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Posted by: Bob55 Jul 17 2015, 04:13 AM

Hi, My local Truck dealer has told me never buy a truck camper because it can tip over because it's top heavy and is dangerous. I can see on a single axle truck but not on a dually truck. Have you ever heard of a camper tipping over?

Thanks, Bob

Posted by: dubob Jul 18 2015, 10:20 AM

Nope!

Posted by: Spanky Jul 19 2015, 08:12 PM

I have heard of campers tipping over but not from normal driving.

Posted by: Joemcg Aug 11 2015, 11:19 AM

Off the truck, yes. On the truck, no.
Older ones with hydraulic jacks, particularly those with only 3 hydraulic jacks probably were more prone to it. Certainly it can happen to a current model. The instructions for Atwood jacks specifically warn you not to raise the back of the camper more than the rear and also not to raise one side higher than the other. Either of those conditions could cause a jack to buckle according to their owners manual.
On another forum there was a thread with pictures of a relatively new Lance that had been blown over in snow and wind. It required a 65T crane to right it as I remember. Incredibly the damage appeared relatively minor.
Again this is a bit off topic but I have been in RV Parks where I have been told I could not take the camper off the truck (Oasis RV Park in Las Vegas is an example.) My guess is their insurance company is concerned about just such an occurrence. I think most of it is left over from the days of hydraulics however.

Posted by: rocket75757 Oct 4 2015, 09:32 PM

never heard of one tipping over unless it was a Tornado or some kind of FREAK winds..............

Posted by: 17 Oaks Oct 15 2015, 10:23 AM

I do not believe TC's are top heavy based upon CoG. It DOES raise the CoG of your truck somewhat but most of the weight of a TC is at the lower half, in fact under the floor: 60 gal fresh, 45 black, 45 gray, waters. That is 150 gal capacity of liquid at 8 lbs per gal. Then all the other infrastructure support items, heaters, inverter, house batteries (I just replaced 2, each one weighs about 80 lbs) etc etc.

As for driving, the dynamics change a bit as you get a lot of lateral lean. If you want to fix that then I suggest a set (F/R) of Hellwig, Big Wig sway bars to REALLY flatten out that ride and let you drive it on the back roads like its a rocket ship on rails.

I just did this on my F 350 and was blown away by the stability...

Posted by: CAJones Mar 7 2016, 09:16 AM

Truck campers obviously are extremely top-heavy. But they only tip over when you forget you're hauling a camper while entering a turn. But though they're easier to tip over than a car, it's no need to panic. I don't worry about tipping over because I take it nice and easy. And I would also advise you not drive through heavy winds.

Posted by: spudthegreater Jul 21 2017, 10:50 AM

Ive never seen a truck camper combo flipped over but ive seen more than a few pickup trailer combos on their side, probably because they didnt use anti sway bars hitch receivers... had that issue with a jeep towing a small camper trailer... couldn't go over 45...fish tailed crazy.

Posted by: Chief 2 Jul 22 2017, 06:24 AM

Your local truck dealer doesn't know what he is talking about

Posted by: DWJoyce Jul 22 2017, 03:10 PM

Truck campers are bottom heavy. Even the old ones from the 70s, without grey and black water tanks, have very little structure above the plywood base. I'm rebuilding an old one and have calculated that the part of the camper at or below the bedsides is 70% of the total weight. The only reason it isn't higher is because the cabover has a full sheet of plywood and a few appliances and the propane bottle are above the bed.

That said, the side area is at least twice the side area of the truck by itself. To solve that problem, open the windows if you need to drive in a very strong side wind.

Posted by: SidecarFlip Jul 22 2017, 03:49 PM

Sounds to me like he or she is smoking wacky tabaccy

Posted by: Sidehillsoup Aug 29 2017, 10:01 AM

Your truck dealer is a truck dealer and knows squat about every type of camper on the market.
My Northern Lite 8-11 has a very low centre of gravity because of its fibreglass construction. The three liquid tanks are in the floor and against the truck cab wall. Genatrator storage compartment is truck bed level, the batteries are just above that, and inline with the propane tanks which would be the top of the bed rail.
There is nothing besides a couple of cupboards and the fridge freezer that are above the roof of the truck.
Nothing top heavy here.

Soup

Posted by: 17 Oaks Aug 29 2017, 10:52 AM

Soup you are pretty much spot on.

Certainly a TC raises the CoG, but as Soup said, the serious weight is under the floor in the liquid tanks.

Yes you can flip a TC over as you are driving...ITS NOT A CORVETTE FOLKS! It won't pull 1 G around a corner and remain upright, but your truck won't either.

Common sense, proper modifications to your truck to increase its safety envelope and handling should be in order [Rear sway bar oversize, improved shocks and slightly taller spring contacts on the rear springs]...for my truck this means: Hellwig Big Wig swaybar, Rancho 9000 XL adjustable shocks and StableLoad spring bumpers.