Question for Dodge Ram 2500 owners

[zcookiemonstar]

I have a 2001 Dodge ram 2500 2wd gas long bed pickup. I am looking for my first truck camper and would like to hear from people who have or had the same truck what camper you carried weight how it handled and what you had to do to it. Thanks to all for any input.

[jefe_4x4]

Paul, simply beautiful rig you have there.
jefe

[jefe_4x4]

zcookie,
By robust, I am talking about the heavier frame, suspension, much more H.D. drivetrain, and more torque that comes with the Cummin$ option. By ordering the camper package on my '01/2500, I got the 1 ton frame, one ton suspension (actually the first SRW one ton in name only as it had all the springs/anti sway bars that came with a one ton dually). The only difference were the 4" hub extensions for the deep dual rear wheel backspacing, and a slightly narrower rr Dana 80 (35 spline. added Power Lok L.S. diff) for the SRW. The DRW had a WIDER rr axle to compensate for the backspacing and clearance on the rr disc brakes (new in 2001.5) AFA the drivetrain: with the use of the new at the time cast iron NV5600 (26K pound rating, weighs 360 pounds, dry) 6 speed manual, the Cummins was upgraded in TQ ad HP (245HP; 505TQ) (as opposed to downgraded in power for the automatics of the time) because the trans could take it. The t. case is the NV241HD. What's the HD? It's for snow plow work and has a much wider chain to absorb the shock loading you get when plowing. The front axle is a 35 spline, Dana 60 with upgraded after market 35 spline Dana 70 free spin kit, and locking hubs. Next week I will install a Detroit Eaton True Trac, gear driven L.S. center section for that axle.

To the factory 4 spring pack(probably the one you have) + one upper overload spring I added two more upper overload springs; one more bottom lift spring and Stable Loads. Also I recently rebuilt all the anti sway bar rubber and Rancho 9K's. The front end has been gone through with a 3" lift; Gen4 pan hard rod and many upgrade steering parts including a front frame stiffener around the steering box. The truck is very tight again. Remember this is to carry one of the lightest hard sides around.

I upgraded the rear wheels/tires to super singles or duplex status. The tires are 33x15.50's on 12" wide aluminum rims for driving over soft ground or even sand dunes.

So, more or less, this is what I mean by more robust compared to a gasser 2500 of the same Gen2 era.
regards, as always, jefe

[pcoplin]

My 2001 915 weighs around 3400 lbs loaded up with gear and full water. Carries more rearward than my old 9.5 ft Lance. It's about max for standard single rear tires and wheels.

[JacintoKid]

zcookiemonstar wrote:
Thanks for all the input. I do have the camper package and my truck has a automatic trans also have 4:10 gears in the rear and disk brakes front and rear. I have hauled heavy weight many times from machinery to full loads of dirt. I weighed the truck full of dirt one time and it was over 3400lbs of dirt it handled fine but that is a very low center of gravity compared to a camper. I don't want a real tall camper but I do want a hard side and a full bath. I have been looking at Lance 835 and some Sunlite 8 and 9ft campers. I have looked at Lance 815's but they are a little to narrow for me let's just say I'm a little on the wide side!

My first camper was an 04' Lance 835 which would be slightly lighter than a Lance 915. I hauled it on a 2001 Ram 2500 LB, 4x4, Cummins, 6 speed manual tranny w/camper package. The truck handled it well but it definitely could have used a rear sway bar, but I never got around to getting one. I ran that combo for 100K miles. My loaded weight was just under 3,000 pounds. I believe that truck had the Dana 80 in the rear? I agree with most though, get the smallest camper you are comfortable in because they are almost always heavier than advertised. Good luck, Brad

[zcookiemonstar]

jefe 4x4 what do you mean by "a much more robust 2001 Dodge truck"?

[trailgranny50]

If you're a little on the wide side any bath other than a dry bath is going to be a challenge! I am also a little broad in the beam and our wet bath is REALLY COZY. I removed the door while replacing the potty/shower combo tank and just never put it back. Installed ceiling curtain track and an upholstery fabric curtain for privacy. It has shower curtains lining the inside for showering as its an older wet bath and I didn't trust that the material in it would really be waterproof. Not plastic or fiberglass like newer campers. I also installed a new toilet, high profile to facilitate easier seating and rising from the throne. Works fine for us now but something you should take an in person dry run in before committing to any camper purchase. Here's hoping you find the perfect "fit" and happy camping.

