Stable setup?, 1998 3500 DRW 12V 5 speed w/3500lb TC
| alittlesideways |
 Feb 15 2015, 07:56 PM
Post
#1
|
 Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 15-February 15 Member No.: 7,979 Favorite Truck Camper(s): S&S Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 98 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Single Cab Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift Truck and Camper Setup: 98 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Single Cab, 2004 S & S Ponderosa Series M-11-DB .Rear Firestone airbags.  |
Hello Truck camper forum..
I just bought a truck camper (2004 S & S Ponderosa Series M-11-DB ) a deal I could not turn away. It is Heavy around 3600lbs loaded with water, 60 gal of propane for the generator, quality truck camper I must say, cant wait to use it to go fishing... the truck( 98 12v Single Cab, 8ft bed 2wd with 130K) has air bags, and stock moog front springs. I put about 70 psi in all 6 tires and both Firestone airbags to 70psi , the truck feels a little wobbly at high speed (65 +) and over bumps in town, but I'm getting used to it, got 16 mpg hauling it home from PA in 40mph headwind, and it pulls like almost not loaded. ( < Buying a SuperhHitch with 48in extension to tow my 12ft trailer(Dreaming).>) Should I buy a club cab 4x4 ? Duramax club cab 4x4? or any upgrades like heavy duty front springs, front air bags ? Blistens ? Rear end Mods besides airbags on my 2wd? Is it Normal to have a camper this size with a 2wd and possible towing? Always have a failed ball joint in the back of my mind.. I had a 39ft toy hauler 10K. I owned and towed with this same truck and it did fine... I have a good bit of $ in this truck, has banks twin intake and banks turbo kit, other than that stock and new front end parts, new standard gear and trans 5 speed upgraded , Double disk south bend clutch, new rear.. List goes on.. Any input from other truck camper owners over 3000Lbs about how there rig drives would be great? I just want input before i dump more cash into the truck , Pacbrake, Front and rear Hitch..Etc..There is pic of Rig in my avatar .   |
   |
 
|
   |
Replies
| SidecarFlip |
Jul 5 2017, 12:05 PM
Post
#2
|
|
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 |
I run the stock sway bar on my F350 but with custom disconnect links (front and back) I broke a couple links running off road so I made up a set of disconnects. Heavy duty sway bars limit the articulation of the axles quite a bit.
|
|
|
|
| Chief 2 |
Jul 6 2017, 06:44 AM
Post
#3
|
|
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 |
QUOTE(SidecarFlip @ Jul 5 2017, 12:05 PM) I run the stock sway bar on my F350 but with custom disconnect links (front and back) I broke a couple links running off road so I made up a set of disconnects. Heavy duty sway bars limit the articulation of the axles quite a bit.  They also help considerably with body roll when travelling on normal roads. |
|
|
|
| DWJoyce |
Jul 6 2017, 08:04 PM
Post
#4
|
|
Group: Members Posts: 14 Joined: 8-May 17 Member No.: 9,537 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '66 Chevy K10 Type of Tiedowns used: Don't know Truck and Camper Setup: 8' cabover with helper strings on the rear of the truck. In the process of rebuilding an old camper with rotten floors and a leaking roof. Will add a toilet and shower and replace the icebox with a refrigerator. |
If you have wood rot and can do woodworking the fix is inexpensive but time consuming. I was given a 1980 cabover camper with nearly perfect siding and windows. When I put it on the truck it nearly fell apart. I've replaced the entire base and most of the wood for about $300 in wood, screws, glue, and something like 100 hours so far. If it didn't enjoy this kind of work I would have just sold the windows and siding and taken the rest to the dump.
In other words: the outside can look great, but the inside can be completely rotted and useless. I'll post a few photos of my project. |
|
|
|
Posts in this topic
alittlesideways Stable setup? Feb 15 2015, 07:56 PM
Electric Don Have you checked the numbers, i.e. GVWR minus curb... Feb 16 2015, 02:53 PM Rapid
I have a much heavier truck camper that I use s... Jul 4 2017, 09:45 PM SidecarFlip Interesting camper. My question is of course, did... Jul 4 2017, 10:02 PM Chief 2 Increase your tire pressure to 80 psi. and see if ... Jul 5 2017, 05:22 AM
SidecarFlip
No doubt. Can look like a 'silk purse' ... Jul 7 2017, 09:49 PM DWJoyce
I'm now at the point where I'm putting t... Jul 22 2017, 03:50 PM SidecarFlip
I still use butyl tape in some applications (lik... Jul 23 2017, 12:45 PM wintertree We are on our 3rd truck camper rig.....This spans ... Jan 31 2018, 06:23 PM SidecarFlip That's a fair statement to a point and that po... Feb 2 2018, 08:14 PM wintertree Its what ever floats your boat....The pal SS1500 i... Feb 3 2018, 08:37 PM SidecarFlip I went down your road with a 4 season Lance and so... Feb 4 2018, 03:54 PM |
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 14th May 2024 - 08:08 PM |