'90 Chevy 1/2 Ton 305 V8

[Allnew2this]

I recently bought a 1990 shortbed Chevy truck, and I'd like to get a camper for it. I found a shortbed camper that fits perfectly, but I'm worried about the weight capacity. I would really appreciate some feedback on whether or not it's safe. I know there are a lot of threads out there with this same kind of question, but I couldn't seem to find any info that would help someone very new to this (me).

Here are some pictures of the camper. Thanks so much for your help!

[Farmerjon]

I had a 68 C10 sb 6cyl , 3sp that had coil springs.
I carried a lite 6 pack camper on it. It handled very badly. And then I added better shocks, sway bar, heavier tires, overload leaf springs and a 4sp with granny and it was much better. and I pulled a 5000 lb horse trailer behind it. It was probably less truck than yours and I used it for several years, Recommended? No! will it work? Yes!
Have fun and be careful.

[whizbang]

Congratulations on the "new" camper.

As you can guess, we are all arm chair engineers.

I would like to know, as I'm sure others would, what you truck weighs unloaded, what it weighs with the camper, as well as the trucks GVWR. Please follow up with another post.

Again, congrats on the new camper and the new job. Good luck.

[Allnew2this]

Thanks, everybody, for the replies and helpful information! I had the truck looked at and was told it should be okay to haul it- I have overload springs, and I found out the camper was only a little over 1,000 lbs.

I drove about 2 hours away and picked it up. Bringing it back was a bit scary (I definitely need mirror extensions!), but we made it over the bumpy roads in one piece. 😉

All the jacks worked great, they had the tie downs, and I checked the electric and everything powered up. It does need a water tank, but that shouldn't be a huge $ issue. There didn't appear to be any water damage, and it is in decent condition inside and out.

I am starting a new job next week, and when I have the finances, I'm going to do some rebuilding... maybe I'll start a thread- I have some cool ideas 🙂

Thanks again for explaining where to find information, for providing a lot of it, and for the general help/tips. I'm excited to be a part of the community, and when I dive into this thing, maybe I'll learn something so I can help some other newbie in the future!

[mkirsch]

Well yeah, if the camper's junk this may be a moot point.

[jefe_4x4]

mkirsch,
aka: Matt,
I like the way you think. You have an ocean of experience that shows in very fine way: no offending remarks to the unwashed; just some helpful hand holding.
Having been on here almost 10 years I see the same queries asked over and over, with the same cadre of efficient, helpful, experienced people answering those same questions, over and over, helping the Alpha neubies get over that bumpy road in one piece.
I'm more than a little sad that I won't be able to meet all you fine people in my lifetime.
jefe

[RamTC]

I owned an 88 GMC 1500 4x4 SB, with the Auto & 350CI V8, only had a 5600 GVWR. Had no ability to carry any weight.

[Quick_trip]

Every one here has commented about the truck, but what about the camper?
From those two pictures it looks as if the camper is a stripped model.
No AC on the roof.
Plenty of rust showing on the jacks, lots of dents which could allow water to get inside.
Broken lights outside (water going in)
Look this unit over very close. Look for water stains along the baseboard and under the beds.
You may have to spend lots of money to make it water tight!
Not sure of all above? Then bring a friend along to see what he says!!
Sorry for the negative remarks, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Good Luck & Drive Safe!

[mkirsch]

There is also a camper loading information sticker inside the glove compartment. It will tell you the maximum weight of slide-in camper that GM recommends for the truck.

What I can tell you is that you will almost 100% for sure be overloaded. That in and of itself is not necessarily unsafe, though. Your truck can be VERY unsafe, completely empty, if driven recklessly, or if it has extremely worn tires, or rusty brake lines, or worn-out brakes, or sloppy steering linkages, or bad front wheel bearings, or broken springs, or, or, or...

Assuming that you are a safe driver with a good head on your shoulders, and the truck is kept in tip-top shape, you can decide for yourself to take the risk of running overloaded. It would be a good idea to get upgraded tires with a higher load rating, and some sort of suspension add-ons.

[JIMNLIN]

I have a '90 chevy truck brochure that has all the trucks specs.
The 305 has a whoppin' 175 hp and 275 ft lb torque.

Your trucks GVWR and FAWR and RAWR will be on the drivers side certification placard.

Those old short bed trucks were pretty light and payloads ran in the 1300-1600 lb range. As one poster mentioned using higher rated tires I would add the trucks wheels may need to be upgraded to take advantage of the D load range tire higher load and pressure rating. You may want to add air bags or Supersprings to the rear suspension "IF" it sags too much.

However much depends on the TC actual weight. We have lots of TC owners so maybe some one owns one and can help with its actual weight.

[skipnchar]

Your safety weights and information should be on the door plate on the DOT safety plate located there.
Good luck / Skip

[recycler]

i had 90 extended cab long box 1/2 and the 6,400 gvw sounds about right.. i know it would haul that camper around it might not like it... i used to haul scrap in mine even had 2 tons on it once.. so i know they will move the weight.. if your going to haul it i would recomend getting some 16" wheels and some d range tires...

[GMT830]

sabconsulting wrote:
Fred's advice above is good.

The 'dry weight' a camper is advertised at can often be optimistically low. It probably also excludes the weight of batteries and propane cylinders, plus typically any accessories the original owner ordered with the camper or added afterwards as well as the things Fred mentioned - all adds up to a lot of extra weight. Remember there is also the weight of you, family, gasoline, tools, etc.

People are typically shocked to realise: 1) These campers weigh that much? and 2) Is that all my truck is rated to carry?

Steve.

#2 is going to be the problem. I had an 89 half ton Chevy. The GVWR was under 7, I'm thinking 6400. I can also tell you that old 305 is not going to like pushing that box very well.

[sabconsulting]

Fred's advice above is good.

The 'dry weight' a camper is advertised at can often be optimistically low. It probably also excludes the weight of batteries and propane cylinders, plus typically any accessories the original owner ordered with the camper or added afterwards as well as the things Fred mentioned - all adds up to a lot of extra weight. Remember there is also the weight of you, family, gasoline, tools, etc.

People are typically shocked to realise: 1) These campers weigh that much? and 2) Is that all my truck is rated to carry?

Steve.

[Golden_HVAC]

Take the truck to a scale. Sometimes they are at moving van company lots, and they can check the weight for about $10. Some larger truck stops have them called CAT scale, also about $10. Check the GVWR for your truck on the inside of the drivers door. Subtract the curb weight from the GVWR, and see how much weight you can carry.

If the camper is about 1,200 pounds empty, it might work, but if it has a 20 gallon fresh wate tank (160 pounds) a refrigerator that will hold 50 pounds or so of food, and your clothes, bedding, and passengers all add up to about 500 pounds more stuff. That will increase the curb weight by about 2,000 pounds. If your GVWR is say 7,700 pounds and the curb weight is less than 5,500 pounds, it will work fine. But I don't think it will work very well. You will have to check it and see.

I had a F-350 with a 460" engine in it, single rear wheels and 9,600 pound GVWR. It was fine, andsettled down 4" when the 2,200 pound camper was on the back. It did not sway excessively in the turns, and still had the capacity to tow a trailer with a light dune buggy on it. Your results should vary.

Fred.