mikelp Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I know this gets asked excessively, but here goes- Had a small motor home years ago and wanted something smaller for short vacations or events. I got a deal on a '94 Ram 1500. It was used to pull a trailer and has a transmission cooler and 10-ply tires. I got a 7 1/2 foot slide in and total unloaded weight is right at 7000 lbs. The door tag says GVR around 6800. It drives and handles well. The camper is held by bed pocket stakes. Am I doing a good thing? Thanks for any considerations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblscooper Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 NO, too much weight for a 1500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 If you are saying the total unloaded weight of the slide in camper is 7000# then you are way overweight. If you are saying the total unloaded weight of the truck and camper is 7000#, you are still overweight by at least 200# plus your weight, any items you bring with and fluid weights. You need to weigh the unit as loaded for travel with you and any other people in it, then start coming up with ways to lighten it so that it is below the GVWR rate which will be pretty hard to do if the unloaded weight already exceeds it. (Change steel bed to an aluminum flat bed?) So to answer your question, no you are not doing a good thing. You are making your vehicle unsafe by overloading it. Yes, it may drive fine in normal conditions, but what about in a panic stop, or panic stop while turning or on slick roads, etc...? It also currently looks like it is nose high so that could be an issue with headlight aiming. What about tire loads? Note for pulling a trailer you need to look at the GCVWR and hitch weights which might be a much better solution as you transfer weight to the trailer axles and if the trailer has brakes also helps the braking aspect out and may not have as high a center of gravity as the slide in camper. 2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch 2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you! Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/ for much more info on HDT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 Welcome to the Escapee forums! I hope that you become a regular here. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Greg Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 We have a 2014 F350 dually and it's payload capacity is just over 7000 pounds. If your slide in is 7000 pounds unloaded you are WAY overweight for a 94 1500 Ram. Greg Greg & Judy Bahnmiller Class of 2007 2014 F350 2007 HitchHiker Champagne Both sold 2/19, settled in Foley, AL after 12 years on the road http://bahnmilleradventure.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 WAY TO MUCH WEIGHT for THAT TRUCK. Just look at the picture you posted. The rear is squatting and your headlights are searching for bats. Is it April 1st already? 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legendsk Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 IMHO, it's not that bad. You should go over it very carefully trying to eliminate weight. Make a spreadsheet with items that it would be possible to remove with a weight estimate and see if you can get it down to 6,500 # or so and still be livable. Are all the camper tanks drained? Can you live with 10% of the pots, pans, skillets, griddles, etc.? Can you clean out 90% of the pantry contents? Extra furniture that can go away, chairs, stools, hassock, etc.? It should be pretty easy to get down below 6,500 #, but would you still enjoy living in it without that stuff? For not too much, air bags can be added that will level out the truck and help the handling. There are plenty of folks out there who go by the rule, No such thing as too much truck, but the world is filled with things far more dangerous than being at or even a little bit over the vehicle maximum ratings. F-250 SCREW 4X4 Gas, 5th NuWa Premier 35FKTG, Full Time, Engineer Ret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richfaa Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 The picture you posted says it all no comments necessary. Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 Time to look for a larger horse to tote the load. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbertalotto Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 It's all about tires, wheels and rear axle......You can do all kinds of suspension modifications to make a 1500 seem like a 2500/3500....But hit one good bump a near highway speeds and see what that 1/2 ton rear axle does.....and those LT truck tires are a roll over waiting to happen............How do I know.....years ago we never even thought about this stuff and we had terrible experiences... RoyB South of Boston 2021 Dodge 2500 - 6.4L Forest River 19RR Toy Hauler Roofnest Falcon Rooftop Tent www.rvbprecision.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbertalotto Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 OUCH! RoyB South of Boston 2021 Dodge 2500 - 6.4L Forest River 19RR Toy Hauler Roofnest Falcon Rooftop Tent www.rvbprecision.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 I'm sure there was a "Told ya" spoken there.... Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeBeFulltimers Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 WHOA! Extremely overloaded and unsafe. Use that 1500 for grocery runs. Fulltiming since September 1, 2010 2012 Ford F-350 PSD SRW Lariat Crew Cab 2012 Montana 3585SA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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