WHEEL EXTENDERS & LOAD ?

Wheel spacers or lug nut extensions = BAD for vehicles already loaded to their capacity.

Wheel spacers or lug extenders aren't the best idea for a load carrying vehicles axle bearings/lugs.
Sure we did silly things like that on a race car or b'cruser street vehicle.
For a load carrying wheel I would use the axle mfg specs for the proper wheel +/- offsets.

Can you clarify what you mean by "lug-nut extenders"?

If you mean true extensions, where each lug-nut screws on and has its own threads for regular lug-nuts, those are no good. I wouldn't even drive on the freeway with those.


If you actually have wheel adapters, which are bolt-on rings with their own studs, those are generally safe, however they can cause early failure on a semi-float axle since they still increase the load on the bearings.

Cannot imagine a slide in truck camper on a Ranger. Have you tried it? Does it actually fit? I hope he has the 4.0L engine, smaller engines cannot get out of their own way.

Charles

Thanks for the video direction. I had no idea how complicated this is. It would seem I really need to know the weight of this camper. Have not yet found it on line. It is a bare bones Six Pac with ice box. I think it is under 1,000.

Good video, especially the one he did on anti sway bars. With a sway bar, whatever one wheel is doing, impacts the other and sway bars reduce suspension compliance (travel), why I run Skyjacker sway bar disconnects both on the front and rear of my 350 4x4. I've popped links before off road so I replaced them. When I go off road, I disconnect both sway bars to allow full, unhindered suspension travel. The difference is amazing.

Wheel spacers do reduce the effective spring weight, and also can cause pre-mature wheel bearing failure, which will be amplified further by loading the vehicle heavily.

What is the weight of the camper?

Here is a good video to watch link

Wheel spacers are safer than lug extenders. Better and safer bet is to get wheels with a different backspace and/or offset. Better yet, get tires better suited for towing. A 2nd set for when you need the weight capacity. Use the current tires & wheels for looks when that is appropriate.