I just bought a 1997 350 dually 7.3 n a 2005 1161 lance there BOTH IMMACULATE SHAPE!.. I sold my brand new RAM after I found this old truck n realized my ram was JUNK!..... CANT WAIT TO HIT THE TRAILS!
We switched from a Pick-Up truck for the TC to a Cab and Chassis truck for the TC. We then made a custom bed mounted on the back (a Knapheide body) to fit the TC. All the storage you need, a frame that can carry the weight and we have lots of GVWR to spare. Explore your options. Safe Travels and Happy Camping.
I like that approach! Was thinking of an aluminum set up like that on a 4500 or 5500 chassis! Or even for a single rear wheel 3500 and lighter campers. The storage doors would be so practical for things like camp chairs. Tools, propane, grill, emergency stuff, etc.
Thanks to you two for addressing the elephant in the room. Many people are oblivious to how much TC's actually weigh. Unfortunately, the overweight problem is not limited just to TC's. It is also common in travel trailers, 5th wheels, and motorhomes.
yup, and then the guy selling the used 11’ camper says, “oh sure your truck can handle sir. Just get air bags for your 3/4 ton truck and you’re all set”. L.O.L. 😂
Great video! Thanks for posting. We did the same thing when we bought our truck camper to find out that the GVWR wasn’t enough for our setup. We were almost 2,000 lbs overweight. We have on order a Chevy 5500 HD crew 4x4 cab and chassis. We are going to go the flatbed route for the extra storage and ease of putting the camper on. Be safe and thanks again for this video.
Hi Todd. Just wanted to say your weights are correct. My bigfoot 10.6. Weight is 4200 lbs. Fully loaded Weight is 5200 lbs with 50 gals fresh water. So I changed trucks. Just bought a new 3500 ,6.4 hemi. Payload on this truck is 7100 lbs. Not a diesel but gets the job done. Take care and be safe. Kd
Hey Kenneth, Thanks for the Bigfoot weight confirmation. Sounds like you're riding heavy too. It also sounds like you got a nice 3500 truck with a lot of payload capacity. Those 6.4L Hemi's are great motors. Very cool, I'm sure it will work great. Safe travels and thanks for watching!
I put a 10.6e on an F250 with overloads, 10 plys, and air bags. I was still scared shitless every time I drove it. It's the Achilles heel of the Bigfoots.
I have a little Milwaukie tool bag with what I think I might need, and after watching you, I found out it weights close to 45lb. Might need to take out some of the larger tools.
It’s time for a trailer to pull behind truck. That’s what I do. You put all the extras in trailer and lighten up on the truck. The trick is to get a small trailer you can manipulate yourself in case you get into a tight spot.
We are in the same boat. We have ‘14 GMC DRW and a 9ft Arctic Fox, we are 237 pounds over the 13,000 GVWR of the truck with no extras In western Canada, we are not aloud to be over the GVWR, and DOT checks. Great video.
That is what happened to me, 2019 Ram 3500 (GVW 16000 lbs. on sticker). thought I had no problem. Camper tag said 3900 lbs. Well loaded up for a road trip and weighted it. I was 16,140 lbs. Turns out camper actually (as is) weighted 4500 lbs. (Artic Fox 1150). Ended up buying 2012 Ram 5500 flatbed crew cab (GVW 19500). Now with camper on the Ram 5500 truck, I'm at 15340 before water (+240 lbs). Wife can load all the, dishes, pots & pans, rocks and driftwood she wants.
If you mount your camper on a flat bed trailer it really works great enclose below front cap with door or storage work bench, bikes.Install diamond plate tool boxes under camper sides = tools cooking drop down doors = counters for cooking, tools, entertainment TV etc at right height. Can even put piano hinge rear deck. You can tow this all no problem !!!!
Hi guys. We just received our new truck camper, Lance 960 in Dec 2021. We put it on our new truck, RAM 3500 Gas 6.4 and still need to weigh the whole rig. Great advice and your videos helped me and my wife when we were deciding what rig to get. One big factor for us to lower the weight was to get a gas engine. The diesel is much heavier and takes away about 500 lbs of payload. This video has motivated us to get it weighed ASAP. Thanks and good luck to you both. Yves in Canada
It sounds like you have a nice set up with your Lance and Ram truck. The 6.4 gas was a good choice to save payload. Thanks for watching and safe travels!
Hi William Landry, Yeah the weight doesn't bother my truck at all however if we're fully loaded and pulling a trailer we could get over 15k gvwr I'm sure. I do love my Ram though. Thanks for watching!
Todd, sent you note last week, I have weighed and my arctic fox 996 was 15,200 loaded with 57 gallons of water on the way to camp. Our 996 says it’s 3900 pounds but 5500 pounds full water and gear. Ram 2020 3500 was 9260 pounds. I’m not over the axles but 1000 pounds over gvwr. Arctic fox fine print shows what they don’t weigh for example a/c And 600 pounds of mandatory stuff. That’s why I inquired about your last video on the flatbed flatbed. I guess bigger truck…hmmm I think 5500 would be the only way that you wouldn’t be over weight. Thanks for the videos. Kelly
Hey Kelly, Sounds like you had the same problem as us. Seems like many campers are way over weight from what the numbers say. I've always heard their at least 500 lbs over what they say. I would like bigger truck but their taller and I can't get them in the garage with the camper on. Not sure what I'll do, if anything. Thanks again for watching. ~ Todd
No matter what you add for safety and handling you can not change your gross vehicle weight. Please consider your liability if you are in an accident. Excellent video! Thank you.
Thank you! With a CDL license I am constantly aware of GVWR, our 1st class A was so over weight. If in an accident this is more important than most realize. Thank you for pointing out its importance!!
Our first motorhome was a brand new 23 ft 1987 Class C Holiday Rambler... A quality coach but basically at full gross vehicle weight when we received it from the dealership before we put anything in it, including a roof pod, food, tools, spare parts, camping gear, clothing, kitchen utensils, personal items, sleeping bags, you name it... Added an additional leaf spring to rear suspension to help with the rear end sag and drag... End result was to transfer load to tires and transmission... All of which failed at some point within the ensuing years... Live and learn!...
There is something to be said for a Ford F350 Dually SuperCab w7.3 gas engine. Has the same 14k GVWR as all the other dually trucks but the gas engine and SuperCab configuration weigh less than most and that increases the carrying capacity. I think most of these larger truck campers are in a similar position as you are. Travel safe and have a great 2022.
I think my 03 f350 7.3 has gvw is 11500 , my front axle is 5200 and my rear is 8250 , added together is 13450 . Is adding them up how you are getting the higher numbers than my rating of 11500 ?
I have 2019 Bigfoot 10.4, Ram 3500 Cummins dually ... ready to camp I was 14,040 as a solo fulltimer. Full water, food, propane, empty tanks. O estimated 13,400, oops!I tossed a few things, I'll have to weigh again. With camper off the truck driving a 5500 unloaded would be beyond awful.
14,100 lbs and that is with no water or food. You definitely need that 5500 or f-550 chassis cab. I am surprised your that heavy with no slides. Great video!
