Long Bed 1 ton SRW with dual slider?

[Yohyatt]

I've been doing a lot of research (on this forum mainly) about necessary modifications and what people are realistically doing with the SRW trucks and truck campers.

I've come to the realization that I will be putting 19.5's on, adding overload springs, and all that other good stuff in order to be safe and have a nice ride.

The Lance 1050s looks like a nice way to go since it seems to be the lightest dry bath (requirement) with a slider.

What I'm wondering is if there is a TC that has a rear slider for a couch, or more simply put, 2 different seating areas (to help break up the group and make everyone not feel as cramped and on top of each other) that a SRW can realistically haul?

I'd want to be able to put 2 dirt bikes on the hitch as well, and if it were more than 2, I'd tow a trailer.

Any advice would be mucho appreciated. thanks.

[Redsky]

Rear axle and wheel bearings can handle the weight and going to 19.5 tires will provide a rear load capacity of 8800 lbs. minus the weight of the truck itself. SuperSprings can help the stock leaf pack and that should be all you need with most trucks sold today. A rear anti-sway bar might help or it might be unnecessary, and best to wait until you have a chance to try out the truck with the camper in the bed. The 19.5 tires are going have stiffer sidewalls and help with handling as well as load capacity.

Often people take the overkill route or make flawed assumptions, like that a F-450 has a great payload rating than an F-350. The F-450 has a higher tow rating but that is very different than the payload rating. For that you need to go to a F-550 which makes even less sense for the camper load planned.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Flat out, no bones about it, you need a dually to do what you're proposing, preferably an '08-'09 F450, which have 14K GVWR and 11K RGAWR.

[KD4UPL]

Since your buying a truck you should be buying a dually for this size camper plus the bikes. I went form a SRW 3500 Chevy to a dually with the same camper. I only had to drive out of the garage and down the driveway to notice a huge difference in handling and much less sway.
Adding weight to the front will certainly help balance out the back. 1 bike in the front and one in the back might be workable. If you do the math on the weight of the bikes and their distance from the axle it's a lot more weight than you think.
I've looked at rear and multi-slide campers and they sure are nice when extended. I think it would drive me crazy having to run the slides out all the time. We are constantly stopping for a bathroom break, snack, change the little boys clothes, grab a drink, etc. I would hate to not be able to just hop in and out the door. Same goes for dumping the waste tanks and then going inside to wash my hands.

[69_Avion]

I have a one ton Ford SRW diesel 4x4 and I won't put my Avion on it. It weighs about 2,900# wet, and it is too much for that truck. You really need a dually. With the high GVW on the newer duallys, they are really the way to go if you want a full size camper. Adding the bikes to the mix and a dually is really necessary. It doesn't matter what accessories you put on a 1 ton SRW truck, it isn't going to be enough.

[jimh406]

I dirt biked with several friends, but didn't like it much with a RV. Think about where you are going to put all of the dirt from serious riding inside a relatively small space. For riding in particular, you'd be much better off with a relatively low cost trailer type toy hauler for 10K or so. It basically has the same functionality as a truck cmaper in a better way to deal with the weight and also the dirt. Also, it is much, much, much cheaper than a top of the line TC with dual slides.

I agree that two bikes on hitch hauler, although possible, is not really viable with a normal hitch type. They do make some that have multiple supports capable of hauling Harleys, so it is technically possible. A trailer would be much easier.

As you can see from my signature, I have a 9.5 Host Double Slide. The models with more than one large sitting areas are even heavier than mine. My truck had no issue carrying my camper stock, but adding several hundred lbs behind the rear wheels won't exactly be fun to drive.

In summary, consider a lighter camper for 1/2 people if you really want a TC and pull a trailer as your overflow. Either a smaller toy hauler or enclosed trailer should work for a bike trailer and provide some sitting area.

[Yohyatt]

I just don't want to make the wrong decision when I buy my rig. I totally wasted my Nissan frontier by over working it for the last 180k and now that I am buying some property, I've decided to get a HD truck. there's a lot in flux with starting a family (not knowing what the kids will want to do).

