I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with bringing their truck to an RV dealer and asking to load a camper on their truck to see how it feels? I know this is a wacky request but it got me thinking. We've all gone to the dealer and heard "oh yeah, you've got plenty of truck to haul this camper" or "you've got a 3/4 ton, you'll be fine" (I hear from ALL of them - oh you have a 1 ton, your golden). Just once I'd like to ask them "mind if I load that one up and see how the truck handles?"I seriously doubt ANY dealer would allow me to do it. Citing insurance prohibitions, liability, wear and tear (of ONE loading/unloading), or whatever excuse (some may be valid). I'd really like to try loading one of these "you'll be golden" weight campers and see how my truck (with rock stock suspension) feels with bounce, sway, sag, etc. I think it's reasonable in these days of $30K-$50K truck campers to be allowed to take a "test drive" before I write the check.Any thoughts on this? :h

Ask and see but I'd bet none of them will do it. I have told people similar when talking about tt. I tell them to rent a uhaul or something with similar weight to what they expect to pull. They may not be able to duplicate the frontal area but it gives them a lot better idea then just listening to lies from someone who has never pulled anything! My son used a large plastic water tank in the back of his 3/4 truck to see what 2500 lb of FW pin weight would feel like. I sometimes talk to RV sales people just for entertainment. Some of the lies and bs are absolutely outrageous.

Any thoughts on this?Used one they are trying to get rid of...maybe-maybe not..New one-I would guess not a chance..Your best bet is to find one you want, someone else owns, and ask to go for a ride with them to get an idea how it handles.The dealer could give you names...:BTo many do not have a clue how a heavy truck camper handles before buying when a simple ride with someone else can show you alot.

They are companies that rent TC and I believe they will not give you BS the salesmen do. Even on the phone they should give you decent answers about loading.

Try A New Camper Before Buying - Truck Load | Good Sam Community

maddog348
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
Dream On. JM2¢ ~ YMMV
azrving
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
Ask and see but I'd bet none of them will do it. I have told people similar when talking about tt. I tell them to rent a uhaul or something with similar weight to what they expect to pull. They may not be able to duplicate the frontal area but it gives them a lot better idea then just listening to lies from someone who has never pulled anything!

My son used a large plastic water tank in the back of his 3/4 truck to see what 2500 lb of FW pin weight would feel like. I sometimes talk to RV sales people just for entertainment. Some of the lies and bs are absolutely outrageous.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
Any thoughts on this?

Used one they are trying to get rid of...maybe-maybe not..New one-I would guess not a chance..

Your best bet is to find one you want, someone else owns, and ask to go for a ride with them to get an idea how it handles.The dealer could give you names...:B

To many do not have a clue how a heavy truck camper handles before buying when a simple ride with someone else can show you alot.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
Money talks.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
They are companies that rent TC and I believe they will not give you BS the salesmen do.
Even on the phone they should give you decent answers about loading.
maddog348
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
Kayteg1 ~~ Is this on YOUR truck Or as a single truck & camper unit ??
BradW
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
Before we bought our first truck camper, I happen to run into the Lance factory rep at the North Hollywood Lance dealer. He let me drive his F250 4x4 SRW with a Lance 990 in the bed. I learned a lot in that 2 mile test drive.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2018
maddog348 wrote:
Kayteg1 ~~ Is this on YOUR truck Or as a single truck & camper unit ??

Scroll down the TC page, or do a search as the rental topic was pretty recent.
I was surprised that TC rental does exist, but remember few links to companies in Canada that do that.
The Ford/Lance (non-separable combo) rental is different story.
joerg68
Nomad III
Jul 13, 2018
Fraserway in Canada will not let you take the camper off. I have rented from them, a Ford Super Duty with an Adventurer camper. It was a very pleasant experience.

Any truck needs to have proper tiedowns installed before anyone would even consider letting you carry their camper around... Matching a truck and camper can be quite tricky as evidenced by many threads on this very forum. It is not like any camper just fits on any truck...
discovery4us
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
When I bought my lance it was used and from a dealer. I was putting it on a 1/2 ton chevy so weight was a concern. Dealer wouldn't let me drive with it loaded due to a lack of tie downs but he recommended I back under it and put the full weight of the camper on the truck before any paperwork or money exchanged hands. Once we both saw how the truck handled the weight I agreed to pay cash for the happijack system and turnbuckles and then they let me test drive the TC and if I was happy he would take my money for the TC. If I was not happy no sell but I was still out the cash for the happijack and tiedowns.