Prepping Truck in Advance: Suggestions?

[Penguelephants]

Greetings all!

I've ordered a 2017 Ram 3500 DRW 4x4 Cummins Crew cab with 8ft box and it's looking like it'll be built this week, though I probably have some time before it'll be delivered. I'll be mating it to an Arctic Fox 1140.

Originally I was going to wait until I got them both to make any changes as that seems to be what most people suggest. However I have a very long drive to pick up the TC and don't want to be caught unprepared for the haul. I also have a few months in-between so I have room to make any mods needed in advance.

To cut down on possible ordering time, are there any suggested mods that I can do in the meantime? Perhaps somebody who has a similar setup that might chime in? Sway Bars, shocks, stableloads or 19.5s needed? I just want to be prepared and have yet to own a TC, my previous RV as a Class C.

Thanks in advance!

[Ranger_Tim]

Stableloads were the ticket for my application. I really like how they use the springs to mediate the ride instead of a bumper or bag on the axle. Very uncomplicated and easy to use. The lowers are a breeze to pivot out of the way if you have a floor jack available. The uppers are probably overkill for me but when the truck only sat down 3/4 inch when loading I smiled! Now the camper has its complement of "stuff" inside it but I'm still happy.

Other truck mods or gadgets?

I really like my Dashboss app on my iPhone. The interface plugs into the OBDII connector and provides real time data for tracking the performance while underway. There are like programs for Android.

Go ahead and install a bed electrical connector for the camper. The dealer can do this quickly before delivery as well.

Go weigh your truck at a certified scale. Take the usual things you carry (including people and pets) and a full tank of fuel. Leave the tailgate at home. You will have this as a benchmark from now on.

When ordering the Torklift stuff be sure to get the foam block kit that keeps stuff out of the hold down tubing. I forget what it's called.

Start thinking about an alternator upgrade to the truck. Upgrading the wiring to the camper might be an option to explore. Boy, I love to spend other people's money! Here at home the well is dry...

Best of luck to you with what sounds like an awesome experience. Truck camper envy is a terrible thing.

[towpro]

with factory air level system, I would do nothing. I am interested to see how it works with close to, or over GVW loads. This is the one option I wish I had, but my truck came off the lot so I got what I got.

[Penguelephants]

towpro wrote:
Does your new truck have the Air level suspension out back?

Yes, I opted for the factory auto level rear air suspension. Looking forward to seeing how well it works, if at all 😉

I have a bed mat, Torklift 'Talons' and 'Fastguns' already. Lots of good info here for sure, much appreciated.

[deltabravo]

For sure leave the tail gate at home.

I don't leave my camper on full time, but I leave the tailgate off full time since I don't use the truck for "truck stuff" in the off season, and it's not my daily driver (DD).

1140 dry weight is way more than 3500, heck, my 811 weighs more than that bone dry.

Even if you don't do any initial suspension mods, and decide to do some later, do Stableloads first.

I wish I would have gone that route instead of getting caught up in the airbag hype.

[towpro]

d3500ram wrote:

Penguelephants wrote:
...Any other reflections or comments are welcome.

Take the tailgate off and leave it at home before you go to get the TC.

good one, forgot about that. There is a bag inside cab with electrical connectors to protect camera harness when you remove tailgate (if you have camera. one snaps onto both tailgate and bed side after you remove the tailgate.

[TxGearhead]

towpro wrote:

TxGearhead wrote:

There's an aspect of the StableLoads I'm not sure about...the concentrated weight in one surface area of the leaf springs.

your talking about the lower stableLoads correct? I have often thought the same thing. but any time I have seen a broken spring it was broken where the center hole is.

Yes, the lowers. I'm SRW so I don't have an upper overload spring, just the lower.
Ironically I was about to pull the trigger on the lower StableLoads. I have looked at their website many times. They have a link to "see what people are saying about StableLoads" that takes you to a thread on RV.Net. One of the posters said they bent his lower spring downward. I got to thinking about it and yeah that could be possible I guess. True or not I have no idea. Doing more reading in the thread there were posts about how TorkLift changed the StableLoads over a short time. I know some engineering is pure trial and error to find what works and what doesn't. I somewhat doubt TorkLift paid for a Finite Element Analysis of the stress forces of what the StableLoads do in different situations. If they did they would probably cost twice as much. I think I'n going to a Big Wig if anything.

