Northernford
PNW
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Joined: 03/25/2012
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I just baught my camper but my good friend just asked me if you are able to put a 9'4 camper on a short bet truck and leave the tailgate down? Is it okay or a really bad idea?
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SkipJ
Michigan
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Joined: 11/01/2005
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Think you'll have a bad center of gravity situation.
SkipJ
1992 Airstream B-190 van
1989 Airstream 25' Excella Trailer
Outfitter Apex 9.5 Truck Camper Ford F-350 Diesel 4x4
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halibutman214
Oregon
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Joined: 09/06/2009
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ArcticFord wrote:I just baught my camper but my good friend just asked me if you are able to put a 9'4 camper on a short bet truck and leave the tailgate down? Is it okay or a really bad idea? A really bad idea.
2008 Dodge Ram 6.7 Laramie SRW SB
2012 Keystone Passport 26BHWE
2009 Lance 830 with Tent foldout
20' North River Seahawk Boat
2005 Honda VTX1300
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Northernford
PNW
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How is it such a bad idea?
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kerry4951
East Central Pennsylvania
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Your center of gravity will be behind the rear axle causing the truck to be unstable. COG should be over or just to the front of the rear axle.
2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually D/A, Supersprings, Stable Loads, Bilstein Shocks, Hellwig Sway Bar, Front Timbrens.
2010 Arctic Fox 1140 DB, 220 watts solar, custom 4 in 1 "U" shaped dinette/couch, 59 interior and exterior mods to date and still adding
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d3500ram
colorado
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Joined: 07/31/2006
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@OP: I think we need more information on what model camper we are talking about and what is meant as a "long bed camper" as some models may work on both a long or short bed. Yours might be one.
If it is a model that can work on either then best practice would indicate to remove the tailgate.
2005 Dodge 3500 SRW, Qcab long bed, NV-6500, diesel, 4WD, Helwig, 9000XL,
Nitto 285/70/17 Terra Grapplers, Honda eu3000Is, custom overload spring perch spacers.
2008 NorthStar Arrow short bed.
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oilcan830
Wishin I was fishin...
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Having run a camper built to be used in a long bed or a short bed (Lance 815) in a shortbed truck, and now having a camper built specifically for a shortbed (Lance 830), I will tell you the difference is night and day. The 815, although a lighter, smaller camper, rode much differently than my 830. Once the 830 settles into the bed, I don't notice it is there nearly as much as I noticed the 815, due largely to the COG in the 815.
If you have a camper built specifically for a long bed in a short bed, and the COG is too far aft, that camper will start to drive the truck for you with little provocation, resulting in some pretty scary stuff.
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garryk6
Kodiak, AK
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Joined: 03/16/2004
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ArcticFord wrote:How is it such a bad idea?
I carry a 10 ft camper in a 6.5ft box F350 SRW. BUT, I bought the camper gutted as a shell, then as I built it, I moved everything possible that was heavy--Forward. As far forward as I could. I also keep the bags and bedding in the cab-over underway. All this is to move the COG forward. I have not yet had a chance to weigh my truck, but based on handling and measuring at the wheel wells, that my center of gravity is near my rear axle. No change in the front wheel well. The rear sags about 2 inches loaded as compared to unloaded. The key is not unloading the front axle too much. You can have some weight aft, just like you have tongue weight when pulling a trailer. You just don't want too much. Hopefully this gives you some ideas on how to check and adjust your camper to your truck, if you already have both.
Good Luck,
Garry in Kodiak
Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper
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Sir Douglas
S.Illinois
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I carry(well one trip) an older Real Lite 10' on a 6 3/4' F250 and it's fine overall weight and COG makes all the difference.
Here's my story
http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25997776.cfm
some say you can't, but I did and never felt unsafe. I'm new to this so take it for what its worth. I will say I have a degree in engineering and did some calculations comparing moments and other scenarios I won't bore you with. COG and weight are your major concerns. What camper do you have?
It may be possible or it may not. Really need more information to give you an idea.
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Sir Douglas
S.Illinois
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Joined: 04/23/2012
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halibutman214 wrote:ArcticFord wrote:I just baught my camper but my good friend just asked me if you are able to put a 9'4 camper on a short bet truck and leave the tailgate down? Is it okay or a really bad idea? A really bad idea.
With out knowing the specifics how can one make this statement?
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