It's a juggle for sure. Nice share love that garage. A lot of weight. Nice setup though. You would think dealers could consider having a weigh station. But they might not sell as Many.
I've been planning a custom build with a f350 cab and chassis building my own flatbed and eventually my own camper. When reviewing the weight targets I started to wonder how so many f250s and 2500 could possibly have the payload to support a full size pickup camper, then I realized everyones just oblivious to their weight/the rules
Take both parts of rear seat out the back and bottom will save you 150lb my 05 dullay 4door long bed 4x4 and 5.9 cummins weight is a little over 7400 lb and I put in a 62 gallon fuel tank . And Iam like you I have to have a bunch of tools and on board Gen set and ac paper says I weight says 3200 lbs and it does and 2 Battleborn batteries which weighs 37 lb a piece and that is half as much as 2 AGM batteries. But the two parts of back seat saved the most !
From my experience, I think most truck campers are over weight. I have owned 3 TC since 2011. A 2011 Lance 855, a 2018 Northern Lite 811 and currently a 2020 Arctic Fox 990. All of them were over the GVWR of the truck. I am currently hauling the AF 990 on a 2018 F350 CC 4x4 diesel dually with a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. During a recent trip I weighed my rig at a CAT scale and it weighed 14,380 lbs. I was under on both of my axle ratings and my tire ratings so I was not concerned. My truck handled the weight just fine. Ideally you would be under your GVWR. I would never suggest exceeding the axle rating or the tire ratings. Good luck on your decision.
Hi Mike, It sounds like so many people are in the same boat with being overweight. Like you, I'm glad at least my rig was under on the axle weights. We'll see what happens. Thanks for watching! ~ Todd
My 2017 Ram 3500 diesel say on the door drivers side combined weight occupancy plus cargo is 5728lbs I have the tow package check your door inside frame not on door 4x4 with tow package can Handel this above truck weight
@@randpamadventures8374 You can never go by sticker numbers, manuals or brochures when it comes to your available/acceptable payload. Only your GVWR minus your total vehicle weight from the scales.
Oh, we feel your pain! We bought a Ram 3500 originally and upgraded to a Ram 5500 (!) when we decided to go full-time in our truck camper. Either that or we would have had to travel without water (not a great idea). But it's unfortunately pretty typical.
You guys know most sewer plants have ( free ) scales , right? Also the scales at weigh stations are for public use-, if they’re open ( just stay out of the way )
I used to work for DOT in my state. I used to hear this question a lot especially with people running trailers. they never judge weight being illegal from gvwr, it is judged but your tires and axle ratings. Whichever is lower. Gvwr is a generic statement made by the manufacturer made for all trucks of that class. 2 door 6 ft box has same gvwr as 4 door long box. That being said a lot of truck camper owners have been switching to 4500 or 5500 series trucks because that 4600lbs is a lot of weight for a 3500 (1 ton)to carry. If I was in your shoes I would sell the 3500 truck and buy a 5500 with a 12 foot flat bed. Have a flat bed camper version built for your truck. If you put a 10 or 12 foot flatbed then you won't need a hitch extension. Everyone I've talked to that has a flat bed camper say they will never go back to a slide in camper. Much more space on the same footprint. Good luck with your choices.
Dont forget about hitch weight if your towing that adds to your gvwr , i had a f250 had to go to a f350 cause i was severely overweight i have the 8.3 big foot short box , my suggestion to anyone buying a camper weigh it before you buy period !
Great video. Nothing like reaching out to the community for some advice. We've had 3 campers and the first one on a 1/2 ton was about 400 lbs over. But we (carefully) drove it for several thousand miles without any problems. Still, I wasn't comfortable with that. We did add air bags though so it rode fine. The second two were vans, and being an ex trucker among other things weighed them right away and both were at the max. Our current View is 9440 -10500 (depending on what we have in it on a MB 350 chassis) with a GVWR of 10200. This is a manufacture (Winnebago) who knows the weights, and they are very aware that you could go over GVWR very easily. If it were me, I'd make sure everything was as safe as possible (e.g. correct pressure in tires etc.) and then keep the rig, but be aware of it's short comings. And in the future, watch your next purchase very carefully. Good luck to you!
I have a 2018 Ram 3500 Dually Mega Cab and an Arctic Fox 811. Loaded and ready to hit the road (full fresh tanks, empty waste) we are just over 14k, about 5500 front axle and about 9200 rear. I'm under my axle ratings, and the factory air suspension (like you have) handles the load with no issues so I'm comfortable with it. I'll eventually add a sway bar just for some extra stability but otherwise it's totally fine. Much better than the SRW I came from, even with the 19.5s that I had put on. I think all of the hardside truck camper people are over weight, just stay under tires/wheels and axles, and you should be fine IMO.
It is what it is and many thanks for posting your results. I'll probably catch some flack for saying this - but fingers crossed, the only thing you can do is to mitigate some of the extra weight by using an add a leaf to each spring pack, airbags, and a beefier rear sway bar. - Stay safe and all the best regards for the new year. -
We pull a 5th wheel and when I see a rig like yours I always wonder what they weigh so I really enjoyed your video and it answered some questions for me. Don't feel bad about the truck weight, I have a F-350 dually and with tools, tool box and extra fuel tank (full) we weigh in at 9640 lbs. At the pin on the 5th wheel we weigh 4020 lbs. so going down the road the truck weighs 13,660 lbs. so we're pretty close. The 5th wheel adds another 17160 lbs. on it's axels so our combined weight is 30,820 lbs. You have a good looking rig by the way!
I weighed my van when I was done with my DIY build. Full tank of gas, fresh water, all my stuff, 2 people. I didn't want to go over max which was 8900#, I was relieved that it was 6900#. I did it on the same kind of scale. It was kinda fun and now I know.
Don't forget to check the tires max weight carrying capacity at their spec out air pressure....You should check for correct tire pressure often....You don't want a blow out with that heavy cab over camper at highway spped....Camper weights are always given in "dry weight" also...
One of the reasons I went with the gasoline engine in my Chevy 3500 HD to haul my Eaglecap 1165 with triple slides. I also tow my Saturn behind and no issues lacking enough power.
A couple points: a) 2003, after a couple years of delivering RecreateVehicles manufacturer-to-dealer and dealer-to-shows, we converted a 1996 Ford CF8000 commercial truck to our concept of an ExpeditionVehicle. GVWR -- 29,000#. Weight across the scale -- 14,000#. Cargo capacity -- around seven ton. . b) On her RecreateVehicle, one of our full-time live-aboard caravan chums wore a front tire. We scaled her rig, each axle, each side, individual tires. This elaborate ballet revealed her driver-side front tire carried nearly double its rating. Looking inside, we found house bank behind the driver seat, tanks under the driver seat, and her pantry of canned goods surrounding the driver. Complicating the issue was her fondness for languishing the afternoon at a good buffet...
