Another Newbie Seeking Advice, Pop Up Selection
Another Newbie Seeking Advice, Pop Up Selection
ksc8850 |
Dec 27 2009, 07:17 PM
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#1
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 27-December 09 Member No.: 3,595 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Newbie Looking Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '06 Dodge 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Type of Tiedowns used: none Truck and Camper Setup: Super Springs |
I just joined this forum because of your apparent tolerance for Newbies and our never-ending questions.... With that in mind, I am interested in getting some type of pop up slide-in for my 1500 Ram shortbed crew cab.
I understand the gcwr/gvwr issues but am still concerned about setting the truck up right given that I intend to sometimes tow a 3500# boat. I like the idea of having a wet bath and a/c and am curious as to what suggestions you all might have for me. I'm trying not to have to purchase a 3/4 ton truck as I have only 9500 miles on my truck and will likely lose my butt selling/trading it. For what it's worth, I really like the Northstar 850SC but again, am concerned about pushing my limits! Thanks! |
mjfgeology |
Dec 29 2009, 05:24 PM
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#2
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Group: Members Posts: 5 Joined: 4-October 09 Member No.: 3,441 Favorite Truck Camper(s): coachman 9' Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-150 base truck Type of Tiedowns used: custom Truck and Camper Setup: F-150 V-6 Regular Cab With Airbags and modified stake pocket tiedowns run a coachman 8.5 sportsman hydro-pro |
I can tell you from experince that there is some wiggle room with the payload capacity. I run a hard side 9 ft camper on my F150, but you need to know how much your truck really weights, by taking it to a truck scale. My truck is a basic work truck with a V6 auto with the same suspension as the other loaded up V8 versions. With the camper loaded, it sits leavel without adding air the the firestone airbags. The manufactor just does't want to admit that the base model can carry more than any other version of this truck except the Heavy Duty package. But if your truck is loaded down with a bunch of extra options than the payload goes down. Now these slide in pop-ups are made for the 1/2 ton trucks so with the proper airbags you would probably have no problem. But dont exceed the axle rating, which if you add them together will much greater than the GVW. They rate these trucks very conservitivly, because they know that the maxinum payload will likely be the starting point rather than the limit for some owners. Do what I did and; when you look at these campers ask the sales people to put it in the back of your truck so there is no guess work. You will be able to know rightaway if things will work. We put one on my truck that said it was 1875 Ibs. and it really was closer to 3000 Ibs, and imediatly clear that it wouldn't work.
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pjviitas |
Jul 2 2010, 02:21 PM
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#3
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Group: Members Posts: 8 Joined: 20-June 10 Member No.: 4,429 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Ford F-150 Type of Tiedowns used: None Truck and Camper Setup: None yet |
QUOTE(ksc8850 @ Dec 27 2009, 05:17 PM) I just joined this forum because of your apparent tolerance for Newbies and our never-ending questions.... With that in mind, I am interested in getting some type of pop up slide-in for my 1500 Ram shortbed crew cab. I understand the gcwr/gvwr issues but am still concerned about setting the truck up right given that I intend to sometimes tow a 3500# boat. I like the idea of having a wet bath and a/c and am curious as to what suggestions you all might have for me. I'm trying not to have to purchase a 3/4 ton truck as I have only 9500 miles on my truck and will likely lose my butt selling/trading it. For what it's worth, I really like the Northstar 850SC but again, am concerned about pushing my limits! Thanks! Just sent this e-mail out and will quote part of it here. "I have spent quite a bit of time researching truck campers and have concluded that Four Wheel Campers makes the best truck camper for a Ford F-150with a GVWR of 6950lbs. The lighest hard-side camper I can find is an Adventurer 80SK with a Dry Weight of 1360lbs. (The base unit is 1276lbs but you won't find a dealer that stocks a base unit). Loaded up I would be looking at the following numbers: Truck Curb Weight 5043 Remove Tailgate -50 Driver&Passenger 375 Boat Trailer Tongue Weight 75 Camper Dry Weight 1360 Remove Jacks -100 Water 125 Propane 20 Battery 65 Total 6913lbs Which leaves 37lbs for food, gear or beer. So rolling down the highway this camper would essentially void my trucks warranty and probably put me into hot water with ICBC if an accident did happen. Looking at a Four Wheel Campers Grandby optioned the way I like it would give a Dry Weight of 1011lbs. Loaded up I would be looking at the following numbers: Truck Curb Weight 5043 Remove Tailgate -50 Driver&Passenger 375 Boat Trailer Tongue Weight 75 Camper Dry Weight 1011 Remove Jacks-100 Water 184 Propane 20 Battery 65 Total 6623lbs Which leaves 327lbs for food, gear or beer. So rolling down the highway this camper would be nominal. Depending on who you talk to some may say it is ok to overload a pick-up truck by 300lbs and they may be right in the case of a 3/4 ton or a 1 ton however, the semi-floating rear end of a 1/2 ton should NEVER be overloaded because it has a load bearing drive axle. So why don't I go out and buy a 3/4 ton? Becauase they are expensive and they are hard on fuel." Hope this helps. Best Regards, Hedghog |
mitchelj00 |
Nov 10 2010, 01:18 AM
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#4
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 10-November 10 Member No.: 4,953 Favorite Truck Camper(s): adventure Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4 Ford Crew Cab Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac, Happijac with Qwik-Loads, Torklift, Torklift with Fastguns, Custom, None, etc. Truck and Camper Setup: jovial |
Hi all,
The manufactor just does't want to admit that the base model can carry more than any other version of this truck except the Heavy Duty package. But if your truck is loaded down with a bunch of extra options than the payload goes down. Now these slide in pop-ups are made for the 1/2 ton trucks so with the proper airbags you would probably have no problem. But dont exceed the axle rating, which if you add them together will much greater than the GVW. __________________________ Budget Hotels In kanyakumari | Kanyakumari Budget Accommodation | Kanyakumari Tourism |
Dave D. |
Nov 25 2010, 09:01 PM
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#5
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Group: Members Posts: 43 Joined: 25-November 10 Member No.: 5,037 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Looking for Pop-up Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2011 Silverado WT 1/2 ton Type of Tiedowns used: none yet Truck and Camper Setup: Still shopping |
Usually payload specs are for the bare bones model. IE they will tell you the payload is 1,500 lbs. They don't tell you how much the options weight. My 2011 silverado, much like some campers actually states the weight carrying capacity factoring in options on the door post. Even my bare bones (no power windows etc, comes in below the 1800 lb payload by about 50lbs. So someone who buys a 1/2ton extended cab loaded, may only have a 1400 lb payload. I like the comment about the rear axle carrying the weight. Actually a lot of 3/4 Ton trucks also have semi-floating rear axles. You need to look for a big hub protruding out of the centre of the rear axle to be sure. What this means is that there is a set of bearings supporting the load, not an axle stub hanging out past a single bearing.
So having said all that, its still fairly rare to have a axle break (not including a c-clip failure where the hole tire and axle go south. |
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