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Posted by: camperguy26 May 8 2012, 08:30 PM

Hello I am considering buying a 198? 8ft viking truck camper that weighs 1100lbs (not sure if that is wet or dry)?
my truck is a 2007 dodge ram 1500 slt. from what i can tell the payload capacity is between 1260-1362 depending on gearing which i am still trying to figure out.

So loaded up I will probly excede payload but not by much. Is this exceptable or will I need pricey suspension upgrades? also my tires are only 2ply will i need to upgrade if so what too?

Posted by: Electric Don May 9 2012, 07:16 PM

1100 pounds is pretty light for an 8 foot camper; I would double check that number. Also, if your payload is only around 1300 or 1400 pounds you will be up to the allowable limit by just adding two people, without even considering water, propane, food, gear, etc.

If you have a look through the numerous postings on this subject elsewhere in the forum you will get lots of helpful information. This is a topic that is always coming up.

Posted by: CamperArt Dec 11 2012, 08:27 PM

Hi!
Will a new (by my standards) Dodge half ton carry a half ton? I dunno. My Dad's '77 F150 would carry 3000 to 4000 lbs. but was a tad overloaded But she will carry a legit 2500lbs. no problem. My Mom's 1988 Dodge D100 light half-ton is maxed out and dragging at 1200lbs. My guess is that you'd have to upgrade the shocks and tires at a minimum; adding extra leaves to the rear suspension is an option. You used to be able to buy "add-a-leaf" kits from J.C. Whitney's for a few hundred bucks and it'd add a 1000lbs or so to your gvrw. You could swap axles and use a heaver suspension that way. Find a D250 in the junk yard and swap the axles. You'd need to unbolt the long u-bolts to loosen the axles and unbolt the shock mounts. It'll roll out and you just reverse it to put it under your truck. The hard part is securely supporting the trucks while you remove and remount the axles. Of course, you also have to detach and reattach your driveshaft from the front of the differental. Good luck!

Posted by: Sailor Dave Dec 12 2012, 12:08 PM

Youi may want to start at the begining. Check the sticker on the door column or in the glove box and get the GVWR of the truck.

Then take the totally empty truck to a CAT scale and fill the fuel tank before you weigh it. Subtract your body weight from the total weight and you will have an accurate curb weight of the truck.

Then subtract the curb weight from the GVWR and you have an accurate load capacity.

Also note your front and rear axle ratings which you wil have to stay within.

D

Posted by: Oscar Jan 24 2013, 08:16 AM

Probably not.

The following may not be exceeded:

GVWR......Gross Vehicle Weight Rating......Usually a sticker on the door.
Truck, camper, people, ALL the stuff. Period.

GAWR Gross axle weight ratings, front and rear. Same sticker.

Then, depending on year of truck there may be the following:

A sticker that lists tire pressure and states that the "Combined weight of people and cargo shall not exceed XXXX" Related to the max weight rating of the tires, if the right ones are installed. Check the sidewalls for the tire weight rating.

A sticker that states the CWR Cargo Weight Rating. The maximum amount of stuff you can put in the bed of the truck. Mine's in the glove compartment.

Sooooo, after you find all these numbers and allow for the TC WET, (as in with all the stuff, water, propane, cans of beans, beer, etc etc) and add in some people, dogs, and some more stuff in the truck cab and you still think that it will fit, I would recommend making the sale contingent on you weighing your empty truck, then loading the thing up, and going back to the scales and verifying it's weight.

That is, IF you want to be legal.

Posted by: kampli100 Feb 23 2013, 08:34 AM

Hello Don,No doubt 1100 pounds is pretty one its pay load is also superb and under the common person buy this model easily.Don did you have experience of that truck??if you have then what is the position of the engine.?How much oil is burn to cover the distance of 1 mile?

Posted by: Aliraza521 Jan 15 2016, 01:38 AM

You'd need to unbolt the long u-bolts to loosen the axles and unbolt the shock mounts. It'll roll out and you just reverse it to put it under your truck.????

Posted by: twilliams Jun 26 2016, 11:06 AM

hi I have a 1998 dodge ram 1500 4x4 short box . I have a loanstar camper it weighs about 1400 #. I have 2 ply tiers and rear air bags.it seams to do the lob well