We are looking at truck campers for the first time. The one we are looking at is the Lance 1050 with no slide. We also have a 2011 F-250 PSD, crew cab, long bed. Would this be a good combo? The dealership said they will throw in tie downs and air bags for the truck.
Thanks
David & Mary Ann
2011 F-250 6.7 Powerstroke
2006 Sunline Solaris T-264-SR
2012 Palomino Bronco 1500
Just a quick check indicates that camper, stock and dry, is pushing the GVWR of the truck. See Lance's weight listing on their website. Add to that a couple of passengers, any camper accessories, generator, battery(ies), propane, fresh water, clothes, food, etc., easily 800 to 1000 lbs or more over weight. Not my idea of a good traveling experience, either from a handling standpoint or living in a litiqious society. But ultimately, you make that call.
That's the dealer's idea of fixing a bad idea...tie downs (which you have to have (probably not even Torklifts) and airbags. Airbags fix everything...NOT!
We listened to both sides...those who say yes (they'll do anything) and those who go by the #s and use that as a guideline.
Somewhere on this forum is a wt calculator. You plug in your vehicle wts and camper wts and it will calculate if you are over your GVWR. Also must add in anything extra that you may want to tow.
Can someone help make a clicky to it?
Not meant to offend anyone, we have learned so much from you. We upgraded our 1 ton SRW to a dually for safety and peace of mind. Our TC rides like a dream. We are still new at this, so may add Torklift stable loads later.
Still not familiar with how much sway is too much. We can barely feel it, except on rough roads and in winds more than 25 mph.
2011 Adventurer 910FBS,Torklift tie downs,Fastguns & Wobbl-stopprs
2012 Dodge 3500 DRW 6.7L CTD, 4x4, LB,CC,6 speed auto,3.73 axle, General 17" on/off road
2008 Lund 1825 Explorer Sport,115 Merc,9.9 kicker,Torklift Super Hitch,42" Supertruss
USAF ret E-9&E-7
Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom. We might just hold off until next year when we upgrade our truck, then have the TC with slides that we really want. We are in no big hurry to make a purchase. We already have our TT that we love, but wanted a second camper just to have for smaller places we can't take our TT. But these are great bits of information to have in mind. Thanks again!!!
My 2011 2500HD has an axle rated for 6700 lbs. (C7 option) and the weight on the rear axle is 2800 lbs. leaving a payload potential of 3900 lbs. and a 2790 lb. dry weight Lance 1050 would not be excessive.
A 2800 lb. camper with 1000 lbs. of fluids, people, etc. may tax the stock springs and the stock shocks but those are easily fixed for about $1000 with SuperSprings or air bags, and adjustable shocks like the Rancho 9000's. Sway is largely controlled with having adequate shocks and if it is not then add a sway bar to the rear of the truck for another $250.
People are adding better shocks and air bags and sway bars even to DRW 3500 trucks which indicates that the 1-tons may have a higher rated axle and the extra overload springs but unless they have the dual rear wheels there is no significant difference from a 3/4 ton truck of the same year and make.
The primary advantage of DRW is that there are 4 tires to carry the load and most light truck tires have a load capacity of 3200-3750 lbs. or 6400-7500 total for the rear set. Doubling them is the easiest way to increase the load capacity up to that of a 10,000 lb. rated rear axle though a 7,000 lb. load is not something I personally would ever consider hauling in a light truck regardless of the number of tires in the rear. With that load I think one has crossed over into the domain of the motorhome.
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