Ideas to Shed Weight in Truck Camper

[Grodyman]

I am looking at ways to shed some weight on my Lance 830. One area I'm looking at is the stock queen innerspring mattress. I'm not sure of the weight, maybe around 75lbs. plus I have a pretty heavy 2" memory foam topper as well.

I am looking at replacing the factory mattress with a 4" firm foam mattress with cover and placing the memory topper on top of that, or ditching the heavy memory foam for standard light egg crate foam topper. I think I can save 40-50lbs or more for not much cost/loss of comfort.

Worthwhile or spitting in the wind?

Gman

[Vinsil]

Bedlam wrote:

Vinsil wrote:

Grodyman wrote:
My 17's are rated for 3195 each. 18's bump that to 3640. This give a little over 800lbs. of rated capacity. This with the add a leaf essentially make my truck equal to a F350 SRW. I can do this for about $1500. I can probably sell my 17's for $700 or so. But.......33" vs. 31" tire diameter takes my 3.73 ratio down...Truck certainly doesn't need this.

I'd be happy with 18's, 4.30 gears, and the add a leaf...about $4500 in modifications. Just shooting the bull, I'm probably fine on my weights if I am careful.

I want a dually:C

Gman

Did you find wheels rated more than 3400? I couldn't.

Just curious before you pop for tires. Maybe factory wheels are, Ram's did not in the research I did.

As Gman posted, the 17" rims are rated for 3195 lbs. However, the 18" and 20" rims are only rated for 3525 lbs each.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2011/2011_SD_Pickup_specs.pdf

Thanks, similar to what I found. He would only gain 600 lbs of capacity...lot of money for not much gain.

[Bedlam]

Vinsil wrote:

Grodyman wrote:
My 17's are rated for 3195 each. 18's bump that to 3640. This give a little over 800lbs. of rated capacity. This with the add a leaf essentially make my truck equal to a F350 SRW. I can do this for about $1500. I can probably sell my 17's for $700 or so. But.......33" vs. 31" tire diameter takes my 3.73 ratio down...Truck certainly doesn't need this.

I'd be happy with 18's, 4.30 gears, and the add a leaf...about $4500 in modifications. Just shooting the bull, I'm probably fine on my weights if I am careful.

I want a dually:C

Gman

Did you find wheels rated more than 3400? I couldn't.

Just curious before you pop for tires. Maybe factory wheels are, Ram's did not in the research I did.

As Gman posted, the 17" rims are rated for 3195 lbs. However, the 18" and 20" rims are only rated for 3525 lbs each.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2011/2011_SD_Pickup_specs.pdf

[mkirsch]

Empty rear weight of an SRW pickup is generally 2800-3100lbs.

[Johnnybgood]

You might try adding Snow performance methanol injection. Adds power, cleans the engine.

[zcookiemonstar]

If you are not going to be taking the camper off the truck you would benefit more from removing your rear bumper and brackets (if you don't use the bumper for tie downs). Removing weight from behind the rear axle will help more then the mattress way up front.

[Vinsil]

Bedlam wrote:

Grodyman wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
Unless you're towing behind your TC, I cannot imagine you are working that gasser so hard with just a TC on the back of the truck. My experience was with the 6.0 PSD, but I was over 19k lbs GCW with no issues crossing the Rockies over I-80 or I-90.

Ha, you might want to test drive a 6.2/3.73. Very sluggish, but gets the job done. Kind of tiring when driving across country really. I do like it however, but wish I had 4.30's.

Gman

Interesting. It must be frontal area wind resistance more than the weight causing the sluggishness.

405 lbs of torque at 4500 rpm is the reason.

Its why the gas guys need/like deep gearing. I'm making more than double that at 1600 rpm.

[Bedlam]

Grodyman wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
Unless you're towing behind your TC, I cannot imagine you are working that gasser so hard with just a TC on the back of the truck. My experience was with the 6.0 PSD, but I was over 19k lbs GCW with no issues crossing the Rockies over I-80 or I-90.

