Wolf Creek 840 or 850 shortbed model on a truck

I have a 840 on 2500 HD with air bags. regular cab long box

f150 if not the heavy load 7 stud wheels wud snap in half

wud be scarey driving down the highway with head lights lighting up the stars

2500 HD needed the air bags to firm up and return overloads into position

GeoBoy wrote:

Troutguy wrote:
GeoBoy,
Your mileage figures are quite impressive. How did you calculate them, by hand or by using the trucks on-board computer?
I currently carry my 811 on a Chevy 2500 HD with the Duramax and although my mileage figures are 2-3 mpg better, I'm considering going to a new 3500HD 6.0 gasser.
What axle ratio do you have? Inquiring minds have a need to know......

I checked your profile and see that that you have 4:10 gearing.

Thanks,
TG

Ray, my mileage is hand calculated, I use mid-grade gasoline and I keep my speed under 65 mph. Did you buy your AF from Niemeyer's?

I get:
12mpg empty
8.5mpg with the TC

Speeds under 65mph.

2015 3500HD 6.0L gas, SRW.

I wish I could figure out how you guys get that spectacular mileage.

For comparison, I got 21-22mpg with a 2014 5.3L 1500, driving it in the same places.

This is hand calculated mileage.

Troutguy wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:

Troutguy wrote:
GeoBoy,
Your mileage figures are quite impressive. How did you calculate them, by hand or by using the trucks on-board computer?
I currently carry my 811 on a Chevy 2500 HD with the Duramax and although my mileage figures are 2-3 mpg better, I'm considering going to a new 3500HD 6.0 gasser.
What axle ratio do you have? Inquiring minds have a need to know......

I checked your profile and see that that you have 4:10 gearing.

Thanks,
TG

Ray, my mileage is hand calculated, I use mid-grade gasoline and I keep my speed under 65 mph. Did you buy your AF from Niemeyer's?

GB,

Thanks for the reply. Hand calculated....that's the honest and accurate method of checking fuel mileage. I commend that. No I bought my 811 new from a dealer here in Michigan, who shall remain unnamed as it tends to offend the owners of this forum when you don't have positive things to say about them.

My 811 has been virtually trouble free since I've owned it but I have new truck fever and will buy a GM product and it will be a 3500HD.

Dually, I hope. It will give you options on what you can carry.

GeoBoy wrote:

Troutguy wrote:
GeoBoy,
Your mileage figures are quite impressive. How did you calculate them, by hand or by using the trucks on-board computer?
I currently carry my 811 on a Chevy 2500 HD with the Duramax and although my mileage figures are 2-3 mpg better, I'm considering going to a new 3500HD 6.0 gasser.
What axle ratio do you have? Inquiring minds have a need to know......

I checked your profile and see that that you have 4:10 gearing.

Thanks,
TG

Ray, my mileage is hand calculated, I use mid-grade gasoline and I keep my speed under 65 mph. Did you buy your AF from Niemeyer's?

GB,

Thanks for the reply. Hand calculated....that's the honest and accurate method of checking fuel mileage. I commend that. No I bought my 811 new from a dealer here in Michigan, who shall remain unnamed as it tends to offend the owners of this forum when you don't have positive things to say about them.

My 811 has been virtually trouble free since I've owned it but I have new truck fever and will buy a GM product and it will be a 3500HD.

mkirsch wrote:
Grit dog, on what planet do 2500/3500 gassers not have great resale value? Certainly not around here. Anything with an 8-lug wheel on it that's less than 5 years old is priced the same as new.

This planet, on the opposite side of the continent from you, lol.
Out west and in the mountains, HD gassers are about as useless as teats on a boar unless you're just using it as a commuter vehicle.
More wide open spaces, big grades and altitude hurt the popularity and usefulness of big gassers.
Not my call, just stating what I see and I have one of each.

