Hi All, another newbie here!

I have a 2009 Dodge 3500 Dually 4x4 and am in the process of buying an Adventurer 90FWS. I have calculated the total loaded weight of the camper to be 3131 lbs (wet weight with all options and fresh water full). I will also be towing a cargo trailer (with ATVs) which has a 400lb tongue weight (loaded weight). So the total payload weight is 3531lbs. I know I have room in my GWVR, front GAWR and rear GAWR for my complete rig with margin for passengers, pots and pans, food etc etc. My question has more to do with stability on the road.

Now, I have made the trip to my local scales and measured total weight and axles weights of the truck with the truck full of fuel and passengers (right after a big meal). By my estimates, I will have 470lbs of margin on the GVWR, 227lbs of margin on the front GAWR and 5550lbs of margin on the rear GAWR after I load on the camper and hook up the trailer. You can see the massive margin on the rear axle and not so much on the front (those Cummins diesels are heavy).

I am planning on installing Torklift tiedowns along with the superhitch and supertruss extension for hauling the trailer. But I don't know if I should invest in enhancements to the suspension for a more stable ride. Does anyone out there have any thoughts or experience on my configuration and whether or not airbags or spring enhancements would be required? Based on that huge margin on the rear axle, I wouldn't think airbags or spring enhancements would help much but having no experience in the area I really don't know.

Thanks for any help!
Aqualung

I have a Chev dually. Even with my huge slide-in, it doesn't really sag. It brings the front up a bit. I'm ordering air bags today. That kind of weight might cause spring sag in the future (I had a 1-ton Sportsmobile that weighed in at 10k# and the rears sagged horribly before I had them recurved and added two leaves per side).

Thanks deminimis

It sounds like I should invest in a set of airbags too. I think our trucks are comparable w.r.t. payload capacity and from the looks of things the campers are similar too (once I add in the tongue weight of my trailer). How do you find the stability of the rig when driving down the road without the airbags, do you get a lot of roll on corners or is it noticable? Does the steering feel light?

I'll have a days drive home after I pick up my camper and think that I may want to have the airbags installed before I pick it up.

I have a SunLite slide in (hard side) and tow a 31' TT. I put RideRites in about a year after I added the camper. Couldn't really tell any difference in stability, but the rear end comes up about 2" at 90PSI, so the driveline is a little straighter. And the headlights are aimed better. I even quit using the equalizer bars, still couldn't tell any difference. Weights: Truck, PACs, Camper=10,300 GVW. Add TT: 17,780 GCVW.

The best feature is the built-in compressor. (I have a "Big Red" compressor tucked up above the spare tire.) I ran an extra line out to the back of the truck and put a quick-disconnect there for an airline. Have used it a LOT. Better than screwing around at fuel stops. I usually check everything during lunch at roadside stops. I have enough hose to reach the trailer tires.

I love it.