I just purchased a '93 Fleetwood Caribou 8CS truck camper. I purchased the camper not knowing if it would work with my truck. I know this sounds crazy but I got an awesome deal and thought I could sell if need be. I have a '06 Chevy 2500 HD short bed. I did not measure the camper and cold not find any specs. Does anyone know if this camper will fit in my truck bed with the tail gait down? I'm hopping it will work with my truck. I did find the option sheet showing the weight of the camper at 2,800 pounds. This is a very clean camper! I hope it works out. I will take some photos this weekend and post.
If the camper is 2800 pounds dry, it will be about 3800 pounds ready for the road; water, propane, stuff, etc. For a three quarter ton truck, that is quite a bit of weight. Also, I owned an Elkhorn, the same family of Fleetwood campers and the weight sticker did not include the jacks, options, etc. Just adding options to the base camper added about 400 pounds. My dry weight on the sticker was 2900 pounds, I went down the road at almost 4000.
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If the camper is 2800 pounds dry, it will be about 3800 pounds ready for the road; water, propane, stuff, etc. For a three quarter ton truck, that is quite a bit of weight. Also, I owned an Elkhorn, the same family of Fleetwood campers and the weight sticker did not include the jacks, options, etc. Just adding options to the base camper added about 400 pounds. My dry weight on the sticker was 2900 pounds, I went down the road at almost 4000.
2800 pounds is completly loaded and opted. The previous owner used a 3/4 ton Ford SD so I know I want have any issues with weight. My concern is the fit. My bed is 6.5' and the camper is 8'. I will see this afternoon when it is delivered.
While it may fit your short bed truck, I'd be concerned about the center of gravity (COG) of the camper, and whether it was going to end up behind the rear axle or not. Do you know if this camper was designed for a short bed?
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Glad you have the weight issues sorted out. However, I would take the advise of the previous poster and be sure the center of gravity is where you want it and not too far back. Also, having had the Elkhorn be sure to check each jack mount for dry rot, the ceiling inside for leaks, and in the back above the door and below the top of the roof for good sealing of water. They were prone to leak above the door at a seam about 2-3 inches below the roof line. I know you have a Chevy, but on the Dodge that I have the COG (according to their truck camper loading guide) can be slightly behind the rear axle. In all cases it must be forward of am imaginary vertical line that would reflect the rearmost portion of the rear tire. So, about a foot behind the axle is the max. I never was that far back and would think it would begin to show some issues in lightening the front end. Good luck in getting it fitted.
NRALIFR wrote: While it may fit your short bed truck, I'd be concerned about the center of gravity (COG) of the camper, and whether it was going to end up behind the rear axle or not. Do you know if this camper was designed for a short bed?
Guys,
This is good information. I can't find any information about this camper, i.e. specification, which bed it is designed for. I have searched on line for 2 day now. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately, Fleetwood stopped making TC's about eight years ago. Other than calling Fleetwood and asking them (good luck with that), I think if it were me I would be thinking about determining the COG myself. You have the camper in your possession already, with a strong saw-horse or a couple of jack stands and a 4x4 timber, you could locate the COG with very little trouble. Fill the water tank, throw in some simulated "gear" weight and see where the balance point ends up. Measure how far it is from the front edge of the camper, and compare that to the rear axle location on your truck.
I just got the camper in the driveway. Man this thing is big! I took some measurements and came up with the following. My truck bed is 6.5' and measures 104" with the tail gate down. The camper box is exactly 104" so this would put the camper at the end of my tailgate. I appears the center of the camper will be just behind the rear tire hitting the tire at the 10:00 position looking from the right side. I did see a Fleetwood paper in the camper showing the total loaded and accessorised weigh. The paper also showed the COG in a diagram simulating the camper loaded in a truck. The diagram shows an area shaded over the wheel. The COG that is shaded in is outside of the wheel on each side. I'm going to read in further detail. I hope this works out. I only have $500.00 in the camper and would like to use it. I guess if it doesn't work out I can sell it.
gkainz wrote: nah, that's not going to work at all ... I'll be right down and take it off your hands, tho ...
I was thinking the same when I went to pay the guy.
I fell better now that I found out the model 8CS was sold to fit a short or long bed. I spoke with a local Fleetwood dealer that referenced some past sales records. He also had some old sales literature indicating the 8CS would fit a Chevy 6.5' bed. I excited about my truck camper. I will get some pics. and post them tomorrow.
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