Hi, new user but long time Dodge CTD owner. I currently have a 95 ctd 2wd and want to pull a 18 ft boat and pack a camper that has a dry bath likely with a slide. No offense to anyone that does that with a truck like mine, but I only have @1800lbs payload ... legally.

So we are looking at an auto dually 4X4 with 4 doors and the question I have is whether to get a megacab or not. If I have a large overhang will I be over payload? Do megas come long box?

My preference is to go dually quad cab @ 2005 which should give be lots of payload to carry say an Arctic Fox 1140 which will push close to 4000lbs wet.
Finding the right truck will be a challenge as I am in Vancouver BC and the selection is lean, overpriced, and often "hidden" ex-work trucks detailed as "one-owner"

Thanks a lot for your feedback and advice!
DC

 

Go to RV.Net to ask the question also. I'll bet that the 8' bed on a DRW is the consensus.

 

...."1800lbs payload ... legally."
Sounds like you have been hanging out on a RV website.

British Columbia size and weights regs says;
BC Division 7 — Size and Weight
Maximum gross weight for tires
7.15 A person must not, without an overload permit, drive or operate on a highway a vehicle loaded or configured so that the gross weight on a tire exceeds either

(a) the manufacturer's rated capacity for the tire, or

(b) the tire load specified for that vehicle or vehicle combination in Appendix B, C, D, E, F, G, H or I.

[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2006, s. 3.]

Maximum gross weight for axles
7.16 (1) A person must not, without an overload permit, drive or operate on a highway a vehicle loaded or configured so that

(a) the gross weight on an axle exceeds the manufacturer's rated capacity for that axle or for the brake or suspension system with which the axle is equipped, ...........(snip)"

As you see its the trucks axles/tires that determins your trucks payload. Now this doesn't mean you run down and have 19.5" or 22.5" semi wheels and tires installed and carry more weight. Your still limited by the trucks GAWR and in particular RAWR as its carrying the load. However some states/provinces (not all) require a truck to be registered at a certain weight or tonnage or ladin or GVW/etc.

IMO you have more capacity than you think but much depends on will your 2500 have the axle/tire capacity to carry the load you need.

 

A 3500 qc dually,8' bed will be the key.

 

05 QC LB DRW will be the way to go. Megacab long beds are custom made things, but they do have Crew cab longbed duallys. I thought my truck was long.
Get a rear sway bar too. Makes driving with that camper so much more enjoyable.

 

look at the weights carefully, the 1140 will most likely be over 4000 dry, and over 5000 to 5500 ready to camp, well over a dodge 1ton, and in the f550 range, just filling the water tank on that bugger is 500 lbs

 

I just installed a Hellwig swaybar and it provides a considerable improvement in handling with my popup. I'd get the Big Wig 1 5/16" one if I had a hard sided slide in.

 

I have a 05 4 door cab (not mega) 8 foot box, Dual Rear, 4x4m Auto. I had a huge camper in it 2900 lbs dry. Truck drove fine with is in the box. However it left dents in the box floor and box front. They just don't make things like they used to. Had it in a old 1/2 ton, no dents, to big but no dents. Any way if I was to do it again I would remove the rails on the camper floor to even out the load on the box so I would not get two nice rows of dents. I have not put the 05 on a scale but its GVW is 12200. Dumb number try to get a plate for 12200. I could go look for the GRVW if you would like to know what it is.