Pickup Truck Campers... Which Pickup to buy

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[reidiford]

Fabulous resource for valuable "must-have" information. The time to learn these things is BEFORE you buy your truck. Viewing this video should be REQUIRED for anyone planning to buy a camper OR a truck to carry a camper.

[timothyVowens]

I just bought a 2018 Ford F-350 diesel dually long bed. I had Hellwig swaybars installed in front and rear. I had "suspension airbags" installed (Air Lift 5000) with an on-board air compressor. With all that said, I have a Lance Camper 850. My Ford truck payload capacity is 5, 500 pounds. The Lance 850 is rated at 2, 500 pounds dry weight. I figure my 50 gallon diesel tank adds 350 pounds when full (diesel ways approximately 7 pounds per gallon). 30 gallon fresh water tank adds 240 pounds (8 pounds is the weight of a gallon of water). I am 250 pounds. Added up: (a) camper = 2, 500 pounds, (b) diesel tank full loaded = 350 pounds, (c) 30 gallons of fresh water = 240 pounds (d) me = 250 pounds (e) on again / off again girlfriend = 110 that adds up to = 3, 450. Plus another (????) 1, 000 pounds of stuff (generator, tools, food, propane tanks, etc) and my payload is 4, 450 pounds. Everyone told me the dually was "too much, too difficult to drive, and I didn't need that much" and a F350 was "too big and too much power" for what I needed. However, one time I heard a guy say, "buy more truck than you think you will need." I am glad I did. I am only 1, 000 pounds from my payload capacity.

[livingauthenticallyonmyownterm]

One ton diesel Dually -- buy it if you can and you will not need to upgrade later. I have a 2007 Ram 3500 dually with the 5.9 diesel. Bought it used in 2009 no regrets.

[markrich]

As a owner of a larger truck camper . There's a night and day difference between a diesel and gas truck. The torque makes a huge difference . On top of reliability longevity and fuel cost. I will never go back to a gas truck .

[boostedlss]

Sharing this vid with a friend who says my need for a 1T dually to haul a 4000LB wet camper as well as personal gear and passengers is excessive. IMO I'll be approaching 5000LBS loaded, that's 1000LBS more than my car LOL. Im looking at my first truck, and it's gonna be a doozy, but I'm not an idiot, this vid simply confirms and answers so many of the questions you need to know to do this kind of thing safely. Happy trails!

[Claclown]

I'd rule out a dually if you plan on doing a lot of off-roading with the truck camper. Larger rocks can get lodged in between the rear tires.

[reubenbautista]

I bought a Laramie 2500 to tow my fifth wheel and it was in the garage most of the time. I switched for a 2019 Super Duty F-350 and I love it. Way more power than I need. I am very happy with my Ford. Have no problems at all

[gypsybelle]

Outstanding safety information! Keys to have on the front end while shopping for a truck and camper. This one video could literally save people thousands of dollars and physical injuries. Thank you for sharing! Subscribed. 🙌

[brucehall]

Glad I bought my dodge 3500 brand new back in 01. 400, 000 miles later still running great like new and carried my back pack camper great. Thanks for the video and info.

[Flipperwi]

Can't thank you enough for this. I have been going a bit cookoo on figuring this exact subject out.

[sparkx]

Very solid, vital info...
This should be must viewing for newbies and many TC owners.
I had to aquire this info piece by piece.
This vid is a one source deal...! Well done.

[terryqueen]

I know you did this three years ago but maybe you will read this I am considering going truck camper, but after watching this it looks like I'm going to have to go dually tires. You gave me a lot of food for thought and I certainly do appreciate it I hope you get to read this. Have a great day and stay safe.

