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> A few basic questions for a new owner.

Daveomania
post Jun 13 2017, 10:59 PM
Post #1





Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 22-June 16
Member No.: 9,019
Favorite Truck Camper(s): ???
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 08 Ram 1500 SXT
Type of Tiedowns used: ???
Truck and Camper Setup: ???



Hi, and thanks for reading,

I have two questions I am hoping some experienced owners will be able to answer for me.

My truck is a 2008 RAM 1500 SXT 6.5ft box, stock everything, my tires are rated for 2400lb load. The camper I have in it is meant for an 8ft box, and is from the 1970s (I suspect).

I have used this camper now, on this truck, for around 5000km. I haven't noticed any side effects as of yet on my truck.

I take the camper off whenever Im not using it, as the truck is my daily driver.

The camper has most of it's original equipment, minus the furnace. I haven't weighed it, so I really have no idea the weight on my axle and suspension with typical equipment, but I'm guessing it's more than the rating of my truck. Although, the leafs aren't pushed to their limits yet. I would say the rubber bushings/helpers have around half an inch left before hitting the plates on the axle.

My first question:

I know it's not an efficient load distribution and what not, but what should I expect from hauling this around for say 10,000+ kms? Should I be worried about the axle, springs, tires? I suspect the axle is far strong enough, but a snapped leaf spring would be a pain.


Second question:

This is regarding my electricity - The camper is already wired up to use an external 15amp power hookup.
I want to put 200w of solar on the roof and a couple 12v deep cycles.
Will it be possible for an electrician to hook up the batteries directly into the circuit already on board?

I can go out and snap photos if anyone wishes to see details of the camper, and/or truck.

Thank you for your time!

Dave


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Chief 2
post Jun 14 2017, 05:26 AM
Post #2





Group: Members
Posts: 59
Joined: 19-March 17
Member No.: 9,469
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2005 Chevrolet 3500 4x4
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac with Quick Loads
Truck and Camper Setup: 2005 Chevy 3500 4x4 Edge Attitude, 4" exhaust, Airaid Air Intake, Ranchos, Air Bags, Hellwig Big Wig, Cabover struts. Lance 1172 loaded with 200 watt Renogy solar and Zamp controller



Loading a TC designed for an 8' bed on to a 6' bed has your center of gravity located way to far to the back. Not good. Being it is an older camper that is heavier than some of the newer ones, you are probably overweight for your truck too. What brand camper is it?

Regarding the solar, you should have no issues with the solar. Simply run the solar wiring to your current battery cables and you should be fine.
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SidecarFlip
post Jun 14 2017, 08:13 AM
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Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(Chief 2 @ Jun 14 2017, 05:26 AM)
Loading a TC designed for an 8' bed on to a 6' bed has your center of gravity located way to far to the back. Not good. Being it is an older camper that is heavier than some of the newer ones, you are probably overweight for your truck too. What brand camper is it?

Regarding the solar, you should have no issues with the solar. Simply run the solar wiring to your current battery cables and you should be fine.
*



Actually, just the opposite is true. Newer TC's are heavier than the older ones, despite buzz word names like 'Lite' and 'ultra lite'. the new ones are far heavier because they come with more 'convenience' stuff inside other than the basic, old school appointments.

You can load a unit designed for an 8 foot bed in a shorter bed, no issue, but be apprised that the Cg will be farther rearward when the camper is loaded (empty). I say empty because the actual Cg is adjustable and you can move it around by how you load your 'stuff' inside.

We have friends touring Alaska right now with a new Palomino HS MAX, a unit designed for an 8 foot bed, in a new F350 Ford with a short box, no issue because the unit is loaded with keeping the Cg forward. and...

I just sold my Lance to a fellow with another 2014 Ford F250. The Lance is an 8 fot box camper and we put it in his shorter box using the varible Cg in mind, again, no issue.

No doubt they hang out the back a bit but adjusting the Cg is an easy solution.
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SidecarFlip
post Jun 14 2017, 08:30 AM
Post #4





Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(Daveomania @ Jun 13 2017, 10:59 PM)
Hi, and thanks for reading,

I have two questions I am hoping some experienced owners will be able to answer for me.

