I am new to the forum although I have been lurking in the shadows for a while. I just purchased a 2005 Quad Cab 2500 with the CTD and 48RE. I am thinking about getting an older camper for short fishing and hunting trips with the grandkids. Might also use it for some overnight snowmobile trips. The wife much prefers motels and hotels when we travel, so I don't need anything fancy. I'm not adverse to a soft side model, but I probably can find a traditional one easier and cheaper. What do you think is the largest camper that I can carry with the stock spring setup? By the way, I love my truck. I have a Bully Dog Triple on the way.

 

First of all is your truck a long bed or short box. My inlaws have a 97' and theirs was a slide in camper. A very large one and they had no problems. I drove it a few times with the camper in it and it handled it with no problems.

 

He said its a short bed.....I am also interested in brands and sizes as well for a short box.

 

I have a 2005 Dodge 2500, 4X4 CTD. I have a 2006 Lance 845 Lite. Camper tag says 2400lbs, however, the general rule of thumb is to add another 1000lbs for water, and the stuff you carry in a camper. My truck weight 7560 with my and my GF and a full tank of fuel. I guess from that you can tell how far over weight I am. Airbags and a sway bar, pulling 3500lb boat, don't even know the camper is there.

 

My son would like to use an 8' slide in camper on his 2500 short box for a couple of weeks. The camper is about 1600lbs. How well will it handle the 8' camper? Will he need Timbrens? Does he need to keep his end gate on for the extra 20" or so to rest on?? Advice?

 

He shouldn't have any trouble if it onle weighs 1600lbs. I always kept my tailgate on when I had that type of camper. See below. He will need happijac or torklift, or etc hold down mounts on the truck to hold the camper on.

 

Thanks for the reply Dave. A great picture! Would it be hard on the camper or less stable without the endgate?

 

I don't think so, I hauled mine that way several times.

 

I had a Lance 820 (bigger than the 845) which is proabably one of the larger SB campers you'll find (8' 11") and although the space a ammenities were nice, driving with it was not so nice. I installed Timbrens to help the loaded ride sway and squat but I still felt I was over loaded. If had to do it over again I would go much smaller or even a pop up like above. Nothing worse than white knuckle driving and worring about a blowout doing 55-60 mph.

 

They are looking at 1600lbs, not 3000lbs+. 1600lbs on a 2500 should not even be a concern or need any suspension improvements.

Also, with airbags and a sway bar, I have no white knuckle driving. Mine drives and handles just fine.

 

I carry an old Sunlite that originally fit my Dodge Dakota. I modded it to fit my 2500 and it weighs about 1600 fully loaded. I can't even tell it is on most of the time unless I get a good crosswind. I bought it CHEAP about a year ago off dealer listing on RVtraderOnline.

 

My camper in 1641#'s posted dry weight. Add water, food and equipement for an extra 600-800 #'s and I can hardly feel it back there with all stock suspension, the truck sits level.

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That sits great! (The 2'nd gens had the overload springs on the 3/4 Ton, like the single axle 1 tons have now.)

 

The camper he's getting weighs 1600lbs. You remove the end gate, and it drops over the back. (8'4") I see the GVWR for the 2500 CTD,4X4 is only 9000lbs. Will he be ok with that camper? (Are Timbrens a good idea?)

 

He shouldn't have any trouble with that camper. I would say he doesn't need timbrens but it isn't going to hurt to have them if he wants a bigger camper later. Did they bump up the GVWR in the new 2500's cause mine is 8800 lbs?