Rrliljedahl
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Re: Over weight truck camper suspension upgrade needed
Yea, I agree. Having the camper weigh 1000 pounds more than the original estimate has really screwed up this project. Who sells the 19.5 inch rims and will I now have to lift the truck to get them to fit? Right now I have. 35 inch tire on a 16 inch rim.705Views0likes0CommentsRe: Over weight truck camper suspension upgrade needed
Just checked my truck rims - weight limit is only 3600 pounds. Tire weight limit is 3850. On a CAT scale with 50 gallons of fresh water and a full tank of diesel, I am carrying 3500 pounds per rear tire. I am getting pretty close! Camper wound up weighing 1000 more than estimated before the build which is becoming a real problem. What happens to a rim "when it fails"?409Views0likes0CommentsOver weight truck camper suspension upgrade needed
I need some advice. Mounted a custom flatbed camper to my truck and realized that it was squatting in the rear. GMC Sierra 3500 2007 Classic LBZ Duramax Diesel with 6 speed Allison Transmission. Body is like 2006. There were 2 body styles in 2007. This is the older style. Single rear wheel. Tires size was increased from roughly a 32 inch to roughly 35 inch. Truck was regeared from 3.73 to 4.52 to compensate for bigger tires and weight of the camper. Rear Firestone Ride-Rite 4800 pound air bags were added and do lift the camper up when inflated. On a CAT scale, camper/truck with a full 32 gallons of diesel and 50 gallons of fresh water weighed 12,100 pounds with factory GVWR 9900 pounds Front tires are carrying 2500 pounds each (series E rated at 3850 pounds) with factory GAWR FF 4800 pounds Rear tires are carrying 3400 pounds each (series E rated at 3850 pounds) with factory GAWR RR 6500 pounds Axle is rated for 10,000 pounds. Cognitio front steering upgrade has been performed. I know I am significantly overweight but the plan is for the camper to stay mounted to this truck. So far, truck did fine on the interstate driving from Denver to Salt Lake with no porpoising or rocking with the air bags inflated. However, when on rut filled roads looking for a spot to do some dry camping, the camper was rocking quite a bit back and forth. Without the airbags inflated, the rear sorings are pretty flat with only about 1 inch between the tires and the flatbed. With the air bags inflated, I have about 4 inches between tire and flatbed. Talked with truck suspension shop and they recommended a factory gmc "heavy duty" rear leaf spring replacement good for 4000 per side. They also suggested I might want to consider upgrading the shocks. I would post some pics but do not know how. Short of replacing the truck, what would you recommendable for additional suspension upgrade to get the sagging rear end of my truck back up so that it rides better when off pavement? Thanks.6.3KViews0likes38CommentsRe: Truck camper payload question?
I bought the truck and took it to a scale. 2007 Classic Sierra 3500 Crew Cab, Long Bed, LBZ Duramax and Allison Transmission, 4X4, SRW GVWR of of 9900 pounds GAWR 6500 pounds GAWR 4800 pounds Michellin P265/75R16 LTX E2 (3400 pounds at 80 PSI). With a 1/4 tank of fuel and no one in the cab the truck weighs 7060 pounds front axle weight 4160 rear axle weight 2900 It would appear that leaving everything stock My rear tires will let me carry a payload of (2x3400=6800-2900=) 3900 lbs putting my gross vehicle weight at 10960 which is over the stated GVWR of 9900 lbs. Rear axle weight restriction as specified by GM would let me carry a payload of (6500-2900=) 3600 lbs. putting my gross vehicle weight at 10660 lbs which is over the stated GVWR of 9900 lbs. Others have stated that the 11.5 AAM axle on this vehicle is the same as on a dually from that year and that the dually axle can take 9375 pounds which I am assuming has to do with the 2 extra tires in the rear. Redoing the calculations giving me a payload of (9375-2900=) 6475 lbs putting my gross vehicle weight at 14075 lbs which is way over the stated GVWR of 9900 lbs. I realize that I can not approach this even if I upgrade the tires and suspension. What am I not understanding here?623Views0likes0CommentsRe: Truck camper payload question?
wnjj wrote: Rrliljedahl wrote: I estimate that the crew cab long bed 4x4 diesel truck weighs 7100 pounds without the camper but I do not know how much of the weight is being carried by the rear axle. Where do you go to figure that out? Once I know that number I could estimate the rear axle weight with the camper. If it helps your estimates any, I have a 2005 3500 SRW 8.1L ext cab 4x4 that weighs 4000 on the front and 2950 on the rear without the camper on. The diesel will only add to the front and the crew cab will probably add a little to both ends. I think this was with a 200# driver in the cab. WNJJ That helps me quite a bit as I have been trying to figure out the axle weights as the vehicle comes from the factory. Thank you.623Views0likes0CommentsRe: Truck camper payload question?
I estimate that the crew cab long bed 4x4 diesel truck weighs 7100 pounds without the camper but I do not know how much of the weight is being carried by the rear axle. Where do you go to figure that out? Once I know that number I could estimate the rear axle weight with the camper.198Views0likes0CommentsRe: Truck camper payload question?
"I estimate my wet loaded camper payload to be 3500 pounds. GVWR 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. " Short of buying the truck and the camper and taking it to a scale, is there any way of estimating the weight on the rear axle and rear tires in this setting?198Views0likes0Comments
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