What truck has the highest cargo capacity? I am considering a 12' truck camper weighing around 4500 pounds. Any suggestions on specific trucks I should consider?

There may be a 1 ton truck that could handle your camper. If not, a Ford F450 or F550 should do the job. Check with the truck dealer. They have that information available.

I think the 05 F350's have the higehest payload now.

Toby
I have a 2001 one ton dodge dually and am carrying a Lance 1130, which is a 11 1/2 foot model. Mine weights about 3200 lbs. without our stuff. I haven't had it weighed yet but I'm sure the truck is maxed out. Having a larger truck like you are considering will add the margin of safety most of us probably need. Good luck in your final choice.
Wayne

Out of the 1 tons, the Ford currently has the highest capacity and the body is heftier than the other 2. Unfortunately there are problems with the Powermax 6 diesel in them. Ford is rumoured to be coming out with a replacement for this trouble prone engine in 2007. With the GM, you have the much improved more reliable Duramax engine for 2006, but the GVWR is still lower than that of the Ford. GM is rumored to be coming out with a new body in 2007 which I'm guessing will match the Ford. GM also has the best automatic transmission of the 3. I would imagine Dodge will do likewise. Dodge of course has the venerable Cummins engine, but their body finishing sucks compared to the other 2. Give me a dodge engine with a GM Tranny in a Ford Body & I would be happy.

I am using a crewcab 4x4 F-550 with a 30c10.11 Bigfoot slide, this is about the same weight as you are considering, with all my gear and two persons I am 1000lb under weight
this unit handles like a 1 ton empty.the only draw back is the rear end is a 5.38
but have solved this with a gear-vendors overdrive, now does 100km. at 1750RPM.
An F-450 will be close to maxed out but the rear ratio will be 4.30 or 4.88.
My suspension is stock, the price is close to a 1 ton dually and the cab is the same size as the 3/4 ton and up super-duty
rick

Like most are saying, the F350 has the highest payload capacity for any current "standard" passenger vehicle. But cab type/4x4 vs 4x2/DRW vs SRW/LB vs SB, all affect payload capacity. The highest payload you will find in any standard F350 today is 5600lbs. And for a Ram3500 it will be about 4600lbs. Yep 1000lbs difference, between the two.

Also keep in mind CWR (Cargo Weight Rating). This is the maximum amount of the payload that should be in the cargo area. The rest is meant to be in the cab.

BDD

I have a big foot 2001 and a f450 ford dually ,i weigh 17400 loaded ,used to have a f350 and was overloaded by 1700 lbs now i have extra room
It handles the camper well

As was made clear here Fords do have ..by far...the highest load capacities. They also weight more the comperable Chevy and Dodges. The weight is in the fram axels and brakes for the most part. Ford is comming out with a all new and first in the industry f-450 pickup in a crew cab configuration only. It will be capable of carrying well over 6,000 lbs of cargo. It is the exact same size as far as dementions as the crew cab f 350 dually. Except it will be taller with the standard 19.5 wheels instead of the 17 inchers on the 350 dually. It will haul and camper made with ease. It only comes with the new 6.4 350 hp 650lbs torgue diesel. In 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive. Go to the fordvehilces.com site. It has a preview. I WANT ONE FOR MY NEW LANCE 1181. IT WEIGHS almost 5,000 loaded.

Actually, you can already get upto an F750 with a crewcab configuration. In fact once you get to the F650 chassis you even have an option to power it with the Cummins TD. Would be pretty cool, but be aware the F650 chassis+std cab model with std gas engine starts at $50k+. Add the crewcab and a good diesel $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Hey if you got spend it. I wish I had it

Here is a nice example of what I am discribing. I found this at my local Ford Truck dealer. It is an F750, Crewcab, Dually, 4x4, Longbed, Cummins TD... Can you say SSWWEEEETT???

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdirtydog/216009026/

I was going to buy it, but I left my checkbook at home that day ...

BDD