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Pickups Pickups - Archived Discussions Cabover Campers & Camper Trailers (pickups) 
1377 messages, Last post on Nov 20, 2003 at 1:43 PM
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I am considering buying a short 24-26ft fifth wheel trailer and tow my 21 boat behind it. I am wondering if anyone has experince towing a similar triple, and what I should consider before I buy the 5th wheel. I know the truck can handle the weight (I expect total for 5th and boat to be between 10.5 and 12K lbs.) I am more concerned with overall length, sway on the highway, weight distribution, etc. BTW, my truck is a 96 Chev 1ton xcab 4wd dually with 7.4L and auto tranny. Thanks in advance for any input. |
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HI Mike -- Meeting for M/R would be great again. Would have to be the 23rd as I have to pick up the GKids on the 24th and we'll leave for OSH either Thru. Nite or Early (5am) Friday the 25th. Or how 'bout getting them to Go and Meeting at the Hangar. That way I could have Katchup on mine. Maybe a short ride or something again. If you get this before you have leave let me know. I carry Wk Cell 641-485-2122 nearly all the time so call me on that. loren / N1575V |
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Sorry I didn't get your reply until now. I got laid off on the 1st of July, and normally got to these boards from work. I couldn't get my vacation approved until the last minute - too much work - then I got laid off. Go figure! $45K severance takes some of the sting out of it - I wonder how much of that my good ole' uncle will want? We got to Iowa on the 24th, and made a family reunion on the 27th. Then off to KC so my wife could fly home (she made plans before my vacation finally got approved). I got home yesterday. I've got a couple of leads on jobs, but I kinda like the idea of staying home - at least for awhile. Later, Mike L |
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Sorry to hear that kind of news. We left for OSH on the 24th -- Sorry to have missed you. This company just closed down a plant in Connecticut after having it for 20 yrs. In our case, CEO Greed and duplicate product planning doomed it for the beginning. You can bet the CEO management group didn't miss a bonus over their stupid moves. Sign of the times I guess. Any immediate job opportunities? Loren |
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I just looked at a Lance 1161. This model had a slide-out, 150 watt solar panel, 3.5kw generator and rear-view camera system. The salesman qouted me a price of $31,275. This is considerably higher than what I was expecting. For this price, I can buy a 28' to 30' fiver and have twice the room. Are these things really that expensive? I realize a certain amount of engineering takes place in a slide-in that does not in a travel trailer or fifth wheel, but this seems excessive. What do you think? |
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$31K seems like the dealer likes that Lance alot more than I do. For that much, you could get a very nice Airstream trailer. First, you could probably find a used Lance for less than 1/2 that price. Second, that camper probably will overload anything less than a 1 ton dually pickup. Double check the camper weight, add 500-1000 lbs for 2 people and supplies; then check the camper weight rating for your pickup. And don't let the salesman tell you it is OK for your truck! In some states and provinces they will weigh you and stop you from driving if you are overweight! Mike L |
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That's what I thought as well. It'll be interesting to see how long that camper sits there. Overloading, OH YEAH!!!!! The salesman told me a wet weight of 3,900 lbs, which surprised me a little considering I used to own a slide-in that weighed just under 3,000 lbs completely loaded. My dually weighs in around 7,900 lbs with me and the family, all the other stuff and a full load of diesel. That camper would put me 600 lbs over. Then I'd have to add all of our food and camping gear. I'm estimating in the end approximately 1,500 lbs over GVWR. IMO, I'd really need an F-450 to haul that camper. BTW: The salesman told me my truck would handle it just fine. |
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inside the jockey box on my 02 gmc 1500 extnd.cab long bed, 4wd.it says not rated for slide in camper. my question is ,it is a 1/2 ton p.u., why can't it carry a camperthat is about 1200 lbs. thank you. |
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There is an option package that certifies the truck for a slide-in camper. This package, amongst other things, includes a larger front sway bar and the inclusion of a rear sway bar. A slide-in camper raises the center of gravity of the vehicle requiring extra measures to reduce the amount of body roll. There are some items you can add to make the truck safe for slide-in camper use. Install a larger front sway bar, a rear sway bar, heavier shocks, and probably not a bad idea to look at a tranny cooler. Also, look at the tires on the truck. If they are a passenger car tire, such as "P26575R16", replace them with light truck tires. Those will have an "LT" in place of the "P" in the tire size. The reason is the higher load capacity of the "LT" tires. In addition, you may also need to consider a set of airbags to level the truck once the camper is loaded. Finally, and definitely the most important, which now that I think about it, DO THIS STEP FIRST. Look on the sticker on the inside of the drivers door frame. This sticker will have lots of info on it. Look for the GVWR number and the individual axle weight ratings. Weigh your truck with at least you in it and a full tank of gas, ideally you'll also want your significant other and any children and/or dogs with you to get a more accurate weight. Subtract the weight of the truck from the GVWR. The difference is how much the camper can weigh before you overload the truck. You mentioned the camper weighing 1,200 lbs. Is that the dry or wet weight? You need the wet weight. Add to that at least another 500 lbs for your food, clothes, water and other gear. Those axle ratings I mentioned earlier. Even if all that is under the GVWR, do not exceed the individual axle weights. In the end, I'll bet that you will be surprised just how much a slide-in camper weighs. Even the small ones. I just recently looked at a Lance 1161. This camper has a 12' floor, is nearly 20' long tip-to-tip, and weighs nearly 4,000 lbs. My 1 ton dually wont carry it without being over the GVWR. |
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Someone with some ingenuity. http://www.halturnershow.com/Mexican.htm |
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