New Truck More Payload

[wjlapier]

We are in Montana at the KOA in St Mary. We have land up past Babb and was hoping to bring our camper ( Host Everest ) up there but too soggy and muddy. In fact we got our truck stuck and had to wait over night to get it out. The camper wasn’t on the truck thank God.

Got me to thinking about a few things, one buying a new truck with much more payload than what our current truck has. Looked at the Dodge 5500 briefly ( there was one here at the KOA ), but nothing serious.

We are also thinking of towing my wife’s Toyota RAV4.

If we went with the Dodge 5500, I’m assuming we have plenty of payload capacity and some. There are many things we usually bring this way but didn’t to keep weight down. Most tools, but some camping stuff. We do a lot of work clearing trees and brush so we bring out chainsaw and weeder. We could use our small ladder as well. All this stuff adds up I know.

What do you folks think?

[Grit_dog]

JimK-NY wrote:
I am missing the logic here. So your truck got stuck in the mud and you are thinking of getting a bigger truck so you can carry even more weight? More weight just further limits you to staying on good roads.

I think the stick in the mud story was mutually exclusive of the payload thing.

[JimK-NY]

I am missing the logic here. So your truck got stuck in the mud and you are thinking of getting a bigger truck so you can carry even more weight? More weight just further limits you to staying on good roads.

[wjlapier]

I’m still here.

Just curious where some of you get your stats re: tire and axle ratings. I look for info and most of the time it’s to buy a truck, or towing. Not too much on payloads. And while I’m at it, how do you determine or know that pulling a car behind the truck with camper won’t affect braking?

We’re still gathering info. We came across this Ford F550 with the flatbed camper. It didn’t look much higher or beefier than our Chevy. The payload is beyond what we need and would love to load up the camper, hook u0 my wife’s car, and go. Not think about weight. Speaking of, we are going through an area where we won’t have water so I plan on filling up the tank. This will add another ~500lbs to our payload. Instead of taking someone’s word I’d like to read something more official, no offense. I do appreciate to comments and ideas, but when it comes to driving a large truck with a large camper I want to feel peace of mind.

[Grit_dog]

Geo*Boy wrote:
How about a GM 4500 series or the International CV series? I believe you can order air ride suspension on the International.

Air ride is only available in a 2wd, but a GM/IH is basically the same as a Ford or Ram med duty. Less power and more payload.

[Geo_Boy]

How about a GM 4500 series or the International CV series? I believe you can order air ride suspension on the International.

[jimh406]

A lot of people like a tow vehicle. It depends on what you like. If you had the TC on, you probably would still get stuck with the current tires. I'd consider a tire upgrade if you don't already have solid tires.

If you like the current truck, you probably won't like a Ram 5500. You'll pay a lot more in fuel costs, and the ride will be noticeably rougher. The 5500 has 19.5s which have a lot stiffer sidewalls which will translate to rougher ride.

I realize you will be over the GVWR, but your rear axle and tires should have a lot of room for more weight. Flat towing the Rav4 with tow vehicle brakes shouldn't hurt either braking or payload. In fact, you could transfer a few just in case items to the Rav4.

[Lwiddis]

If getting stuck happened often to me, I’d get a winch.

[Grit_dog]

And a little trailer to haul the stuff is far cheaper than a new truck if the weight is getting out of control in your opinion. (Can’t imagine hauling all my tools and chainsaw etc in the back seat of a new truck or inside a new camper either. )

[Grit_dog]

Iirc, you just got this truck for the new camper. What’s wrong with how it handles the load and what have you done to correct it?
Yes of course, a 5500 will have way more payload, stock. Order of magnitude, close to double that of a 1 ton dually.
But flat towing a car won’t eat any payload and your little tree and brush clearing tools don’t either.
A bigger truck would be the “ideal” solution for a camper that size, at the expense of having a vehicle that is quite impractical and uncomfortable as a daily driver (from a suspension standpoint).