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Posted by: bobinyelm Feb 10 2010, 01:32 PM

I am looking for a 10ft slide-in camper, and a 2001 Lance 1061 has come on the market.

The only thing is it seems AWFULLY heavy for a slide-in to me, weighing 3200 pounds (not sure if that's empty weight).

I have a decent truck (2003 Dodge quad cab Cummins 3500 6spd manual dually), but to put over 2000 pound in the bed seems like it would be an overload.

Do you need an F-450 or F-550 for such campers, or will my "wimpy" 1-ton do the job w/ enough power and stability to be safe on the highways, and maybe be able to still pull a boat trailer or flat-towed Jeep or the like?

Bob

Posted by: silver fox Mar 13 2010, 04:03 PM

check with Dodge to see what the "pay load" for the truck is, dealer should be able to help you, Dave

Posted by: bobinyelm Mar 13 2010, 05:29 PM

By the manufacturer, it's 4600 pounds, but subjectively, like I said, anything in a pick-up over 2000 pounds (a ton) seems like a LOT of weight to me, regardless of what the manufacturer says for good handling.

Bob

Posted by: uscoast21 May 2 2010, 11:27 PM

i have an 03 dodge 2500 hemi that my lance 9.5 that weighs in at 3100 fully loaded handles just fine with about 60 lbs of air pressure in my rear air bags.

Posted by: akasurf14 Sep 17 2010, 12:35 AM

I could not believe what I read! You mentioned selling your Dodge Cummins for a Ford Powerstroke! You would give up the Best Diesel you could ever buy, for the Worst Ones ever made? They don't call them "PowerJokes" for nothing. your Dodge can handle the load I am sure. Check out the specs on the 2010 Ram Cummins 3500 if you want to trade. If I am not mistaken it is rated at over 5,000 lbs. I have an 03' 3500 and I am not worried about putting 3,000 lbs on her.
It is comments like this that give an old guy heart attacks!!

Posted by: aqualung Sep 18 2010, 12:29 PM

I have a similar truck and put a 3000lb Adventurer Camper on it. Once fully loaded with water, cargo fuel passengers etc its a total payload over 4000lbs. I did add some torklift Stable Loads plus some airbags to stop side to side roll but other than that there are no issues. Now I wouldn't take corners at high speed but with this arrangement the truck performs great. With airbags empty the rear of the truck squats 3 inches, but that is levelled out with air in the airbags.

Posted by: LindaH Sep 18 2010, 05:46 PM

Yes, that is most likely dry weight. 3,200# dry weight for a 10' slide-in camper isn't unusual.

You can always load up your truck like it would be for any trip with a full tank of fuel, all the people and gear that will normally be loaded into the cab and run it down to the local scales to get it weighed. Subtract this "real life" weight from your truck's GVWR and that will give you the maximum amount of LOADED truck camper you can carry without going over any of the truck's ratings.

We have a 2007 Dodge 3500 with the Cummins and duallies, extended cab and carry an Eagle Cap 950. Last year we spent 4 months traveling with the camper and stopped at one of the closed Oregon weigh stations to weigh it. Our total weight (full tank of fuel, full fresh water tank, and all the supplies we were carrying for that 4-month trip) was 12,450#. The GVWR of the truck is 11,500#, so we were 950# over that amount. However, we were well below both the front and rear GAWR's: Front GAWR = 4,750#, we were 4,600#; Rear GAWR = 9,350#, we were 7,850#. The truck handles the weight just fine and we don't have anything added to it except the http://www.amtechsprings.net/portal/.

Posted by: drjay Oct 9 2010, 09:02 PM

I have an okanagan 90w in my 2008 dodge 3500 srw shortbox. Okanagan has this camper at 2300lbs dry weight I weighed it at the truck stop camper on then camper off i have it at 3300 lbs dry. I have done some mods to the suspension on my truck but the only real concern i have is the tires. I am going to upgrade to 19.5 rims and tires asap. you having a dually should have no problems reason being is your limiting factor on payload is usually your tires. Ive driven this setup in some nasty cross winds and across the midwest and get along just fine.

