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flysar

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Posted: 03/27/12 10:26pm

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Just brought a new truck camper home and when I took it to the scales I was surprised that my front end was lighter by about 200lbs than when empty.

That is when I noticed that the CG is marked about 10" behind my rear axle; odd what you don't see when shopping. I had consulted the specs before hand and it stated the CG is "42 inches from the front of the bulkhead" when in fact it's about 65-66".

I guess I'm most interested in is this a safe situation and what I should anticipate regarding driving?

I do have airbags installed and they did transfer some weight when inflated to 80lbs and didn't seem to change the feel of the drive.

Hey there

Pendergrass, GA

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Posted: 03/27/12 11:42pm

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Hi Flysar,

How does it feel to drive? Is the front end skittish? Does the steering feel solid? If it feels OK, it is.

Did you have your water tank full or empty when you weighed it? If it was empty and it is located in front of the axle, then when you fill it, more weight will be on the front end. You could also get a front hitch and mount the spare there as Smokey and I have.

Kurt

2001 Silverado 3500 DRW CC LB 6.0
1993 Lance Squire Lite 150 (8'6")
2001 Fleetwood Caribou 11J (11'6")

flysar

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Posted: 03/28/12 12:04am

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Had 1/3 water & both 7 gal propane tanks full. Propane is in the back and water in about centered, I believe.

I thought the CG was determined full of water & propane, maybe not?

Felt just fine to drive.

I do have a front hitch recvr and plan to put my cargo hauler on with firewood or the scooter.

I guess I was just surprised that a camper would be built with the CG in back of the axle; length & slide location probably doesn't help.

SoCalDesertRider

SanDiego, CA, USA

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Posted: 03/28/12 12:32am

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You can adjust your loading of the camper and truck to offset some of the weight the camper is removing from the front axle. Load outdoor type things on your front hitch carrier instead of in the rear outside storage compartments. Load indoor type things in the rear seat of the truck or overcab bed area of the camper instead of in rear interior storage cabinets. Travel with your fresh water tank full and waste tanks empty. Only take one bottle of propane instead of 2, if you don't truly need 2 bottles for your trip.

Which camper and truck do you have?

05E350 6.0PSD
97F350DRW 7.3PSD 4x4 4.10 11' flatbed
98Ranger
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
Callen Camper

92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
B&W TurnoverBall, Curt Magnum V
HD Springs Bilsteins,
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & LockRite rear

joerg68

Ueberherrn, Germany

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Posted: 03/28/12 02:45am

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There is no universal answer to this, is there?

When your camper CG is behind the rear axle this means that you actually lift weight from the front by putting the camper on.

Whether this is a reasonably safe thing to do depends on how much weight you now have on the rear axle, and how much you have left on the front axle (ultimately, if you keep adding weight long enough, it would lift the front up in the air).

If your rear axle weight doesn't exceed the specified weight rating for your vehicle, you should be good to go - from a technical point of view.

How the vehicle will handle, how safe it will feel or how far you are willing to travel with this setup is a matter only you can decide.

Best regards,
Joerg

"Pickups are very handy cars. One step on the brakes, and everything you need is right behind you!"

FreeLanceing

Grand Haven Mi

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Posted: 03/28/12 06:05am

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So what happens when you hook up a trailer to the hitch on any truck? I have pulled a trailer regularly with my work truck with 800 plus lbs on the hitch. I would guess this would have taken weight off the front. If the front bounces around a little drive accordingly. The number one factor that determines saftey is the person behind the wheel. Do you feel comfortable driving a rig like that. If you have to ask on an open forum maybe not. Maybe just get a heavy GF to compensate. Or shift some weight around like truckers do every day. I would not add a pulling tractor weight rack up front just use a little common sence. Go camping and find some new stuff to worry about.

flysar

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Posted: 03/28/12 06:57am

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I've been up all night, feel like crap, trying to figure out how or why anyone would build a TC with the CG aft of the rear wheels given the loss of weight on the front end, additional loss when adding a trailer (one of the benefits of a TC), etc.

I may have been premature with my post because when I look at like pictures on the internet of the exact same models the CG sticker is located several inches in front of the rear axle.

I'll let you know in about 3 hrs if it was applied wrong & if the company (I'll mention the make/model when I report back) actually checks the CG of each TC when it comes off the line.