Last summer wife and I chose a Wolf Creek as our retirement TC. We will be laying out a deposit for the unit in next few weeks. We like it because we have a boat and the Fox Landing deals with negotiating the stairs and towing the best of all makes. Considered a side entry camper but entrance was too high off ground when on truck, even with some kind of hand rails we deemed it unsafe for us. For convenience want the built in gen which makes it a short bed model. So I've been researching trucks for months and had pretty much settled on a 3500 Dodge 4x4 but today my WC dealer tells me his WC rep said the WC's are not designed for the Dodge's because the 6'4" bed length does not match up with the campers COG. How much difference can 2" in bed length mean? Tell me about your rig if you have an 840 0r 850 short box WC.

I do not have the specific make/ model as you, but I have looked very closly at all of my specs, weights, etc... I won't bore you with it since it is too different from your desired set-up, but...Anytime COG is behind the rear wheel (regardless of how far) it WILL lift SOME weight from the front tires. If you add to this rearwared COG a boat trailer without some sort of WD hitch, the lift at the front will increase more... it is just physics.I read it as you do not have either truck nor camper... Too bad there is not a way to "test drive" the truck and camper to the scales.If WC says it is not designed for a Dodge, it is worth listening to them- JMHO.

Here's what I'd do: get the COG measurements from the camper, then find out where that measurement is on the truck bed of the style truck you are looking at.

The center of gravity (COG) decal on my 850SB is directly over the rear axle on my 2012 GMC Sierra. You'll need to know the distance from the front of your box to the center of your rear axle and see how that compares with the COG decal on the Wolf Creek campers.

Ram camper applicationsThe link shows that Dodge recommends the COG for a TC lie somewhere in a range both sides of the rear axle, basically the area above the entire wheel well. They like to measure it from the rear also!Same document from Ford, sorry no link, shows they recommend the COG to be in a range directly above the rear axle and running forward. Not sure what Chevy's stance is. Will visit dealer this week to find out.I have measured the 850WC and the COG arrow is 32" from the rubber bumpers on front of camper measured to the rear. That would put it 42" from the rear of the 6'4" bed. Again the above link shows a COG range going from 25" to 75" from the rear end of the truck bed in a crew cab model. So at 42" from rear I'd say the COG arrow is gonna be about 8" behind the rear axle but still well within the range! I don't want a camper that unloads the front axle. Choosing the right truck is turning out to be harder than choosing the right TC!I do need to measure some trucks too!

The Ram SB will probably work fine for that camper but if you haven't bought the truck yet I would Seriously consider a longbed.As you mentioned, the Ram bed is only 6'4 and it has a pretty good curve in the front of the bed that pushes the camper back even further.I loved my 15 Ram but sold it and just picked up my 16 LB today. I'm going to a 5th wheel TH and didn't want to worry about a slider hitch. I'm sure I'll get another TC someday and a LB allows many more options.The LB rides better and really isn't any harder to maneuver. Just 22" more tail.It also gives you 600 lb more payload.With a SRW you could probably go with a 9-10' camper with a slide and have much more room. Look at the Arctic Fox 990 or maybe a Lance 950S.

Wolf Creek 840 or 850 shortbed model on a truck

dhull
Explorer II
Jan 28, 2016
Ram camper applications

The link shows that Dodge recommends the COG for a TC lie somewhere in a range both sides of the rear axle, basically the area above the entire wheel well. They like to measure it from the rear also!

Same document from Ford, sorry no link, shows they recommend the COG to be in a range directly above the rear axle and running forward. Not sure what Chevy's stance is. Will visit dealer this week to find out.

I have measured the 850WC and the COG arrow is 32" from the rubber bumpers on front of camper measured to the rear. That would put it 42" from the rear of the 6'4" bed. Again the above link shows a COG range going from 25" to 75" from the rear end of the truck bed in a crew cab model. So at 42" from rear I'd say the COG arrow is gonna be about 8" behind the rear axle but still well within the range! I don't want a camper that unloads the front axle. Choosing the right truck is turning out to be harder than choosing the right TC!

I do need to measure some trucks too!
MORSNOW
Navigator II
Jan 28, 2016
The center of gravity (COG) decal on my 850SB is directly over the rear axle on my 2012 GMC Sierra. You'll need to know the distance from the front of your box to the center of your rear axle and see how that compares with the COG decal on the Wolf Creek campers.
deltabravo
Nomad
Jan 28, 2016
Here's what I'd do: get the COG measurements from the camper, then find out where that measurement is on the truck bed of the style truck you are looking at.
d3500ram
Explorer III
Jan 28, 2016
I do not have the specific make/ model as you, but I have looked very closly at all of my specs, weights, etc... I won't bore you with it since it is too different from your desired set-up, but...

Anytime COG is behind the rear wheel (regardless of how far) it WILL lift SOME weight from the front tires. If you add to this rearwared COG a boat trailer without some sort of WD hitch, the lift at the front will increase more... it is just physics.

I read it as you do not have either truck nor camper... Too bad there is not a way to "test drive" the truck and camper to the scales.

If WC says it is not designed for a Dodge, it is worth listening to them- JMHO.

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Wolf Creek 840 or 850 shortbed model on a truck

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