Besides the legal issue with GVWR, which I don't have any issue with since in California, a single axle is allowed up to 18,000 lbs. (I talked to a "weight" patrol officer waiting at a metal scrap yard busting people for not have the rated tires and uncovered load.) I might have an issue in Oregon but I will be in Medford so it's just across the border.

So here are the numbers:

1997 2500HD which weights in at 6000lbs with full tank.

Lance camper which says 2400lbs on the sticker (I read somewhere this is fully loaded with 30 gals of water) so no water at 2200 lbs.

Car trailer (wood deck) ~2000?? + MR2 ~2500 lbs so 4500lbs total.

I weight 225lbs, wife is 1 lbs (haha, she will get mad if I write the actual #).

6000+2200+225+1+675 (15% of 4500) = 9,101 lbs so 301 lbs over 8800 GVWR.

Yes or No?

 

I had a self contained Lance, 8" on my '99 SRW truck for awhile and would not do it again. My truck came from the factory with the camper package and towing package (extra leaf spring, etc) and even after adding air bags, the camper was still too much for the truck on long trips. I went to a Starcraft, pop up, non self contained and the truck carried it like it wasn't there.

Just my humble opinion...........

 

My shortbed CTD handles a similar Lance OK, no camper package, with air bags. I don't drive over 65. Rig with water comes close to the 8800 limit. Then with the boat behind, it's over, but the tongue weight is only about 150 lbs (I can lift it). The truck handles that ok too. Must use Load Rate E tires.

 

I had the exact same truck with air bags, a 8' Lance camper and pulled a 16' flat bed with a Jeep TJ. The truck handled the load OK on the flats but struggled in the mountians. The biggest notiable effect was in braking. Even with trailer brakes, it still pushed the truck. Had to be careful in heavy traffic. Also, strong cross winds moved the truck around.

I bought a 10.5' Lance. The truck could not safely handle the larger camper. I went to a 1 ton Dodge diesel dually. There is no comparision between the two trucks. The new truck barely knows the camper is on it even with the trailer and Jeep behind it.

 

If the camper trailer combination required a hitch extension in the receiver I would not do it. An Exhaust brake would help on the highway.

Years ago I had a 12ft camper and flat towed a small Cadillac. Braking was a major issue. Only did it once.

 

I've had my Lance camper for 3 years now and I have no problem with it on the back of the truck. The longest trip I took with it was Death Valley NP last thanksgiving which was 10 hrs ~ 500 miles trip.

My lance camper is 9'10" so it would need a two feet extension but I do have a Reese titan class v hitch.

I have E rated (3195lb) tires (3rd rims with stock tires) and an exhaust brake.

I am under the impression that a 2500 with 5 speed and camper package is the same as a 3500 but just on a SRW. (Besides the higher GVWR stick and tax each year.) What I have read over the years says it's the same frame, same front brakes (3500 have larger rear), same rear end (besides the hub extension, mine is a Dana 80), same helper springs and same sway bar.

If the difference is only a sticker that says ... XXXX GVWR!

I will probably do a test run around the area to see how it feels for before driving 7hrs ~ 400 miles.

 

Plus any other stuff you take with you, you might be 1000-1500 lbs over your GVWR by the time you´re ready to go. I´d say you get airbags for your rear axle and be done with that.

 

We were travelling south on I-15 in the Vegas area last April. We had some pretty stiff winds. The srw trucks w/hardwalls were all over the road. The duallys were like the Rock of Gibralter. My popup is the max I'll ever carry. I've gotta sleep at night.

 

If you have never driven a dually (particularly with a load like you are describing), you don't know what you are talking about. On paper you might be right, but with your butt in the seat, there is NO comparison. The dually is much more stable, much more comfortable, and much safer. I doubt I will ever go back to SRW (even though the dually is a PIA to drive around town and more expensive to own and maintain).

You can "get away" with what you are describing, but you're right...you're pushing the upper limits!

 

Being on the road for a living, I have seen a bunch of SRW trucks with truck campers. If there is any wind they are always wandering all over the road, and constantly fighting the truck will just make for a miserable time on the road.

Myself I made the mistake of going from a dually to a 3500 srw truck in 06, and I hated it. The stability difference was unreal. I traded back to a dually 3 months later.

 

Here's my rig from when I moved a couple months ago. I was loaded heavy (rolled the scales at 17,600) but it handled it fine, wouldn't wanna run that heavy all the time tho, had 6800 on the rear axle. I had the airbags at 60 lbs. Just ordered my sway bar last night, so hopefully that'll make it even nicer.

Brian

 

My first CTD was a 1992 first gen 3/4ton with airbags. Carried an older Skylark camper and pulled an 18ft car trailer with my lifted Jeep Cherokee on it.

Handled good but was a bit slow on hills. When the winds were bad I did slow down but I don't EVER remember white knuckling it or having a bad experience. Been thinking about dumping the dually and going back to a SRW.

 

Been there and done that myself. Will not do that anymore.

 

There are those who always buy a 4WD truck. A 2WD is unsuitable. When they put a camper on a 4WD the center of gravity is significantly higher than the same camper on a 2WD. I bought my 2WD specifically to have a lower CG, and have no trouble hauling my camper.

In general, in this thread, the SRW+2WD trucks are reporting less trouble than the SRW+4WD with their campers. I believe this is due to the lower CG. What do you think?

I do agree that a dually is the best solution. I could get a bigger camper.

 

It not about GAWR, GVWR, GCWR.. its about what your tires can hold! 3rd gens are good for 6390lbs on OE rims/tires... I don't recall the company but I have only found 1 that offers rims stronger than stock, there are lots of tires that exceed 3195, but if the wheels don't then it doesn't matter.

DRW and SRW have the same frame, brakes, springs are within 10% on the rate.. they don't sway because the tires aren't max'd out!