SRW or DRW?
Considering tc that weighs roughly 3800 dry. Would a 1 ton single rear axle be okay or do I need to look at double axle only. Please, no truck brand wars. Stick to axles. Thanks.
Forum Discussion
As you have not purchased the camper or the truck yet you may want to consider a lighter camper. I knew I did not want a DRW truck for many reasons - width or truck, turning radius, length of truck, no double cab unless a long bed.
I decided that the maximum loaded weight was 4500 lbs. with SRW and that meant a 3500 lb. dry weight for the camper. Every pound lighter the camper the more of a safety margin and the more potential for carrying gear or a generator and fuel. There is also the need to consider the tongue weight of a trailer should you later want to tow one behind the truck.
I found that the Lance factory weight as shown on the camper was 300 lbs. more than indicated in the brochure and the actual weight at a CAT scale was 300 lbs. more. That was before putting fresh water in the tank at 8 lb a gallon.
There are many excellent campers for short bed and long bed trucks, even with a slide-out, that weigh under 3400 lbs. dry weight and can be hauled around in a SRW truck. If I was going for one of the very large dry bath campers that required a DRW truck I would go with a Class C motorhome instead and have a better integrated RV and a much less expensive one.
With the MH you only need to fuel up and load up. With the slide-in camper and pickup truck you become the system integrator and deal with load data and what to do to modify your truck (tie-downs, electrical harness, fuse and isolator, bed liner, shocks, anti-sway bar, tires). For a smaller and more nimble RV I went with a SRW shortbed 4WD truck and with a smaller and lighter camper. But I travel 100% in the west and on forest service roads and not on the interstates going from one RV park to the next so it all depends on the individuals and their spouses.
I decided that the maximum loaded weight was 4500 lbs. with SRW and that meant a 3500 lb. dry weight for the camper. Every pound lighter the camper the more of a safety margin and the more potential for carrying gear or a generator and fuel. There is also the need to consider the tongue weight of a trailer should you later want to tow one behind the truck.
I found that the Lance factory weight as shown on the camper was 300 lbs. more than indicated in the brochure and the actual weight at a CAT scale was 300 lbs. more. That was before putting fresh water in the tank at 8 lb a gallon.
There are many excellent campers for short bed and long bed trucks, even with a slide-out, that weigh under 3400 lbs. dry weight and can be hauled around in a SRW truck. If I was going for one of the very large dry bath campers that required a DRW truck I would go with a Class C motorhome instead and have a better integrated RV and a much less expensive one.
With the MH you only need to fuel up and load up. With the slide-in camper and pickup truck you become the system integrator and deal with load data and what to do to modify your truck (tie-downs, electrical harness, fuse and isolator, bed liner, shocks, anti-sway bar, tires). For a smaller and more nimble RV I went with a SRW shortbed 4WD truck and with a smaller and lighter camper. But I travel 100% in the west and on forest service roads and not on the interstates going from one RV park to the next so it all depends on the individuals and their spouses.
