Truck/camper combo

[DaveTN]

Does Lance or anyone else publish a chart that shows what truck you need for a particular camper? If this has been posted before and answered feel free to redirect me there, thanks!

For example, a Lance 850 could be loaded on a Ford ......, Chevy......, etc.

[KD4UPL]

Lance has a chart in their brochure but I wouldn't use it. They basically figure the truck will be a 2wd reg. cab gas engine with no options and no passengers.
If you want to haul a hardside camper you will need a 3500. If you want to haul a big hardside camper you will need a dually. If you want a big, multi slide camper even most duallys can be overloaded.
For the Lance 850 any SRW 3500 should work fine.

[Paul Beddows]

Depends on the year of the truck as well. Most have upped payloads in later years.

[elkhornsun]

Lance has downloadable brochures for current and past years' models. These provide a starting point and the brochures specify whether a model is designed for a short bed or a long bed truck.

Take the published weight and add 1000 lbs. to have probably load for the truck. Then check the payload rating for your intended truck. Most accurate is the GVWR for the truck as this is consistent for the most part and the payload often changes based on the wheels and tires and leaf spring used on the truck and all of these are easily changed.

The payload is calculated on the configuration of the truck as prepared by the factory. This calculation is based on the wheels and tires and suspension as well as the engine and gearing and drivetrain and the weakest link determines the rating.

A SRW 3/4 or 1-ton will handle the Lance 8'6", 9', and 10' campers. For the 11' foot models you will need a DRW truck and probably suspension modifications including axle stops, rear anti-roll bar.

Most trucks are sold with inadequate tires for heavy camper loads. Check and you will find that they are usually rated at 3100 lbs. or less and so they limit the rear end load capacity (6400 lbs. minus weight of empty truck on the rear is usually going to be about 3000 lbs. available for the payload/camper. There are after market tires that provide 3750 to 4100 lbs. per tire and greatly increase the safe payload capacity of the truck.

Often people are ignorant of the load rating for their truck's rear axle and wheel bearings. With GM 3/4 and 1-ton trucks it is 10,900 lbs. and same is true for most Ram trucks. Ford F-250 axles are rated at 8,900 lbs. and even these are not going to be the limiting factor for the payload the trucks can handle.

[DaveTN]

Originally Posted by elkhornsun

Lance has downloadable brochures for current and past years' models. These provide a starting point and the brochures specify whether a model is designed for a short bed or a long bed truck.

Take the published weight and add 1000 lbs. to have probably load for the truck. Then check the payload rating for your intended truck. Most accurate is the GVWR for the truck as this is consistent for the most part and the payload often changes based on the wheels and tires and leaf spring used on the truck and all of these are easily changed.

The payload is calculated on the configuration of the truck as prepared by the factory. This calculation is based on the wheels and tires and suspension as well as the engine and gearing and drivetrain and the weakest link determines the rating.

A SRW 3/4 or 1-ton will handle the Lance 8'6", 9', and 10' campers. For the 11' foot models you will need a DRW truck and probably suspension modifications including axle stops, rear anti-roll bar.

Most trucks are sold with inadequate tires for heavy camper loads. Check and you will find that they are usually rated at 3100 lbs. or less and so they limit the rear end load capacity (6400 lbs. minus weight of empty truck on the rear is usually going to be about 3000 lbs. available for the payload/camper. There are after market tires that provide 3750 to 4100 lbs. per tire and greatly increase the safe payload capacity of the truck.

Often people are ignorant of the load rating for their truck's rear axle and wheel bearings. With GM 3/4 and 1-ton trucks it is 10,900 lbs. and same is true for most Ram trucks. Ford F-250 axles are rated at 8,900 lbs. and even these are not going to be the limiting factor for the payload the trucks can handle.

Thanks, this all makes good sense! So the typical F 150 or similar truck is only suited for the smaller, lightweight 5th wheels?

[CD]

Originally Posted by DaveTN

Thanks, this all makes good sense! So the typical F 150 or similar truck is only suited for the smaller, lightweight 5th wheels?

Are you talking about a slide in truck camper or a 5th. wheel? Most of us think of a truck siide in camper when we hear "camper". A 5th wheel is usually refered to as 5er or 5th wheel. F150 would need a very small 5er.

[DaveTN]

Yeah, sorry I posted that thought in the wrong place!