The wife and I bought a used 2008 Lance 845. We're driving 6.5 hours to get it. I have a 2001 2500HD, 8.1 liter, with Allison. I'm having the frame anchors installed, and the truck-rv plug installed. I have D rated tires on it for now, but I figured if I ran with the camper empty/dry and ran max psi in the tires I'd be fine. Any other suggestions for me getting her home?When I get the camper home I was going to install airbags on the rear frame, and some E rated rear tires, with a super hitch. I pull a trailer + race car, total weight about 8000#.THanks!Sean

keep the speed down on the D rated tires. Upgrade the Shocks to some Rancho xl9000s or equivalent sooner rather than later. If you have overload springs get some stable loads for them.cover the truck bed with some horse stall mats to keep the TC from sliding around.stop and smell the roses.....

Thanks for the suggestions. My brother is a 'horse guy'.. Ill hit him up about the matts, and yeah, it's time for new shocks.Not sure what this meant, though:"If you have overload springs get some stable loads for them."Can you explain a little better?

SS_Sean wrote:Thanks for the suggestions. My brother is a 'horse guy'.. Ill hit him up about the matts, and yeah, it's time for new shocks.Not sure what this meant, though:"If you have overload springs get some stable loads for them."Can you explain a little better?go herehttp://www.torklift.com/products/stableload.phpThey made a big difference is getting home after an airbag failure on just the springs towing my 3 horse trailer with Dressage horses

You may want to consider upgrading those tires before taking a 6.5 hour drive on the D's. What is the actual weight rating on you're current tires?

Picking up new camper...a little advice. | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

SS_Sean
Explorer
Sep 01, 2013
They aren't. I may be new to campers... but I'm not new. ;)

Thanks!
joeshmoe
Explorer
Aug 31, 2013
I might have missed it, but if those front tires are more than six years old, they should be replaced also.

Congrats on your setup.
SS_Sean
Explorer
Aug 31, 2013
Thanks, man!
SP1
Explorer
Aug 30, 2013
Congratulations on your purchase. You're gonna have a lot of fun with that setup.

I'm a bit late in reading about your upgrades but it looks as though you've done what so many of us have done.

For instance, Rancho 9000's all around to mitigate the "bumps", air bags to control sway and multiple ply (sidewall) heavy duty tires to handle the load.

I, too use a rubber mat under the camper as well as a 1" foam board from Lowe's to raise the camper above my 2010 chevy's sidewall.

I've had my camper for 10 years and many happy memories.

Here's wishing the same for you!
SS_Sean
Explorer
Aug 30, 2013
Thanks for all the help... here's the setup...
SS_Sean
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
trail-explorer wrote:
get the superhitch now, and the Torklift frame (hitch) mounted rear tie-downs now, otherwise you will have the replace them if you buy the ones to adapt to your factory hitch now and upgrade to the superhitch later.

The Superhitch has tiedowns that are specific to it, as is the case with factory hitches

Spot on. The installer called and said the same thing. He's pretty straight up, so it cost a little up front, but we got the super hitch installed. I pick up the truck tonight. Once the campers' on I'll be able to measure for my extended stinger. Probably 24" I'm guessing. Tires installed tomorrow, and I'm heading out monday.

Thanks a bunch to you guys for helping a TC newbie out. Gunna be a fun fall crabbing and drag racing...
NMace
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Rbertalotto wrote:
My 2500 Dodge diesel has LT285-70R-17 Load Range D tires on all four wheels

They are rated for 3195# single @ 65 pounds pressure but 2910# dual @ 65 pounds pressure......???

I am thinking lowering the dual loading rating is moot, as I don't think many are going to go to over 11,000 pounds on the rear. Think about it.
trail-explorer
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
get the superhitch now, and the Torklift frame (hitch) mounted rear tie-downs now, otherwise you will have the replace them if you buy the ones to adapt to your factory hitch now and upgrade to the superhitch later.

The Superhitch has tiedowns that are specific to it, as is the case with factory hitches
ticki2
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
DWeikert wrote:
SS_Sean wrote:
DWeikert wrote:
SS_Sean wrote:
Lance advertises wet weight....2400#. I guess others advertise dry weight. The tires are D rated (3305# at max psi 65#).

I have a 2008 Lance brochure here that lists the 845 dry weight at 2412 lbs, without any options.

The 3305 lb weight rating is higher than the stock E rated tires were on your truck. Can I ask what size they are? Just curious what size D rated tires have that high a rating.

They're a LT285/75R16... I think factory was a 245 or 265...

Yeah, factory on a GM 2500HD is 245 rated 3042 lbs. Fairly sure that was true in 2001. Your 285's would be okay. But one last question. Do you know the load rating of the wheels? The stock wheels would be a bit narrow for those 285's.

This is something to strongly consider . You are not going to get the full benefit of the 285 E's on the stock wheels . The minimum wheel width for 285's is 8" , your stock wheels are 6.5" . GM has avoided stating what their wheels are rated for , they will only say they are rated for the original tires , which in your case is 3042# . I'm not saying they will not take more than that , only that it is an unknown.
dodgerdog
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Get yourself an air compressor that reaches all 4 tires... I got home ran over a nail and and had the whole rear tire go flat on me as I was driving around the block to get a better angle to park the camper... My little cheapy air compressor would not reach the rear tires... that was not a fun moment.... I had to run home and get my generator and my 5 gallon air compressor.....

Mike C.

Plus make sure you have a cresent wrench if you have to tighten up the camper tie downs....

Mike C.