I have a 1172 lance with air bags,cab over struts ,stabilizers with a f 350 dully . Your truck camper is lighter than mine .I wouldn’t worry it looks like your truck handles that camper just fine .yes I do need to weigh my camper . I also carry a e bike in front and inflatable kayak. I have been carrying all this weight for yrs and never had a problem .I do not drive over 58 mph .
It's all fine and dandy that you make upgrades to make the rig feel more capable, and they probably haul the camper just fine. But see what happens if you get into an accident. You can do all the upgrades you want but it all comes down to the sticker on the door jam.
Ordered a 5500 because of this issue. Host Mammoth is 4500 dry according to mfr, close to 6800 wet and loaded. I'm shocked they will tell people they can load it on a 3500.
We were going to get a Class B camper but we already had a 4x4 short box, looked into (new) light campers for short box. Lightest weight I found hardtop was a Travel lite 625, nothing fancy but had the basic necessities, no awning, no ladder, no roof rack, no wet bath. Has air conditioner and portapottie in cupboard and 3-way fridge, took out the microwave (off road camp). The manufacturer dry weight is 500lbs under our truck payload. We don't fill the water tank, but carry a gallon of fresh water, fresh water is easy access in Canada. We pack minimal stuff (all light dishes, pots etc), no tools. Installed airbags. Sometime tow a small aluminium boat. Have never weighed it but it does ride well. Still have concerns about weight though, time to weigh it!
Been through a similar experience recently. Definitely eye opening. The manufacturers usually have a recommended camper weight . Mine was inside door of glovebox. That will really blow your mind. Much of is them cover their butts. Cheers
No lie. My 2019 Ford F-450 diesel dually crew cab has a mfg. camper weight rating of only 3,800 pounds.That comes out to a camper made from a cardboard box, and a case of Lite beer.
If it stops good and handles ok then don't worry about it. I haul a lance 850 with a 2016 Silverado 2500 gas and 22 foot rance car trailer with 68 El camino SS and it hauls it fine.
Just an fyi. If you dont require a print out, the DOT scale houses on the interstate or hwy. Can be used with just a digital readout. NO Charge. They are certified regularly.
I had the same problem with my truck and TT! After weighing I had to get a storage space and unpacked about 1/3 of the stuff in my truck and trailer focusing on heaviest stuff first….(ie: Do I really need it? Can I get I buy a lighter version of something?). Ended up ditching a coffee maker for pour over. Unloaded all pots and pans for lightweight camping versions. Removed almost all my books for a Kindle. Etc
Thanks for the vid. Very informative. We just got a Ram 2500 and are planning to use an old '89 Bigfoot 9.5 when pulling an 18' trophy boat. The payload limit on our truck is 3000#. The camper dry is 1800# per sticker. Which seems okay, but things add up quickly. Figure, without camper wet/loaded, we'll be at max. But we definitely need to go to scale to know exactly. Our non-stock tires and wheels are high load rated and we plan to install air coil replacements and timbrens. But we may still have to travel without water until we get where we are going and carry some of heavier items in boat. Thanks again for showing how important it is to understand just how much you are carrying. Be safe. P.s. As for a suggestion, you might think about having a lightweight utility trailer to use (that doesn't need a heavy hitch) and moving your tools, generator, propane tanks, and other heavy stuff to the trailer, which you can still do, even if pulling a heavier utility trailer. Kind of a pain, but should lighten the load.
Super interesting, and kudos to you guys for actually going and weighing it all. Didn't know there was an app; was just looking on line the other day on how to do this. Didn't know there was and app. Thanks.
This is a real eye opener. I have a 2018 25C10.4 and use a GMC gas dually to haul it. Also have a heavy 4 ft. receiver extension, bike rack, and mountain bike sitting way out behind the rear axle. I guess I need to weigh it! The truck does handle remarkably well though right from the factory.
And that is why I have an F450. I Know… it’s de-rated to 14k on the sticker so you don’t need a CDL… but the truck is engineered to have a 17k GVWR. Rear axle is an 11k axle. They really should tell people you need a 450\550 or 4500\5500 with most truck campers. F450 with a Northern Lite 10-2 and we weigh 14100 light load and dry. So about the same.
I don't know about brand new trucks but even recently they use the same Dana 80 in the f350 dually, f450 and f550. but on the axles the brakes and tires/wheels/bolt patteen are where they differences are. My 2006 f350 cab and chassis has a 13kgvw, but the front axle is rated for 6500 and the rear axle 11000
But the frame is a F350 frame and that is why the F450 with a box just a glorified F350 with bigger axles with lower ratings then the F450 chassis truck.
I did exactly what you folks just did when we got our BF10.4. 4260lbs empty on CAT scales and I appear to have the same options you have. I believe my reaction and words were similar, or a little more colorful. I'm doing what you folks are doing - bought Superhitch/Truss and goodies. Sadly, adding even more weight. Glad I put commercial wheel/tires on, among other things... I share the same desire, and can stand to shed some pounds on a more personal level... but that may not do it either... our cat is only 10lbs. Great video, guys!
Hi Eric, Thanks for the info on the weight of your 10.4. That makes me feel a bit better because it I had to guess on the weight of the stuff in our camper I'd think maybe 400 lbs or so. It seems hard to shed much. Sounds like your cat is safe at only 10 lbs. :) Safe travels and thanks for watching!
Yup! I don’t think there is one truck camper set-up out there that is under the gvwr.. 11000 for my Lance 845 with my F250 diesel with a motorcycle on the front hitch. The thing that settles my nerves is that I’m under on each axle weight rating of 6200lb each.
I agree it makes me feel a little better knowing I'm under the axle weight ratings as well. That's cool you bring a motorcycle with you, I'm sure it adds for a lot of extra fun. Safe travels and thanks for watching!
Wow… very eye opening.. we have weighed our rig a couple times and every time I think we are over weight… we typically hang right at the edge. Great video, nice break down of the numbers
I got our truck weighed with my wife and I and a full tank of fuel the last time we were at the landfill. but the rest has been a calculation from the sticker on the camper and weights of stowage. I figure we are 200 - 300 lbs over the GVW of the truck but I guess it could be worse.
There is a outfit in Colorado. They make spring pacs..pass... high quality leaf springs. Contact them with the information you have. They can make a custom set of springs for you to improve the load capability. Along with the ride and ride height. Or...looks like a new truck is in the future... 4500 / 5500. Either way... it's still all in the "load" of stuff...in other words bigger truck /capacity equals a bigger load of more stuff. If you don't need a four door... you can add capacity by dropping to a standard cab or extended cab truck...
empty everything and weight it before putting it back/// get rid of what tools you can do with out// redistribute your items in the camper to even the load
You have been driving the rig this long without any problems . I wouldn't worry about it. It doesn't drive or handle any different now that you know the weight versus before you knew the weight does it?
Thanks for doing this, I actually have a 2021 RAM 3500 basically the same setup. Even thought the RAM platform is a monster i worry about the weight. I want to make sure i am legal and not have to worry about that. For a Camper i was looking at the Palomino 1500, but had concerns about the roof setup. Anyway, thanks for taking the time on this. Stay safe out there...
