Truck size WC 850

[garycq]

Presently I have a 30' 2007 29-5T Arctic Fox 5th wheel which I bought while married. I tow it with a 2001 Ram 2500 CTD LB. I am no longer married and 75 years old. The 5'ver is really more than I want to handle. The TC really appeals to me for ease of travel. I am looking at a Wolf Creek 850 but upon further investigation I found out the dry weight is 2000# whereas the wet weight is about 3000# which is more than my truck is rated at. I've discussed this with others and they all say their TC wet weight are more than the truck is rated for but they ALL have added different supports to make up the difference. I thought this site would be great to ask the key question has anyone ever had trouble with this or with the weight police? My truck handles my 5'ver fine even if over pin weight but I guess at my age I worry more than I use too!
Gary

[cewillis]

Do you have accurate info as to the actual capacity of your rear axle? If that's OK, tires, wheels, and springs can be upgraded if needed. And if you're ready to do the research and work.

[KD4UPL]

The only weight police that will care are on forums like this. You won't be violating any laws with that camper on that truck.
I feel certain it would handle it fine. You might have to add air bags, HD shocks, maybe a stiff(er) sway bar, and E rated tires if you don't already have them.
I don't think a single person, particularly a male, would load an 8' TC with 1,000 pounds of water, food, and gear. If you were taking a wife and kids then that would be likely. I suspect you might only add 500 to 700 pounds of stuff. The majority of people hauling TC, particularly on older trucks like that are loaded over their GVWR. My own '05 dually is about 1,700 pounds over ready to camp.

[tonymull]

Don't know you or your physical condition but consider this....TC's are the hardest RV to enter and exit, something you do multiple times per day. When you look at a dealer's or an RV show they are set up so there is only a step or maybe two from the ground to get in...this is not reality once they are on a truck. So find someone with a camper on their truck and climb in and out and envision how many times you are going to be doing it and in less than ideal conditions. Then go try a B+ and a B and see if a TC is really the way you want to go. At 75 it's not going to get easier.

You will be able to improve handling and perhaps even improve payload up to your rear axle capacity, there's lots of info on here. But hauling heavy does stress your truck more than hauling light...I'm saying you will shorten the life of your truck to one extent or another. No way around that one.

[Powerdude]

Those are 3500 duallies, so even if the pin weight is 4000-5000 lbs from a gooseneck with 20k lbs worth of cars on it, plus the 2k for the weight of the trailer, it's still within spec.

[Kayteg1]

BTW weigh police?
Have you seen those RAM3500 hauling double-decker car hauler with 5 vehicles on it?
I even ask DOT officer about those and his answer was "those don't create issues on the road, so are not our concern"

[Kayteg1]

For the starters, the sticker weight rating is done for tax purpose and has not much to do with real truck capability.
I was carrying 4500 lb of gravel on F250 just fine, but with camper the next issue is going to be weight distribution.
I bought my 4200lb camper with F250 and stop at the scales both ways.
Turn out that due the center of gravity the camper put close to 5000lb on my rear axle.
I had to buy dually to use the camper.
From numbers you have, your truck should carry the weight just fine, but start with checking your rear tire ratings, than analyze the camper center of gravity.
If you have rear tanks, that could create issues.
This way, or the other air helper bags will be strongly recommended.