Maybe the a 1050s will work for the first part of the kids being around. and if we need to get something bigger, I can always get a toy hauler (and get off the beaten path with our toys vs TC 🙂

[mkirsch]

Yes, you camp with the slides out, but how many times do you climb into the camper just to get something, or to take a whiz while on the road? Side-entry, rear-slide campers prevent you from doing that without extending the rear slide. Do you really want to have to unload the bikes and deploy the rear slide just to get a can of pop, or your cell phone because you forgot it on the kitchen counter when you were loading up?

Four guys anywhere in any TC for "a few hours" is going to feel cramped.

The reason you have 1000# of capacity up front is because the TC is levering a bunch of weight off your front wheels.

You're going to do what you're going to do. It sounds like you've got it all justified out. No compromises, right?

[msiminoff]

Hi Yohyatt,
To answer your question: The Lance 1172 has 2 slides and the rear one has a couch.
It's a very nice camper and, in theory, it could be carried on a properly equipped SRW truck… although I wouldn't personally choose one with a street-side-slide.

Keep in mind that you're asking for a lot from your 1-ton SRW truck… especially hauling two bikes on a hitch-carrier. That Lance 1150 weighs over 3,000lbs dry and you can expect it to come in over 4000lbs wet & loaded. In order to carry the two bikes (500+ lbs!!) you will need a suitable 36-48" hitch extension.

IMHO, given the suspension & wheel/tire mods you mentioned, I'd suggest you stick with the 1150 and plan to pull a trailer when you go riding.

As a data point; I have a SRW 1-ton truck with all of the upgrades you mentioned (and then some). My camper weighs just under 4k lbs wet, I have a SuperHitch, a super-strong bike carrier & a beefy 48" extension (stronger than a SuperTruss!) … and I would never considering carrying more than one bike.


Cheers,
-Mark

[Yohyatt]

12V Cummins wrote:
Why Do you have to have two slides? Usually two slides makes it impossible to use the camper with the rooms in. A single slide will be less weight for your SRW truck, still have the possibility of using the camper with the room in.

I was under the impression that everyone uses the campers with the slides out.

I'm thinking that 4 guys sitting across from the dinette table for a few hours might get a little cramped feeling, so that's why I was trying to split up the seating arrangements.

[Yohyatt]

I thought that I should add that I would be looking at 2012 or 2013 GM or Ford SRW LB 4x4 trucks.

Yes I need to carry dirt bikes with motors. Looking at what trucks weigh on CAT scales with campers, it seems that there is still over 1,000 lbs left over for the front axel, so couldn't I theortically put the two bikes there? would it balance the truck out better? I've seen some trucks at camp with 2 bikes up front and 2 out back but that was on a dually with a TC.

I'm fine with bringing a trailer if I need to haul 4 bikes, (or even 2 if that means I can still get a dual slider on the SRW).

I will look at that eagle cap and other one that was mentioned. thanks for the advice so far.

[Mike_Hohnstein]

Call me thick but I don't get SRW with any TC over 2000#. Had identical F series trucks, one SW one dually, no comparison in stability, same camper.

[bobndot]

SRW truck ? Overloading your rear axle = not a good idea .

TWO Dirt bikes on a hitch-rack ?
without engines right ? :h That might work ok .
BMX bikes

The thing I do not like about the rear slide is that when it's closed it sometimes(depends on the model) blocks the entrance door to get inside the TC.

In side door models, wouldn't it be nice if someone built a solid NON SLIDE extension on the back-end of the TC (like a window box) that could house the sofa or recliner chairs. It wouldn't have to be deep , just deep enough to be able to get inside w/o operating the slide.
It would offer space and not give you any mechanical problems.

[tuna_fisher]

Can't comment on the camper , but got to go along with DJ on the bike thing, not going to work, just pull the trailer with any bikes. Maybe 1 up front as I do but not 2 hanging of the back, not smart, JMO

[_DJ_1]

Are you serious??

You may get away with a heavy dual slide camper but two dirt bikes on the hitch?

600# 7-8 feet from the hitch will equal a catastrophe!!!

[skyhammer]

Host Cascade, double slide, rear slide with couch. With 19.5" tires an SRW should have no problems.