Had to laugh you guy's, It was like watching my wife and I last summer when we got on the ol' Cat scale for the first time! We about had a fit by how far over weight we were! We had to Change tires on the Ram [2500] and install Tembren rubber/air springs. I was worried about being over on the rear axles and bearings...but long story short, lot's of research and part numbers, part's bin's, [I am a retired Tech] we were able to find out the 2500 and 3500 single rear wheel truck in my case should have the same load capability on axle shaft's, bearings and carrier. The OEM air springs are way over built, kuddo's to dodge for that] but without the leaf springs that you get on the 3500 srw, too soft, so the Tembren's took care of the sway. We did the south west / west US last summer [8900 miles] and all was great! Inspection when we got home show's no problems. I think thankfully these truck's are overbuilt, they must be, they know customers are going to MORE than put them to the test! Stay safe you two! glad to find your site.!
Great video! All of us feel your pain! My first camper was a slide in pop up for a half ton regular cab wich i bought used when i came back from the gulf war. Supposed to weigh 1200 pound pounds but was close to 2100 pounds loaded. Then we had a neat classs c....1996 Scerro Scotty 25....built on a Ram 3500 dually cab and chassis with tbe venerable Cummins 5.9! Set up was awesome but GVWs of duallys back then were at best 11,000. That rig fully loaded was at 13,000! Needless to say i put lots on f money in both rigs to include tires and shocks and sway bars and spring packs and air bagals and you name it. After all that they handled fine BUT i knew i was over weight and it bothered the heck out me! I recently read a great note on a TC forum...the experienced guy said you should figure a truck camper from a reputable manufacturer will weig h more than a 1000 pounds over than published dry weight! And unrepeatable manufacturers may sell campers where you need to figure much more than that. Bottom line is that it is a real eye opening experience.
Hi slmjake, I've heard many people say count on the camper weighting at least 500 lbs over the stated weight but maybe you're right at being loser to 1000 lbs over. Depends on the camper I'm sure. Thank you for your service and thank you for watching!
I wrote a spreadsheet to configure weights for our motorhome. It figures fuel, water, lp. Then weighed each large items and small we take for the spreadsheet. We weighed the motorhome empty for a base, The load it by the spreadsheet. If I can figure out how, i will send it to you if you would like. We live in Dallas GA LOL
Does your 10.4 have generator and two 12v lead acid batteries? This power combo probably contributes around 200 lbs or more to TC weight. Li-ion batteries could save close to 100 lbs, depending on size, while giving more useable amp hours (depth of discharge). If most of your camping is connected to ground power maybe deleting generator, if installed, could free up another 100 or so lbs. Great TH-cam channel!
Hey Rich, That's right if we pulled out our generator that would save us 250 lbs. I think that what it says they weigh online. Lithium batteries would help too. Good ideas! Thanks for watching! ~ Todd
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned you lost 160lbs off of the steer axle with the camper on. That's another conversation truck camper owners love to discuss. You know, the whole center of gravity behind the rear axle. Oh wait, that begins....now
14,000lbs is just truck classification. Classified as a class 3 truck. That has nothing to do with the trucks capabilities. Such as the F450 pickup is still declassified to a class 3 truck. As long as you are not overweight on your tires its good to go. So if your rears are rated at 2910lbs each (or more) x4 for dual application then your rear axle is capable of 11,640 . Fronts in single application should be 3195lbs each ( or more) x2 so that's 6390lbs on the front. For a total of 18,030lbs. Which you're no where close to that. Also although it's good to know, from a legal perspective since it's a recreational vehicle carrier enforcement dosn't actually care what it weighs. Load that thing up it'll be fine.
Truckstops are always a cluster. CAT Scale app works good for me. Always state that you are doing a reweigh after your load is adjusted. It’s a little cheaper.
My truck and masonry trailer comes across gravel pit scale at around 10000 and takes 2 tons of sand no problem. But only so much of that trailer weight is hitch weight. That same 2 tons is too much in bed of truck. 2 tons of sand don't fill bed of truck. Camper suspension is built way lighter than my car hauler trailer too. Camper suspension is usually 3400 leaf springs or lighter per 7000lb axle. That's 14000lbs on camper axles. They figure rest of weight on truck. My trailer has 4000lb leaf springs, shocks, and heavy duty braced spring brackets on 7000lb axles. We had a 5th wheel that towed like crap and split the frame. I love our goose neck toy hauler we got now it tows great.
It might be a good idea to stock the fridge with only lite beer, and nothing else.
I just bought a 1997 350 dually 7.3 n a 2005 1161 lance there BOTH IMMACULATE SHAPE!.. I sold my brand new RAM after I found this old truck n realized my ram was JUNK!..... CANT WAIT TO HIT THE TRAILS!
You could fill the cab and camper full of helium balloons! Thanks for the video.
You guys are great.
I watch a view of your videos every week.And learn more and more.And I had a bigfoot truck camper for twelve , yes
We switched from a Pick-Up truck for the TC to a Cab and Chassis truck for the TC. We then made a custom bed mounted on the back (a Knapheide body) to fit the TC. All the storage you need, a frame that can carry the weight and we have lots of GVWR to spare. Explore your options. Safe Travels and Happy Camping.
I’m certainly thinking about a cab and chassis truck. Sounds like a smart move. We’ll see what happens. Thanks for watching!
I like that approach! Was thinking of an aluminum set up like that on a 4500 or 5500 chassis! Or even for a single rear wheel 3500 and lighter campers. The storage doors would be so practical for things like camp chairs. Tools, propane, grill, emergency stuff, etc.
Thanks to you two for addressing the elephant in the room. Many people are oblivious to how much TC's actually weigh. Unfortunately, the overweight problem is not limited just to TC's. It is also common in travel trailers, 5th wheels, and motorhomes.
yup, and then the guy selling the used 11’ camper says, “oh sure your truck can handle sir. Just get air bags for your 3/4 ton truck and you’re all set”. L.O.L. 😂
@@blueman5924m
Great video! Thanks for posting. We did the same thing when we bought our truck camper to find out that the GVWR wasn’t enough for our setup. We were almost 2,000 lbs overweight. We have on order a Chevy 5500 HD crew 4x4 cab and chassis. We are going to go the flatbed route for the extra storage and ease of putting the camper on. Be safe and thanks again for this video.
Hi John, It sounds like you have a similar problem that we have. A Chevy 5500HD ought to solve that. Nice truck! Safe travels and thanks for watching!
Hi Todd. Just wanted to say your weights are correct. My bigfoot 10.6. Weight is 4200 lbs. Fully loaded Weight is 5200 lbs with 50 gals fresh water. So I changed trucks. Just bought a new 3500 ,6.4 hemi. Payload on this truck is 7100 lbs. Not a diesel but gets the job done. Take care and be safe. Kd
Hey Kenneth, Thanks for the Bigfoot weight confirmation. Sounds like you're riding heavy too. It also sounds like you got a nice 3500 truck with a lot of payload capacity. Those 6.4L Hemi's are great motors. Very cool, I'm sure it will work great. Safe travels and thanks for watching!
