Help With Figuring Out Which Trucks Will Work For A Camper

[rv___ru_]

I'm trying to figure how what kind of truck I need for a camper, and after doing some research I'm still a bit confused.

The lightest campers I've found in my general area/budget are in the range of 1,700 - 1,900 lb. From my understanding, this would be too heavy for a half-ton truck in most cases (in addition to the dry weight of the camper, I've estimated that I'll need another 800 lb for passengers, max fresh/grey/black water, and misc. items, plus I added a 10% buffer... this comes out to a total payload of about 2,900 lb).

So it looks like this might work for some three-quarter ton trucks, but more likely I'll need a full-ton truck? I know it will depend on the particular year/make/model/trim, but I was hoping to avoid full-ton trucks due to the cost. Am I making any mistakes in my approach here? And are most trucks fine for campers as-is as long as the payload capacity fits, or is it also recommended to upgrade stuff like the suspension/tires/etc. regardless?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[mkirsch]

StirCrazy wrote:
there is some " reciprocity" but that usaly aplies to small things like surge brakes on a boat trailer (not allowed to be sold here anymore) even trailer weight vs brakes are different in different provences so thats another one that falles under that.. but overloading at least in BC isnt one.. As a BC resident I need a heavy house trailer endorsent on my licence to tow my 5th wheel because of the weight, if you don't have that in your state thats something you can getaway with not having here.. there are probably more like max lenth and such that would be enforced also at the descresion of the officer, but for the most part just drive nice, look level and have a good holliday

That's what I refer to as "tourist reciprocity." It may technically be against the law but if you're not hurting anything most officers will turn a blind eye to your infractions because they don't want you to go home and badmouth their province/state/country. Sure there are some that think they have something to prove, or you just happened to wander in during a supervisor audit and their hands are tied, but by and large they just want you to have a good time and not be a hazard to others.

[Grit_dog]

StirCrazy wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
And since the OP is in West Virginia, I’m guessing BCs enforcement or lack thereof of their rules is not a primary or even secondary concern in his/her query and decision.

no the topic of recipication came up and it was shift to show that just because its ok where you live doesnt mean it will be ok everywhere you go because of that. but your just trying to stir things up so ok..

Nope, not at all. Just an attempt to reel in the wandering keyboards…
Maybe it was beneficial to the OP as he may have been thinking aboot getting a F150 and a Host Mammoth and heading up the Coquahalla Hwy next month, but I doubt it.
The fact is, it’s sort of known that BC is tougher at times with enforcement, but in the rest of the great continent of North America, its not even remotely a real world issue.

[StirCrazy]

Grit dog wrote:
And since the OP is in West Virginia, I’m guessing BCs enforcement or lack thereof of their rules is not a primary or even secondary concern in his/her query and decision.

no the topic of recipication came up and it was shift to show that just because its ok where you live doesnt mean it will be ok everywhere you go because of that. but your just trying to stir things up so ok..

[Grit_dog]

And since the OP is in West Virginia, I’m guessing BCs enforcement or lack thereof of their rules is not a primary or even secondary concern in his/her query and decision.

[StirCrazy]

mkirsch wrote:

StirCrazy wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Plus being non-commercial, if it's legal where you came from, it's "legal" there. Either through legal reciprocity, or "tourist" reciprocity.

not nessasarly, there are several things you can do in other provences or even ifn the US where if you are doing it here you will be ordered to disconect and get towed. a good example is tandom towing, its fine in Alberta but if you drive in to BC you will be required to unhook the last one and make two trips to get one of them back to alberta. weights are the same if you are overloaded your overloaded, just th chances of a rv getting stopped to be weighed is slim.

We're only talking about weight here. "Double" or "triple" towing (that'll start a whole other argument) is one thing that doesn't reciporicate. There are always minor exceptions.

I also believe that I stated that you were most likely to get nailed at a weigh station, AND that the highway patrol officers could not care less unless there was an obvious unsafe vehicle condition.

If your truck is 5000lbs overweight and you've got chunks of well casing jammed in between your axle and frame to make it set level and it "looks okay" highway patrol officers won't even give it a second thought.

