Callen camper weight

[Terrainist]

Hello, I have a question that has concerned me for sometime.

I am about ready to put a Callen cabover on my '93 Dodge longbed. Some trucks end up with deformed beds with use from what I have gathered in my research. The campers (800-900 lbs) rest on the bed rails and over time start to crush the bed of the truck.

I don't want to reinforce the bed of the truck. I am hoping to be able to put it on the truck and call it good without doing that.

So, I guess the question is, can I put the camper on there and chances are it will be fine?...or is it too heavy?

I would greatly appreciate any input regarding this subject as it is time to do something with the truck. Thanks

 

[bat]

Callens are heavy but I have never seen that before on a truck.If it fits right some of the weight is resting on the bottom of the bed by the tailgate. I know a few friends with them and many Baja miles with no problems.

 

[Terrainist]

Thanks for the reply, that's encouraging. I have read testimonials found from internet searches saying folks have had their truck bed deform. Specifically, I recall a guy saying his bed deformed on his Dodge. Said his old Ford had no problem with it but the Dodge couldn't take the weight. And it was an older Dodge he had it on too, like mine.

I also recall some people saying the newer truck beds, the composite ones, can't take the weight. And I recall some people saying they had to reinforce their truck beds to take the weight.

However, I do know that people drive them all over Baja and I have to think (hope) that if there were a major problem with the fullsize longbed cabovers there would be more complaining about it. It's the biggest and heaviest cabover, near as I can tell, that I will be putting on my truck. So I don't want to waste my time and damage my truck if I can help it. At this time I am leaning towards putting one on.

Anything anyone has to say about it is appreciated.

 

[theMec]

Terrainist, before I bought my Callen, I researched quite a bit also. I read about Fords having issues w/ deformed bed rails but don't remember seeing Dodge problems.

Scott Callen told me the one I have weighs 500#. His cousin, who installed it said 550#. Mine is a short bed though and not a sleeper height cabover. (Check the link in my sig for pics) We sleep on benches in the bed. I have driven mine in moderate 4x4 terrain w/o problems.

There's a few other guys here that have/ have had Callens (Rynosurf and Fish) on newer Dodges
BUT
it sounds like you have an 1st gen dodge so you really want to talk with donnyh. He has a 1st gen longbed just like you. He bought an 800# Belair camper w/ a rack. Good guy to talk with, I think.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=277378#post277378

He certainly has had his problems w/ Callen but others, including me, have bought Callens since then. Callen's builds are slow. You have to bug them. If you're local, you can just swing by.

 

[rynosurf]

The Callen on the Dodge was a friends not mine, it had a floor so the weight is distributed better. If you get full length doors they are framed and will transfer some weight to the bed, If you are that concerned about it I'm sure they could add something to the front. It wouldn't be hard for them to weld some 1" square tube down from the camper rails in the front with some flat stock feet that you could bolt to the bed floor, Might help a bit and would keep the camper level if you ever had to take it off.

 

[Terrainist]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have read donnyh's write ups, he has the same truck as mine. He hasn't posted in a couple of years I think, but he had a relevant application. His camper and rack weighed in the 800lbs range without a kayak or anything on the rack. I may try sending him a PM, see if he can tell me anything.

I will be going with a used Callen camper due to my budget. So, dealing with Callen's build time won't be an issue. Finding one for sale that will fit my truck properly might be problematic, we will see. I called Callen at some point within the past six months, they sell used ones sometimes. And used ones show up on CL for sale from private parties sporadically. Heading into the spring and summer seasons, it may become slim pickings.

The worst case scenario I am trying to avoid is having to pull the bed of the truck off and reinforce the underpinnings. Taking some of the weight off the rails and redirecting it to the floor is more doable if I have to, but I don't want to have to mess with that either. We shall see.

If anyone else has anything to say about it, I am all ears. Thanks.

 

[rynosurf]

I'll keep an eye out for you in San Diego. Where do you live, and will you travel for a camper? Enclosed model OK or shell only? Price range?

 

[Terrainist]

Thanks ryno. I live in the Phoenix area and I will travel to San Diego, had pretty much planned on having to do it. I'm looking for a shell only, cabover, radius windows, double doors. Having seen them for $400 - $1200, that's about all I want to spend.

Window placement in the sides of the shell vary. I prefer higher than the midpoint, but right in the middle might have to do. Can't get too picky.