I put a 10.6e on an F250 with overloads, 10 plys, and air bags. I was still scared shitless every time I drove it. It's the Achilles heel of the Bigfoots.
@@bob_frazier This camper is geared more for the range of a dually. I learned this the hard way.
@@kennethdiers8103 Well the 1500 series and the 2500 series names lend themselves to a false conclusion, don't they!
@@bob_frazier Yes they do.
I have a little Milwaukie tool bag with what I think I might need, and after watching you, I found out it weights close to 45lb.
Might need to take out some of the larger tools.
It’s time for a trailer to pull behind truck. That’s what I do. You put all the extras in trailer and lighten up on the truck. The trick is to get a small trailer you can manipulate yourself in case you get into a tight spot.
Fascinating and enlightening video. Thanks for sharing. Hope to see ya soon!
We are in the same boat. We have ‘14 GMC DRW and a 9ft Arctic Fox, we are 237 pounds over the 13,000 GVWR of the truck with no extras In western Canada, we are not aloud to be over the GVWR, and DOT checks. Great video.
That is what happened to me, 2019 Ram 3500 (GVW 16000 lbs. on sticker). thought I had no problem. Camper tag said 3900 lbs. Well loaded up for a road trip and weighted it. I was 16,140 lbs. Turns out camper actually (as is) weighted 4500 lbs. (Artic Fox 1150). Ended up buying 2012 Ram 5500 flatbed crew cab (GVW 19500). Now with camper on the Ram 5500 truck, I'm at 15340 before water (+240 lbs). Wife can load all the, dishes, pots & pans, rocks and driftwood she wants.
5500 Limited the answer put aluminum deck on it, no worries. My new longhorn dually going out me over too because all the options I ordered.
If you mount your camper on a flat bed trailer it really works great enclose below front cap with door or storage work bench, bikes.Install diamond plate tool boxes under camper sides = tools cooking drop down doors = counters for cooking, tools, entertainment TV etc at right height. Can even put piano hinge rear deck. You can tow this all no problem !!!!
Bit at that point why not just get a travel trailer or 5th wheel?
Thanks for explaining the scales! Might just have to weigh my vehicle! Carla is gorgeous! Such a lovely smile.
Hi guys. We just received our new truck camper, Lance 960 in Dec 2021. We put it on our new truck, RAM 3500 Gas 6.4 and still need to weigh the whole rig. Great advice and your videos helped me and my wife when we were deciding what rig to get. One big factor for us to lower the weight was to get a gas engine. The diesel is much heavier and takes away about 500 lbs of payload. This video has motivated us to get it weighed ASAP.
Thanks and good luck to you both.
Yves in Canada
It sounds like you have a nice set up with your Lance and Ram truck. The 6.4 gas was a good choice to save payload. Thanks for watching and safe travels!
Your truck is fine. I have and would not hesitate to haul that camper . My ram DRW has 5540 playload.
Hi William Landry, Yeah the weight doesn't bother my truck at all however if we're fully loaded and pulling a trailer we could get over 15k gvwr I'm sure. I do love my Ram though. Thanks for watching!
Todd, sent you note last week, I have weighed and my arctic fox 996 was 15,200 loaded with 57 gallons of water on the way to camp. Our 996 says it’s 3900 pounds but 5500 pounds full water and gear. Ram 2020 3500 was 9260 pounds. I’m not over the axles but 1000 pounds over gvwr. Arctic fox fine print shows what they don’t weigh for example a/c And 600 pounds of mandatory stuff. That’s why I inquired about your last video on the flatbed flatbed. I guess bigger truck…hmmm
I think 5500 would be the only way that you wouldn’t be over weight. Thanks for the videos. Kelly
Hey Kelly, Sounds like you had the same problem as us. Seems like many campers are way over weight from what the numbers say. I've always heard their at least 500 lbs over what they say. I would like bigger truck but their taller and I can't get them in the garage with the camper on. Not sure what I'll do, if anything. Thanks again for watching. ~ Todd
No matter what you add for safety and handling you can not change your gross vehicle weight. Please consider your liability if you are in an accident. Excellent video! Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this. I will now go out and get weighed!
That’s what happens when you have a high trim truck. All them features and accessories pull from your GVWR haha!
Thanks for the video. Interesting how fast things can add up.
Also potable water,grey, and black tank levels. Accounting for 8lbs per gallon.
Thank you! With a CDL license I am constantly aware of GVWR, our 1st class A was so over weight. If in an accident this is more important than most realize. Thank you for pointing out its importance!!
Now find the tire inflation table from your tire manufacturer and adjust preasure for each axle weight. Very important.
Our first motorhome was a brand new 23 ft 1987 Class C Holiday Rambler... A quality coach but basically at full gross vehicle weight when we received it from the dealership before we put anything in it, including a roof pod, food, tools, spare parts, camping gear, clothing, kitchen utensils, personal items, sleeping bags, you name it... Added an additional leaf spring to rear suspension to help with the rear end sag and drag... End result was to transfer load to tires and transmission... All of which failed at some point within the ensuing years... Live and learn!...
There is something to be said for a Ford F350 Dually SuperCab w7.3 gas engine. Has the same 14k GVWR as all the other dually trucks but the gas engine and SuperCab configuration weigh less than most and that increases the carrying capacity. I think most of these larger truck campers are in a similar position as you are. Travel safe and have a great 2022.
Yeah the 7.3 would make a lot of sense here. Give you at least an extra 750 pounds of weight capacity.
My F350 dually Lariat crew cab with the 7.3 has a payload of 6200lbs.
@@ianandrews5988 my Chevy with the 6.0 has a 7059 payload. That's why I went with the gas engine along with other reasons.
I think my 03 f350 7.3 has gvw is 11500 , my front axle is 5200 and my rear is 8250 , added together is 13450 . Is adding them up how you are getting the higher numbers than my rating of 11500 ?
It is a dually crew cab .
I have 2019 Bigfoot 10.4, Ram 3500 Cummins dually ... ready to camp I was 14,040 as a solo fulltimer. Full water, food, propane, empty tanks. O estimated 13,400, oops!I tossed a few things, I'll have to weigh again. With camper off the truck driving a 5500 unloaded would be beyond awful.
14,100 lbs and that is with no water or food. You definitely need that 5500 or f-550 chassis cab. I am surprised your that heavy with no slides. Great video!
Jesus, you have a travel trailer on your trucks back. That is one heavy camper.
2015 Ram CC DRW Laramie...Arctic Fox 1150. 14,500 lbs...2 adults, full fuel and water
It's a juggle for sure. Nice share love that garage. A lot of weight. Nice setup though. You would think dealers could consider having a weigh station. But they might not sell as Many.
I've been planning a custom build with a f350 cab and chassis building my own flatbed and eventually my own camper. When reviewing the weight targets I started to wonder how so many f250s and 2500 could possibly have the payload to support a full size pickup camper, then I realized everyones just oblivious to their weight/the rules
That's right many people don't bother to pay attention. There are lots of overweight rigs out there. Thanks for watching!
