Forum Discussion

maddog348's avatar
maddog348
Explorer
Jul 10, 2019

Why does my Truck Camper list toward the driver side

Of All the things I've ever lost ~ I miss my Mind the MOST ~~ Need help or a swift kick in the ....

Have a 2006 Toyota Tundra double cab. SR5, 4.7 gas ~ 6'6" bed ~ spray in bedliner. ~~~~ Bought 2017 4WheelCamper "Hawk" Shell Dec. 18,2017 [Factory installed date of purchase. 965# +batteries +2 10#propane furnace/cabinet.] No 110v ~ no water ~ no potty ~ no etc,etc, Pretty much nekkid, Camper 'rests' on side to side 1x4's fore & aft of wheel wells rear most 7" in from rear end of camper. 1/4" between camper sides and tail gate opening.. 1 hand thickness camper bottom and floor of truck [I am old my hands are not very thick] Camper sides ride about 1' above sidewalls bed of truck.

Had BF Goodrich ~ All Terrain lt625/70r16 "E" Apr/2018 ~ Firestone RideRiteAirBag pkg installed Oct 2017

Only taken on a few trips as Work in Progress. built side to side bed platform below cab/camper window, Movable Storage under, Campsite leveled as needed with wood blocks ~ never a problem, Carry water bottles ~~ Use Thetford 135 Feb this year.

OK Earlier this year noticed camper 'listing' toward driver side. Unit is usually parked in backyard. OK OK Know backyard not FLAT & Level ~ BUT Driver side rear of camper 1-2 inches lower than Passenger side. Measuring from bottom of 'Jack' bracket to ground. Air bag a little low on that side. Pumped up to 30# ea waited few days down again. Took back tire shop a couple pf times ~ new lines. Still not good ~ Put new 'pod on driver side. WAITING. A little low but could be the yard. Second 'pod'put on passenger side today. Both air pods aired up to 50#. No matter where I put it ~ Which way I face it driver side 1 1/2' low

Also at the last measures RT,RR., turnbuckle a little loose. ~ NEVER ~ Loose before ~~ Connected or coincidence WHat do I measure now. Is this normal. Is this Usable?? Can it be possible that the camper was heavy enough on the driver side with Batteries;Propane ~Furnace~~to cause bed to be lower on that side.

Never noticed a side to side difference until after camper in stalled. Never had 'wings' I had to duck under before . HELP. If can't be helpful ~~ Please be Kind. Thanks ~~ K
Truck Campers
  • whizbang's avatar
    whizbang
    Explorer II
    Jul 13, 2019
    I'm guessing a Hawk Shell has the cabinets, stove, sink on the driver side and the bench/couch on the passenger side. The cabinet side is much heavier. If you want to level up, you need air bags.

    My old Fleet Four wheel camper caused my F350 to lean on the drivers side.
  • srschang's avatar
    srschang
    Nomad
    Jul 13, 2019
    My "new" 2015 Ram 3500 shortbed lists to the driver side as well. With the TC loaded, it's almost 2". I attribute the list to:

    -30 gallon diesel tank
    -6 gallon DEF tank
    -fridge
    -two 80# AGM batteries
    -microwave
    -propane tank

    all on the driver side. I run 75psi on the driver side airbag and 30psi on the passenger airbag to level it up. Goes down the road fine. Just got back from four wheelin' in West Virginia. If anything will test the handling of the rig, it's all the twisting two lanes down there. Handled great.
  • 1320Fastback's avatar
    1320Fastback
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2019
    Most old Dodges like mine list to the drivers side too. We have always though it was because of the "Big 3". The Battery, the Driver and the 30 gallons of diesel are all on one side.

    Wonder if something similar is happening to your rig.
  • Camper_Jeff___K's avatar
    Camper_Jeff___K
    Nomad III
    Jul 13, 2019
    I had about an 1-3/4" List to the left side with the TC on the truck. I installed new heavier 4400# rear leaf springs and the list is much less. I plan to install heavier front springs and that should get the rest of the left list or lean out of the truck. My guess is at some point in the trucks life it hit a hard bump under load and took some arc out of the front left spring which is a visible amount compared to the right. The truck carries the TC much nicer now. The unloaded ride doesn't bother me at all.
    Here's a video of the installation. There are many other options available to address your one sided lean.
    Installing 4400 pound rear leaf springs.
  • maddog348's avatar
    maddog348
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2019
    Eric & others of this thought line.

    Original owner ~ worked at Toyota dealership 27 years ~ All maintenance ~ No accidents.I do not recall saying"..2-3 inches..." most about 1-2" ~ all air gone from driver side air bag.

    This camper 'lives' on the truck ~ do not have the means or desire to remove it. Right now out in the back yard sorting the duplicates & tossing the strays. May be a little over packing moving down from class A. Rearranging storage ~ more heavy stuff on Passenger side. Trying to get his weight down. Then will evaluate again.

    Thanks all for all considerations mentioned. Kate
  • Eric_Lisa's avatar
    Eric_Lisa
    Explorer II
    Jul 12, 2019
    I have no idea how long you owned your truck. If you are the original owner, then this may not apply to you. However, if you are not the first owner and don't know the truck's maintenance history, there could be something obvious that is wrong. I am thinking like an accident repair done improperly or with substandard parts.

    My dad used to have a '57 Chevy that sat crooked. Could never figure out why. One day he counted the coils in the springs and found they were mismatched. Lots of frustration over what turned out to be an obvious, but unnoticed, problem. (I solved that problem when I got the car by re-doing the entire suspension.)

    My point for the OP... Take some time and examine the basics. Do the springs actually match from side to side? Could there be an overload spring on one side that is not functional? Does it sit level when unloaded and do the springs look consistent side to side when unloaded?

    A drop of "2-3 inches" side to side is significant. I could see a half to a full inch due to the load in the camper being heavier. That is a pretty good tilt, more than I would expect from just all the camper 'stuff' being on one side.

    If you really want to break it down, you will need to load the truck with a heavy, but evenly distributed, weight load. I am thinking something like sheets of plywood. If it sits level, then the problem is with the camper weight distribution. If it sits several inches down on one side with an even load, then the problem is the truck and not the camper.

    HTH!
    -Eric
  • maddog348's avatar
    maddog348
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2019
    Grit ~~ You just made my afternoon. Right now out in the back yard sorting the duplicates & tossing the strays. Love that last sentence ~~ Can I steal it and make me a sign?? Thanks K
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jul 11, 2019
    Haha! Poor dog...what'd he do? LOL
    If you're only 6600# total with the camper on and dog ridin shotgun, then you are golden my friend! Throw an extra rack r 2 of brewskis in the camper just 'cause you can!

    Have fun camping! Remember it's no fun sweating the petty stuff but it is fun petting the sweaty stuff!
  • maddog348's avatar
    maddog348
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2019
    OH Lord..... Just got back from [trash] scales. Personally HATE scales. Toyota says BOTH GVWR & Towing weight for this beast is 6600 . Driver +1 dog + mock up load 6620 [3/4+tank gas]. DO I take him out and shoot him or try to find 300# of ??? to take out.

    Thanks for all your help ~ Back to square ONE. Not sellin' my truck ~ Not sellin' my camper ~~ Gotta nice piece of YardArt. ~~ K
    Modify message
  • maddog348's avatar
    maddog348
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2019
    Kayteg1 ~~~ I am speaking of the air pressure in Firestone Ride Right Air bags ~~ NOT TIRES ~ Always keep my tire even.

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