Hello,
We're looking to join the truck camper world but I'm having trouble understanding how to match truck to camper particulary in regards to payload. At this point we have neither a truck or camper yet, and from the recommendations, selecting the camper first seems to be a better starting place.
From my understanding, a deciding factor for a match is a camper's approximate wet weight compared to a truck's payload capacity, is this the basic rule?
Assuming this is correct, here's an example of my confusion using Lance 825 and Toyota Tundra only as an example (I don't mean to bash a company or anything, just trying to explain the confustion).
On TC Magazine site they list Lance 825:
Dry Weight: 1,755
Wet Weight: 2,640
On Lance's website they list the same dry weight of 1,755 and claim it's light enough to fit on a Toyota Tundra. However the highest payload config for a Tundra I came up with was around 2,090lbs (Regular Cab, 4x2 Tundra Long Bed, 5.7L, V8).
Is this just a case where it's safer not to put that camper on a Tundra?
I guess in short, my question is once you select a camper, is it a 'MUST' to then select a truck that will cover the approximate wet weight?
Or "going by the numbers", do most people exceed the payload limit?
Sorry for the long post...
Many thanks in advance,
Charles
Hi Charles,
I think everyone on this forum understands your confusion from first hand experience they've had at some point. I find that most dealers don't really know or care about the limits etc - they're in it for the sale and its buyer beware.
You're right, A Toyota Tundra is not a good truck for the Lance 825 camper. It all boils down to the truck's GVWR versus all of the cargo in the truck, including the truck's wet weight, passengers, food, camper, water in the camper etc etc etc.
I personaly find the camper manufacturer's are a little mis-leading with regards to what truck will carry thier camper but they always mention the phrase "do not exceed your vehicle's GVWR" which is their CYA.
If you exceed your truck's GVWR and you get in an accident, you just gave your insurance company a legal out. They don't have to cover you since you exceeded your truck's capabilities. You could also be looking at a fine for driving an over-loaded vehicle. With this said, I'm pretty sure most people violate the GVWR by a little (or maybe even a lot). You can add airbags to make the ride better but even the airbag manufacturer states "do not exceed your vehicles GVWR". You'll see this phrase all over the place, everyone is out to cover their butts.
When you calculate the numbers, make sure you include passengers, luggage, food, fresh water in the camper tanks (8.5lbs/gal), turnbuckles, tie downs, any acceesories added to the truck, any accessories add to the camper, fuel in the truck's tanks (8lbs/gal), propane (40lbs)... the list goes on and on and it adds up in a hurry.
When I bought my rig, I bought the truck first and the camper second. I figured I'd get the biggest truck I could and got a Dodge 3500 Dually with a GVWR of 12200lbs. I figured I could carry any camper then, without worry..... Ha!
I then built a spreadsheet comparing the weights of a bunch of campers with accessories and added in the turnbuckles, hitch, tiedowns, water in the tanks etc. Most that I was looking at put me over my truck's GVWR. When it came down to it, the camper I did buy (which weighs just under 3000lbs wet) plus all the other stuff, family included, came in at 72lbs under my truck's GVWR limit. When I hook up my trailer I have to make sure the water tanks in the camper are empty or I'm over the limit. I went to my local weigh scales and measured it all fully loaded so the numbers are accurate. In hind sight i would say selecting the camper first is the better way to go but do the math of both the camper and truck to make sure it all fits before you buy anything.
In the end, (and sorry for the long winded response) to be legal on the road, don't exceed the truck's GVWR. Oh, and there's no easy answer to the question "will this camper fit this truck?"
Hi aqualung,
Thanks for the response and for the GREAT information/explanation! It's actually making sense to me now. You also brought up great points regarding the insurance and legal side of things that I didn't think about.
I'd characterize myself as a conservative person who would error on the side of caution so that helps with matching campers to trucks. Your spreadsheet idea will be useful determining what items will actually be loaded into the camper.
Thanks again for the great insight. This is a great forum with many helpful people.
Regards,
Charles
P.S. Now I can use your information to convince my wife that I need a bigger truck!
I am a truck camper owner I think all the advice she got here it's good but I didn't hear a single person mention the load on the tires the tires to the most critical part of the equation for example on my truck I run 19 and a half inch rims and 19 and a half inch Michelin 16 ply load range H Tires my tires have a carry capacity of almost five thousand pounds apiece at a hundred and twenty pounds of pressure you need to take this into account as well good luck in coming up with the camper of your dreams and a matching truck
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