Take both parts of rear seat out the back and bottom will save you 150lb my 05 dullay 4door long bed 4x4 and 5.9 cummins weight is a little over 7400 lb and I put in a 62 gallon fuel tank . And Iam like you I have to have a bunch of tools and on board Gen set and ac paper says I weight says 3200 lbs and it does and 2 Battleborn batteries which weighs 37 lb a piece and that is half as much as 2 AGM batteries. But the two parts of back seat saved the most !
If you build a flat bed it has to be alum or you will be heavier than when you started .
From my experience, I think most truck campers are over weight. I have owned 3 TC since 2011. A 2011 Lance 855, a 2018 Northern Lite 811 and currently a 2020 Arctic Fox 990. All of them were over the GVWR of the truck. I am currently hauling the AF 990 on a 2018 F350 CC 4x4 diesel dually with a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. During a recent trip I weighed my rig at a CAT scale and it weighed 14,380 lbs. I was under on both of my axle ratings and my tire ratings so I was not concerned. My truck handled the weight just fine. Ideally you would be under your GVWR. I would never suggest exceeding the axle rating or the tire ratings. Good luck on your decision.
Hi Mike, It sounds like so many people are in the same boat with being overweight. Like you, I'm glad at least my rig was under on the axle weights. We'll see what happens. Thanks for watching! ~ Todd
My 2017 Ram 3500 diesel say on the door drivers side combined weight occupancy plus cargo is 5728lbs I have the tow package check your door inside frame not on door 4x4 with tow package can Handel this above truck weight
@@randpamadventures8374 You can never go by sticker numbers, manuals or brochures when it comes to your available/acceptable payload. Only your GVWR minus your total vehicle weight from the scales.
Oh, we feel your pain! We bought a Ram 3500 originally and upgraded to a Ram 5500 (!) when we decided to go full-time in our truck camper. Either that or we would have had to travel without water (not a great idea). But it's unfortunately pretty typical.
I saw your video a while back about the Sherptek and Ram 5500. Nice setup! Safe travels and Thanks for watching!
You guys know most sewer plants have ( free ) scales , right? Also the scales at weigh stations are for public use-, if they’re open ( just stay out of the way )
Glad to see your actual scaled weights. I too am surprised that your rig is that heavy.
Thanks for providing this data.
Just picked up a 2022 9.6 northern lite on a Ford f350 6.0. I guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Good video
I used to work for DOT in my state. I used to hear this question a lot especially with people running trailers. they never judge weight being illegal from gvwr, it is judged but your tires and axle ratings. Whichever is lower. Gvwr is a generic statement made by the manufacturer made for all trucks of that class. 2 door 6 ft box has same gvwr as 4 door long box. That being said a lot of truck camper owners have been switching to 4500 or 5500 series trucks because that 4600lbs is a lot of weight for a 3500 (1 ton)to carry. If I was in your shoes I would sell the 3500 truck and buy a 5500 with a 12 foot flat bed. Have a flat bed camper version built for your truck. If you put a 10 or 12 foot flatbed then you won't need a hitch extension. Everyone I've talked to that has a flat bed camper say they will never go back to a slide in camper. Much more space on the same footprint. Good luck with your choices.
How would you take off the camper when you just want to use the truck only when you have a flat bed?
Yea f-550 to that heavy fibreglass camper …
Dont forget about hitch weight if your towing that adds to your gvwr , i had a f250 had to go to a f350 cause i was severely overweight i have the 8.3 big foot short box , my suggestion to anyone buying a camper weigh it before you buy period !
Great video. Nothing like reaching out to the community for some advice. We've had 3 campers and the first one on a 1/2 ton was about 400 lbs over. But we (carefully) drove it for several thousand miles without any problems. Still, I wasn't comfortable with that. We did add air bags though so it rode fine. The second two were vans, and being an ex trucker among other things weighed them right away and both were at the max. Our current View is 9440 -10500 (depending on what we have in it on a MB 350 chassis) with a GVWR of 10200. This is a manufacture (Winnebago) who knows the weights, and they are very aware that you could go over GVWR very easily. If it were me, I'd make sure everything was as safe as possible (e.g. correct pressure in tires etc.) and then keep the rig, but be aware of it's short comings. And in the future, watch your next purchase very carefully. Good luck to you!
All good advise! Thanks for watching!
I have a 2018 Ram 3500 Dually Mega Cab and an Arctic Fox 811. Loaded and ready to hit the road (full fresh tanks, empty waste) we are just over 14k, about 5500 front axle and about 9200 rear. I'm under my axle ratings, and the factory air suspension (like you have) handles the load with no issues so I'm comfortable with it. I'll eventually add a sway bar just for some extra stability but otherwise it's totally fine. Much better than the SRW I came from, even with the 19.5s that I had put on. I think all of the hardside truck camper people are over weight, just stay under tires/wheels and axles, and you should be fine IMO.
Would like to see the weight with everything full including water tanks and propane tanks... Thank you
I think if most people weighted there rig they would be surprised just like you. Most RV rigs are over weight. All that stuff adds up quick.
It is what it is and many thanks for posting your results. I'll probably catch some flack for saying this - but fingers crossed, the only thing you can do is to mitigate some of the extra weight by using an add a leaf to each spring pack, airbags, and a beefier rear sway bar. - Stay safe and all the best regards for the new year. -
We pull a 5th wheel and when I see a rig like yours I always wonder what they weigh so I really enjoyed your video and it answered some questions for me. Don't feel bad about the truck weight, I have a F-350 dually and with tools, tool box and extra fuel tank (full) we weigh in at 9640 lbs. At the pin on the 5th wheel we weigh 4020 lbs. so going down the road the truck weighs 13,660 lbs. so we're pretty close. The 5th wheel adds another 17160 lbs. on it's axels so our combined weight is 30,820 lbs. You have a good looking rig by the way!
I weighed my van when I was done with my DIY build. Full tank of gas, fresh water, all my stuff, 2 people. I didn't want to go over max which was 8900#, I was relieved that it was 6900#. I did it on the same kind of scale. It was kinda fun and now I know.
Don't forget to check the tires max weight carrying capacity at their spec out air pressure....You should check for correct tire pressure often....You don't want a blow out with that heavy cab over camper at highway spped....Camper weights are always given in "dry weight" also...
Beautiful 😻
One of the reasons I went with the gasoline engine in my Chevy 3500 HD to haul my Eaglecap 1165 with triple slides. I also tow my Saturn behind and no issues lacking enough power.
A couple points:
a)
2003, after a couple years of delivering RecreateVehicles manufacturer-to-dealer and dealer-to-shows, we converted a 1996 Ford CF8000 commercial truck to our concept of an ExpeditionVehicle.
GVWR -- 29,000#.
Weight across the scale -- 14,000#.
Cargo capacity -- around seven ton.
.
b)
On her RecreateVehicle, one of our full-time live-aboard caravan chums wore a front tire.