[d3500ram]

Penguelephants wrote:
...Any other reflections or comments are welcome.

Take the tailgate off and leave it at home before you go to get the TC.

[towpro]

TxGearhead wrote:

There's an aspect of the StableLoads I'm not sure about...the concentrated weight in one surface area of the leaf springs.

your talking about the lower stableLoads correct? I have often thought the same thing. but any time I have seen a broken spring it was broken where the center hole is.

[towpro]

I have a 2015 version of that truck.

I would recommend rubber bed mat,I have DeeZee purchased on Amazon.
Torklift frame mounts to hold truck onto camper. I have the steel ones.
Torklift Fast guns, this is the clamp between the frame mounts and the camper body.

According to Truck Camper Magazine, your new camper will weigh 5,236 pounds wet. my 990 weights 500 lbs less wet, but I have 400 or so pounds of tong load on my truck hitch (amplified through a 34" hitch extension)

see these trucks sit high in the back, and as you add weight the rear suspension drops. when loaded, I run level with no suspension enhancements.

I have added a bigwig sway bar to truck, this helps with lean going around corners and maybe some sway in crosswinds.

If I add anything, It might be blocks to lower my upper helper spring pads that are mounted to the frame by 2". but I really think I will just leave it the way it was.

Also Torklift makes these upper stable loads that replace the factory helper spring blocks, they are much taller. As your truck rear end drops with weight the helper springs will kick in sooner, stopping some of the drop. I ran a different brand on my 2006 3500 SRW: towing my 5th wheel it raised the rear suspension around 2-3", but when empty the stock truck springs raise the rear of truck and the blocks no longer hit the helper springs, thus not affecting your empty ride.

I would pick up camper with stock truck and see. Does your new truck have the Air level suspension out back? See your new camper can hold over 400 lbs of water alone, dump some water and you lighten the load.

Edit, your also going to need a torques screw driver, (t15 I think) to adjust your headlights when you load, than when you unload. There are 2 holes in front fenders under hood behind headlights. shine flash light down in one hole and look in the other, you will see the adjustment. only up and down adjustments is in there. I think I change 6 clicks up or down as needed with camper on or off.

[TxGearhead]

I wouldn't do anything but get a model specific bed fit mat. You will obviously need to secure the camper to the truck so Torklift tiedowns and Fast Guns. I don't think I would get Stableloads or any suspension modifications until after I drove it.
Looking at the AF spec...about 3500# dry. Add 1,000# you're likely still good.
There's an aspect of the StableLoads I'm not sure about...the concentrated weight in one surface area of the leaf springs.

[stufarmer]

We're playing the waiting game also. Our truck is a 16' F350 CC Dually.
I'll be installing Hellwig Ft & R Sway Bars, Hellwig Air Bags and
Bilstein 5100 Shocks. Whether I need all this IDK, but I do know
these products and I have a new Truck and I want to play with it.

For the Camper I'm using the
Happijac Tie Down system for the Front
and Torklift Tie Downs on the Rear along with Fastguns

[Penguelephants]

Okay - great! So it looks like I'll be getting some Stableloads then, I have a bed mat already. Very good to hear I've got minimal adjustments to get road worthy.

Any other reflections or comments are welcome.

[trail-explorer]

Rubber Bed Mat / horse stall mat.

Start with TorkLift stableloads.

[JumboJet]

I have a 2014 RAM 3500 DRW Laramie.

You will not need 19.5" wheels and tires. Nice, but no.

I have Torklift StableLoads, Torklift Tiedowns, Torklift SuperHitch and Truss Extension.

I also have a Dualliner installed.

No sway bar added but do have a Hellwig in the shop if needed.

I have run 75 mph and it drives like a Cadillac! 🙂

I carry a Lance 1050S no problem.