Hello everyone,
I would love to hear the forum opinion regarding a truck camper I Would really like to purchase for my 1/2 ton. The truck is a brand new 2016 ram 1500 quad cab with a 6'4" bed. According to the door jam sticker it has a payload of 1680 pounds. The truck came from the factory with coil springs in the rear. I will be adding timbrens to the truck (like airbags) to help prevent crushing springs. Timbrens are basically giant flexible bump stops rated up to 8000 pounds. Factory tires have a max rating of 2500 pounds on sidewall. The slide in camper I am considering is a 1995 jayco sportster 9.5' pop up. The dry weight is 1640 pounds. The center of gravity will sit close to a foot behind rear axle. With tailgate down the camper will have a 1.5' overhang past tailgate. Is this a recipe for disaster or will this setup work. I understand that I cannot increase payload rating of the vehicle with suspension changes. I am looking for responses from those that have experience with similar setups.
Thank you in advance for your responses,
Chris
Hi Chris,
This is my first post on this site, just joined. I had a 2015 F-150 short bed, matched the specs for the Adventurer 80GS camper (F-150 payload 1,700 lbs, dry camper 1,700 lbs). I put it on and it scared the heck out of me. Was about to add timrens & leaf springs to the F-150, paid a visit to Ford, traded it in for an F-350 (amazing what I got in trade for my 2015 truck), got SRW 6.2L Gas. Now, I have 4,400 lbs payload, can load anything I want in the cab & camper without fear. Also, the F-350 has 6 3/4 bed vs, 5 1/2 on the F-150 (went with super cab instead of super crew so it would fit in my garage), now the CG is smack on the rear axle.
I find it strange that the manufacturer seems to have no issue advertising campers that fit on a short bed 1/2 ton truck, when, to me, it sure didn't seem right. In fact the CG was at the back of the rear wheelwell.
Anyways, I feel confident now, maybe I went over-kill, but having just been on 60 degree incline one lane dirt roads with the camper and drove 800 miles across Vermont mountains without worries, I think I made the right choice.
how about this truck camper
https://www.ecocampor.com/off-road-caravan/long-bed-off-road-truck-camper/
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)