Truck Camper Decision (another weight thread)

[6.4LMegaMan]

My wife hit me with a good one the other day: maybe it's time to get that camper we've been talking about. Ok sweet. But she wants to be able to take the ski boat as well so that puts us in a truck camper which I'm happy with. I'm doing the math trying to figure out what max weight I should be looking at in the camper.

My truck is a 2016 2500 Mega cab Laramie with 6.4L.
Payload is 2,870lb.
Minus boat tongue weight of appx 500lb (boat on trailer is about 5k loaded) leaves me with around 2,300lb of manufacturer limited payload.

Looking at a hard side camper, even the smallest ones push the limit on my payload. For instance I like the Lance campers. A Lance 650 (their smallest) comes in wet at 1,903lb with standard options. The next one up is the 825 and is 2,155lb wet with standard options. I know I'll have added options on top of that along with weight of all our gear, food, bicycles, etc. Which will undoubtedly put us over payload limit.

Am I being too cautious not wanting to push this limit or are my concerns founded? I've had around 3.5k or so of gravel in the bed before and it was fine but a truck camper CG is much higher...

...On another note I did tell her if she's super serious about this I could step up to a 3500 CC LB SRW with Cummins/AISIN that is good for 4,330lb payload. It seems most people use the 2500 on bags and say "F that payload limit sticker" or you have to have a 3500. Thoughts?

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[NewBlackDak]

I would be more worried about axle ratings than payload numbers on any of the modern 2500s. If you’re not over, add some bags and call it a day.


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[MADDOG]

Payload also includes what's in the truck (fuel, people, gear) so you better factor that in to your calculations as well.

 

[ISellRams22]

look up over the axle camper weight calculater. campers on the axle dont use payload. i have to do it here at the dealership and rams are USUALLY rated for campers at 135% of payload. so take your payload 2870 and calculate 135% of that and you get around 3875. campers dont just go in your bed, weight is also distributed over your front axle as well as your cab. look up the calculater, i bet you come to a calculation of about 3800

 

[6.4LMegaMan]

look up over the axle camper weight calculater. campers on the axle dont use payload. i have to do it here at the dealership and rams are USUALLY rated for campers at 135% of payload. so take your payload 2870 and calculate 135% of that and you get around 3875. campers dont just go in your bed, weight is also distributed over your front axle as well as your cab. look up the calculater, i bet you come to a calculation of about 3800

I can't seem to find the website you're referring to. I did find one that you input all your parameters (www.visualsc.com/tc_calc.htm) and it's telling me I'll be over GVWR, which I already assumed, but I'd be way under GAWR.

It's the extra 500lb tongue weight of the boat putting me over.

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