The topic about COG got closed for reasons I don't have to understand, but IMHO it shows how little owners understand the technical issues.
So big TC owners are between truck manufacturers who recommend camper COG in front of rear axle and camper manufacturers who build big campers with COG behind rear axle.
I am pretty observant with loading and even with all heavy tools, water and other heavy stuff in truck cabin, having only light cloths in camper rear cabinets, my COG still comes behind rear axle.
With empty holding tanks in the rear and full water tank of front the camper takes 200-300 lb from front axle.
That doesn't seem to create immediate problem with my dually, who seem to handle perfectly without modification, but leaves me no margin for carrying waste water as single try proved significant difference in handling.
I understand that we are small group in whole industry but is there anything we can do, like sending group email to truck manufacturers?
I think Ford's "camper package" for dually actually lowers the safety of using the combo and I simply take it that Ford engineers have never seen heavy camper on their design?
We do have good number of educated people on the forum, who COULD make a change.
So shall we?
So big TC owners are between truck manufacturers who recommend camper COG in front of rear axle and camper manufacturers who build big campers with COG behind rear axle.
I am pretty observant with loading and even with all heavy tools, water and other heavy stuff in truck cabin, having only light cloths in camper rear cabinets, my COG still comes behind rear axle.
With empty holding tanks in the rear and full water tank of front the camper takes 200-300 lb from front axle.
That doesn't seem to create immediate problem with my dually, who seem to handle perfectly without modification, but leaves me no margin for carrying waste water as single try proved significant difference in handling.
I understand that we are small group in whole industry but is there anything we can do, like sending group email to truck manufacturers?
I think Ford's "camper package" for dually actually lowers the safety of using the combo and I simply take it that Ford engineers have never seen heavy camper on their design?
We do have good number of educated people on the forum, who COULD make a change.
So shall we?
Kayteg1 wrote:
The linked Ford is no longer available, but look at This classic
Those things could do real bumper pull as well.
Front bumper push as well.
All I can say about the old trucks like the one you linked,is they were great for both towing and hauling a TC...I just sold my '76 F-250 a couple years ago and wished I had kept it...Everything from head to toe was rebuilt including the "Brain"..Didn't even know they had a brain at first..
This '76 F-250 with Helwig helper springs, hauled that 8.6 ft Lance every bit as good as my now '94 DRW hauls my Lance 9.6.
The F-350 Super Camper Special would have been a camper haul'in son of a gun with the longer wheelbase.
The linked Ford is no longer available, but look at This classic
Those things could do real bumper pull as well.
Front bumper push as well.
Those things could do real bumper pull as well.
Front bumper push as well.
burningman wrote:
Since youโre doing math you might as well use the correct numbers.
The old Super Camper Special has the rear axle moved 7โ further back.
Wheelbase was 140โ.
They were also better for trailering than the regular cab F250 with the standard axle placement.
Just that seven inches makes a significant difference. Try sliding your camper back 7โ and driving it. A crewcab diesel might not be affected but if you have a regular cab gas engine truck like almost everyone in that truckโs day, youโll notice it plenty.
Once you said the axle was 1/3 from the rear, or 16" difference, now you are saying 7", so which one is it?
Still the math comes to 7/140= 5%.
Short rear overhang is also very important for bumper pull. For years I was using Mercedes SUV for pulling 5000 lb trailers. The SUV has very short rear overhang and makes excelent TV. Never had a need for WD bars.
Classic pickup squats several inches with any trailer due the hitch being 5-6 feet behind the axle.
Again, you can't make good hauler from something design for grocery getting.
trail-explorer wrote:
This thread is turning in to another disaster
I see what you are doing :E
Now my 1500 lb from 5000 lb camper going to front axle is figure of speech, but let's get the math to work.
On new truck the rear axle is 48" behind the cabin. Lets's assume camper COG is at 48" as well.
Meaning on new truck with 160" wheel base the 5000lb camper weight will go all on rear axle.
Now on old camper special truck rear axle was 2/3 of 8' bed=64" behind the cabin. Camper COG is 16" in front of the axle.
So 16/160= 10% of camper weight goes to front axle.
That is simplify calculation as old truck was single cab only, so wheelbase was shorter than new monsters and than long TC have COG farther than 48" behind the cabin, so in real life the % is going to be bigger than calculated 10%.
Well the 5000 lb camper puts 5200 lb load on modern truck rear axle, when on the old camper special it would be let's say 3500 on rear axle and 1500 on front axle.
It does make big difference even now everybody wants CC, 4WD, sunroof etc.
It does make big difference even now everybody wants CC, 4WD, sunroof etc.
