"Slide in truck camper not recommended for this truck"

There are a lot of moving parts to this dilemma. My SHORT BED, 2001.5 Dodge 2500/CTD/4x4 came with the factory authorized and installed "Camper Package". In trying to find out what actual physical differences there were between camper and camper not authorized, I found that my 'camper' package added the 3500 upper secondary springs, factory anti sway bars, front and rear, the new bigger disc brakes all around, the H.O. CTD (HP-245/TQ-505#feet), NV5600 trans (26K pound rated), and a 35 spline (not 30 spline), Dana 80 rear axle. The snow plow prep package I also ordered included the NV 241HD transfer case with the extra wide chain HD (to blunt the snow plow shock loading on the chain), higher spring rate front coils, and nothing else that I could see. It does have a transmission skid plate that I assume came with the extra long NV5600. Maybe not.
The things that remained the same were the wimpy Michelin tires and 8800 GVW which both were in cahoots to keep the lawyer generated GVW lower and satisfy the bean counters.
For those that suspect you can just upgrade your tires and suspension to get incredible carrying capacity, I would argue that it depends on how close to the edge you are willing to go. I'm reminded of the Clint's famous quote, "Are you feeling lucky?"
Years ago I had a good laugh when a guy with a 1/2 ton Ford pickup announced he could carry any size camper. I asked how that could be and he replied, "because I have the fabled Ford 9" rear axle."
I have seen the 'no camper' certification ebb and flow during my lifetime, seemingly having nothing to do with the actual carrying capacity of that year, only litigious considerations.
jefe

My bet... Part legalese, part marketing.

The legal part... "Yeah, we recommended you don't do that. You did it anyway. Now it is all busted. Not our fault".

The marketing part... Anyone remember the "Camper Special" pickup truck models from the late 60's - early 70's? It wouldn't surprise me if they were throwing on a couple extra features - like a bed plug, adding a badge, charging a few extra grand, and calling it 'Camper ready' or something like that. Oh, and now we "Recommend this model if you are hauling a camper". Same basic truck, just more money.

-Eric

'It was suggested that the paper was CYA for the auto companies.'
This is it pure and simple. NO other reason.

Definitely CYA.

A while ago I contacted GM to ask about their OEM steel wheel weight rating.

They gave me a reply 2 weeks later. What a surprise- the wheels are rated for the exact same amount as the OEM tires. Coincidence? I doubt it. More legal reasons than engineering.

We got the "truck camper option" with our F250. The more I think about it, it was just to get the "certificate" as a legal protection (not sure if for them or me)

It's a 1997 truck. Well out of warranty. Put whatever you want in the bed.

It says "not recommended," which is not an absolute term in legalese. Even if the truck were brand spanking new putting a camper on it wouldn't affect the warranty.

That truck will easily handle 2500lbs in the bed all day every day, which puts you in a pretty nice 8-9' hardside camper with all the basics for civilized life.

Wayne, would love to see that link if you ever find it.
PS: my Dodge is also an 8' bed.

Tamnative wrote:
More info would be nice,as 2wd,4wd ,diesel ,gas weight of camper that you want to carry. I had a 97 F-250 4x4 diesel excab that I put a Lance 835 on and it carried it great. Stopped great,drove around curvy mountain roads great, had plenty of power on the grades and was a great overall truck.I only sold it because I needed a Bigger truck. It never would have occured to me that it was not recommended to haul a camper. I used to haul pallets of cement with that truck all day,I think that is about 3500 lbs.?

.......Its a reg cab gasser long bed.

Has nothing to do with payload capacity. It has to do with center of gravity. It is my understanding, and I may be corrected, the manufactures base the center of gravity on a 8-foot TC. They give no consideration for TCs manufactured for a six foot bed.

I usually do not post something like this without a link to a source. I thought I bookmarked the site, but I cannot find it. I stumbled across a list of Dodge trucks from Dodge that showed which trucks were and were not recommended for TCs. I saw no truck bed less than 8-feet with approval of a TC. I am willing to bet, this is also true of Ford and GM.


Wayne

More info would be nice,as 2wd,4wd ,diesel ,gas weight of camper that you want to carry. I had a 97 F-250 4x4 diesel excab that I put a Lance 835 on and it carried it great. Stopped great,drove around curvy mountain roads great, had plenty of power on the grades and was a great overall truck.I only sold it because I needed a Bigger truck. It never would have occured to me that it was not recommended to haul a camper. I used to haul pallets of cement with that truck all day,I think that is about 3500 lbs.?