Truck camper payload question?
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 ...
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
