new tc owner...soon

[big_camper]

1st time poster fellas so please be gentle.

I got a line on a 2001 fleetwood caribou model 11j with slide out . I cannot find any specs on this tc, nor can i find the weight.this is going on a 1997 dodge ram 2500 diesel 4x4 . with 2 inch suspension lift and heavy duty springs with 265/18 lt tires.

The camper comes at the right price so far but i will need to travel 5hrs way to get it and then do my maiden voyage home.

Is it too big for my truck?

moderator please move this to the proper forum topic

[jimh406]

As others have noted, it’s probably too big for your 2500, but I’m not saying it isn’t possible to drive around with it. Unless you put it on a scale wet with gear, you really don’t know how much the total weight will be.

I’d also continue looking unless you want to trade for a DRW.

[ranholago]

The video that Jaycocreek linked is a good one, I have the same truck as that guy, different camper, but he does good videos. If you go to some of his other videos, he rebuilds his camper, removes the slide and does a pretty good job of it. I would say from all of the videos I have seen from this guy he probably takes as good care of his camper as anyone and he had hell-a-problems with water intrusion. Check out your camper really good around the slide. I would watch as many of this kind of video as possible before going out to look at any camper

[Lancey]

My friend had the non slide version of that camper on his drw duramax, no way I would put that on a 2500... More to that, I bet it weighed an extra 1000lbs with all the water it had absorbed hahaha

[mbloof]

There's a reason that these campers are nicknamed "Leakwood". I had a 2001 8.5S. Surely check for water damage.

[jaycocreek]

Here is a video of a guy with the 11J on a dually and he is overweight...You can fast forward to the good stuff..LOL

11J on a dually weight

[Lwiddis]

3,000 pounds DRY on an F250? Not wise.

[Bert_the_Welder]

In that brochure Oregun linked to it says 2940. It might be a safe bet that's without add-ons. Then water, fuel, batteries, food, stuff, people.....you could be up in the 4500 range, possibly.
Could it, maybe....should it....
Plus factor in the added cost of extra heart and blood pressure medication and possible physio needed to get your hands unclenched from the wheel.....
😉

[Seminoe_Joe]

That’s a lot of camper for your truck. I’d look for something smaller and lighter weight. But as others mentioned, check for water damage around windows, ceiling vents, cabinets, and corners. Also under mattress for mold and mildew. And soft spots in the floor. Climb up and check the roof thoroughly. Then go find a bigger truck or smaller camper.

[specta]

From the brochure it looks like a really nice camper.

My camper loaded weighs just a few pounds shy of 4000 lbs and my truck handles it fine.

Mine being a gas/regular cab I'm sure it will carry more weight than your's and I'm pushing its limits so I'd say no to your truck. 😞

Take a flashlight. Look up in the corners of all the cabinets and inspect closely around the front window, especially the bottom of the window. And pull back the mattress by the front window to inspect for water damage too.

[jdc1]

I wouldn't put it on my SRW F350.

[Oregun]

Try this -> brochure

manual

[ranholago]

Since you haven't seen it, Look it over very good, looking for any water damage and delamination.
Around here, when I was looking every Fleetwood camper I looked at had issues, so check it over closely.
Also I would (just seat of the pants) say that camper will be a big load for your truck. Check your numbers closely, for me being overloaded is not fun.

[Lwiddis]

Me too.

[KD4UPL]

I say it's too big for your truck. I owned a 2003 Fleetwood 11x which is the side entry model with NO SLIDE. It weighed a little over 4,000 pounds loaded for a trip. I carried it on a 2007 Chevy 3500 SRW first. The truck's GVWR was 9,900; with the camper on and my wife and dog in the cab we weighed about 11,100. I then started carrying it on a 2005 Chevy dually. That truck's GVWR was 11,400, with the camper on and my family in the cab it weighed about 13,000 pounds. I used both trucks to travel thousands of miles thru many states with no issues. I had air bags and heavy duty shocks on both trucks.
Your camper will likely be heavier with the slide and your truck is only a 2500.
As for specs, my camper had a 33 gallon fresh water tank, the gray and black tanks were both around 30 gallons. Had a 6 gallon water heater and 2 20 pound LP tanks. It only had room for 1 group 24 battery. I really like that camper. I used it for 9 years and sold it for 95% of what I bought it for.