if they do stop you for weight in BC they go by the GVRW and axel weight, so you have to be good on both. if your truck is over that you have to get it under before you can leave and you get a ticket. the other was just a quick example as my dad got turned around at the BC/AB boarder as we didn't know you couldn't haul tandom in BC LOL. but yes they have to have a reason to pull you over, if you ride level and don't wander all over the road... chances are you will never get pulled over in BC. unless you pulling a car trailer... for some reason they automaticly assume your a comercial outfit if you have a car trailer on.. I got stopped twice when I moved from the island to the interior and had to explain I was moving and it was just so I could get the car and motor bike up in one trip and I wasnt getting paid to move it for someone else..:R

there is some " reciprocity" but that usaly aplies to small things like surge brakes on a boat trailer (not allowed to be sold here anymore) even trailer weight vs brakes are different in different provences so thats another one that falles under that.. but overloading at least in BC isnt one.. As a BC resident I need a heavy house trailer endorsent on my licence to tow my 5th wheel because of the weight, if you don't have that in your state thats something you can getaway with not having here.. there are probably more like max lenth and such that would be enforced also at the descresion of the officer, but for the most part just drive nice, look level and have a good holliday

[mkirsch]

StirCrazy wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Plus being non-commercial, if it's legal where you came from, it's "legal" there. Either through legal reciprocity, or "tourist" reciprocity.

not nessasarly, there are several things you can do in other provences or even ifn the US where if you are doing it here you will be ordered to disconect and get towed. a good example is tandom towing, its fine in Alberta but if you drive in to BC you will be required to unhook the last one and make two trips to get one of them back to alberta. weights are the same if you are overloaded your overloaded, just th chances of a rv getting stopped to be weighed is slim.

We're only talking about weight here. "Double" or "triple" towing (that'll start a whole other argument) is one thing that doesn't reciporicate. There are always minor exceptions.

I also believe that I stated that you were most likely to get nailed at a weigh station, AND that the highway patrol officers could not care less unless there was an obvious unsafe vehicle condition.

If your truck is 5000lbs overweight and you've got chunks of well casing jammed in between your axle and frame to make it set level and it "looks okay" highway patrol officers won't even give it a second thought.

[ssthrd]

mkirsch wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Being in BC you have more additional oversight and enforcement to deal with than basically anywhere else in North America.
And I doubt that it is as bad as some make it out to be. I’ve made a couple trips thru BC, tip to tail grossly “overloaded” with a pudgy TC and no one batted an eye, including RCMP when we were chatting at a gas station in Northern BC. And at that time I had a 6-7klb (est) trailer hooked up as well.

...because all RCMP officers are implanted with "eyeball scales" when they are sworn in, and can tell exactly how much you weigh by looking at your rig.

Just like in the States, you'll only get nailed at a weigh/inspection station. Also just like in the States, they have separate officers patrolling the roads enforcing traffic law, and officers dedicated to enforcing commercial vehicle law. You were talking to traffic cops. Unless something was dragging, your taillight was out, or it was otherwise obvious that you were driving a dangerous vehicle, they could care less.

Plus being non-commercial, if it's legal where you came from, it's "legal" there. Either through legal reciprocity, or "tourist" reciprocity.

^^
I would tend to agree.

In my years in BC, I recall only one time when I saw a pickup pulled over for weight (probably). The rear suspension was on the stops and the front wheels were looked pretty light because he had a cord of wood stacked in the 8' box of a half ton.

Must have been a bit of a hairy ride!

[kirkl]

Dont get a 3/4 ton ram with coil springs. I haul a 1800 pound dry 8 ft camper in my 2017 ram 3/4, It doesnt hardly squat me at all but I had to add air bags for the side to side roll. If i had leaf springs It would be perfect.

[Grit_dog]

StirCrazy wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

someone said wrote:
a 3/4T truck has a max GVWR of 10,000LBS and the addition of even a 'medium' hardside camper can easily push the weight of the truck+camper+gear to 11-12K LBS fairly quickly and easily.

Newer 2500 GM trucks come with up to 11550 gvwr and more important bigger 6600 rawr for carrying in the bed payloads.

Ford F250 comes up to 10800 gvwr and 6340 rawr.

No need for a one ton drw for a small truck camper that size.

Now if you underestimated the camper weight and its over 3800-3900 lbs then I would go with the drw truck.

probem is you have to go to the scales and see how much thoes axels are already loaded up to know your true payload. my truck has a 11500 heavy payload option and 7000 on the rear axel, with me the wife and a full take of gas the rear axel is 3460 lbs, -230lbs for the tailgate and 5th wheel hitch which I had in when I scaled it leaves me 3770lbs but my payload says 4600. I personaly woudnt have an issue going to a 4000lb loaded camer as some of the weight will go to the front axel and I don't tow anything, but idealy I would be looking to stay about 3500 or less as I do go on some rought roads to get to places.

What you’re saying is no different than any model or class of truck. However virtually every HD crew cab pickup is about 3500lbs giver take a couple hundred each way empty, sitting on a scale. So that part is real easy to figure out even if the scale is in the next county!