We scaled her rig, each axle, each side, individual tires.
This elaborate ballet revealed her driver-side front tire carried nearly double its rating.
Looking inside, we found house bank behind the driver seat, tanks under the driver seat, and her pantry of canned goods surrounding the driver.
Complicating the issue was her fondness for languishing the afternoon at a good buffet...
I have a 1172 lance with air bags,cab over struts ,stabilizers with a f 350 dully . Your truck camper is lighter than mine .I wouldn’t worry it looks like your truck handles that camper just fine .yes I do need to weigh my camper . I also carry a e bike in front and inflatable kayak. I have been carrying all this weight for yrs and never had a problem .I do not drive over 58 mph .
It's all fine and dandy that you make upgrades to make the rig feel more capable, and they probably haul the camper just fine. But see what happens if you get into an accident. You can do all the upgrades you want but it all comes down to the sticker on the door jam.
Very true, all good points. Thanks for watching!
Ordered a 5500 because of this issue. Host Mammoth is 4500 dry according to mfr, close to 6800 wet and loaded. I'm shocked they will tell people they can load it on a 3500.
If you're in a farming community check out the local elevator. Back in the day a 6 pack of beer would get almost anything scaled .
The hitch is additional weight but your moving weight from the truck and putting it on the trailer. It works.
The aluminum flat decks are lighter than the factory 8’ foot box. The steel decks are certainly heavier.
We were going to get a Class B camper but we already had a 4x4 short box, looked into (new) light campers for short box. Lightest weight I found hardtop was a Travel lite 625, nothing fancy but had the basic necessities, no awning, no ladder, no roof rack, no wet bath. Has air conditioner and portapottie in cupboard and 3-way fridge, took out the microwave (off road camp). The manufacturer dry weight is 500lbs under our truck payload. We don't fill the water tank, but carry a gallon of fresh water, fresh water is easy access in Canada. We pack minimal stuff (all light dishes, pots etc), no tools. Installed airbags. Sometime tow a small aluminium boat. Have never weighed it but it does ride well. Still have concerns about weight though, time to weigh it!
Been through a similar experience recently. Definitely eye opening. The manufacturers usually have a recommended camper weight . Mine was inside door of glovebox. That will really blow your mind. Much of is them cover their butts. Cheers
No lie. My 2019 Ford F-450 diesel dually crew cab has a mfg. camper weight rating of only 3,800 pounds.That comes out to a camper made from a cardboard box, and a case of Lite beer.
On the other hand, it may be heavier than you expected, but it sure is a sexy setup.
F-550 way to go! 👍
If it stops good and handles ok then don't worry about it. I haul a lance 850 with a 2016 Silverado 2500 gas and 22 foot rance car trailer with 68 El camino SS and it hauls it fine.
Just an fyi. If you dont require a print out, the DOT scale houses on the interstate or hwy. Can be used with just a digital readout. NO Charge. They are certified regularly.
I had the same problem with my truck and TT! After weighing I had to get a storage space and unpacked about 1/3 of the stuff in my truck and trailer focusing on heaviest stuff first….(ie: Do I really need it? Can I get I buy a lighter version of something?). Ended up ditching a coffee maker for pour over. Unloaded all pots and pans for lightweight camping versions. Removed almost all my books for a Kindle. Etc
Thanks for the vid. Very informative. We just got a Ram 2500 and are planning to use an old '89 Bigfoot 9.5 when pulling an 18' trophy boat. The payload limit on our truck is 3000#. The camper dry is 1800# per sticker. Which seems okay, but things add up quickly. Figure, without camper wet/loaded, we'll be at max. But we definitely need to go to scale to know exactly. Our non-stock tires and wheels are high load rated and we plan to install air coil replacements and timbrens. But we may still have to travel without water until we get where we are going and carry some of heavier items in boat. Thanks again for showing how important it is to understand just how much you are carrying. Be safe.
P.s. As for a suggestion, you might think about having a lightweight utility trailer to use (that doesn't need a heavy hitch) and moving your tools, generator, propane tanks, and other heavy stuff to the trailer, which you can still do, even if pulling a heavier utility trailer. Kind of a pain, but should lighten the load.
My srw Ram 3500 is 8200 LBS with both me and my wife. We pull a 5th wheel but might be going to a truck camper like yourselves.
Super interesting, and kudos to you guys for actually going and weighing it all. Didn't know there was an app; was just looking on line the other day on how to do this. Didn't know there was and app. Thanks.
This is a real eye opener. I have a 2018 25C10.4 and use a GMC gas dually to haul it. Also have a heavy 4 ft. receiver extension, bike rack, and mountain bike sitting way out behind the rear axle. I guess I need to weigh it! The truck does handle remarkably well though right from the factory.
The gvrw is what it is. Keep the Bigfoot and move up to a 5500 cab chassis with a camper tray.
I just bought a f-550 crew cab with the 7.3 gas engine with the plan of a flatbed and tc to come in a few years
Hi Roberts, A F550 with the 7.3 gas is a nice setup. Safe travels and thanks for watching!
And that is why I have an F450. I Know… it’s de-rated to 14k on the sticker so you don’t need a CDL… but the truck is engineered to have a 17k GVWR. Rear axle is an 11k axle. They really should tell people you need a 450\550 or 4500\5500 with most truck campers. F450 with a Northern Lite 10-2 and we weigh 14100 light load and dry. So about the same.
Hi Mark, Sounds like you got a nice set up. I think F450's and NL's look good together. Thanks for watching! ~ Todd
I don't know about brand new trucks but even recently they use the same Dana 80 in the f350 dually, f450 and f550. but on the axles the brakes and tires/wheels/bolt patteen are where they differences are. My 2006 f350 cab and chassis has a 13kgvw, but the front axle is rated for 6500 and the rear axle 11000
But the frame is a F350 frame and that is why the F450 with a box just a glorified F350 with bigger axles with lower ratings then the F450 chassis truck.
Ours is 17500 with all the fual and water etc ,luckily the truck was built for this weight but it's stll quite a lump on the road.
You guys are fine, your truck is fine…don’t let the weight give you something else to worry about.
If you get in a big accident, and cops find you are over weight, it will be a very expensive day for you.
@@mt-nv4jd Oh go away!
Always run it past your insurance agent. They look for any reason to deny a claim.
@@mt-nv4jdnah that’s BS
Water is heavy too. About 8.6 lbs per gallon IIRC.
Thats why I bought the RAM 5500. You need to add both your weight!!
I did exactly what you folks just did when we got our BF10.4. 4260lbs empty on CAT scales and I appear to have the same options you have. I believe my reaction and words were similar, or a little more colorful. I'm doing what you folks are doing - bought Superhitch/Truss and goodies. Sadly, adding even more weight. Glad I put commercial wheel/tires on, among other things... I share the same desire, and can stand to shed some pounds on a more personal level... but that may not do it either... our cat is only 10lbs. Great video, guys!
Hi Eric, Thanks for the info on the weight of your 10.4. That makes me feel a bit better because it I had to guess on the weight of the stuff in our camper I'd think maybe 400 lbs or so. It seems hard to shed much. Sounds like your cat is safe at only 10 lbs. :) Safe travels and thanks for watching!
