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Rrliljedahl's avatar
Rrliljedahl
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013

Truck camper payload question?

I have a truck camper payload question. If this is the wrong forum, I apologize in advance. I also posted this in the truck camper forum.

We recently put a deposit down on a flatbed Northstar Escape Pod 900 SD truck camper with an estimated dry weight including options to be 2300 pounds.

Additional wet weight will include water (40x8.3=332 lbs), people (275 lbs), LP tanks (2x25=50 lbs), batteries (2x55=110 lbs), plus any food and gear easily adds up to 1200 pounds.

I estimate my payload to be at least 3500 pounds.

My thoughts on truck selection include:
Cab creature comforts so that wife is happy
pre 2007 federal diesel pollution requirements making travel to Mexico easier.
Single rear wheel and 4x4 as we want the ability to go off road.

I found a 2007 Classic GMC 3500 LBZ diesel crew cab 4x4 (I will have to install a flatbed).
70000 miles.
SLT trim level
LBZ Duramax 6.6/Allison 6 speed transmission
Heavy duty trailering package
heavy duty locking rear differential
Transmission cooler
3.73 rear axle ratio
GVRW of of 9900 pounds
GAWR RR 6500 pounds
GAWR FF 4800 pounds
Tires are Michellin P265/75R16 LTX E2 (3400 pounds at 80 PSI).



The dealer says that there is no sticker on the door as to payload capacity of this vehicle but there is a sticker in the glove box stating camper should not exceed 2200 pounds. In cruising the Internet, some suggest that the payload as specified by GMC might be as low as 2800 pounds.

I will have to travel 500 miles to see this vehicle.
Before doing so, I hope to get a couple of questions answered here:
Does anyone know how to find the payload capacity for this vehicle?
If the payload is truly only 2800 pounds, is this truck from a practical standpoint capable of handling this camper? If so, what modifications will need to be made?

I do not want to have a discussion of merits of Ford Versus GM versus Dodge.

Thank you in advance.
Tow Vehicles
  • Taco's avatar
    Taco
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2013
    If you want payload capacity for a truck camper in a srw skip the diesel. The gas engines will have plenty of power for hauling a truck camper and will have much more payload.

    You can go to 19.5 wheels and real truck tires like someone else said but I am not sure you can get them in an offroad tread. I am thinking that you can get a nitto terragrappler in a 17 or 18 inch rim that has like a 3750 load capacity or something like that.
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Dec 01, 2013
    Rrliljedahl wrote:
    Chris
    Please excuse my ignorance.

    What I see in the Internet is that a dually is 96 inches wide. Granted that is the box.

    Just how wide is it tire outer edge to outer edge on a dually?

    Yes this is an 8 ft box.


    Not wider than the tow mirrors! Why is wide a problem. Duallies are much better for truck campers.

    http://ricksontruckwheels.com/wheels-gm-25003500srw.php

    Chris
  • Rrliljedahl's avatar
    Rrliljedahl
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2013
    Chris
    Please excuse my ignorance.

    What I see in the Internet is that a dually is 96 inches wide. Granted that is the box.

    Just how wide is it tire outer edge to outer edge on a dually?

    Yes this is an 8 ft box.
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Dec 01, 2013
    Rrliljedahl wrote:
    Chris
    The camper is only 7 ft wide. I was told that a dually wheel base would be too wide for the camper.


    Say what? It is payload that you need to be worried about not the fact that duallies are about 7 feet wide. 3500 pounds will most likely put you over the rear tire rating. What is the weight of the flatbed compared to the OEM bed?

    Truck will weigh OEM at or above 3000 pounds on the rear axle. The axle itself is rated to 11,500 or something like that. The tires rated to 3415 each gives you 6830 for the rear axle. So depending how far above 3000 pounds the truck is, you will maybe be overloading the rear tires.

    Stay the truck weighs around 8K. 4.5 on the front and 3.5 on the rear. You have a problem. Crew cabs put a lot more weight to the rear. Is this a 8' box?

    Chris
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Dec 01, 2013
    The dealer says that there is no sticker on the door as to payload capacity of this vehicle but there is a sticker in the glove box stating camper should not exceed 2200 pounds. In cruising the Internet, some suggest that the payload as specified by GMC might be as low as 2800 pounds.


    If you can't find the payload info any other way, just weigh the truck at the scales empty and subtract from 9900 pounds gross weight. I suspect you will be around 1000 pounds over gross with the camper you have selected and all the weights that you have calculated. Find a dually! Ask the seller to take the truck to the scales and provide you the weight information, that saves you a trip.

    One more thought. When I purchase something I think about resale and how hard it might be to sell it. I can see that a truck camper made only for a flat bed might have a resale to only another that has a flatbed and that might be a factor. Not trying to throw cold water on your great plan here as I would like a flat bed as well, but just sharing a thought process. A regular camper will also fit on a flat bed and under the wings you can have storage boxes and then when it is time to sell it will be a camper that can fit on any stout regular bed pickup. Just something to think about I guess.
  • Rrliljedahl's avatar
    Rrliljedahl
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2013
    Chris
    The camper is only 7 ft wide. I was told that a dually wheel base would be too wide for the camper.
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Dec 01, 2013
    You should be looking at duallies not SRW trucks. I might like this one however! It is South or North of you?

    You will be pushing the rear tire limits and will need to install Rickson 19.5 wheels or similar.

    Chris

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