[Grit_dog]

mkirsch wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Being in BC you have more additional oversight and enforcement to deal with than basically anywhere else in North America.
And I doubt that it is as bad as some make it out to be. I’ve made a couple trips thru BC, tip to tail grossly “overloaded” with a pudgy TC and no one batted an eye, including RCMP when we were chatting at a gas station in Northern BC. And at that time I had a 6-7klb (est) trailer hooked up as well.

...because all RCMP officers are implanted with "eyeball scales" when they are sworn in, and can tell exactly how much you weigh by looking at your rig.

Just like in the States, you'll only get nailed at a weigh/inspection station. Also just like in the States, they have separate officers patrolling the roads enforcing traffic law, and officers dedicated to enforcing commercial vehicle law. You were talking to traffic cops. Unless something was dragging, your taillight was out, or it was otherwise obvious that you were driving a dangerous vehicle, they could care less.

Plus being non-commercial, if it's legal where you came from, it's "legal" there. Either through legal reciprocity, or "tourist" reciprocity.

I think it’s because the truck was de-badged…lol.
It’s a 3500…..whatchu talkin bout Willis?

[Grit_dog]

time2roll wrote:
Is there no gross weight for the TC? I would always plan to be at gross weight. Packing light is wishful thinking.
And what is the derated truck capacity for using a TC?

Nope

[StirCrazy]

mkirsch wrote:

Plus being non-commercial, if it's legal where you came from, it's "legal" there. Either through legal reciprocity, or "tourist" reciprocity.

not nessasarly, there are several things you can do in other provences or even ifn the US where if you are doing it here you will be ordered to disconect and get towed. a good example is tandom towing, its fine in Alberta but if you drive in to BC you will be required to unhook the last one and make two trips to get one of them back to alberta. weights are the same if you are overloaded your overloaded, just th chances of a rv getting stopped to be weighed is slim.

[StirCrazy]

JIMNLIN wrote:

someone said wrote:
a 3/4T truck has a max GVWR of 10,000LBS and the addition of even a 'medium' hardside camper can easily push the weight of the truck+camper+gear to 11-12K LBS fairly quickly and easily.

Newer 2500 GM trucks come with up to 11550 gvwr and more important bigger 6600 rawr for carrying in the bed payloads.

Ford F250 comes up to 10800 gvwr and 6340 rawr.

No need for a one ton drw for a small truck camper that size.

Now if you underestimated the camper weight and its over 3800-3900 lbs then I would go with the drw truck.

probem is you have to go to the scales and see how much thoes axels are already loaded up to know your true payload. my truck has a 11500 heavy payload option and 7000 on the rear axel, with me the wife and a full take of gas the rear axel is 3460 lbs, -230lbs for the tailgate and 5th wheel hitch which I had in when I scaled it leaves me 3770lbs but my payload says 4600. I personaly woudnt have an issue going to a 4000lb loaded camer as some of the weight will go to the front axel and I don't tow anything, but idealy I would be looking to stay about 3500 or less as I do go on some rought roads to get to places.

[StirCrazy]

Grit dog wrote:

StirCrazy wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
The challenge with going with a 1 ton srw truck, if buying used, is the lack of availability compared to 3/4 tons.
The good news is (aside from 2014-up Ram 2500, don’t get one of them for a TC) 3/4 ton trucks are virtually identical in build and real world capacity as 1 ton srw trucks, save for greater rear spring capacity. And both generally require similar modifications to the suspension for most hard side TCs.
So if you’re in the used srw pickup market, you’ll have a much better selection of trucks including 3/4 tons. Like orders of magnitude better. And suspension upgrades are relatively cheap in the big picture and you’ll likely need them with either model.

I wish doing suspension upgrades was an easy legal way to increase your capacity but unfortunatly it isn't. only make it carry its capacity better....

I’m not certain anyone said it “legally” changed the gvw.
Being in BC you have more additional oversight and enforcement to deal with than basically anywhere else in North America.
And I doubt that it is as bad as some make it out to be. I’ve made a couple trips thru BC, tip to tail grossly “overloaded” with a pudgy TC and no one batted an eye, including RCMP when we were chatting at a gas station in Northern BC. And at that time I had a 6-7klb (est) trailer hooked up as well.

No I don't think anyone did, I was just saying its to bad you cant raise your GVRW by doing aproved upgrades haha.

ya its mostly a urban myth. to my knowlage there has only been one ticket handed out to a overloaded rv and he was pretty much dragging his bumper. if you sit fairly level and drive good chances are you will will never be pulled over as a rv. on a side not there is a CVS crack down on rigs right now in the interior around my area so if you are pushing the limit and look like it, right now might not be the best time to drive through the interior of BC.. might make that 1 in to 3 or 4 haha