Yup! I don’t think there is one truck camper set-up out there that is under the gvwr.. 11000 for my Lance 845 with my F250 diesel with a motorcycle on the front hitch. The thing that settles my nerves is that I’m under on each axle weight rating of 6200lb each.
I agree it makes me feel a little better knowing I'm under the axle weight ratings as well. That's cool you bring a motorcycle with you, I'm sure it adds for a lot of extra fun. Safe travels and thanks for watching!
Wow… very eye opening.. we have weighed our rig a couple times and every time I think we are over weight… we typically hang right at the edge. Great video, nice break down of the numbers
I got our truck weighed with my wife and I and a full tank of fuel the last time we were at the landfill. but the rest has been a calculation from the sticker on the camper and weights of stowage. I figure we are 200 - 300 lbs over the GVW of the truck but I guess it could be worse.
There is a outfit in Colorado. They make spring pacs..pass... high quality leaf springs. Contact them with the information you have. They can make a custom set of springs for you to improve the load capability. Along with the ride and ride height. Or...looks like a new truck is in the future... 4500 / 5500. Either way... it's still all in the "load" of stuff...in other words bigger truck /capacity equals a bigger load of more stuff. If you don't need a four door... you can add capacity by dropping to a standard cab or extended cab truck...
empty everything and weight it before putting it back/// get rid of what tools you can do with out// redistribute your items in the camper to even the load
You have been driving the rig this long without any problems . I wouldn't worry about it. It doesn't drive or handle any different now that you know the weight versus before you knew the weight does it?
What you need is air bags in the rear. Front end looks a little light. But the truck is fine. A bigger truck is not required.
Southwest Germany waving a hand 💯🎸🙋♂
Jeez, you have nothing to worry...just keep your tires up and be prepared to change out as needed...
I'm headed to the cat's tail now LOL my truck is much bigger and so is my camper I'm wondering what I weigh.
Thanks for doing this, I actually have a 2021 RAM 3500 basically the same setup. Even thought the RAM platform is a monster i worry about the weight. I want to make sure i am legal and not have to worry about that. For a Camper i was looking at the Palomino 1500, but had concerns about the roof setup. Anyway, thanks for taking the time on this. Stay safe out there...
Had to laugh you guy's, It was like watching my wife and I last summer when we got on the ol' Cat scale for the first time! We about had a fit by how far over weight we were! We had to Change tires on the Ram [2500] and install Tembren rubber/air springs. I was worried about being over on the rear axles and bearings...but long story short, lot's of research and part numbers, part's bin's, [I am a retired Tech] we were able to find out the 2500 and 3500 single rear wheel truck in my case should have the same load capability on axle shaft's, bearings and carrier. The OEM air springs are way over built, kuddo's to dodge for that] but without the leaf springs that you get on the 3500 srw, too soft, so the Tembren's took care of the sway. We did the south west / west US last summer [8900 miles] and all was great! Inspection when we got home show's no problems. I think thankfully these truck's are overbuilt, they must be, they know customers are going to MORE than put them to the test! Stay safe you two! glad to find your site.!
Great video! All of us feel your pain! My first camper was a slide in pop up for a half ton regular cab wich i bought used when i came back from the gulf war. Supposed to weigh 1200 pound pounds but was close to 2100 pounds loaded. Then we had a neat classs c....1996 Scerro Scotty 25....built on a Ram 3500 dually cab and chassis with tbe venerable Cummins 5.9! Set up was awesome but GVWs of duallys back then were at best 11,000. That rig fully loaded was at 13,000!
Needless to say i put lots on f money in both rigs to include tires and shocks and sway bars and spring packs and air bagals and you name it. After all that they handled fine BUT i knew i was over weight and it bothered the heck out me!
I recently read a great note on a TC forum...the experienced guy said you should figure a truck camper from a reputable manufacturer will weig
h more than a 1000 pounds over than published dry weight! And unrepeatable manufacturers may sell campers where you need to figure much more than that.
Bottom line is that it is a real eye opening experience.
Hi slmjake, I've heard many people say count on the camper weighting at least 500 lbs over the stated weight but maybe you're right at being loser to 1000 lbs over. Depends on the camper I'm sure. Thank you for your service and thank you for watching!
I wrote a spreadsheet to configure weights for our motorhome. It figures fuel, water, lp. Then weighed each large items and small we take for the spreadsheet. We weighed the motorhome empty for a base, The load it by the spreadsheet. If I can figure out how, i will send it to you if you would like. We live in Dallas GA LOL
Does your 10.4 have generator and two 12v lead acid batteries? This power combo probably contributes around 200 lbs or more to TC weight. Li-ion batteries could save close to 100 lbs, depending on size, while giving more useable amp hours (depth of discharge). If most of your camping is connected to ground power maybe deleting generator, if installed, could free up another 100 or so lbs. Great TH-cam channel!
Hey Rich, That's right if we pulled out our generator that would save us 250 lbs. I think that what it says they weigh online. Lithium batteries would help too. Good ideas! Thanks for watching! ~ Todd
What does it matter it isn’t like you have to go through weight station
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned you lost 160lbs off of the steer axle with the camper on. That's another conversation truck camper owners love to discuss. You know, the whole center of gravity behind the rear axle. Oh wait, that begins....now
New truck! Easy choice. Add your side by side and trailer. 5500 truck?
14,000lbs is just truck classification. Classified as a class 3 truck. That has nothing to do with the trucks capabilities. Such as the F450 pickup is still declassified to a class 3 truck. As long as you are not overweight on your tires its good to go. So if your rears are rated at 2910lbs each (or more) x4 for dual application then your rear axle is capable of 11,640 . Fronts in single application should be 3195lbs each ( or more) x2 so that's 6390lbs on the front. For a total of 18,030lbs. Which you're no where close to that. Also although it's good to know, from a legal perspective since it's a recreational vehicle carrier enforcement dosn't actually care what it weighs. Load that thing up it'll be fine.
Truckstops are always a cluster. CAT Scale app works good for me. Always state that you are doing a reweigh after your load is adjusted. It’s a little cheaper.
And thats before water and groceries!
Dang!! I have GMC 2500HD inside the glove box there is a sticker says it is rated to about 1800Lbs. of camper That limits my optoins..Good info Thanks
My truck and masonry trailer comes across gravel pit scale at around 10000 and takes 2 tons of sand no problem. But only so much of that trailer weight is hitch weight. That same 2 tons is too much in bed of truck. 2 tons of sand don't fill bed of truck. Camper suspension is built way lighter than my car hauler trailer too. Camper suspension is usually 3400 leaf springs or lighter per 7000lb axle. That's 14000lbs on camper axles. They figure rest of weight on truck. My trailer has 4000lb leaf springs, shocks, and heavy duty braced spring brackets on 7000lb axles. We had a 5th wheel that towed like crap and split the frame. I love our goose neck toy hauler we got now it tows great.