I'm looking at a Tracker truck camper, I believe it is made by fleetwood. Tag on the camper says it weighs 2495 lbs with 36gals of water and 40lbs of propane gas. Is this camper going to be to heavy for my truck? (see sig for truck details)

Also, anyone know anything about these campers?

Thanks

Duane W.

 

Looking in my manual I have a 2004 2500 Ram HD QC CTD 4X4 and I think (I will have to check it again) it says that they don't recomend putting a camper on a Short bed (if thats what you have)

Other than that, I would check the GVR for your truck and figure the camper weight plus all the extra stuff you will be taking along.

 

kb7kuh,
I do believe that My fat rear and the tool box put my truck over the rated weight..LOL 8800GVW and it weighs right at 7600lbs. I believe they dont recomend a camper on any 4x4, to tall. I'm just thinking that a 2,600lb camper is not to heavy for a 2500 DODGE and looking for reassurence or maybe not a good idea.

Thanks,

Duane W.

 

sounds like you should be fine its definitly not too much weight for a 3/4 ton but would be a pain to load and unload into a 4x4

 

Go weigh your truck with the passenger load you will run and a full tank of fuel, subtract from 8800 and you should find out how bad you will be over the limit . A camper pretty much needs a 1 ton dually. My 1998 reg cab V10 2500 had a payload of about 2800.

 

I ran a 8' 6" Lance in my old '02. It was right around 1900 lbs loaded w/ water and propane. Truck ran so well, I didn't even know it was back there.

On the other hand, 2900 lbs may have been too much for a 3/4 ton. If you go this way, be careful. My dad ran a 2400 lb camper on this PSD F250, and it was too much for his Ferd (swayed an awful lot, even with bags and bigger anti-sway bar).

 

I have run a old 11 foot, 1900 empty, on a 68 F250, 85 C20, 79 F2504x4, 85 K20 4x4 with no problems. Sway bars really helped the 85 K20 4x4. It was pretty squirlly without. I ran thru Yosimite and various mountain roads with no issues other than herrondous gas mileage . It got old and crusty so I trashed finally. Surely I would think a 2500 would be capable of the same. I recall reading here a fellow running a huge overhead, Think it was 5000 lbs on a 1 ton. Thats heavy. From what I read the camper weight your lookin at is pretty light.

 

I had a 3500 lb 10' slide-in on my 2500 for 4 years w/ no problems.........I did need the airlift bags, rear swaybar and Rancho RS9000 shocks to make it drive well, though.........It was over GVWR, but the truck handled it easily.........I would suggest a good quality load range E tire that will safely handle the weight if you are not already so equipped.

 

I had a 11.5 extended cabover on my truck with no problems. Raising and lowering is a bit slow goings with my truck height but it was a killer camper. I have a picture of it in my gallery.

 

your biggest problem is overloading the tires. Add about 2000# to the sticker for real life.

 

You'd be pushing it....

Good rule of thumb is any camper 10 foot or longer should go on a dually.

Your 2495 lb weight tag is the dry weight for a base model camper, and are notoriously incorrect.
Any options, and personal gear inside will increase it considerably.

With 2 feet hanging off the back of the truck, you'll be real close to overloading your rear tires.
Get it on a truck scale and weigh each axle. Don't exceed the weight stamped on your sidewall X2 on that axle.

Go to the forums at www.rv.net to the 'slide in' section, and do a search on Fleetwood.
Fleetwood quit making truck campers, and the older ones exhibit MANY serious problems.
The forums will give you a good idea what to look for when buying a used truck camper.

Good Luck!

 

I used to have a 10' camper. I hauled it all over the place and even once went fron northern Mn to Branson Mo and back with no problems at all. Even averaged 15 mpg for the trip!!
Tom

 

I know the truck will handle the weight of a 10' camper pretty easily. As some of the other guys mentioned, look at your tires and make sure that they are up to the task. Air bags will make a huge difference in the side-to-side sway and road handling. The airbags with an onboard compressor also makes leveling at the campsite much easier.

Two of my hunting/fishing partners have 2nd gen 2500's with campers that are in the 2500-3000lb range (10.5' and 11'). They've been using them for the last 5 years with no problems.

As far as I know Fleetwood only made the Angler, Elkhorn, and Caribou models of camper. That Tracker is either a re-badged version of those or made by someone else.

 

I would scale your truck to figure your GVW. I have a 2000 10' fleetwood Elkhorn. It's sticker says it weighs 2950, but they don't calculate in any add-ons such as electric jacks, stove, awnings, gear,etc. My Elkhorn scales about 3400 loaded with food, water, and clothes. I used to run it on a F250 with extra front springs and rear airbags and it never handled very well, especially with my boat on behind it. It's handles great on my 3500 DRW w/o airbags. IMO, you should stay below 2K on a SRW truck.

 

had a 93 gmc 3/4 ton with the 6.5 diesel.carried a older 80's 11' vanguard with no problems at all.but as others have mentioned make sure your tires are rated for the load your carrying!