Understanding GVWR and slide in campers for half ton trucks.

[billiebob]

For years I wanted a Yota like that...then I drove one and that desire quickly vanished...haha.

I had one til the chassis dissolved.
Had a 1st gen ForeRunner that dissolved too.

 

[billiebob]

"Answer me this future boy, who's president in the year 2020?"

View attachment 612475

Even with that sports betting book that guy would have been bankrupt just as often. How can you have a Casino in Atlanta and go belly up.

 

[D45]

I had 2400 - 2600 pounds in the 6.5' bed of my old F150

It handled the weight well and felt stable

However this was only for 20 or 25 miles

 

[ChasingOurTrunks]

My 1/2 ton truck came with a sticker that said "Vehicle not designed for slide-in campers" right in the glove box. But there are some light-weight options marketed towards half ton trucks; the most recent e-mail from ExPo featured the Scout Campers which as a shell come in at 900-ish lbs. I think FWC has some lighter options too that leave you with 800-900 lbs to spare.

Home

Escape the ordinary and explore off-grid with Scout Campers' lightweight, highly durable, and energy efficient campers.

www.scoutcampers.com

In my Silverado, that's still about half my payload gone just to the shell. Same would be true for a non-high payload F150 or Dodge. Depending on other accessories on your vehicle, like bumpers, winch, etc. and depending on how much you build out the shell, you still might be running into payload issues with a half-ton if you are travelling with multiple companions.

 

[rruff]

I met a guy with a regcab fullsize Tundra in Anza-Borrego with a very modest hard sided camper. 8ft flush Six Pac or something similar. He was very upset with the handling,braking,acceleration and with the trans constantly hunting. The salesguy said "no problem". They'll sell you anything.

Funny how opinions differ. I saw a guy a few years back with an enormous camper on a truck like mine (DC long); I don't think it had slides, but it was very big and full featured and had the drop down out the back that extended a few feet past the bed. Him and his wife lived in it full time; camping mostly dispersed on public land. Surely all loaded up they would have added 4,000 lbs are more to the truck? Compared to a 1,500 lb payload. The only upgrades were airbags and tires. He said he was happy with how it handled and drove.

 

[PJorgen]

Funny how opinions differ. I saw a guy a few years back with an enormous camper on a truck like mine (DC long); I don't think it had slides, but it was very big and full featured and had the drop down out the back that extended a few feet past the bed. Him and his wife lived in it full time; camping mostly dispersed on public land. Surely all loaded up they would have added 4,000 lbs are more to the truck? Compared to a 1,500 lb payload. The only upgrades were airbags and tires. He said he was happy with how it handled and drove.

What state was he in, denial?