TC weight too heavy?

smrjjarrett wrote:
This is our first TC and the one we like is the Eagle Cap 1160. The sticker says the TC weight is 5100 lbs, but by the time its loaded, it will be closer to 6000 lbs.. We are concerned this camper is too heavy for our truck.

I have the exact same camper, and had a Ford F350 DRW, same rated tires as yours -- I would not recommend it--not saying **DON'T**, just saying I wouldn't do it again.

My EC loaded is over 6,000lbs. I ended up having to get an newer Ford F450 with 19.5 tires (there's a lot more to a 2015 F450 vs. an F350 than tires, but for now, we'll leave it at that). Let me share my experience.

I have a DOT scale near my house, so I stop by frequently. My previous camper was an Arctic Fox 1150 - at the time, their largest. It was 5,200lbs loaded. I also pull a large cargo trailer. Heavy combo, but overload springs with Torklift StableLoads handled it fine.

Then, like you, I fell in love with the Eagle Cap and got it. Right off the bat, I could feel it was heavier. Took it to the scale after I loaded everything up and it was over 1,000lbs heavier. Very top-heavy, lots of sway, so I upgraded the sway bars with RoadMaster sway bars - HUGE improvement.

But then I started having tire problems - sidewalls bulging out, tread de-laminating -- even though the tires said they could handle the load - nope. Then I discovered I had a cracked rim. Bad road (I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass) plus being very heavy, cracked a rim.

I just got tired of running my truck at the ragged edge-and somewhat beyond-what it could handle, so I got an F450.

Had I kept that truck--I loved that truck-- I would have put on 19.5's next since that was my weakest link. If you don't plan on hauling a trailer, then...ok. But a 4 foot extension puts a lot of extra weight on the rears. Camper only, ok, but add a trailer with it and I wouldn't care to do it again. To many problems with tires.