Truck campers and towing CD 25

thataway · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

We are familiar with the V 10--have it in the RV we have towed the boat with. We have 63,000 trouble free miles on it. The single rear axle V10's in long beds are very scarce. We have not seen any--there are duallys with the V10 but they are rare also in our area. Definately the Camper with be light weight. If we have a 1500 lb camper, and 750lbs tongue weight, this still leaves us with 1250 lbs capacity in the 3/4 ton. Looking at the Ford SRW one ton it will have an additional 1100 lbs over the 3/4 ton.

Interestingly I had the worst dealer experience at Ford. I had sent in for an "internet quote"--didn't get one, but a call and E-mail to make an appointment with the sales manager. I had a "confirmation number" which was to have all of my information. I spent 20 seconds with the "sales manager"--until I was shunted to a salesman, who had no clue about what we wanted. He didn't know where the stock was, kept us waiting while he went back to get the only 2500 truck they had in stock--and it was a 6 foot bed! He then showed us 3 duallys, including one which was in the body shop, and one which was V10, with a short bed--each time we were left sitting for 10 to 15 minutes in his bull pen, while he "confirred" with the manager. The Chevy dealer had a truck waiting for us--and found several others in a matter of minutes..Guess who I would be more likely to buy from?

This truck will only be driven 5,000 miles a year max--and serve as my "condo" in Calif--as the Road Trek as done in the past. The towing is to avoid driving either my Excursion or the RV out so we can do a trip like Lake Powell. It is considerably more expensive to drive across the US, plus takes at least a week longer (consider wear and tear on the body and soul).

Thanks. My chinese Fortune cookie--says "Look to good friends for help this week!"

Sam Walker · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

Flyer wrote "For a new gas rig there is only one truck out there with what would be considered a big engine and that is the Ford V10 which has of late been getting very good reviews."

What happened to Chevy's 8.1L V-8 that is being used in the Workhorse MH Chassis? Isn't that still GM's big gas motor for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks? Disgust

thataway · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

From what I saw at the Chevy dealer, the 6 liter gasser with a 6 speed transmission is the engine used on the HD gas series currently. Then you jump to the diesel. The Work Horse chassis I think was spun off--not know the relation with GM at this time--but they certainly do use the GM 8.1 in RV's still. A little looking on the internet shows that there were still some 8.1's used in 2007 pickups, but the 2008 brochure shows the 6.0 gasser as the biggest.

thataway · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject:

I did find a used (2005, 36K) Dodge Diesel, single rear wheel, short bed--no long beds around).

My daughter measured the gate at 100 inches. The campers all seem to be 98" wide with the camper jacks attatched.

Are there easily removiable camper jacks? The campers themselves are 86" wide--and the 7" on each side is plenty. The dually seems to be out--since the jacks have to have an extension which makes them over 102" wide on the front jack to clear the dual wheels.

This takes us back to the Class B vans--even the widened ones are only 9" wider than what I have currently. If I was just towing on the level, I would be temped to try the 1993 Dodge 3500 which I own--It would be slow, and the hitch probably would have to be re-enforced.

Thanks again for all of the comments.

Ron Cowan · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

Bob, The front jacks on my Lance camper rotated out to clear the dually fenders. The security feeling of an extra rear tire drove me to the dually and I never regreted the decision. In spite of a light camper you really have the feel of something up top and on the back. Ron

thataway · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

I am tending back toward the class B's again. There is a nice Pleasure Way 20 footer which has the Ford V10 engine. With the change out of the hitch and rear gear ratio it will tow 10,000 lbs--also has air bag suspension.

You certainly have a point about the weight--At least on the Dodge Dually I would only have 2" clearance thru the driveway gate--even without the camper jack problem. How much width is there in the Lance with the front jacks swung in? I had wondered how one got by the 102" legal width--but the mirrors on my Class A (and the awnings) stick out to make the total width closer to 124" total width, so I had figured that the jacks just stuck out. Makes far more sense to have the jacks swing in.

