00Dog

can I put on my 06 2500 4x4 without seeing much sag in the back? I'm thinking about putting one on for a year or two and don't want to go too heavy.

TonyB

Might be better off in the tow/haul forum....

Anyway, 2500 only has 9900gvw. So, GVW-truck weight (w/ people & full tank of fuel) = available load....9900 - ~7200 = ~2700 This is just an example; you'll need to weigh your truck to find a real number.

My truck has a factory camper cert for 3000lb; that gives me about 1200lb for people, food, gear, and boat trailer. The camper I'm, looking at weighs in at 2800, so I have about 1400lb extra to work with. BTW, my dually weighs in at 7200 w/ full tank, w/out people.

Your truck manual should also indicate max load in the bed. These calculations are over simplified, but reasonably accurate.

HTH

Tony

TexasCTD

Tony offered some good information, although slightly off. I just wanted to add a little to it.


The 2500 is only rated at 9000lbs, not 9900. The Single Rear Wheel 3500 is rated 9900.

What you may want to consider is adding some Air bags to supplement your springs in the back. They will help hold alot more weight and keep your truck level.

The next weak point is going to be your tires. (actually they are the first weak point). Anway, you might also consider getting some Rickson 19.5 wheels with "G" rated tires. They will hold a WHOLE lot more weight than our stocker tires. http://www.ricksontruck.com/

With the air bags and heavier duty tires, you should be able to haul a pretty heavy camper. The axles, brakes, spring pack (minus the overloads), engine, transmissions etc. is identical to a dually.

Festus

But you still may exceed legal weight. Air bags have nothing to do with what's stamped on the door for legal.

TonyB

Texas, thanks for clarifying!


That's what I was getting at!

Tony

TexasCTD

Festus he would be exceeding the Manufacturer's Ratings for GVWR, but not necessarily be illegal. Depending on location, they most likely will only look at the ratings on his tires, which the "G" rated tires would cure.

Traffic/Criminal law is different from Civil law. If he were to be involved in an accident and the complainant's attorney could prove his vehicle was unsafe then he COULD be held liable for being overloaded beyond DC's ratings.

DC under rates our trucks to cover their own butts.

My srw 3500 truck weighs 8000lbs with the front bumper and 5th wheel hitch. If it was a 2500, then I could only haul 1000lbs and i'd be overweight according to DC.

Festus

I completely agree. Unfortunately, however, the DOT's in some areas are no longer looking at tire ratings. The province of British Columbia is one such place. My brother has first hand experience. It isn't a province wide thing either - I've seen only three scales that have weighed private vehicles that even were thought to be overweight - those are three areas that I travel almost exclusively as well. We had a thread going about it, but I cannot find it right now.

As stated in that thread, I 've seen other holidayers, on two occassions, stopped and being weighed on portable scales in my home province. It is coming - if we don't start regulating ourselves on a personal level, the government will start doing it for us - we've all seen it with other topics.

Unfortunately, it's not the guys that are a couple hundred punds over, it's the guys that are trying to pull 36 ft fifth wheels with Dakota's that are screwing it up for the rest of us.

supersonictoys

He just asked about sag guys not whats legal. my all fiberglass 99 fleetwood 8ft cab over with full bath and air conditioning weighs 1850. on my 06 4x4 dually it brought my bed down about 2 1/2 inches at the rear. which made my truck just about level. with airbags it went right back up. if your mounting on a 2500 your rear end is lower than mine to start with and of course your sprung softer. I think even with a camper as light as mine you will be a little lower in the rear than in the front but not much.

00Dog

Thanks for all of the information. Supersonictoys, you answered my question more specifically. Sounds like your weight would bring my 3/4 ton down about 3-4 inches in the back so I'd probably want to go even a little lighter than 1850.

Jezzhuntin

I have a 8.5 S&S camper. I think it is around 2k with gear, give or take, crap I really can't remember. but I have a short box 3500 and it levels my truck. I think supersonic estimation is pretty close. I used to run this same camper on a 1500 chevy with air bags. wasn't the most enjoyable thing . but the airbags made a 100% difference.