What truck camper is on your 2500hd deisel

dennych1 wrote:
Just looking to see what people put on there 2500hd diesel. I have a 2007 and thinking about a truck camper. Wanted to see what other people match to there 2500 hd. Also what it ways and modifications to truck if any.

Thanks for your help in Advance
Dennis

I'm curious, what is the payload of your 2007 2500HD Diesel?

I have a 2011 2500HD and a Lance 845 with a wet weight of 4,000 lbs which the truck handles very well. I upgraded the tires to 285/70R17 Nitto Terra Grapplers that are rated at 3750@80 PSI, and I added a SuperSpring on each side which increased the payload capacity by 1400 lbs. over the stock leaf packs on the truck. The higher load capacity tires seem to flex less and so improved handling slightly over the stock tires.

The 2011 GM fully boxed truck frame is the best you can get and a lot stiffer than with earlier years or frames used on other manufacturers' pickups, expecting the Ram 2013 1-ton trucks. With an older truck I would expect to need a rear anti-sway bar. A camper has a high center of gravity and exerts more leverage in turns than a standard pickup load with the same weight.

The OEM truck shocks do not last very long in my experience, especially the GM ones on my trucks and SUV's from them. Plan on putting on Bilstein 5100 or Rancho 9000XL shocks. Easy to find the Rancho's on sale for 25-33% off at various times of the year. I put on Rancho 9000XL shocks but next set are likely to be Bilsteins.

Many people do not understand that the payload calculation from the factory is calculated based on the weakest link as the truck leaves the factory. Almost always that weakest link is the rim and tire setup which is easy to change. The AAM rear axle and wheel bearings supports a load of 10,900 lbs. so it is definitely not the limiting factor.

My camper had a sticker on the rear from the factory showing it being under 2700 lbs. but when I picked it up from a dealer and took the truck to a nearby CAT scale the weight was over 3100 lbs. and that was before I added solar panels, a second battery, or put water in the tank. After the modifications the weight was close to 3400 lbs. and fully loaded it approaches 4,000 lbs. which is my maximum weight with my current rims and tires. Good idea to take the published weight and add 1000 lbs. to determine a probable load weight for the truck.

With the 4,000 lb. payload and the Nitto tires and SuperSprings my truck is perfectly level with no squat at all. When I remove the Lance camper and have the bed empty it is 1" higher in the rear but when I put on a 200# fiberglass cap the bed is level again. A lot easier than fooling with airbags and the SuperSprings will never fail.

AF 811

there are quite a few trucks that get this kind of mileage and a couple that get in the low thirties. One of them produced just under 750, with limited smoke. It was stroked with 21.5-1 pistons, It also eventually split the block.

Higher compression along with a cam and some other work will get you to the upper twenties. The cam and the higher compression affect mileage and smoke.

The new turbo that I'll be running will spool just off idle and its boost is higher then the drive pressure. It's being tested now and will be out in one month. So less parasitic drag, along with more efficiency equals better MPG. The Allison also lowers the cruising RPMs and the better gear spread aids in hauling weight.

Sorry for this thread getting off topic.

26-28mpg???? I believe there is some SMOKE going on!

12V Cummins wrote:

rbcamping wrote:
My truck is a 2000 Dodge 2500 cummins diesel. but not really.

I have an Allison transmission, exhaust brake, up graded rear leafs, upgraded front springs, 3rd gen brakes,(35% more stopping power) and 19.5 wheels and tires. It's really more like a heavy duty 3500 single axle. I was waiting to see what Gary Hubbard came up with, but is looks like I'll be buying a Eagle Cap 995 in the spring. I do like the 1160, but just can't seem to want to try and put it on a single axle. I think the 995 will be my limit.

I know what the weight police are thinking, but believe me, with my mods I've had over 5000 lbs in the bed and the truck still sat level and the springs were just touching the overloads, and I could still lock up all four wheels, no problem.

Do you REALLY have an allison transmission?

Yes I really have an Allison transmission. I blew up three Dodge transmissions ,and I'm not talking stock. I was done after the last one and put the Allison in. Love the Allison transmission! Unfortunately the engine block cracked six months after the install. The #53 series Blocks are known to crack, so I am now in the process of putting a new engine in the truck. It will have many upgrades to increase power and mileage, Mainly mileage with less smoke. It should have around 650 HP and 1400 foot pounds of torque with almost zero smoke and get around 26-28 MPG on the highway.

I realize this is money in an older truck, but its paid for, has no smog and it's also this is cheaper than buying a new truck.

rbcamping wrote:
My truck is a 2000 Dodge 2500 cummins diesel. but not really.

I have an Allison transmission, exhaust brake, up graded rear leafs, upgraded front springs, 3rd gen brakes,(35% more stopping power) and 19.5 wheels and tires. It's really more like a heavy duty 3500 single axle. I was waiting to see what Gary Hubbard came up with, but is looks like I'll be buying a Eagle Cap 995 in the spring. I do like the 1160, but just can't seem to want to try and put it on a single axle. I think the 995 will be my limit.

I know what the weight police are thinking, but believe me, with my mods I've had over 5000 lbs in the bed and the truck still sat level and the springs were just touching the overloads, and I could still lock up all four wheels, no problem.

Do you REALLY have an allison transmission?

2001 GMC DM, Lance Squire light 8'6" Tiberns, Bilsteins,Exhaust.Rides level even with my Wells Cargo loaded behind, could use a sway bar but due to exhaust,can't.Around 2200 dry.

2011 F250 diesel with a Palomino Bronco 1500...

My truck is a 2000 Dodge 2500 cummins diesel. but not really.

I have an Allison transmission, exhaust brake, up graded rear leafs, upgraded front springs, 3rd gen brakes,(35% more stopping power) and 19.5 wheels and tires. It's really more like a heavy duty 3500 single axle. I was waiting to see what Gary Hubbard came up with, but is looks like I'll be buying a Eagle Cap 995 in the spring. I do like the 1160, but just can't seem to want to try and put it on a single axle. I think the 995 will be my limit.

I know what the weight police are thinking, but believe me, with my mods I've had over 5000 lbs in the bed and the truck still sat level and the springs were just touching the overloads, and I could still lock up all four wheels, no problem.