I have a truck camper payload question. If this is the wrong forum, I apologize in advance. I also posted this in the truck forum.We recently put a deposit down on a flatbed Northstar Escape Pod 900 SD truck camper (9ft x 7 ft) with an estimated dry weight including options to be 2300 pounds. Additional wet weight will include water (40x8.3=332 lbs), people (275 lbs), LP tanks (2x25=50 lbs), batteries (2x55=110 lbs), plus any food and gear easily adds up to 1200 pounds. I estimate my payload to be at least 3500 pounds.My thoughts on truck selection include:Cab creature comforts so that wife is happypre 2007 federal diesel pollution requirements making travel to Mexico easier.Single rear wheel and 4x4 as we want the ability to go off road.I found a 2007 Classic GMC 3500 LBZ diesel crew cab 4x4 (I will have to install a flatbed).70000 miles.SLT trim levelLBZ Duramax 6.6/Allison 6 speed transmission Heavy duty trailering package heavy duty locking rear differentialTransmission cooler3.73 rear axle ratioGVWR of of 9900 poundsGAWR RR 6500 poundsGAWR FF 4800 poundsTires are Michellin P265/75R16 LTX E2 (3400 pounds at 80 PSI).The dealer says that there is no sticker on the door as to payload capacity of this vehicle but there is a sticker in the glove box stating camper should not exceed 2200 pounds. In cruising the Internet, some suggest that the payload as specified by GMC might be as low as 2800 pounds.I will have to travel 500 miles to see this vehicle. Before doing so, I hope to get a couple of questions answered here:Does anyone know how to find the payload capacity for this vehicle?If the payload is truly only 2800 pounds, is this truck from a practical standpoint capable of handling this camper? If so, what modifications will need to be made?I do not want to have a discussion of merits of Ford Versus GM versus Dodge.Thank you in advance.

In a pre-'07 diesel 4x4 pickup with larger cab size (crew cab, quad cab, supercab, xtra cab, etc), you'll have to go with a dually, to carry a 3500 lb camper, unless you want to drop significant amount of money on modifications to a single rear wheel truck (rear springs, overload springs, wheels, tires, rear sway bar). If you want to go with single rear wheel truck with modifications, the best chassis to start with is an '05-'07 F350SRW, which has higher GVWR and RGAWR than the other 2 brands in those years. However, those year Ford trucks have the famous 6.0 diesel, which isn't that great an engine choice, among the diesels available at that time.If you can find a cab/chassis truck, instead of a pickup, you get a truck with upgraded rear suspension from the factory, plus 4 inches of extra wheel base length, which are both good features for hauling a heavy/long camper. It is also a much easier upfit to put a flatbed on a cab/chassis truck, than on a regular pickup bed chassis. Cab/chassis trucks have flat, staight rear frame rails, with standardized 34" rail width spacing, from back of cab to end of rails. You may find a 60" (cab to axle frame length) cab/chassis truck that already has an 8'w x 9'l flatbed already on it. :)The GM single rear wheel truck you describe above has insufficent GVWR and RGAWR to haul a 3500 lb camper, as factory equipped. Choose the same truck, but in a dual rear wheel model, and it will have sufficient GVWR and RGAWR to haul the 3500 lb camper, without modifications. A Dodge dually of the same year range will also be a good choice.

The glove box sticker subtracts 150lbs for each assumed passenger from the payload. If that crew cab has 5 seats, that's 750bs, - your 275lbs= 475lbs you can add to the glove box sticker. If you are not towing, I think that truck would be capable. Whatever truck you wind up with, it looks like you'll have a very nice rig.

SoCalDesertRiderThe camper is 9 ft x 7 ft. Loading and unloading would be difficult on a dually because of the 7 ft width.

The truck you are looking at is basically the same as mine.Mine has ~ 87000 miles on it of which 80% has been with the camper on.GVW of of 9900 poundsGAWR 6500 poundsGAWF 4800 poundsExcept my glove box says Camper not to exceed 815 Kg (1796 lbs)My camper's dry mass is 1280 Kg (2822 lbs).With the camper loaded, I am below the axle ratings and the tire ratings, but over the GVW. With the motorcycle on the front I am over the front axle rating.You should have no problems with the camper you are looking at.My setup was fine for 5 years and then I started to notice some more sway on corners so I added timbrens when I had the shocks replaced with KYB Monmax. Before the timbrens were installed I always needed to be raise the rear an inch to be level. With the timbren I need to roll the front up onto my levelling ramps.

EnfranzI will have the dealer look in the glove box again for the camper weight limit. Maybe I misunderstood him on the phone. The truck is over 500 miles away on the dealers lot.How does your truck camper handle when offroad? We dry camp most of the time and want to be able to go on the backroads to secluded campsites.