Posted by: 1STGENFARMBOY Oct 27 2010, 11:40 AM

I have a 93 W250 dodge with a 2003 lance 1071 that tips the scales at 3,600 dry, so i'm shure it's 4,000 loaded, and my truck handles it fine with a set of overload springs, but like stated above i wouldn't take corners at hi-speed,



Dar

Posted by: akasurf14 Nov 19 2010, 06:56 PM

With regards to the GAWR. I am being told that this has no bearing on the weight carried. It is the GVWR that matters. Not that I agree with this, and I really don't understand why they would have a GAWR, yet it doesn't have anything to do with the the Payload! This is very confusing!

Posted by: RedneckExpress Nov 19 2010, 08:02 PM

GAWR is the number you MUST Stay under to prevent damage to axle and drive line components.

GVWR is the finalized number that the OEM manufacturer chose based on several different criteria (Though the factory original tire size has been noted as a recurring on several years of Ford Model Truck), this number can be exceeded within reason, most times without really noticing any major change in handling other than perhaps accelerated wear and tear.

Then there's those of us that have kinda just gone off the deep end. For example, my GVWR is 8500, I weight closer to 10,000.

I'm currently in the process of doing an axle swap on my truck since the only major difference between a 92 W250 and W350 was the leaf spring pack (Which you got on the rear with the Heavy Duty package on the 3/4 ton gasser) and the axles used.

Dodge used a fiberglass little fender extension that attached to the edge of the bed's wheel well to extend out over the second tire, so converting it is actually rather easy.

I've already obtained a Spicer 70 Dually axle for the swap and a set of appropriate dually rims for the period, just need to get the fenders and add the running lights once I start the swap.

You can see the fender style I'm talking about here:

Posted by: 1STGENFARMBOY Dec 7 2010, 03:05 PM

1st gen 350's came with a D80 rear.

Posted by: MooringProduct May 6 2011, 03:56 PM

Im a proud owner of an 03 F250 with a Powerjoke 6.0. You may have the mighty Cummins engine but the rest of the truck is nothing to beat your chest about.

Here is a video to show you. (You can see my Torque lifts in the back)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh4puTT-4Rs

Posted by: 90reddodge Jun 17 2011, 09:09 AM

I am looking for support from owners similar to my 1990 dodge 250 with cummins. I am looking at a Lance 1010 @ 2894 on data plate. As you would know the GVWR is 8510 and my truck weighs about 5100 with half tank gas. Passengers and gear will take it over the GVWR.
Can you provide your input to this being an adequate rig. The truck is stock with no helpers.
Thanks

Posted by: jeniD4u Jun 30 2011, 04:36 AM

I would suggest you, not to go for your plans cause your truck may not support the campers which you are dreaming for.The weight will be too much also dodge updation to such a level can harm your truck too.So it's better you leave your plans for now ,wait for sometime and than go for a new one rather than wasting your money on modification.

Posted by: bela374 Jun 22 2013, 06:01 AM

I'm currently in the process of doing an axle swap on my truck since the only major difference between a 92 W250 and W350 was the leaf spring pack (Which you got on the rear with the Heavy Duty package on the 3/4 ton gasser) and the axles used.

Posted by: fatboy Nov 23 2013, 09:47 PM

Personally, I wouldn't ask anyone about what they might carry. I'd look at the door pillar sticker, read the payload capacity and figure things out for myself. Whatever changes you might make to the truck to increase capacity ... you still can't get the manufacturer to change the sticker. And that is the certified payload which may cause you grief later if it becomes an issue. Your decision shouldn't be based on internet advice. And sure you can toss things like tail gate, rear seat, ranch bumpers and spare tire to get your truck weight down. For me ... axle weight ratings and gross vehicle weight ratings are what is important. I'd have no problem exceeding payload as long as I didn't exceed those other ratings. Yeah, I'd have a problem exceeding the GVWR and GAWR. My choice though.

Everything about your particular truck effects its payload. If you have a diesel your probably 6-700 lbs heavier than a gas equivalent. If you have heavy ranch bumpers your adding more weight. Even the trim level changes the weight of your truck. And the heavier your truck the less it can carry because the payload is GVWR minus GVW. The point I am making is that your truck and all its options are calculated into the door pillar sticker. If you already own the truck then simply run to the nearest CAT scale and weigh your truck and do the math. Can't argue with that. My truck is similar to others but still different. Yours is too. Weigh it with any changes you make. Like say you decide to toss the tail gate, receiver hitch, spare tire, rear seat and ranch bumpers to lower the GVW and increase its payload.