My truck is a 2008 RAM 1500 SXT 6.5ft box, stock everything, my tires are rated for 2400lb load. The camper I have in it is meant for an 8ft box, and is from the 1970s (I suspect).

I have used this camper now, on this truck, for around 5000km. I haven't noticed any side effects as of yet on my truck.

I take the camper off whenever Im not using it, as the truck is my daily driver.

The camper has most of it's original equipment, minus the furnace. I haven't weighed it, so I really have no idea the weight on my axle and suspension with typical equipment, but I'm guessing it's more than the rating of my truck. Although, the leafs aren't pushed to their limits yet. I would say the rubber bushings/helpers have around half an inch left before hitting the plates on the axle.

My first question:

I know it's not an efficient load distribution and what not, but what should I expect from hauling this around for say 10,000+ kms? Should I be worried about the axle, springs, tires? I suspect the axle is far strong enough, but a snapped leaf spring would be a pain.
Second question:

This is regarding my electricity - The camper is already wired up to use an external 15amp power hookup.
I want to put 200w of solar on the roof and a couple 12v deep cycles.
Will it be possible for an electrician to hook up the batteries directly into the circuit already on board?

I can go out and snap photos if anyone wishes to see details of the camper, and/or truck.

Thank you for your time!

Dave
*



I answered your first question somewhat in my previous psot. One thing you need to do is check the door sticker. that will tell you what your payload weight dan be. Then you need to weigh the truck and camper and then the truck alone, full of fuel, add a couple hundred pounds for you and a guest and then you'll know if you are overweight and how much. Until then, it's all conjecture.

Fiat Chrysler pickup trucks are noted for low payload weights, some 1500 series trucks have less than a 1000 pound payload weight depending on how they are optioned.

I see you list things in KM. If you travel to BC, be apprised that the BC weight police regularly weigh TC's and if you are over GVW you'll be fined. You need to be aware of that for one and secondly, running over gross will severely shorten component life, bearings, driveline and everything else takes a beating.

Have no idea on solar. My personal opinion of solar power for the most part is, it's a high buck investment that returns little value. I camp in wooded areas most of the time so solar is of no use to me. I carry a 2000 watt Inverter Genny (Champion) and use that to recharge my batteries, I run 2 6 volt Trojan flooded cell gold cart batteries wired in series, those handle all my power needs just fine.

I can put a lot of gas in the genny for what panels and necessary hardware costs, even buying the genny and putting gas in it (uses maybe a gallon every 2 days) for the cost of the solar.

My little genny (499 US from Generators Direct) is less than a couple panels.

Far as I'm concerned, solar is only good for giving me a tan.

Solar is really a feel good thing. I feel better with a inverter genny.
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Chief 2
post Jun 15 2017, 05:11 AM
Post #5





Group: Members
Posts: 59
Joined: 19-March 17
Member No.: 9,469
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2005 Chevrolet 3500 4x4
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac with Quick Loads
Truck and Camper Setup: 2005 Chevy 3500 4x4 Edge Attitude, 4" exhaust, Airaid Air Intake, Ranchos, Air Bags, Hellwig Big Wig, Cabover struts. Lance 1172 loaded with 200 watt Renogy solar and Zamp controller



Some info I was able to get on line regarding COG. I wasn't able to get the pic to copy. Be safe and check with your TC manufacturer and Dodge to get accurate info on your set up regarding COG. I would also weigh your set up to see where you are. TC have limited storage so adjusting your weight/COG by moving stuff forward may not necessarily be possible or a fix for the problem.

CENTER OF GRAVITY When matching a camper to a truck, it is very important that the center of gravity of the camper fall within the zone specified by the truck manufacturer. The figure below illustrates the location of the camper center of gravity within the center of gravity zone of a typical truck. This center of gravity zone is generally from the center of the rear axle to a point about 18" forward thereof. Each Travel Lite camper is labeled on both sides with the center of gravity location on the camper. If the center of gravity of a truck camper is allowed to be behind the center of the rear axle, in other words, out of the truck's center of gravity measurements, the truck may become light on the front end causing steering and handling problems, thereby jeopardizing the safety of the occupants while in transit.
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