So over the last few years I've been trying to add a bit more camping into my UTV/V-Strom adventures. So far I've relied on truck tents. I know these are not very popular but they have served me well. The amount I've been able to get out I feel I can finally justify stepping up to a slid in camper.I've been keeping an eye open for a good used camper locally over the last two years. Everything that I looked at was either peer junk or sold before I could even look at it. I'm getting tired of playing this game. So I'm considering going new and need some advice fitting one to my Ram 1500 Ecodiesel.Requirements/issuesAs I will be towing one or both of my toys. Need a camper that will fit with the tailgate up or tailgate off. While still allowing adequate clearace to trailer. Truck has 6' 4" bed.Weight. Ratings on my Eco is pretty poor vs a Hemi with the added engine weight. I will be running it across a CAT scale in the next few day's to get specific numbers. Budget: 10-15K max. Current options I've been looking at: Travel Lite 625 & RAYZR FK (625 minus cab over), Palomino SS-550. Pro's and cons?Are there any other options I should be looking at?

For a quick estimate of the payload capacity of your individual truck, look at the yellow payload sticker on the driver side pillar. Everything you add to the truck, people, things, hitch, TC, trailer tongue weight, etc. counts against that total.

brholt wrote:For a quick estimate of the payload capacity of your individual truck, look at the yellow payload sticker on the driver side pillar. Everything you add to the truck, people, things, hitch, TC, trailer tongue weight, etc. counts against that total.x2I'm very curious to know what the official payload is of that new truck. Diesel engines are heavier than gas ones, so while you enjoy greater power and towing capability, you lose when it comes to payload.

Here is a link to Ram body builders site that will show the camper payload for your truck. Click Herethey show the payload of all ecodiesel with 6'-4" bed is 1650lbs for 2wd, 1250lbs for 4wdUnder camper weights I noticed no Eco diesels were listed, and found this at the bottom of the chart.* For all other Ram 1500 Vehicle Configurations not listed in the above chart the addition of a camper is NOT RECOMMENDED

NorthStar make a cabless called Vista similar to the Razer.

Most eco diesel I've seen in the wild have 900lbs payload. That's 4 guys and an empty cooler in the bed. That's worse than a typical grocery hauler. A family of 4 heavy weights would negate the grocery hauler badge.

Proper sized camper for Ram 1500 Ecodiesel | Good Sam Community

mkirsch
Nomad II
Feb 26, 2016
STANG23L wrote:
I've already hauled my motorcycle and a few snowmobiles plus gear and coolers. And now that I know my actual payload. These easily put me overweight!

But the truck handled it great.

If I do go with a slide in it will not be a 1-ton beast. It will be close to half that and I have no doubt that it will not be a problem.

Good luck with that. There are very few campers out there with any sort of amenities that come anywhere near weighing 1000lbs. Believe me, I looked for a long time and found NOTHING.

Most of your everyday popups are 1600lbs new off the lot, and even the newest designs that don't have cabovers are 1200-1500lbs.

Basically the only thing that will come in under 1000lbs is an empty Four Wheel Campers shell model. If sitting naked hungry and cold in the middle of an empty room is your idea of camping, have at it...
whizbang
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2016
I just took a look at the Ram truck specs in the link. Not good --- a 6000# truck with a 7000# GVWR. However, the GAWR's appear to be similar to my F-150 which has a GVWR of 7700. If you want to risk it, you might get away with 7500 or 7600 pounds without wallowing too bad.

Hauling and towing at the same time? No. Unless you stick with a canopy shell, a Flippac, a Wildernest, or possibly a Four Wheel Camper shell model.
STANG23L
Explorer
Feb 25, 2016
I've already hauled my motorcycle and a few snowmobiles plus gear and coolers. And now that I know my actual payload. These easily put me overweight!

But the truck handled it great.

If I do go with a slide in it will not be a 1-ton beast. It will be close to half that and I have no doubt that it will not be a problem.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Feb 25, 2016
PAThwacker wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
I don't think you're going to be happy if you ignore the weight ratings.

Is there any way you can throw about 1000lbs of something in your bed, see what it does to your suspension, and then take it for a ride? 1000lbs in most 15-series trucks squats the rear suspension pretty harshly, and you can definitely feel it back there. If you don't like how that feels, imagine what it will be like with 2.5X that much.

We've already got one responder who has been there, done that, and got the 3/4 ton truck because he didn't like how the F150 stopped. Heck, I knew it wasn't going to work for me after putting 10x 80lbs bags of concrete in the back of my old Chevy 1500 and driving 8 miles.

Just go to Home Depot or Lowes on a weekend and observe overloaded half tons. No need to self test or disagree with manufactures ratings, specs, and litigation.

Some people have to experience things for themselves.
rwiegand
Explorer
Feb 24, 2016
Holy Cats! My Mini Cooper has a payload of 816 pounds!
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Feb 24, 2016
Yes, this would put you over on weight, but pretty light.Northstar MC600
STANG23L
Explorer
Feb 24, 2016
A little off topic.

Any one have experience with Bundutecusa?

Just seen one of there truck campers pop up for sale. Never heard of them.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 23, 2016
At least your truck has the 6.4 bed and not the super Shorty.
Guess I'd get some airbags or whatever on the truck and then go bug a dealer with one til they let you test drive a lightweight camper on it and see what you think.
IMO Ram 1500s are not made as haulers but it's all what you're comfortable with, within reason. Read my sig and do the math. It's not ideal but it works.
If you're doing mostly atving when camping, I'd totally go with a small toyhauler TT over a TC for your truck.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
I don't think you're going to be happy if you ignore the weight ratings.

Is there any way you can throw about 1000lbs of something in your bed, see what it does to your suspension, and then take it for a ride? 1000lbs in most 15-series trucks squats the rear suspension pretty harshly, and you can definitely feel it back there. If you don't like how that feels, imagine what it will be like with 2.5X that much.

We've already got one responder who has been there, done that, and got the 3/4 ton truck because he didn't like how the F150 stopped. Heck, I knew it wasn't going to work for me after putting 10x 80lbs bags of concrete in the back of my old Chevy 1500 and driving 8 miles.

Just go to Home Depot or Lowes on a weekend and observe overloaded half tons. No need to self test or disagree with manufactures ratings, specs, and litigation.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Feb 23, 2016
I don't think you're going to be happy if you ignore the weight ratings.

Is there any way you can throw about 1000lbs of something in your bed, see what it does to your suspension, and then take it for a ride? 1000lbs in most 15-series trucks squats the rear suspension pretty harshly, and you can definitely feel it back there. If you don't like how that feels, imagine what it will be like with 2.5X that much.

We've already got one responder who has been there, done that, and got the 3/4 ton truck because he didn't like how the F150 stopped. Heck, I knew it wasn't going to work for me after putting 10x 80lbs bags of concrete in the back of my old Chevy 1500 and driving 8 miles.

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Proper sized camper for Ram 1500 Ecodiesel

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