I know my sig is out of date. I bought a 2019 Arctic Fox 811 for short box. I've come to the conclusion it really needs a dually. Been looking at 2016 Rams. They have the Megacab and short box. They look just wrong!! Looks like the weight is too far back possibly causing handling problems? Any real world experience on here? Thanks.

My AF811 was around 4000 lbs on my F250 with gear and water. The rear of my truck was 2750 lbs when empty. I ended up upgrading suspension and wheels since I also towed behind this combination which added hitch weight.

This is an old old thread, but I'd like to talk with someone about an 811 on a mega cab... I have questions!!

I am responding to an old thread... maybe you are still out there with your SB and 811. We just got a used pair then someone said Id better beware of center of gravity with the mega cab!! Am I going to have to worry about this?

Zero worry. Hauled a AF 860, same camper older model number, on a 2500 Mega cab for years. Cross country, all over Alaska etc. the camper even loaded to the gills takes a smidge off the front end weight. Never weighed it but I’d hazard a guess that the front axle was still heavier than an empty truck with a gasser engine. mega cab dually is basically the ultimate shortbed setup for a heavy camper.

It was a 3rd gen 2500 with leafs not the 2016 in my sig.

Short box dually? | Good Sam Community

StirCrazy
Moderator
Jan 30, 2024
I just saw this thread, I know im a little slow haha, but I am still trying to figure out why a 2300lbs dry (so we will say about 3000lb wet camper needs a dually any newer 1 ton SRW should be more than up to the job
- Grit_dog
  Navigator
  Feb 09, 2024
  But neither of the campers asked about, 4 years ago or recently are 2300/3000.
  Like Bedlam said, their more like 3200/4000.
  Agree no dually “needed” but certainly not overkill to have a Dooley for 2tons.
- Bedlam
  Moderator
  Jan 30, 2024
  My AF811 was around 4000 lbs on my F250 with gear and water. The rear of my truck was 2750 lbs when empty. I ended up upgrading suspension and wheels since I also towed behind this combination which added hitch weight.
  - StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Feb 10, 2024
    ya on a F250 or 2500 that would be to much, maybe it is just me assuming the OP is talking about a 1 ton truck. I wouldnt have any issues hauling 4K on my truck which is a 2014 1 ton, but that would max me out and if it was going to be permenant I would probably do like you did and add some rear suspension helper and a rear sway bar.
rjstractor
Nomad
Jan 25, 2024
What I'm really wondering is how this thread about truck campers ended up in the travel trailer forum, when there is a forum for truck campers. On the old RV.net, human moderators would move topics to the right forum if they deemed it necessary. Is that still a thing, or do they rely on Artificial Idiocy to handle it (or not)?
- Community Alumni
  Jan 25, 2024
  rjstractor wrote:
  
  What I'm really wondering is how this thread about truck campers ended up in the travel trailer forum, when there is a forum for truck campers. On the old RV.net, human moderators would move topics to the right forum if they deemed it necessary. Is that still a thing, or do they rely on Artificial Idiocy to handle it (or not)?
  
  Just moved this to the Truck Camper Forum! Thank you for letting us know rjstractor
Bedlam
Moderator
Sep 23, 2019
Host makes a triple slide short bed camper for those of you with the Mega DRW. If you want the most room without stretching your Mega to a long bed, this is the camper for it. My Arctic Fox 811 was too light for my DRW...
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 23, 2019
jimh425 wrote:
I don’t think it’s any worse than having a 11 1/2 on an 8 ft bed.

It's not, unless you're comparing to Kaytegs 12' camper on his truck which apparently is notably "shorter" and has a smaller fuel tank than what Ford offers (from another thread).

But that may be because the Fords have the same rear overhang for both short and long bed, which keeps the center of gravity from being pushed forward on the short bed, combined with mysteriously less fuel capacity thus making a shortbed camper on a shortbed dually obviously worse than a longer camper on a longer truck!
Lol
bwlyon
Explorer
Sep 23, 2019
I have a 15, 3500 SRW, megacab, 4x4. Considering the dual version is just that a dually version of the SRW truck with stiffer rear springs, weight transfer is not as good as would be with a crew cab model, but the difference is really quit small. I have a Ascent S85RS 8’ 11” which is Ascents version of the Arctic Fox 811, and I can tell you that the front end will get about 200lbs lighter on the front with no water, fill it full of water and the weight on the front axle is the same as when truck has no camper. In essence the camper fully wet adds all the weight to the rear axle with net zero weight transfer to the front. With all that said, my mega cab handles just fine with no extra weight on the front axle. If you want a dually under your 811, the mega cab dually is the way to go! It may look odd, but **** it will handle your 811 with ease! I have thought about moving up to a long bed camper which would necessitate a longbed truck. However, if we stay with our camper or move to an 811 we will likely upgrade to a dually mega cab. We love the mega cab trucks for the added room in the interior and behind the seat storage. We have the Laramie Longhorn model and love love it!
- camperwannabee
  Explorer
  Jan 25, 2024
  This is an old old thread, but I'd like to talk with someone about an 811 on a mega cab... I have questions!!
GpnAZ
Explorer
Sep 22, 2019
Yeah, we both always chuckle when we think back about her Death Valley experience with you! It's always fun figuring out what RV to get to suit your needs, whatever it is there is always compromises! I had our AF 811 on a Ram 3500 SRW for a year and then went to the dually and was glad I did! Good luck whatever way you go!
_DJ_1
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2019
GpnAZ wrote:
Hey DJ - Haven't heard from you for awhile but I don't check in here much either. I had the Ram 3500 SB dually with the AF 811 on it, took it to Alaska and back, worked great for us! It had the Cummins with Aisin transmission. We ended up getting a Host Mammoth last year so I traded my shortbed version in for a longbed with all the same options and color. I also have the factory rear air assist suspension which works great for me! If you have any questions you can always PM me also.

Hey Mark, thanks for the pics. This is getting more encouraging all the time. This is the heaviest camper I've had and I think it's too much for an SRW. Truthfully I'm on the fence right now between keeping the TC or getting a small C. Both have pros and cons.

That is a sweet rig you have now!!!

Hey, I know this pretty Lady!!
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2019
I have 12' TC on my Supercab truck and it is still shorter combo.
Point is that with Megacab you need triple slide to have the same floor-space what single single slide and LB.
Nothing wrong with the idea, but terrible costly as of today.
jimh406
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2019
I don’t think it’s any worse than having a 11 1/2 on an 8 ft bed.
GpnAZ
Explorer
Sep 22, 2019
Hey DJ - Haven't heard from you for awhile but I don't check in here much either. I had the Ram 3500 SB dually with the AF 811 on it, took it to Alaska and back, worked great for us! It had the Cummins with Aisin transmission. We ended up getting a Host Mammoth last year so I traded my shortbed version in for a longbed with all the same options and color. I also have the factory rear air assist suspension which works great for me! If you have any questions you can always PM me also.

(2) pics of the 2016' Ram with AF 811

Picture of our new 2018' Ram with Host Mammoth

Forum Discussion

Short box dually?

About Truck Camper Group

Related Content

Arctic Fox 811 short box in long box?

f150 supercab short box

Dually

Short

2017 GMC SIlverado Crew Cab Short Box