2005 Lance 845
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Jun-12-2021 08:18 AM
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Truck Campers
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Jun-24-2021 04:26 PM
Also check the tires on your truck. With my 2500 truck the factory tires had a load rating of 3095 lbs or 6190 for the two at the rear axle. The truck itself weighed 3200 lbs at the rear axle when empty. The weight of the truck and the camper was going to be more than 6200 lbs.
I replaced the factory tires with Nitto tires rated for 3750 lbs (similar tires fron Toyo and Goodrich) each and increase the load capacity at the rear to 7500 lbs which was more than enough. The local CAT scale costs about $15 to have the truck weighed with and without the camper and then you know exactly how much weight is being carried.
I discovered that 80% of the camper load was being supported by the rear wheels of the truck.
The Supersprings double leaf set (4 leaves in total) cost me $450 and provided the support needed for the heavy camper. They took me an hour to install and greatly improved the handling of the truck. In a turn more than 50% of the weight of the camper is being supported by the wheels on one side and so adding more support adds to the stability.
Another change I made was to replace the factory shocks with Rancho XL adjustable shocks. I found that having the front shocks at 5 and rear shocks at 10 provided the best ride with minimal porpoising. With the camper off the truck I would only change the rear shock setting taking them to 5 or 6. Thirty seconds and no tools needed to change the setting on the shocks.
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Jun-15-2021 01:26 PM
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Jun-15-2021 12:54 PM
...I am more concerned with how many cans of BEER that I can carry.
2005 Dodge 3500 SRW, Qcab long bed, NV-6500, diesel, 4WD, Helwig, 9000XL,
Nitto 285/70/17 Terra Grapplers, Honda eu3000Is, custom overload spring perch spacers.
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Jun-15-2021 12:46 PM
If you actually sat down and did the math, you would see that the OP's truck can haul ALL the beans and ALL the water. Just like Grit dog says, no problem.
Just for giggles, what does the door sticker say about the RAWR/GRAWR rating of the truck?
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
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Jun-15-2021 11:41 AM
monkey44 wrote:
Remember too, carry enough water for your travels, then fill tank at destination. Thirty-six gallons equal 270 lbs. Save yourself 200 lbs with less water on the road. Shop main groceries often. Take minimal heavy tools. A few necessary tools, fine, but you can load up a few hundred pounds of metal if you overdo it. Pack light, laundry more often. Little things like that make a lighter load. You could save 500 lbs if you load TC and truck with a little forethought.
Think also, heavier weight cruising around local camping area roads at 30 mph is a lot less dangerous than heavy weight on a highway at 65 mph too. Load water and groceries at your location, and dump before you leave. Fill water at next CG.
Except for the fact that, that camper on a newer F250, there is no real need to count cans of beans and gallons of water. Truck is up to the task. Period.
I understand many folks have limited experience with trucks, campers, towing, etc and due diligence is required. But in this case, it's black n white. Other than the administratively low gvw rating and rear axle rating, there are no physical or design issues with this setup, even if he packs food for 2 weeks, 3 cases of Budweiser, full tank of water and some tools.
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Jun-15-2021 09:33 AM
Rhodesia wrote:jimh425 wrote:
Everybody needs a F450. Gotta have it just in case, right? 😄
You are funny, that's why you only do one show a night, LOL
Wut??? :S
Everyone knows F450’s make the best camper haulers. It’s just common sense, like wearing two masks. If one is good then more must be even better, right? :W
:):)
And for all you Scooby-Doo and Yosemite Sam types………..Let’s Go Brandon!!!
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Jun-15-2021 08:31 AM
Think also, heavier weight cruising around local camping area roads at 30 mph is a lot less dangerous than heavy weight on a highway at 65 mph too. Load water and groceries at your location, and dump before you leave. Fill water at next CG.
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
Chevy 2500HD 4x4 DC-SB
2008 Lance 845
Back-country camping fanatic
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Jun-15-2021 05:59 AM
StirCrazy wrote:
there are lots of gvwraitings, and phisical weight differences with the 3/4 ton trucks.
The only differences are INCREASES in payload capacity ratings as the years go by.
The majority of the weight differences are UP FRONT. Empty rear axle weights are pretty consistent given a particular box size.
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
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Jun-15-2021 05:30 AM
Steve
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumber Queen WS100
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Jun-14-2021 04:58 PM
jimh425 wrote:
Everybody needs a F450. Gotta have it just in case, right? 😄
You are funny, that's why you only do one show a night, LOL
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Jun-14-2021 04:57 PM
monkey44 wrote:
We have a 2008 Lance 845 ... We pack fairly light, but still run about 3000 lbs loaded. We haul it on a Chevy 2500HD w-60K miles on it and the only mod is Bilstein shocks. Never have an issue, highway or off-highway, although, we don't off-road much anymore.
BFG 285 AT 'E' Tires ...
Not sure why anyone beefs up a truck so much unless you have trouble hauling the weight you carry. Yes, safety is always an issue, and if it felt unsafe, we would beef it up. It doesn't. Could trucks hauling TC's use a few 'beefs', sure, but not always necessary. Driver training and driving care is always helpful if you need it.
Thank you very much for your input this is my first camper set up
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Jun-14-2021 04:56 PM
Grit dog wrote:
Glad to help Rhodesia.
I still wouldn’t do the super springs either though unless you’re wanting to get rid of the airbags.
But again, drive it first before moving further with more mods.
Admittedly, that generation of F250 has fairly compliant rear springs. Based on the 2012 and 2015 models I had. You could lob the camper on there now and drive away and not be sitting on the bump stops. But the springs have a softer initial spring rate compared to what one would traditionally think of a HD truck.
You have more than enough tire (and rim if OE rims or at least not some cheap aftermarket ones) for the camper to sit on the truck for a day or 5 years. 19.5s would be overkill.
For frame of reference, we had Arctic Fox 860s sitting on a 2007 Dodge 2500 short bed.
4000lbs + ready to camp. Yes it needed airbags, sway bar and home made spring wedges. And with that it handled decent. But first trip out of the Gates with the first camper was camper loaded down heavy and a 7klb trailer on a 2’ hitch extension from Seattle to Anchorage. Just airbags and some 4000lb rated Toyos.
Took all 748 frost heaves between here and there like a champ!
I pick up the camper on the 24th I take it down to the RV Suspension Shop and they will weight it with the camper and have the tank filled and so forth. again thank you and I will post what the results are.
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Jun-14-2021 11:15 AM
BFG 285 AT 'E' Tires ...
Not sure why anyone beefs up a truck so much unless you have trouble hauling the weight you carry. Yes, safety is always an issue, and if it felt unsafe, we would beef it up. It doesn't. Could trucks hauling TC's use a few 'beefs', sure, but not always necessary. Driver training and driving care is always helpful if you need it.
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
Chevy 2500HD 4x4 DC-SB
2008 Lance 845
Back-country camping fanatic
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Jun-14-2021 11:12 AM
'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.
NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member