I have a 2011 Silverado 1500 w/5.6L gaser 6 speed tranyRegular cab 8' bed stock P245/70R17 tires on stock steel wheelsHellwig #987 helper springs. Truck is level when loaded.Camper 2004 Travel-lite Mountain Star 800 with sticker we 1440.Issue - when traveling loaded at 55 to 65 we are getting a fore/aft pulsing or lurching that gets worse on expansion joint highways. It's bad enough that the wife will not go on camping trips of more than 3 hrs of travel.Here are my weights.VIN - 1GCNCPE0X0F187892GVWR GAWR Frnt GAWR Rear. Cargo wt. 6400 3300 3750 1030Actual empty (tank full & me)5280 3040 2240With Camper (1585)6865 3125 3740TrailerTongue Axle empty 100 840 And 1000 stuffNow don't call the WP, I know I'm over weight, but I'm retired and can not afford a bigger truck. It's this truck / camper or nothing.Question is what is causing the poor ride characteristics?

What brand/model/rating of tires?

You could sell the truck camper and get a light-weight trailer, if nothing else helps.I know that truck campers have a balance point... are you loaded too unevenly, either in front or behind that point?

General Grabber HTC 2205# @44 PSI running at 40

What kind of shocks? And is your wife okay with the way the truck rides when the TC isn't on it?

WNYBob wrote:Now don't call the WP, I know I'm over weight, but I'm retired and can not afford a bigger truck. It's this truck / camper or nothing.Question is what is causing the poor ride characteristics?I think you have answered your question. Being retired, I fully understand budget constraints but you are putting yourself and your family at risk not to mention the rest of us on the road. My dad started out with a GMC so called 3/4 ton, a 920 series with 6 ply tires and coil springs. The dealer who he knew well assured him that it would handle the camper. It didn't, that heavy half was absolutely evil in a cross wind and brakes were inadequate. I suggest a stronger truck or a travel trailer. Safety first.

wife won't go on Long camping trips due to bad ride!

41 Replies

stevenal
Nomad II
Aug 07, 2015
WNYBob wrote:
Sleepy,

You stated the following:
"I have seen as I am sure many of you have a note inside the glovebox that specifically says "This truck is Not suitable for slide-in truck campers""

Please stick with the facts as given your unsubstantiated remarks are not welcome!

.

32 page thread substantiation enough?
GeoBoy
Explorer
Aug 06, 2015
sleepy wrote:
I wonder how many people think that they can take a truck NOT suited for hauling a Truck camper and modify it enough to do the job?

I have seen as I am sure many of you have a note inside the glovebox that specifically says "This truck is Not suitable for slide-in truck campers."

The ideal truck is one that requires no modifications....

HOw do most of us get enough engineering experience to know what to add?

Listen to advertizements? You know that the seller has your best interest in mind.... buy, buy, buy... Ooops! Add something else. Then another.

I have seen people add stuff and later add something in else that is designed to cancel out the first addition.... Duh!

The weakest point in the drive train or in the body structure is just that.

Occassionally we see a picture of a truck that's frame is folded at the back of the cab....

... all of the $2000 tires... all of the chips... all of the window decals will never make that model/brand of truck suitable for hauling a truck camper (if the frame flex's your rig will porpoise... even with the Lance struts.

Even if the Truck camper is dead-on above the rear axel the wrong truck can't be made right!

When we respond with "facts" please mention you experience and/or engineering degree....

I want to believe...

Chet

Sleepy, you are dead on with your comment. I just purchased a new GMC 3500HD dually to carry my 2016 AF 990, the glove box sticker says not to exceed 4913 lbs. for a slide-in truck camper. I had a perfectly good 2005 Silverado 3500 SRW, never has seen winter with 44K original miles. It would have never safely carried a 4500+ lb. TC by adding, bags, 19.5 tires & wheels, etc.. Great post.
sleepy
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
WNYBob wrote:
Sleepy,

Where did you get the information that my truck does not have a truck camper sticker?

You stated the following:
"I have seen as I am sure many of you have... a note inside the glovebox that specifically says "This truck is Not suitable for slide-in truck campers""

Please stick with the facts as given your unsubstantiated remarks are not welcome!

I bought the truck new with a trailer package.

Please note: I never said that your truck or anyones has the note.

When I was looking to buy I found notes that said things like "not recommended for slide in truck campers" in several trucks including at least in the glove compartment of at least one GMC 1 ton.... I didn't get that one... the dealer couldn't tell me why the note was there.

I am sure that others have seen the note and heeded the warning... they surely wouldn't have bought one that was excluded from TC use by the manufacturer.
WNYBob
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
Sleepy,

Where did you get the information that my truck does not have a truck camper sticker?

