2018 RAM 2500 with Adventurer 910DB

[Wy4x4]

Looking into the purchase of the 910DB from Adventurer. This model suits our needs down to a T, has all the features we are looking for. But will our truck handle it? We have a 2018 RAM 2500 crew cab long bed with the Cummins engine and 6 speed manual transmission. Never owned a slide in truck camper before, looking for advice. The dry weight as advertised on the website is 3373 LBS, and most websites list an estimated wet weight of 4400 LBS. Google says the 2018 RAM 2500 payload is 1,466 to 3,497 lbs.

We like the 910DB for it's electric bunk option over the dinette, 4 season rating, king size bed, ample storage, and dry bath. I have not found any other truck campers with all those options and a single slide.

Thanks!

[Bedlam]

Doug may know campers, but he does not know pickups if he is making this recommendation. If you had a GM 2500 or Ford F250 with leaf springs, the advice we are giving would be going in another direction.

[Wy4x4]

kirkl wrote:
ive got ride rite 5000 bags on my 2017 ram 2500 and my old northland is probably about same weight as that wolfcreek (which i like those campers) and it does fine with that weight and the bags. Check out the 840's to. I like that layout of the 840 versus the 850.

What we really like on the 850 is that fold down bunk/storage shelf over the dinette.

[Wy4x4]

Jim I am not discounting the experience I appreciate all the input. I got a good vibe from Doug, he helped me quite a bit. He designed the 850. I do not think he was trying to steer me.

[kirkl]

ive got ride rite 5000 bags on my 2017 ram 2500 and my old northland is probably about same weight as that wolfcreek (which i like those campers) and it does fine with that weight and the bags. Check out the 840's to. I like that layout of the 840 versus the 850.

[Grit_dog]

I wonder how well a set of Keldermann bags would work? Supposed to be double the capacity. Bouncier than coils or more stable?

[jimh406]

Wy4x4 wrote:
I have been in touch with Doug karr at northwood and he says the wolf creek 850 would not be a problem at all with a set of firestone 5000 pound air bags to help out.

I’ll be the first one to burst the bubble.

Sounds like discounted all of the experience posted. That’s fine, but don’t forget that the motivation of Northwood might be a bit different than the people here. 😄

[Wy4x4]

Thanks all for the replies. I have been in touch with Doug karr at northwood and he says the wolf creek 850 would not be a problem at all with a set of firestone 5000 pound air bags to help out. I am currently trying to find a long bed model wolf creek 850.

[JimK-NY]

I have no experience with coil rear springs, but I can tell you from previous experience that airbags are not a good substitute for springs that are adequate to carry the load. I tried airbags on my Ram 2500 and got a lot of sway and a poor ride with poor control. I added a set of supersprings and solved the problem. I threw the airbags away after that.

[ticki2]

Being a master mechanic it might be worth looking into changing the 2500 coil spring setup to 3500 leaf springs .The body builder manual should give you the exact measurements for brackets and hangers .

[JIMNLIN]

GM back in the '60s era were using a trailing arm with coils. I had one and carried truck campers.

I was very surprised when Ram announced the new coil spring 2500 truck. However those that use the coil spring 2500 truck don't seem to have any problem with loads in the bed like a GN trailer or 5th wheel trailer or a bumper pull unit.
IB516 has said his 2500 coil spring truck carried his 5er with about the same sag as his previous 3500 SRW Ram/Dodge.

The old GM trailing arm setup had the coils very far inboard. This allowed for a huge amount of body roll. If the rear shocks were bad and it started swaying it reminded me of a high speed bazz boat chine walking. The only way to stop it was brake and slow down quickly.
GM did have a three leaf half spring set up for a overload/stabilizer set which stopped body roll.
The spring set were cut in the middle (half spring).
They bolted to the main frame rails behind the rear axle and contacted a pad on top of the axle tub out board from the coils. These were a option from GM.

If I was in the OP position I would look for a TC with the lowest profile that would work for his needs......and not exceed RAWR...wheels/tires and rear spring pack capacities

[kohldad]

Can you explain this some more? Isn't that the point of buying the HD diesel trucks? I could never go back to gas, so much more power in the diesel.

In the Ram 2500, the GVWR is the same regardless of if you get a gas or diesel. Since the diesel weighs about 1,000# more, you get 1,000# less in payload. The main idea for a 2500 is it's pulling power but with limited payload. This works okay for goosenecks and fifth wheels to a point. The biggest reason though is because some meaning grocery haulers want the diesel so they are trying to soften up the ride while still providing the diesel.

But if you want to go big gooseneck or fifth wheel you are still going to need a 3500 to handle the pin weight. You also need to go to the 3500 for the payload to carry a TC, DRW if you need it.

I made the switch from a 5.9 diesel to a 6.4 hemi and am well pleased but only because I don't work the truck that hard. My heaviest load is the 2,400# camper with occasional 2,800# boat or 4,000# car. With the car, I'm getting to the limit of the 6.4 hemi. Just the camper I run the speed I want to and don't have let the engine scream over 3,000rpm to do it. When I had the diesel, it was for pulling a 12,800# FW and I would never want to pull that load with my current truck. Now, not only did I save $6k buying a gas, but it's also costing me the same to drive it compared to my 5.9 diesel (and it got better mileage than the diesels today).

[Youngm3571]

I have an Adventurer 89RB on my 2017 Ram 2500 Cummins Crew Cab Long Box. I added Ride Rite air bags and have driven many miles through the mountains and to the coast with zero issues. I do not have AC or a generator which helps with the weight. Not once have I had an issue with handling even in the high winds of the Columbia River Gorge. Works just fine for me.

[Grit_dog]

Bedlam speaks the truth.
Myself, I’m supposing the performance of the coil setup. Plenty of miles driving them but have never plopped a camper on one.
The tradeoff in handling I think is real. Whether it’s acceptable handling to you is subjective.
The other tradeoff is you have a new manual trans truck. If you had or wanted an auto, I’d say that you’d be pretty much even money to sell/buy a 3500 with some good old fashioned leaf springs under it. But the late model G56 trucks are pretty rare. And now discontinued.

[Bedlam]

The biggest draw back of the Ram 2500 is the coil spring placement. With the coils so far inboard, it is hard to keep a tall CG stabilized. You can add heavier coils, Timbren/Sumo springs farther outboard, a heavy stabilizer bar and heavily damped shocks along with higher rated tires and rims to make it better, but still will not be as good as a truck that has the primary suspension farther outboard. My opinion is that you can drop some money in this truck to make it an acceptable handling ride but it will never be exceptional with a truck camper.

Have you considered upfitting your current trailer so it can handle boon docking better? Perhaps a suspension lift, larger wheels, shocks and skid plates covering the bottom vulnerable components would be enough rather than having two campers or replacing your current one.

[jaycocreek]

I owned a 2014 910DB and carried on a 2017 Ram 3500 DRW with springs. I would not carry TC on a 2500. Minimum 3500 1 ton with springs and some mods. TC is heavier than listed. Sold it to a new owner with a DRW. Nice model and well built though

I think Adventurer truck campers are the most underrated TC on the internet..They have something just about for everyone(light to heavy) and most can be equipped with a generator,something others do not offer in smaller TC's...They also have a great warranty to back it up(3 years)..