity of the truck he is looking at is not being weight police, I never said "don't do it".

Just so buyer knows that an 811 wet might weigh around 4500 lbs and there is a chance the truck they are lookign might require some mods if its a SRW.

but I am sure nobody has ever bought a truck, than a camper and do find out they needed a bigger truck.

on with the story.
K_Mac
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
Definetly from wood,and definitely sprayed for the sale of truck.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
Make sure the AF 811 is a long bed version, put a sheet of 1" thick plywood with a rubber mat on top of the plywood. The AF 811 is a heavy camper and you are going to need suspension aids and possibly different tires for that vintage truck.
daily_double
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
LOL