Troutguy wrote:
GeoBoy,
Your mileage figures are quite impressive. How did you calculate them, by hand or by using the trucks on-board computer?
I currently carry my 811 on a Chevy 2500 HD with the Duramax and although my mileage figures are 2-3 mpg better, I'm considering going to a new 3500HD 6.0 gasser.
What axle ratio do you have? Inquiring minds have a need to know......

I checked your profile and see that that you have 4:10 gearing.

Thanks,
TG

Ray, my mileage is hand calculated, I use mid-grade gasoline and I keep my speed under 65 mph. Did you buy your AF from Niemeyer's?

GeoBoy,
Your mileage figures are quite impressive. How did you calculate them, by hand or by using the trucks on-board computer?
I currently carry my 811 on a Chevy 2500 HD with the Duramax and although my mileage figures are 2-3 mpg better, I'm considering going to a new 3500HD 6.0 gasser.
What axle ratio do you have? Inquiring minds have a need to know......

I checked your profile and see that that you have 4:10 gearing.

Thanks,
TG

dhull wrote:
jmckelvy...Yea by using your assumption that the axle is under the center of the bed then I come up with COG about 4" in front of the rear axle. So hope your right, thanks!

I should have stated earlier that that I'm married to a SB gasser truck.

Went by the Chevy dealer today and got their truck camper applications document. They also use a COG range/zone but they recommend it be directly over the rear axle. Took the tape measure to a 3500 Chevy crew cab SB. I realized that I made an assumption that was not true. That is that the COG zone is centered over the axle. It was not on this truck in fact it was shifted about 6" forwards of that. Found the measurements in the glove box to go by. So the Chevy SB appeared to be a a good match for an 840.

Next step is to take trip to big city to measure the mega cab as they don't stock any locally.

Buy that Chevy. I have a 2016 AF 990 on my 2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD dually with a 6.0 gasoline motor and it drives great. Mileage with that 4880 lb. camper is right at 11 mpg and I don't have to contend with cylinder deactivation and that mess. Empty the truck gets around 16 mpg on the highway. Good luck.

Mine sits right over the axle but maybe the 4th gen Ram's have a different shape bed.

Congrats on your purchase and the new truck! Don't think anyone can go wrong with any of the big three.

Well the deposit was paid last week for an 840SB that should be delivered late this summer. So I was able to turn my attention back to trucks. Took DeltaBravo's advice and got the tape measure out.

Here is what I found out for the COG on both the 840 and the 850. First off for these measurements I did not include the rubber bumpers on the front of the camper that would rest against the front of the truck bed. These were 2" long so will move the COG back an additional 2" for the final length. Last fall I measured and 850 and found it's COG arrow to be 30.5 inches from the front of the camper and I remember thinking at the time this should fit in any short bed truck no problem.

Recently I got to measure 2 more 850's and finally 2 840's. When I measured the 840's I was rather shocked to find the COG to be at 37.75" as I assumed since a bathroom is heavier than a stove (locations are reversed between the 2 models) the COG would be even further forward in the 840 than the 850. NOPE! Must be different in the basement? Darn glad I took the travel time to know exactly. I would say that Northwood must do a great job of marking the COG because 1 of the 850's had a generator on it and its COG was back just a little further than the other without the gen. I would say Northwood's COG stickers can be trusted for a specific option package.

I was also able to check out all 3 one ton trucks short bed models this week as well. I found that all the beds are almost an inch longer in length than listed. Like a whopping .8" anyway the important measurement for me was how far from the cab was the axle, here are those numbers.

Dodge Mega cab & Crew cab were both 36"
Ford Crew cab was 38"
Chevy Crew cab was 41"

I expected more length from the Ford since it's bed is almost 79" but didn't get it. Salesman said could probably only build your own for another month anyway. Looks like all 3 of the trucks would work perfect for the 850 model. Since we are getting the 840 the Chevy wins. I expect my COG to wind up about an inch or so in front off the axle.