Forum Discussion

Marcela's avatar
Marcela
Explorer
Aug 05, 2018

Truck camper on flat bed COG

Looking at using a 9' flatbed to carry the truck camper.

From the rear edge of the flatbed to over the axle is 5 ft. This is going to put the COG of the camper at least 1 foot behind the axle. This bed is on a CC DRW 3500 truck so plenty of spring and wheel.

In a previous post I stated the camper which is a Bigfoot 10.4 took approx 200-300 lb. off the front axle with the COG pretty close to being over the axle in a regular truck bed, just because the overhang at the back I would guess. This was a regular cab truck. The max this camper will weigh is 4500# imo.

So I am wondering if putting the COG so far behind the axle is going to make the steering squirrelly or highway driving unpleasant.

Thx for any input.
Truck Campers

8 Replies

  • Marcela's avatar
    Marcela
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2018
    Thanks guys, good reading. And I guess the owners manual does give a range for the cog. Just don't want to go to a lot of trouble and end up with something weird.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator II
    Aug 06, 2018
    Marcela wrote:
    Both of the examples above are gassers.


    That's still alot of truck forward of the rear axle. Of the cuff, it wouldn't bother me to set the camper back a foot even with a lighter engine.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Aug 06, 2018
    Flatbed is mounted on original C&C with long wheelbase ?
    I converted UB truck to have bed on it and due the longer wheelbase, the bed had to be set with some distance behind the cabin and then I loaded my 6500lb camper with a foot gap in front of the bed. Weld the bumper flush with the bed, so it gave TC rear support.
    The original C&C suspension on 2006 F350 did not care when I think my COG was more than 12" behind the axle.
    But again, the commercial suspension had 10 leaves on rear corners.
  • Optimistic_Para's avatar
    Optimistic_Para
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2018
    noteven wrote:
    and/or you can plan some storage in the gap that will move the cg of the total load ahead.
    Water, batteries, generator, beer....


    "The reason I've got those fifty cases of beer there, Officer, is because some guy on RV.net told me I NEEDED them in order to be safe! Honest!"
  • noteven's avatar
    noteven
    Explorer III
    Aug 06, 2018
    Optimistic Paranoid wrote:
    If it was me, I'd put the flat bed on and take the truck to the nearest scale and get my numbers. Then I'd put the camper on and get the rig weighed again. If I didn't like the new numbers, if the front end seemed too light, I'd take it to a welding and fabbing shop and get them to shorten the bed by a foot. If it was me.


    and/or you can plan some storage in the gap that will move the cg of the total load ahead.
    Water, batteries, generator, beer....
  • Optimistic_Para's avatar
    Optimistic_Para
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2018
    If it was me, I'd put the flat bed on and take the truck to the nearest scale and get my numbers. Then I'd put the camper on and get the rig weighed again. If I didn't like the new numbers, if the front end seemed too light, I'd take it to a welding and fabbing shop and get them to shorten the bed by a foot. If it was me.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator II
    Aug 05, 2018
    Doubt you'll notice much difference. Could do the moment diagram but with the CC longer wheelbase than a RC truck and a diesel anchor, I do t believe it will be extreme.
    Plus if you want or need, you now have space (although campers set back from truck cabs may look a little unusual) for heavy items storage well in front of the rear axle.

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