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> Discrepancy in camper dry weight and advised truck, Looking at dry weight specs and payload

bbobich
post Jan 30 2012, 12:18 AM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 7-December 11
Member No.: 5,757
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Eagle Cap, Lance, Adventurer
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: GMC Sierra 2500
Type of Tiedowns used: None
Truck and Camper Setup: Unfortunately none yet



Are the dry weight numbers that manufacturers (like Lance) put on their website for a camper with all the features, or are they for a minimally featured camper? The reason I'm asking is that I've been planning on getting a 3/4 ton truck, but payload specs for my truck would be around 3300 pounds. If you add passengers plus supplies on many of Lance's campers listed for 2500 series trucks, it would be very easy to topple the payload capacity of the truck. While I'd guess the truck can probably still handle this fine (as I'm sure lots of people don't pay attention to this and get away with it), it's a ticket-able thing especially if I get in an accident while over-weight. What's the deal with the discrepancy between the dry weight/truck recommendation on the Lance site and the weight people would actually put into a truck/camper?

From what it looks like to me, on the lance website all their long bed truck campers larger than the 850 should be used with 3500 series trucks if 4 adults/wet weight were actually added to the mix. Yet, the website says that only the Lance 1181 and up need a 3500 series truck.
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aqualung
post Jan 30 2012, 08:50 AM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 3-February 10
Member No.: 3,725
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer 90FWS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 3500 Dually Quadcab 4x4 6.7L Cummins
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2008 Adventurer 90FWS Torklift Tiedowns with SuperHitch and SuperTruss Firestone Air Bags Torklift Load Stabilizers Fastgun Turnbuckles



The weights posted are usually dry weight for the base model (i.e. no options) but check with the manufacturer to be sure. Some post a base dry weight and the wet weight with all options installed. There is usually a sticker inside the camper that posts the actual weight as the camper ships but even this does not include cargo and water in the tanks.

Yes, it all adds up. I have a dually and with passengers, cargo and the water tanks full (fresh and hot water) I'm just below my GVWR. And I went with a lighter camper model with no slides. Don't forget to include the weight of turnbuckles and tie downs and the weight of fuel in your truck. You can subtract the weight of the truck's tailgate and tonneau cover (if it has one) since these will be removed to put the camper on.

To figure out wet weight use 8.35lbs for each gallon of fresh water. As for cargo, thats much more difficult to estimate. Some manufacturer's websites will have weights for the options they have too.

Yes, be careful and don't believe what you see on the websites. Most have a disclaimer putting the responsibility of staying within the truck's capacity squarely on the buyer's shoulders. Do as you're doing and use the posted weights to figure out what really fits your truck.
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bbobich
post Feb 1 2012, 12:36 AM
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Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 7-December 11
Member No.: 5,757
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Eagle Cap, Lance, Adventurer
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: GMC Sierra 2500
Type of Tiedowns used: None
Truck and Camper Setup: Unfortunately none yet



QUOTE(aqualung @ Jan 30 2012, 06:50 AM)
The weights posted are usually dry weight for the base model (i.e. no options) but check with the manufacturer to be sure. Some post a base dry weight and the wet weight with all options installed. There is usually a sticker inside the camper that posts the actual weight as the camper ships but even this does not include cargo and water in the tanks.

Yes, it all adds up. I have a dually and with passengers, cargo and the water tanks full (fresh and hot water) I'm just below my GVWR. And I went with a lighter camper model with no slides. Don't forget to include the weight of turnbuckles and tie downs and the weight of fuel in your truck. You can subtract the weight of the truck's tailgate and tonneau cover (if it has one) since these will be removed to put the camper on.

To figure out wet weight use 8.35lbs for each gallon of fresh water. As for cargo, thats much more difficult to estimate. Some manufacturer's websites will have weights for the options they have too.

Yes, be careful and don't believe what you see on the websites. Most have a disclaimer putting the responsibility of staying within the truck's capacity squarely on the buyer's shoulders. Do as you're doing and use the posted weights to figure out what really fits your truck.
*




Thank you. I think I'll have to check with the manufacturer to be sure.
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wirenut
post Feb 5 2012, 02:17 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '05 Chevy crew cab dually 4 x 4
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac turnbuckles, D rings in the flat bed
Truck and Camper Setup: I have a custom aluminum flatbed on my '05 Chevy crew cab dually. It has tool boxes above and below the bed. I carry my '03 Fleetwood 11x side entry camper. I also tow my 20' Larson boat behind.



I would be skeptical of listed camper weights AND listed truck payload capacities. My camper's data plate says it weighs 3,100 when loaded with water and LP. It's more like 4,000.
The payload manufacturers give for their trucks are usually based on a stripped down, 2 wheel drive, reg. cab with a gas engine. If this is the type of truck you intend to buy, fine. If, like most people, you want power everything, 4 x 4, a crew cab, and a diesel, you will have much less payload.
Since you already know you want a truck camper I would skip the 3/4 ton truck and get a 3500 series. You will gain several pounds of extra payload.
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