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...