Ha, you might want to test drive a 6.2/3.73. Very sluggish, but gets the job done. Kind of tiring when driving across country really. I do like it however, but wish I had 4.30's.

Gman

Interesting. It must be frontal area wind resistance more than the weight causing the sluggishness.

[Vinsil]

Grodyman wrote:
My 17's are rated for 3195 each. 18's bump that to 3640. This give a little over 800lbs. of rated capacity. This with the add a leaf essentially make my truck equal to a F350 SRW. I can do this for about $1500. I can probably sell my 17's for $700 or so. But.......33" vs. 31" tire diameter takes my 3.73 ratio down...Truck certainly doesn't need this.

I'd be happy with 18's, 4.30 gears, and the add a leaf...about $4500 in modifications. Just shooting the bull, I'm probably fine on my weights if I am careful.

I want a dually:C

Gman

Did you find wheels rated more than 3400? I couldn't.

Just curious before you pop for tires. Maybe factory wheels are, Ram's did not in the research I did.

[Grodyman]

Bedlam wrote:
Unless you're towing behind your TC, I cannot imagine you are working that gasser so hard with just a TC on the back of the truck. My experience was with the 6.0 PSD, but I was over 19k lbs GCW with no issues crossing the Rockies over I-80 or I-90.

Ha, you might want to test drive a 6.2/3.73. Very sluggish, but gets the job done. Kind of tiring when driving across country really. I do like it however, but wish I had 4.30's.

Gman

[Bedlam]

Unless you're towing behind your TC, I cannot imagine you are working that gasser so hard with just a TC on the back of the truck. My experience was with the 6.0 PSD, but I was over 19k lbs GCW with no issues crossing the Rockies over I-80 or I-90.

[Grodyman]

maxum1989 wrote:
Ideas on shedding weight on the 830. Here is the list I came up with last year when I was trying the exact thing with the same model. Lose the air conditioner, micro, bath door, carpet kit, awning, roof Maggie rack, rear tent, if there are two batteries go to one, mattress, TV, and carry very little. In the end I decided stripping such a great camper of all the things that made it great was a poor decision and sold it. I knew my truck wasn't changing any time soon so I got a smaller camper. If I was getting a newer more capable truck within a couple years or so I would have given it a try. Good luck. I sure do miss my 830, it was an awesome camper.

This camper has awning, hd antennae, satellite dish, solar, micro, ac, heiki skylight, tent, dual batteries...not getting rid of any of it...I'll probably spring for the 18's and not worry about any of it.;)

Anyone know the empty rear weight of a F250 short bed stock? To the scales I go...

[maxum1989]

Ideas on shedding weight on the 830. Here is the list I came up with last year when I was trying the exact thing with the same model. Lose the air conditioner, micro, bath door, carpet kit, awning, roof Maggie rack, rear tent, if there are two batteries go to one, mattress, TV, and carry very little. In the end I decided stripping such a great camper of all the things that made it great was a poor decision and sold it. I knew my truck wasn't changing any time soon so I got a smaller camper. If I was getting a newer more capable truck within a couple years or so I would have given it a try. Good luck. I sure do miss my 830, it was an awesome camper.

[Grodyman]

My 17's are rated for 3195 each. 18's bump that to 3640. This give a little over 800lbs. of rated capacity. This with the add a leaf essentially make my truck equal to a F350 SRW. I can do this for about $1500. I can probably sell my 17's for $700 or so. But.......33" vs. 31" tire diameter takes my 3.73 ratio down...Truck certainly doesn't need this.

I'd be happy with 18's, 4.30 gears, and the add a leaf...about $4500 in modifications. Just shooting the bull, I'm probably fine on my weights if I am careful.

I want a dually:C

Gman

[Vinsil]

I'd be in a drw if starting over..