2015 Lance 1172 Too Shallow for 2015 Chevy 3500HD Bed

[dwightmccann]

When attempting to load my new 2015 Lance 1172 into my new 2015 Chevy 3500HD Dually the camper started to sit on the rails rather than sitting on the bed floor. I would have thought the dealer would have known this was a problem. They made me buy a sheet of plywood that they laid in the truck bed. This seems like a poor solution.

I am not mechanical or handy but seems like there should be a better solution than storing this sheet of plywood somewhere (I don't have an indoor place) and shoving it into the bed when I want to load the camper. Anybody else ever have this problem? Is it common? Are there better solutions than hauling a loose sheet of plywood around.

Appreciate any solutions/guidance/suggestions ... except ones about how the solution if obvious, of course! 🙂

[JumboJet]

One thing to remember when loading and unloading. The proper method is to raise the front a couple of inches, then the rear, then the front, then the rear.....

With minimal clearance between the TC and truck bed rails, you can damage the rear corners of the truck bed rails by raising the front too much. This may be more prevalent on an 8' TC versus a longer one, but I did slight damage to my 2008 with a 10' 11" TC.

[trail-explorer]

dwightmccann wrote:
How much of the area does it need to cover?

It should cover the same area that the camper sits on - so at a minimum it should be the same size as the camper footprint. But, I'd get a mat that fits the full width between the wheel wells and goes from the front to the back of the truck bed.

[mkirsch]

dwightmccann wrote:
I thank you all! At least it isn't just me! I'll look around a bit more but I didn't find anything on a search. Again, Thanks!

What did you search for?

"camper platform" in this forum yield dozens of discussions.

It's a very common problem, usually around the time that the manufacturers come out with the new body style trucks. It takes the TC manufacturers a couple years to catch up.

[monkey44]

I screwed 1x6 one-inch thick pressure treated decking in four places across the bottom of the camper permanently. I also have a half-inch bed mat that keeps it from sliding around.

I recommend you get the bed-liner no matter how you raise the TC -- otherwise, your TC will slide around and loosen the tie-downs while you're driving around, particularly on unpaved back roads.

It's pretty easy fix ... not to worry.

[dwightmccann]

Not sure how mach padding I need. With the piece of plywood they bought for me (but I had to pay for) there appears to be about a finger's thickness between the camper and rails. I'm not sure how to tell how much I need actually need. The horse mat sounds most appealing. How much of the area does it need to cover? How much clearance should I have between the camper and rails?

Again, thank you all very much.

[Bedlam]

The taller bed rails have also affected FW towing. Some owners are having interference issues when going up and down driveways.

[Bigfootchevy]

deltabravo wrote:

dwightmccann wrote:
I thank you all! At least it isn't just me! I'll look around a bit more but I didn't find anything on a search. Again, Thanks!

GM must have changed the depth of the 2015 HD trucks. Looks like I should start measuring if I decide to buy a new GM truck, not that I need one yet.

I had the same problem with my 2015. Had to add plywood to solve. Have no idea why GM changed the box.

Paul

[deltabravo]

dwightmccann wrote:
I thank you all! At least it isn't just me! I'll look around a bit more but I didn't find anything on a search. Again, Thanks!

GM must have changed the depth of the 2015 HD trucks. Looks like I should start measuring if I decide to buy a new GM truck, not that I need one yet.

[deltabravo]

s1214 wrote:
4 2x2 across the bed raises the camper suitably. I've thought of screwing them to the bottom of the camper. Might even help support the tanks more.

That would work, but it puts tremendous amount of weight in 4 places across the bed.

[Mooney]

Dwight, how much room do you need? I got away with the Linex coating and a rubber mat with my Chevy.

[Gripnriprod]

The gas piping on our 1140 rubbed the rails of the '11 GMC before I added a sheet of 3/4" plywood under the OEM rubber mat.

[billyray50]

K Mac wrote:
I use to use the 2" pink styrofoam (or blue). You can get it in 1" also. It comes as a 2'x8' sheet,so get 2 and cut them in half (2'x4') and store them in your TC, any big box store or lumber yard will have them. Congratulations on your new toys, now go enjoy them.

Lowes sells 4 x 8 one piece blue or pink foam boards now. Work good and insulate too.

[KD4UPL]

I'd be wary of plywood. It seems like it would be slick and allow the camper to slide, especially when wet. I use a 3/4" thick horse stall mat in my bed. It just stays there all the time, camper or not. It helps keep whatever I put in the bed in place.

[dwightmccann]

I thank you all! At least it isn't just me! I'll look around a bit more but I didn't find anything on a search. Again, Thanks!

[s1214]

4 2x2 across the bed raises the camper suitably. I've thought of screwing them to the bottom of the camper. Might even help support the tanks more.