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> 2003 Arctic Cat 860, truck size

bill
post Mar 30 2018, 05:39 PM
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Joined: 30-March 18
Member No.: 10,021
Favorite Truck Camper(s): arctic cat
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: sierra 2500
Type of Tiedowns used: belly bars
Truck and Camper Setup: Sierra 2500 with a Travel Hawk



Hello folks,
Recently joined here and have a question that hopefully someone can answer for me.Presently have a GMC Sierra 2500 with a Travel Hawk truck camper on it.I'm thinking of buying a
2003 Arctic Fox 860 with a slide out and wondering if my Sierra will be up to the task?If not I will probably stick with the Travel Hawk and look for a lighter camper.I have seen positive feedback from other owners on this unit and the fact that I can use at least 3 seasons is a bonus.Any info you can offer would be most helpful..thanks ...Bill
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RV_Tech
post Mar 30 2018, 05:52 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 201
Joined: 27-July 12
Member No.: 6,199
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Hallmark, Northstar, Outfitter
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 SRW 6.2 Supercab
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack front, Torklift rear
Truck and Camper Setup: Hallmark Ute XL No modes to truck Torklift Fast Guns Fast guns had to be cut down to absolute minimum (14 1/2") to use with Happijac front tie down and Hallmark camper.



I think you will be over your truck's weight ratings. Do folks do it? Sure all the time. Should you? That's your call. I wouldn't but that's me.

Here's a link discussing your combination I believe https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/...-weight-276552/
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mbrink
post Mar 30 2018, 07:45 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 20
Joined: 27-December 17
Member No.: 9,913
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Artic Fox
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Ram 3500 CC, short bed, diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: Fast Gun
Truck and Camper Setup: 2018 Dodge, 2011 811 Artic Fox, Torklift tie downs and hitch



I had a 2001 Ford F250, 7.3 PSD, air bags with a Lance 820. Truck did great. I then bought an AF 811; big difference. Much heavier with higher CG. I safely used that combo for 3 years, but always felt overloaded (as I was) and had to drive very defensive.

I have since sold the truck and have a 2018 Ram 3500, single axle. What a huge difference. It has a 3900 payload and handles the load great. Yes, still at or above GVW, but truck is very stable. The new auto exhaust brakes are amazing.

I think the old slide outs were very heavy. Lance and others are finally starting to put campers on a diet.
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wintertree
post Mar 30 2018, 07:46 PM
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Joined: 30-January 18
Member No.: 9,949
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Snowbird 108DS
Type of Tiedowns used: torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2016 F-450..upgraded overload springs...Torklift tie downs...single slide Hard wall camper with dry bath...solar...inverter...genset..full thermal package...extra black and grey tankage...kayak and paddle board



QUOTE(bill @ Mar 30 2018, 04:39 PM)
Hello folks,
                Recently joined here and have a question that hopefully someone can answer for me.Presently have a GMC Sierra 2500 with a Travel Hawk truck camper on it.I'm thinking of buying a
2003 Arctic Fox 860 with a slide out and wondering if my Sierra will be up to the task?If not I will probably stick with the Travel Hawk and look for a lighter camper.I have seen positive feedback from other owners on this unit and the fact that I can use at least 3 seasons is a bonus.Any info you can offer would be most helpful..thanks ...Bill
*


Hey Bill...Just so happens my neighbour has that exact camper on a 1 ton SRW ford truck.....he goes every where with it....The truck looks bagged.....but I did ask him how it handles the load....he says its fine....If it were mine....I would atleast do a suspension upgrade (on the ford) so his head lights are effective and not a bother to everyone else...The 860 is a shorter camper....but for its size is a heavy weight....Nice camper though...I see why its on your wish list....
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RV_Tech
post Mar 31 2018, 07:01 AM
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Group: Members
Posts: 201
Joined: 27-July 12
Member No.: 6,199
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Hallmark, Northstar, Outfitter
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 SRW 6.2 Supercab
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack front, Torklift rear
Truck and Camper Setup: Hallmark Ute XL No modes to truck Torklift Fast Guns Fast guns had to be cut down to absolute minimum (14 1/2") to use with Happijac front tie down and Hallmark camper.