You stated the following:
"I have seen as I am sure many of you have a note inside the glovebox that specifically says "This truck is Not suitable for slide-in truck campers""

Please stick with the facts as given your unsubstantiated remarks are not welcome!

I bought the truck new with a trailer package.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2015
Sleepy, I think there has been enough "pigs lips" comments. Your post borderline on being a troll.

Wayne
Moderator
sleepy
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
I seriously doubt that you can buy a factory equiped one ton rated truck with passenger tires.

And putting different tires on a grocery getter won't make it one ton capable.

The weakest link is the determining factor....

Careful selection proves out.... I've never had any problems that required an aftermarket fix....

I'm not a mechanical engineer.... but I had plenty of fellow workers and frinds that were abd still are...

.... they advised me that oversized tires based on the trucks rating are nothing more than huge pig lips that take a lot of $$$ lipstick but add nothing to the carrying capacity.
Bedlam
Moderator
Aug 05, 2015
sleepy wrote:
I wonder how many people think that they can take a truck NOT suited for hauling a Truck camper and modify it enough to do the job?

I have seen as I am sure many of you have a note inside the glovebox that specifically says "This truck is Not suitable for slide-in truck campers."

The ideal truck is one that requires no modifications....

HOw do most of us get enough engineering experience to know what to add?

Listen to advertizements? You know that the seller has your best interest in mind.... buy, buy, buy... Ooops! Add something else. Then another.

I have seen people add stuff and later add something in else that is designed to cancel out the first addition.... Duh!

The weakest point in the drive train or in the body structure is just that.

Occassionally we see a picture of a truck that's frame is folded at the back of the cab....

... all of the $2000 tires... all of the chips... all of the window decals will never make that model/brand of truck suitable for hauling a truck camper (if the frame flex's your rig will porpoise... even with the Lance struts.

Even if the Truck camper is dead-on above the rear axel the wrong truck can't be made right!

When we respond with "facts" please mention you experience and/or engineering degree....

I want to believe...

Chet

When a truck is sold, it falls under a certain classification. Although the capabilities of the truck will meet that classification, many times the vehicle has a larger capacity than stickered. This has proven many times by comparing the parts breakdown between Class 2b and Class 3 SRW trucks. A manufacturer will want a model to appeal to the widest customer base, so capacity may undermined for unloaded ride comfort (not everyone wants to carry the weight equating to multiple pallets of bricks).

If a truck has no camper certification, it does not mean it is not a capable vehicle. If you add the snow plow optioned higher front spring rate to a Ford, you loose the sticker yet still have the same truck with slightly stiffer front springs.

My previous truck was able to handle my load if I gave up unloaded ride comfort. Running my 14PR 19.5" wheels and taller suspension pads were the cause but improved the loaded ride quality (which I wanted). I also had adjustable shocks and airbags along with removable spring wedges to aid in loaded ride, but these items did not affect unloaded ride.

My current truck was purchased so I could go to larger TC in the future. Unloaded ride quality will always be less than my previous modified truck but now I am carrying my current load with no modifications to the suspension. Once I add another ton to my payload, I may once again do some modifications to improve handling while loaded.

People's use of their trucks varies. You start with a platform that matches your use as much as possible and then modify it to fine tune the truck for your application. If I wanted a mall-crawling dually, you bet I would be running passenger tires and thinning out the spring pack to make a better unloaded ride...
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2015
profdant139 wrote:
MKirsch -- you say the road designers have an ulterior motive. Are you saying they put in the expansion joints on porpoise?

(Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

LOL! I see what you did there ;-)
sleepy
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
I wonder how many people think that they can take a truck NOT suited for hauling a Truck camper and modify it enough to do the job?

I have seen as I am sure many of you have a note inside the glovebox that specifically says "This truck is Not suitable for slide-in truck campers."

The ideal truck is one that requires no modifications....

HOw do most of us get enough engineering experience to know what to add?

Listen to advertizements? You know that the seller has your best interest in mind.... buy, buy, buy... Ooops! Add something else. Then another.

I have seen people add stuff and later add something in else that is designed to cancel out the first addition.... Duh!

The weakest point in the drive train or in the body structure is just that.

Occassionally we see a picture of a truck that's frame is folded at the back of the cab....

... all of the $2000 tires... all of the chips... all of the window decals will never make that model/brand of truck suitable for hauling a truck camper (if the frame flex's your rig will porpoise... even with the Lance struts.

Even if the Truck camper is dead-on above the rear axel the wrong truck can't be made right!

When we respond with "facts" please mention you experience and/or engineering degree....

I want to believe...

Chet
twodownzero
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
I wouldn't ride in a truck carrying a camper on P-metric tires either. I'm surprised they even still put C rated tires on even a 1/2 ton truck.