Recommended Trucks for Campers
In general, truck campers are best carried by North American pickup trucks
because of their size. However, a number of companies that manufacture campers
have begun producing campers that can be carried by the lighter duty European
and Japanese pickup truck models.
The size of the camper that can be carried by a truck is determined by the
truck's gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR. The payload that a pickup truck may
carry legally is the GVWR less the truck's weight when it is fully occupied and
has a full tank. The stability of a camper may be improved by adding a sway bar
and overload springs as well as inflatable airbags placed on the rear
suspension. Campers are rated at their "dry weight." Dry weight refers to the
camper's weight minus any fluids (e.g., water and sewage) and anything else in
the camper that can add to its total weight. All these things need to be
considered when determining the maximum size of the camper that a truck can
carry. Tires and the truck's braking capacity are two more important things that
need to be considered when determining a pickup truck's maximum payload. They
are vital in terms of safety. A truck's total axle capacity is always more than
its GVWR.
There are a variety of pickup trucks: Dual Rear Wheels (DRWs) and Single Rear
Wheels (SRWs); long bed and short bed; diesel and gas; 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton
and up. In terms of payload, a DRW provides more stability for the camper
compared ot the SRW. However, the DRW tends to get stuck in sand or snow rather
easily. It can also be difficult to drive if the camper is off. Obviously, a 1
ton truck carries more than a 3/4 ton truck; a 3/4 ton truck carries more than a
1/2 ton truck. Compared to a truck with a gas engine, a truck that has a diesel
engine tends to have more torque and better hill climbing capability. A diesel
engine truck also is more efficient in terms of fuel consumption although it may
cost higher than a gas engine truck. Long bed trucks are recommended for most
campers. It is vital that a truck camper's center of gravity is found forward of
the rear axle and a long bed truck easily accomplishes this. There are RV
manufacturers that create campers for short bed trucks.
To increase a pickup truck's carrying capacity and safety, 19.5-inch rims could
replace the standard 16-inch wheels in most pickups. The bigger rims tend to
handle higher load rated F and G Class tires instead of the E Class tires. F and
G Class tires have more plys and are usually stiffer. However, these tires are
not recommended for driving in sand or snow. Vision and Rickson are two
companies that produce 19.5-inch rims for pickup trucks. |