Here is the dilemma as I see it. It is relatively easy to determine whether or not a camper is likely to be over a truck's ratings. On the other hand, how satisfying a combination is, in my experience, is a highly individualized variable. And, with any given combination some folks will be quite content while others insist on any number of negative descriptors. Thus I am relatively comfortable commenting on weight ratings and stating what I would do or would not do.

What I have found however is there seems to be very little if any relationship between weight ratings and what the majority of TC owners consider in choosing truck and TC combination so it boils down to two choices. Either you go with the manufacturers' weight ratings or you decide on your own criteria, load the TC, and see if it suits you.
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SidecarFlip
post Apr 1 2018, 06:47 AM
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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(RV_Tech @ Mar 31 2018, 07:01 AM)
Here is the dilemma as I see it. It is relatively easy to determine whether or not a camper is likely to be over a truck's ratings. On the other hand, how satisfying a combination is, in my experience, is a highly individualized variable. And, with any given combination some folks will be quite content while others insist on any number of negative descriptors. Thus I am relatively comfortable commenting on weight ratings and stating what I would do or would not do.

What I have found however is there seems to be very little if any relationship between weight ratings and what the majority of TC owners consider in choosing truck and TC combination so it boils down to two choices. Either you go with the manufacturers' weight ratings or you decide on your own criteria, load the TC, and see if it suits you.
*



Problem with that is simply... You buy it, it's yours and I've never seen any dealer that will allow you to 'test drive' a TC.

Far as TC going on a 'diet'. All I see is fantasy weight stickers. Don'r see any industry wide weight reductions at all. If anything, they are getting heavier, not lighter.

Sure you can modify suspensions and install rated for load tires but the under lying components remain the same and those components will eventually fail.

One thing that is never addressed is rim capacity. Overloading can be visually corrected but if a rim fails because you have exceeded it's DOT wight rating can be a life threatening situation.

It's all about what you don't see that really counts. You and I have both 'been there and did that' and is why we have what we have.

Experience is always the best teacher.
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RV_Tech
post Apr 1 2018, 07:19 AM
Post #7





Group: Members
Posts: 201
Joined: 27-July 12
Member No.: 6,199
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Hallmark, Northstar, Outfitter
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 SRW 6.2 Supercab
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack front, Torklift rear
Truck and Camper Setup: Hallmark Ute XL No modes to truck Torklift Fast Guns Fast guns had to be cut down to absolute minimum (14 1/2") to use with Happijac front tie down and Hallmark camper.



QUOTE(SidecarFlip @ Apr 1 2018, 07:47 AM)
Problem with that is simply...  You buy it, it's yours and I've never seen any dealer that will allow you to 'test drive' a TC.

Far as TC going on a 'diet'.  All I see is fantasy weight stickers.  Don'r see any industry wide weight reductions at all.  If anything, they are getting heavier, not lighter.

Sure you can modify suspensions and install rated for load tires but the under lying components remain the same and those components will eventually fail.

One thing that is never addressed is rim capacity.  Overloading can be visually corrected but if a rim fails because you have exceeded it's DOT wight rating can be a life threatening situation.

It's all about what you don't see that really counts.  You and I have both 'been there and did that' and is why we have what we have.

Experience is always the best teacher.
*



My ending wasn't clear. I was just trying to make a point about what folks now are doing. They either know their weights and accept what the manufacturers say are the limits or they decide for themselves what goes on what by whatever means they choose. Lots of times I think they decided based on what they see others are doing. There's a lot of so-and-so does such-and-such and it works fine for them.

Rim capacity is in the specs sheets online.
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