New Truck Campers

[norcal10]

Hi everyone!
My wife and I have decided to sell our travel trailer and buy a truck camper. We have been RVing for a while now and want to be able to pull a boat while camping.
I've got a couple of questions about TC's and the truck.

1) Is it a necessity to have a rubber bed mat? We've got a spray in bedliner.

2) Does this setup sound okay with my truck? Torklift tiedowns and fastguns? If the camper we buy has the chain turnbuckles, we will use those until getting the fastguns. The truck is a 1993 Dodge D250 Cummins. I'm looking at the Timbren SES system instead of airbags.

3) The camper we are looking at is a one owner 1989 Western Wilderness that has been meticulously maintained. Does anyone have experience with these having problems clearing the bedrails? Or is that what the rubber mat mentioned above would help with?

4) I've researched the payload on my truck and come up with 3750lbs. Is the weight sticker on the camper usually dry or wet, and do you usually factor in a 1000lb cusion just in case?

You guys are helping some newbies out with the info. We really appreciate it!

[scout4trout]

I had a 2009 Alpenlite (formerly Western Wilderness). The outside weight sticker did not include options - ours had the options listed on the inside of a cabinet door. Check the load rating on your tires because that will be the weakest link - our 16" E tires were 3,042 each and we were pushing that number on the rear.

[donn0128]

You have a 1992 Ram 5.9? That truck has as I remember a 8800 GVWR. What does it scale loaded ready to go? 5000 pounds if you actually did have 3700 pound payload. Sadly its more likely your real world payload will be around 1500 pounds.

[sljohnson1938]

get the bed liner,

[adamis]

I'll second the rubber mat. The spray in liners don't give a lot of friction to keep things from moving around. It's like two very hard surfaces against each other, slippage will occur. If you have a Tractor Supply store nearby, they are a good source for the rubber mat options. Note that there are actual rubber mats designed for truck beds that are ~ 1/2" thick and then there are thicker stall mats that can be 3/4" thicker or more. Either will work, just depends on what you need.

[norcal10]

Hi, thanks for the response Jim. Tires are E rated on 16 inch rims.

[jimh406]

1) A rubber mat is not required, but people add them to prevent sliding.
2) You don't mention tires. A lot of tires are C rated which won't get you anywhere near the max payload of the axle. Timbrens can be fine.
3) Usually old campers clear old truck cabs. You can measure to see.
4) Camper weight if "close" is usually dry weight with nothing in it. The only way to know for sure is weigh it at a scale.