Steve034x4

I'm planning on putting a 4000 lb (loaded weight) camper on my SRW 1-ton. Sure I'll be over my sticker GVWR, but to be safe, I'm adding an extra leaf to the main pack and a 5 pack overload set up that will kick in about the same time the Timbrens do. I also have 19.5's on order and will get the 'H' rated tires to boot. All this before I take delivery of the camper.
I checked with our DOT folks and there is no practical way for an individual to upgrade/recertify their vehicle - only manufacturers do that in reality (and some trucking firms for the big rigs). Each province in Canada has it's on reg's and they range from "DOT sticker compliance legislation" in B.C. to "just check the tire rating and multiply by 4". Consensus that I've been able to find is that if you're knowingly going to be over your limit, make sure you have done your homework, get your vehicle safe, and drive reasonably. Folks I've talked to that have the bigger slide-in's (this web site, RVnet, etc.) say that a 10' slide-in is max rule of thumb for a SRW. There's a 50/50 split in those that say "you should be OK", and those that say either "get a dually" or "get a fiver". No one will put it in writing, but those I've talked to with real world experience say that properly modified, I should be OK.
By the way - my insurance company knows what I plan on doing and verbally says "no problem".... hopefully I'll not have to ever call them to find out!

Patrick Campbell

Steve I think you're doing the right thing. a 4000# camper with regular tires would be pushing the tire limits. You may very well even be under the limits, but it'd be close with the 17's. With the 19.5's you'll be way under. Which 19.5's are you going with?

Steve034x4

njoverkill, I'm going with the Michelin XDE-MS 245/70/19.5's. I need the "M&S" as we have winter up here, and they give me the 'H' rating which is a bit of overkill, but I'd rather have a tire rated at 4900# than the OEM supplied 3200# tires. This will give me some 9800# capacity on the rear axle (based on tires). Unloaded my rear end weighs 3200#, so so adding the camper should not be a problem as I'll have a safety margin of some 2600#

Patrick Campbell

Are you getting the Rickson's or the Visions or other wheels? Enjoy them!

Steve034x4

Going with the Rickson's - expensive but Rickson has a good reputation so I've heard and I've bought from them before.
I'll also put a lock and cable on the spare - I had my OEM full size stolen sometime in the last two weeks. Not sure it's worth the insurance claim given that I have new ones on order. No damage, someone just lowered the spare, rolled it away, and raised the cable so I didn't notice until I was looking underneath at the new springs.

xp8103

Had to go to the dump Saturday to unload a bunch of old carpeting from a friend's house. We had 310 pounds of the old stuff on there. But better, after hitting the scales unloaded, we did some quick math and estimated my unloaded weight to be around 6800 pounds with half a tank of fuel. That is minus he and I, the 160 pounds of sand and my FG cap.

RamDan03

I picked up a load of 2'x2' 8000psi concrete pavers this evening. They totaled about 5200lbs in the bed. The truck accelerated and braked fine, however the suspension was riding on the bump stops. I also heard some squeeling/moaning from the rear end. I'm not so sure these axles are meant to handle quite this much weight directly over them unless it was the bump stops making the noise.

Patrick Campbell

The axles are meant to handle that much weight fine! IT's an 11,000# or 10,000#... could be the leaf springs or bump stops couldn't handle it. 5200# in the bed is way over your tire limits.

RamDan03

Yeah, the tires were the one thing that worried me more than anything. The tires are only rated for 3195# a piece at 80psi. So that gives be a total of 6390# for the rear. It wasn't a long trip and I don't normally haul that heavy. I also went to AAM's website and noticed that the 11.5" axle is rated for a little over 10,000#, so that's definitely not an issue.