[rvduck]

It is so refreshing to watch a video that explains truck payloads. I have owned six campers over a 40 year period and my latest camper an Arctic Fox, two slide is 4000 pounds dry and truly a Dually camper. I ordered my 2016 Silverado Dually with the 6..0 engine to get another 670 pounds of legal payload and my tire sticker shows I have a 5500 pound payload which I can overload if I completely fill my fresh water tank. The newer Duallys have really raised payloads. I had an 08 Duramax Dually I just loved but it only had a 3700 pound payload and I was almost a ton overloaded with my Arctic Fox on . I have had air bags on prior trucks I owned, I now use the stableload spacer blocks that engage the overload springs and IMHO, they are far superior to airbags. Too much air pressure in air bags give you a mushy ride. My 2016 Dually Crew Cab 4X4 6.0 gas has been great so far, handles the Arctic Fox very well, very little body roll and easily take curves faster than posted speeds. Thanks for a very good video.

[rickthompson]

I have a 2016 RAM 3500 Diesel Dually with a Northstar 12 STC camper. I weighed the unit at a CAT certified scale with only me aboard and nearly full payload with fuel, water supplies and it weighed 13, 150 lbs. The RAM is rated at 14, 000 GVWR so if I had 3 passengers I would be pushing closer to my limit. The Northstar from the factory was measured at 3641 lbs dry, but when load can be quite a bit more. I am glad I bought the dually and recommend all to be aware of their payloads with respect to GVWR.

[bscott]

I've been watching/subscribed to your channel for a few weeks. I just want to thank you for all the great info you share. I watch all your new videos and also go back when I have time to watch older videos. Most of all, I like your "attitude" about people. You truly want to empower people to help them to make the best choices for them and their families from the start. I've always been a geeky girl/now 60+ woman who grew up watching Mr. Wizard and I really appreciate your low key informative style which assummes everyone can learn something from your videos regardless of age, sex, or whatever. Before this video I watched your video where you helped out the gentleman in the semi with tanker who was stuck in the ditch. You handled that with tack and compassion and you made it very clear to everyone who watched the video that each of us should be always be treated with respect and to not be treated as a photo-op to be up loaded to YouTube. Thanks, Barb

[gungadin]

Really good insight into the safety risks (swaying, braking, tire blowouts, etc...) inherit in choosing, too light a truck for a truck camper. Don't have my truck or camper yet but advice literally makes me want to choose a 1 ton DRW even for a 2500 lb. camper just to acquire the stability and safety that comes with a less burdened truck.

[kassandrah]

Thank you! I have the camper, but needed info on the type of truck to get. Everyone else seems to focus on the campers for a truck someone already has. I appreciate you taking the time to focus on the trucks needed for a camper one may have/be considering.

[justinj]

All the research I “thought” I had done, out the window. Thanks for sharing your insight and opinion, they’re ones that matter tremendously in this case. What a great video.

[stuckcamping]

If you want a truck camper, buy a dually long bed and save yourself from trading up once you learn truck camping is not about going light, where the trailer community advertise as 'light weight'. Truck campers are all about Payload and GVW. Folks need to do more research before buying trucks with intentions on buying a TC. Great job on your videos as always!

[TravelswithYoly]

Really great information here. Having had experience with a Ram 1500, we discovered that the actual weight of the camper was about 600 lbs heavier than advertised. The only thing you left out is my recommendation to stop at a certified CAT Scale and get the actual weights to compare both payload and rear axle rating. You did mention that some people who rig half tons do replace the stock tires with higher load capacity tires, but there are times when the wheels themselves are overloaded. We ended up upgrading to a 2500 and chose one of the lightest campers in the market (2180 lbs). I added an adjustable Hellwig sway bar and nothing else. We're about 400 lbs below the payload and rear axle rating fully loaded and the rig drives beautifully. You alluded to the additional weight of the diesel detracting from the payload and I found that the "trim levels" of the truck also reduce payload as the trim level goes up (electric running boards etc.)

Payload on our 2016 Ram 2500 Tradesman 2WD, Crew Cab with the 6.4L Hemi is 3600 lbs.