[zcookiemonstar]

Thanks for all the input. I do have the camper package and my truck has a automatic trans also have 4:10 gears in the rear and disk brakes front and rear. I have hauled heavy weight many times from machinery to full loads of dirt. I weighed the truck full of dirt one time and it was over 3400lbs of dirt it handled fine but that is a very low center of gravity compared to a camper. I don't want a real tall camper but I do want a hard side and a full bath. I have been looking at Lance 835 and some Sunlite 8 and 9ft campers. I have looked at Lance 815's but they are a little to narrow for me let's just say I'm a little on the wide side!

[GeoBoy]

How about a Northstar TC?

[ISBRAM]

Mine is a 1999 with the camper and towing packages so it had the factory overload rear springs and rear sway bar. But my truck also had every other option so it’s curb weight was as heavy as they come. I still ended up upgrading the sway bars and adding stable loads, the air bags are just for side to side leveling.
I would recommend staying under 2000 lbs. empty on the camper as the weight adds up fast.

[path1]

You don't mention what type of trans you have. And I'm not sure what trans is even in a gasser. But if you have an auto, and if you do decide to go with a camper, as in hauling heavy loads, be sure to check your owners manual. In my owners manual 2001 (Diesel with auto trans) in chapter of "starting and operating" it says to change trans fluid every 12,000 miles if "towing a trailer" as in heavy load. But in the back of manual where maintenance schedule is actually located the changing trans fluid is still listed at 30,000 miles. That is 1 of 3 errors I have in my manual. And also check out the difference of "Schedule A" and "schedule B".

I also torque transmission bands being I'm right there when changing the fluid.

Just a heads up. We don't have the strongest transmissions IMO and want to keep them in good shape as long as possible. Mine has never seen north of 210 degrees.

If you decide to go with air bags they are a lot harder to put on than the newer type frames. That is if you want to final result to have air bags that sit at 90 degrees when aired up.

And don't know what type of rear end you have but mine are pretty useless, I'm in process of looking into some type of lockers right now. Not that I'll do any "off roading" but several times have got stuck in nothing more than a little mud puddle.

[B-J1]

I have a '98 2500 4x4 & carry a Lance 825 about 2000# dry & 2500 wet. My truck does have the camper package & I have E rated tires, I've done nothing else to it & it handles the camper well....rides level, rocks a little side to side when I go over some uneven bumps (think curbs). I'm getting 12 mpg. I can't address the rear diff. size etc. because I'm clueless about that.

[Super_Dave]

I know someone that carried an 8.5' Lance (no slide) on that truck for years. When fully loaded, he said he was right at the max rating for the truck. He had also done some mild suspension upgrades.

[trackhead]

I have a 2001 Dodge 2500 CDT with stock suspension and "camper package" that jefe4x4 speaks of. My dry camper weight is 1850lbs. I haul 28 gallons fresh water in it, plus 12 more gallons in the back seat, family of three.

I have the 3.55 gears in the diff, 47RE auto tranny with updated torque converter/shift kit. No problems with anything at all........I even towed an 10,500lb fifth wheel literally all over the country for two years for my work, no problems with anything. I also run a mild tuner (PowerPuck). I get 15-16.5 mpg on highway going 60-65mph.

Agreed with jefe4x4, don't buy a huge camper..........

[Grit_dog]

In my experience 2nd Gen HD Dodges have more rear suspension than the same model 3rd Gens.
If you're looking for a ballpark on the weight the truck will handle, maybe find a place that can put some quick weight in the truck, pallet of landscape blocks or cement something with a known weight around the weight of camper you're considering.
That'll give u an idea what you'd need to do suspension wise realizing the camper is more top heavy but same static load.

[jefe_4x4]

cookie,
Does your '01 have the camper package? This includes a rear anti sway bar and one or two upper secondaries (over loads) above the rr spring pack. I can only recommend the smallest hard side camper for your rig without a lot of fiddling with the rear suspension to take the load. I have a friend who did what you are contemplating and he was always complaining about the poor mileage (6-9) with the camper on pulling a small trailer.
The biggest woe with your truck will be the transmission. This era Mopar trans does not have a good track record. What's the end point? 60K miles if driven without a load. The other thing is the rear end is marginal at best ( too high a gear ratio and small parts) with a lot of weight in the bed. It can be done. If you live on the flat and are not in a hurry, your truck with some fixes (E rated tires; susp. help, extra cooling for the trans) and a small, lightweight camper should be fine. Which? I like the Lance 815 and 825 as they are light and narrow and have a small footprint. Oh, and forget about a basement type camper as that adds a lot of height, width and weight; more than the ability of your 2 series Dodge can handle.
Basically, I'm recommending what we did lo those 14 years ago with a used, small Lance only on a much more robust 2001 Dodge truck. So far so good.

Expand your search out at least 1K miles and be prepared to drive a ways to inspect prospectives especially if buying used. God luck in your quest.
jefe