The formula I keep running into is: Camper dry weight +1000lbs < your payload

Man if your lucky enough to know all this before buying a truck you can compare payloads when you make your truck purchase. I was dumber than I am today ... if thats possible ... and didn't think to look at the door pillar. So, I've got a truck with a 2337 lb payload. However, I absolutely love the truck and will make some informed decisions when kitting it out. Its all good.

Wait .. didn't I just say forget about internet advice?

-FB

Posted by: Turbotexas Nov 24 2014, 09:38 AM

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_f3CAnH7WIM

Posted by: bobinyelm Nov 24 2014, 10:49 AM

Call me a wimp, but after a year with an 11'6" 3000 lb dry (+accessories) Lance I loved on my '03 Cummins QC 3500 LB dually with torque lift steady loads and air bags and Rancho 9000x shocks, flat towing Samurai , I found that power w/ my 6spd was not an issue.

I moved down to a Big Foot 2000 pound 9.5' and while the difference is difficult to quantify, but it's so much more relaxed and the ride is more stable and smooth. I can't say I notice a power difference, and my mpg only went up from 16 to not quite 18 mpg towing my 3300 pound Casita TT.

I would not go back to the heavier camper for the minimal difference in use-value to me.

For ME it's not what my truck WILL do, it's what it's most comfortable doing, and makes ME comfortable while doing it.

Posted by: bobinyelm Nov 24 2014, 11:41 AM

I would also add...

I spoke with Grant at Big Foot Industries about the heavier 2500 Series campers, and he said he didn't recommend them on any Dodge (even the dually), since Dodges seem to unable to carry weight like Fords and Chevies. He said they are good trucks, but just are not rated for the weight that the other trucks easily carry (he linked me to a GW table of the 3 brand trucks).

That said, I LIKE my 6spd 2003 Dodge 3500 Dually QC a lot, and I Love the Cumming 5.9 CRD, but I guess they are just not rated load-wise for the work a Ford or Chevy will do and stay w/in their ratings.

On the other hand, friends with Fords w/ OTHER than the 7.3 liter engine (I had a 7.3 and it was a great engine), and those with the GMs Japanese diesel have all had engine problems along the way.

So I am fine having my "wimpy" Dodge Chassis with the pleasurable drivetrain. In 5 years, nothing about the chassis/body/electrical accessories has given even a moment's trouble. Others complain Dodge is poorly put together, but mine's been bullet-proof and comfortable.

They ALL have their good points, but the factory ratings of the Dodges are clearly inferior to their competitors.

Posted by: Jeeper4life Nov 30 2014, 04:30 PM

I have a 99 7.3 powerstroke that is an amazing truck! It hauls a big load and tows my boat.
It always cracks me up when people always talk smack about power strokes when they don't know all the facts. Average rebuild of a 7.3 is 380,000 miles, and that's if you don't take care of them. As far as weight capacity my truck is rated at 9900 lbs. I haul a 2014 arctic fox 811 and tow my 25 foot chapparal boat behind it at 70 mph cruise set. It works well. Everyone should be proud of their trucks because they all serve their purpose.

Posted by: systemlcp May 8 2015, 10:24 AM

I did search and found some info but not quite what I needed so sorry if this post/question is redundant. I have a 96 dodge 2500 cummins 2wd SRW long bed with air bags on the back and E1 16" tires rated for about 3k lbs. Trying to figure out how much camper I can get away with. Most the ones I like are around 3k lbs but I'm getting the impression that would be a rough ride and or dangerous. The two I was looking at are Lance 990 and 980, someone let me know if I'm dumb for looking at those.

Posted by: JPR Ram May 12 2015, 01:18 PM

Your '96 will do fine with a 3000 lbs. camper. I ran a 3200 lbs. S&S camper with my 2000 Ram2500 QC LB SRW CTD for over 6 years with zero issues. Be sure to check the actual max load amount for your "E" rated tires. Make sure what ever your rear axle weight is that it doesn't exceed what the two rear tires are rated for. I also run air bags to help level the load out. And remember to never "over drive" your truck when loaded.

My current camper is a Lance 1121 that weighs in at 4200 lbs. loaded with all water and gear. And I'm still using the same 2000 CTD, and it pulls the weight better than fine. Although I'm in the process of up grading to 19.5 Rickson wheels and tires.