Truck camper payload question? | Good Sam Community

SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
In a pre-'07 diesel 4x4 pickup with larger cab size (crew cab, quad cab, supercab, xtra cab, etc), you'll have to go with a dually, to carry a 3500 lb camper, unless you want to drop significant amount of money on modifications to a single rear wheel truck (rear springs, overload springs, wheels, tires, rear sway bar).

If you want to go with single rear wheel truck with modifications, the best chassis to start with is an '05-'07 F350SRW, which has higher GVWR and RGAWR than the other 2 brands in those years. However, those year Ford trucks have the famous 6.0 diesel, which isn't that great an engine choice, among the diesels available at that time.

If you can find a cab/chassis truck, instead of a pickup, you get a truck with upgraded rear suspension from the factory, plus 4 inches of extra wheel base length, which are both good features for hauling a heavy/long camper. It is also a much easier upfit to put a flatbed on a cab/chassis truck, than on a regular pickup bed chassis.

Cab/chassis trucks have flat, staight rear frame rails, with standardized 34" rail width spacing, from back of cab to end of rails. You may find a 60" (cab to axle frame length) cab/chassis truck that already has an 8'w x 9'l flatbed already on it. :)

The GM single rear wheel truck you describe above has insufficent GVWR and RGAWR to haul a 3500 lb camper, as factory equipped. Choose the same truck, but in a dual rear wheel model, and it will have sufficient GVWR and RGAWR to haul the 3500 lb camper, without modifications. A Dodge dually of the same year range will also be a good choice.
CptnBG
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
The glove box sticker subtracts 150lbs for each assumed passenger from the payload. If that crew cab has 5 seats, that's 750bs, - your 275lbs= 475lbs you can add to the glove box sticker.

If you are not towing, I think that truck would be capable. Whatever truck you wind up with, it looks like you'll have a very nice rig.
Rrliljedahl
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
SoCalDesertRider
The camper is 9 ft x 7 ft. Loading and unloading would be difficult on a dually because of the 7 ft width.
ejfranz
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
The truck you are looking at is basically the same as mine.
Mine has ~ 87000 miles on it of which 80% has been with the camper on.
GVW of of 9900 pounds
GAWR 6500 pounds
GAWF 4800 pounds
Except my glove box says Camper not to exceed 815 Kg (1796 lbs)

My camper's dry mass is 1280 Kg (2822 lbs).
With the camper loaded, I am below the axle ratings and the tire ratings, but over the GVW. With the motorcycle on the front I am over the front axle rating.

You should have no problems with the camper you are looking at.

My setup was fine for 5 years and then I started to notice some more sway on corners so I added timbrens when I had the shocks replaced with KYB Monmax. Before the timbrens were installed I always needed to be raise the rear an inch to be level. With the timbren I need to roll the front up onto my levelling ramps.
Rrliljedahl
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
Enfranz
I will have the dealer look in the glove box again for the camper weight limit. Maybe I misunderstood him on the phone. The truck is over 500 miles away on the dealers lot.

How does your truck camper handle when offroad? We dry camp most of the time and want to be able to go on the backroads to secluded campsites.
ejfranz
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
The truck with the camper is fine on FSRs as long as they have not been deactivated. I have had an eye bolt give way on a nasty washout where we had to crawl in four wheel low up the hill. The height of my camper (12.5 feet with canoe and kayaks on top) limits some areas I can get into if the trees are too close to the road. Trucks ride is smother with the camper on than off when on gravel roads.
Led_67
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
If you can get the actual numbers from the dealer then maybe this Can I Haul That along with the numbers from the camper should help.

Good Luck
CptnBG
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
Rrliljedahl wrote:
Enfranz
I will have the dealer look in the glove box again for the camper weight limit. Maybe I misunderstood him on the phone. The truck is over 500 miles away on the dealers lot.

I think the glove box # is incorrect. I just checked my '03 crewcab GAS and see 2432 as camper payload. That still assumes 5 passengers @ 150lbs each.
Rrliljedahl
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
EJFranz
What tire are you using so that I can check the weight load limit.

The Michellin ATX M/S on this vehicle have a 3400 load limit.

I like your picture on your profile. I am guessing that it was taken in Zion National Park.
Rrliljedahl
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
OBXcamper wrote:
Rrliljedahl wrote:
Enfranz
I will have the dealer look in the glove box again for the camper weight limit. Maybe I misunderstood him on the phone. The truck is over 500 miles away on the dealers lot.

I think the glove box # is incorrect. I just checked my '03 crewcab GAS and see 2432 as camper payload. That still assumes 5 passengers @ 150lbs each.

I never realized that having a Diesel engine hurt your payload capacity so much.

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