Forum Discussion

Explorer

Dec 01, 2013

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 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 happy
pre 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 level
LBZ Duramax 6.6/Allison 6 speed transmission
Heavy duty trailering package
heavy duty locking rear differential
Transmission cooler
3.73 rear axle ratio
GVWR of of 9900 pounds
GAWR RR 6500 pounds
GAWR FF 4800 pounds
Tires 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.

Truck Campers

43 Replies

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.
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.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
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.