2015 Dodge 3/4 Ton Really Not Camper Compatible?

[TracksideNW]

Buddy of mine bought a 2015 Dodge 3/4 ton crew cab short box diesel a few months back. I "helped" him when he asked if there was anything I didn't like about my 3/4 ton GMC gas and told him a diesel would be my next choice so I could tow a boat without all the RPM.

He went into a Lance dealer this week who said they wouldn't sell him anything heavier than a pop-up camper pointing out the sticker in his door jam that said max payload including passengers is 2360. I was shocked it was that low. The 6.4 gas version is nearly 1k greater at 3,280.

This is the grey area for me when it comes to the suspension, wheel and tire upgrades one makes to their rig for a camper. Does it not also upgrade the payload/Gross vehicle weight rating?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[finsruskw]

Most of the OTR Class 8 rigs now days are air ride, many front and rear axles, as are a large percentage of trailers..

My '05 KW had 8 bag air suspension on the drives and could have been ordered w/the 4 bag system called "air leaf" I have owned 6 Class 8's over a 30 year span and all were Peterbilt conventionals with air leaf except for my last rig an '05 KW W900. Only way to fly!

A fully sprung suspension on an OTR Class 8 today would be a rarity IMHO.
If you want a truck, buy a truck and not a pick-up. I believe the Rams have air suspension as an option now also. But my '15 3500 Ram has the springs & I'm a happy camper w/it, rides just fine when empty also.
Cheers and good luck w/whatever you decide.

[Bedlam]

Ford went back to the coil front end so that they could get sharper steering cut after using leafs for a number of years. Although I have seen heavier coil spring setups in military vehicles, they are still an exception over leafs.

[d3500ram]

JacintoKid wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

JacintoKid wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

2015 Dodge 3/4 Ton Really Not Camper Compatible?

Are the new generation of Dodge 3/4 series using coil springs in the rear now? I think only the 3500 series now has leafs.

As a generality, I think the opportunity to do improvements to coils suspension is more limited than leaf.

This...

And you'd be dead wrong. Coil spring systems are far more tunable than the archaic old leaf spring. Just because GM screwed it up on the 67-73 half tons doesn't mean someone can't figure it out.

Coil springs are a perfect place to stuff an airbag, for example. Someone already makes an airbag system that fits inside the 1500's coil springs.

I stand corrected. Good to know there are options available to enhance the suspension on the Ram 2500 Coils. I looked long and hard at the 1500 ecodiesel back in the summer of 2014 but there weren't any aftermarket upgrades at that time for the 1500 coil springs.

If coils are a better choice, then why are they not used on the larger medium and heavy duty trucks? Box delivery trucks and most OTR tractors (at least on the front axle) use leafs, they are tired and true.

I think that coils are being introduced back into the light truck market is because mfgrs are caving in to consumer demands who want to try to haul loads and get groceries in the same platform and have it ride like a Cadillac in either situation. This is evident by the recent posts of folks trying to put a camper on a 150/ 1500 chassis. Can't blame the truck makers- they are in business to make money. I would bet that a lot of folks buy a 250 series and larger truck and never put more that a fart in the bed... then they complain about the ride being too stiff or harsh.

But the bottom line is that trucks made to work (i.e. haul a camper) may not be the most comfortable to drive into town to get a bagel an Starbucks.

If it were up to me, I would have a 350 chassis with appropriate springs to carry the weight and do work. None of this need for stable load type add-on stuff that engage overload when weight is applied. It would be the springs to have all leafs engaged with or without a load. I would also like to see leafs up front with a live axle. Perhaps I am old school, but I want a truck to do work, not necessarily be comfortable when unloaded.

Not flaming anyone, just my opinion... (rant over.)

[JacintoKid]

mkirsch wrote:

JacintoKid wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

2015 Dodge 3/4 Ton Really Not Camper Compatible?

Are the new generation of Dodge 3/4 series using coil springs in the rear now? I think only the 3500 series now has leafs.

As a generality, I think the opportunity to do improvements to coils suspension is more limited than leaf.

This...

And you'd be dead wrong. Coil spring systems are far more tunable than the archaic old leaf spring. Just because GM screwed it up on the 67-73 half tons doesn't mean someone can't figure it out.

Coil springs are a perfect place to stuff an airbag, for example. Someone already makes an airbag system that fits inside the 1500's coil springs.