Doryman · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:20 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

The unit comes with a class III hitch--as do many trucks and vans, no matter what their towing capacity is. For example the stardard chevy 2500 comes with a 5000 lb hitch--same with Ford. A class IV hitch (bolt on) is capable of at least 10,000 lbs tow capacity and tongue weight of 1000 lbs. A Class V hitch (2 1/2" box) is good for up to 15,000 lbs and 1500 lbs (weight distributing hitch--which I am using),.

My concern is the frame--Ford rates these basic frames for 10,000 lbs towing capacity.

Then it boils down to the GVWR (Gross Vehicular Weight Rating)--which is 9500 lbs for this van chassis. The only actual vehicular weight I found was about 8100 lbs. The problem is that this is only a load carrying capacity of 1400 lbs. (Road Treks appear to have a better shot here--and weight of 7700 lbs full of liquids (gas and water) and two 150 lb passangers come in a 7700 lbs, with GVWR of 9800 lbs, giving a load capacity of 2100 lbs. Now, one has to add in gear in the van, and tongue weight (750 lbs).

The Ford specs give a towing capacity of the excell of 10,000 lbs The Gross Combined Vehicular Weight Capacity is 14,500 (vs 16,000 for the Chevy--Road Trek). If the truck weight is 8500 lbs--this would leave only 6,000 lbs tow capacity...so it would be marginal, or under. (Again, your question did force me to actually look up the capacity--rather than take the work of the factor rep. Based on these figures, it seems that the Chevy/Road Trek offers a better towing capacity. (Lets say the loaded truck weight is 8000 lbs, then this leaves a tow capacity of 8,000 lbs.)

As for the rear end-the stardard rear end is 3.73 gears. The factory rep stated that wtih the 4.10 gears, and the V 10 engine, that the towing capacity is 10,000 lbs. (do people tow over the capacity--definately yes--but not a good idea.
As for brakes; I don't see that as a problem, since I have dual disc brakes--and may well go from surge to electric over hyraulic considering the van--which I had been considered anyway. The only real concern with brakes is panic stops. I have been driving big trucks in the mountains (High Sierra and other Calif. mountain roads for over 55 years. I rarely use the brakes going down grade (mostly using engine compression and slower speeds). Panic stops--one relies on good disc brakes, on both trailer axles.

Thanks for the questions, since it did make me re-examine the actual capacities as in the specs on the internet.

Casey · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:08 am Post subject:

While exploring through the archives I came across this thread and thought I'd bring it briefly to the surface.

Early in the thread there is mention of a tow hitch extension that one Brat uses. Then it dawned on me - I have one in my shop.

If anyone is interested, I have a rather long extension "truss" type extension that fits a SuperHitch manufactured by Torklift. I used it to tow the CD22 when we had the camper on the truck.

We no longer have the camper - so don't need the extension to tow the CC23.

If anyone's interested; contact me.

Best,
Casey

duff · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:21 am Post subject: truck

Hi bob about your question about the 2500 if your going to have a camper and pull you boat go with at least a one ton dually. I had 11 foot lance camper with my boat and it was plenty for the dually took it to florida. did fine friend had 2500 chevy the wind accross the midwest about wreck him a couple of time. so the balance with the camper is what will get a 3/4 ton, plus if you ever blow a tire dually is safe like twin motors on your boat.I have a 1 ton now single wheels and for the camper dually is way better. check out the lance camper in montana there very popular. Duff

duff · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:34 am Post subject:

Bob we have a v10 in a one ton 4x4 work van and also a dodge with the cummins the ford is a great rig its given us good service but it will not pull even close to the cummins my chevy with the big block gas wont pull with either one of the other two. its hard on gas and lite on power. hope that helps
Duff

Flyer · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

The 8.1 is gone. I was surprised that it was available as late as 2007, my understandings was that 2006 was its last year, it must in in some of the GMC Classics.

We had an 8.1 in our Suburban and its my favorite towing engine. We now have a GMC Duramax and its a good rig. Right now its hard to find an 8.1 pickup with low mileage. We found the current truck equipped the way we wanted at a price that was exception and so we now have a diesel.

A properly equipped 6.0 could be a very good tow vehicle.