Truck Camper Weight...I know, I know

Lexx wrote:
I find this to be a fascinating but confusing subject. I have a 2017 F450 with the Dana M300 rear axles. The rear axle GVWR is 9900 lbs. The front axle is 6000 lbs. This is the same GVWR given to the axles on a F350 DRW. Yet the half-shafts on the F450 are noticeably thicker and heavier duty. The brakes on the 450 are 50% bigger than those on the F350. BOTH trucks are limited by their yellow payload stickers to Class III at 14k lbs GVWR. Yet the F450 is clearly a heavier duty truck. And of course the tires are a non-issue since the stock tires have a load limit of 3950 lbs and there are four of them on the rear axle alone.

I've seen posts from folks with really heavy truck campers like the Host Mammoth and big Eagle Caps, with wet weights in the mid-6k lbs range. Considering the typical Platinum F450 has a payload stick of about 4700 lbs, techically these folks are at least 1800 lbs over the payload sticker. Yet every one of these folks states their rig handles and brakes just fine with zero issues.

So what gives? These folks are obviously not lying. It would seem their heavy loads are perfectly within the capability of the truck they're carrying it with. Yes they're technically over the yellow payload sticker, but so? What are the consequences? Is someone going to prove that a truck with a Class IV truck suspension is so overweight that he is at fault for overloading his Class III truck?

As to your first paragraph, in the epic saga of weight carrying ability discussions, that suspension axles, rims, and tires are at the forefront. Followed by brakes, srw vs drw, frame, engine ability, diff's, etc. And all lead to comparisons with the famous sticker. But mounting hardware for said components is almost never considered or brought up. What's holding the 30k pound axle to the truck frame? Or the truck bed to the frame? Lug nut rating? Bed sheet metal thickness? What grade bolts are holding the axles on?

As for your second part, yep......that is one of the great mysteries of the universe. According to some and the famous sticker on my 3/4 ton, my camper should have crushed my truck. I should be dead. Maybe I am, and I just don't know it......so is this forum hell????
Oh schit.......:p:B