I stand corrected. Good to know there are options available to enhance the suspension on the Ram 2500 Coils. I looked long and hard at the 1500 ecodiesel back in the summer of 2014 but there weren't any aftermarket upgrades at that time for the 1500 coil springs.

[mkirsch]

JacintoKid wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

2015 Dodge 3/4 Ton Really Not Camper Compatible?

Are the new generation of Dodge 3/4 series using coil springs in the rear now? I think only the 3500 series now has leafs.

As a generality, I think the opportunity to do improvements to coils suspension is more limited than leaf.

This...

And you'd be dead wrong. Coil spring systems are far more tunable than the archaic old leaf spring. Just because GM screwed it up on the 67-73 half tons doesn't mean someone can't figure it out.

Coil springs are a perfect place to stuff an airbag, for example. Someone already makes an airbag system that fits inside the 1500's coil springs.

[Grit_dog]

PAThwacker wrote:
I have a 3500 06 Megacab, over the weekend started to research a truck camper for it. I found out dodge verbage that 2500 Cummins megacabs are not designed to handle any truck camper. Only the 3500s and 1600 to 1800lb Center of gravity weight directly over the axle.
Does not look like any truck camper even works for the 3500 except ninimum sized popup truck campers like the Four Wheel Hawk or Northstar 650SC 800 or at nax weight the 850SC.

Meh, to each there own. It's not ideal, but I hauled an AF 860 to AK on my 2500 mega. Wasn't scary, but it doesnt handle like no sports car lol. Have put around 10k trouble free miles on this setup.
If you got a much lighter camper in the 3klb range your truck would be more than suited for it.

[JacintoKid]

d3500ram wrote:

2015 Dodge 3/4 Ton Really Not Camper Compatible?

Are the new generation of Dodge 3/4 series using coil springs in the rear now? I think only the 3500 series now has leafs.

As a generality, I think the opportunity to do improvements to coils suspension is more limited than leaf.

This...

[mkirsch]

Fiat RAM, Fiat Dodge, Fiat Chrysler, Fiat Jeep. Take your pick, they're all made by Fiat now.

I just don't see how 2" can make all that much difference in carrying a camper.

[Area13]

So Dodge doesn't build trucks anymore? Fiat RAM???? Holy smokes....

[FireGuard]

The SB Ram is only 6'4" and the shortest of the 3, not the best for a TC.
I had a Lance 815 on my 15 3500 SB and it worked ok but still almost 2' overhang.
I ended up getting a 16 LB and much better for a TC.
A Lance 825 or 865 will work. Lance just came out with the 650 which would be a good choice.
Northstar also has a 6 1/2' hard side and pop up that would work.
I'm researching Adventure TCs as they make an 8'6" slide out with large tanks which I think will work great on a LB.

[PAThwacker]

I have a 3500 06 Megacab, over the weekend started to research a truck camper for it. I found out dodge verbage that 2500 Cummins megacabs are not designed to handle any truck camper. Only the 3500s and 1600 to 1800lb Center of gravity weight directly over the axle.
Does not look like any truck camper even works for the 3500 except ninimum sized popup truck campers like the Four Wheel Hawk or Northstar 650SC 800 or at nax weight the 850SC.

[Kayteg1]

The bags that fit inside coils are used on motorhomes for at least 40 years.
Question is can you get the right size.

[brholt]

smooth1 wrote:
I am surprised the dealer wouldn't sell him a Lance 825 @ 1837 lbs dry and/or an 865 at 2011 lbs dry. The dealer must only sell non-slide campers to newer dually owners. He may just have a lot of pop-ups campers that he needs to get rid of too.

The dealer probably doesn't sell any aftermarket air bags, timbrens, stableloads, or supersprings either.

I would contact Lance and see what they think.

With the rear coil springs on the new Ram 3/4 tons I'm not sure how Timbrens, Stableloads, or Supersprings would work. I'm not sure if they even have air bags for the coils.

[smooth1]

I am surprised the dealer wouldn't sell him a Lance 825 @ 1837 lbs dry and/or an 865 at 2011 lbs dry. The dealer must only sell non-slide campers to newer dually owners. He may just have a lot of pop-ups campers that he needs to get rid of too.

The dealer probably doesn't sell any aftermarket air bags, timbrens, stableloads, or supersprings either.

I would contact Lance and see what they think.