Fabulous resource for valuable "must-have" information. The time to learn these things is BEFORE you buy your truck. Viewing this video should be REQUIRED for anyone planning to buy a camper OR a truck to carry a camper.

I just bought a 2018 Ford F-350 diesel dually long bed. I had Hellwig swaybars installed in front and rear. I had "suspension airbags" installed (Air Lift 5000) with an on-board air compressor. With all that said, I have a Lance Camper 850. My Ford truck payload capacity is 5,500 pounds. The Lance 850 is rated at 2,500 pounds dry weight. I figure my 50 gallon diesel tank adds 350 pounds when full (diesel ways approximately 7 pounds per gallon). 30 gallon fresh water tank adds 240 pounds (8 pounds is the weight of a gallon of water). I am 250 pounds. Added up: (a) camper = 2,500 pounds, (b) diesel tank full loaded = 350 pounds, (c) 30 gallons of fresh water = 240 pounds (d) me = 250 pounds (e) on again / off again girlfriend = 110 pounds.......all that adds up to = 3,450. Plus another (????) 1,000 pounds of stuff (generator, tools, food, propane tanks, etc) and my payload is 4,450 pounds. Everyone told me the dually was "too much, too difficult to drive, and I didn't need that much" and a F350 was "too big and too much power" for what I needed. However, one time I heard a guy say, "buy more truck than you think you will need." I am glad I did. I am only 1,000 pounds from my payload capacity.

I'd rule out a dually if you plan on doing a lot of off-roading with the truck camper. Larger rocks can get lodged in between the rear tires.

As a owner of a larger truck camper . There's a night and day difference between a diesel and gas truck. The torque makes a huge difference . On top of reliability longevity and fuel cost. I will never go back to a gas truck .

Sharing this vid with a friend who says my need for a 1T dually to haul a 4000LB wet camper as well as personal gear and passengers is excessive. IMO I'll be approaching 5000LBS loaded, that's 1000LBS more than my car LOL. Im looking at my first truck, and it's gonna be a doozy, but I'm not an idiot, this vid simply confirms and answers so many of the questions you need to know to do this kind of thing safely. Happy trails!

Outstanding safety information! Keys to have on the front end while shopping for a truck and camper. This one video could literally save people thousands of dollars and physical injuries. Thank you for sharing! Subscribed. 🙌

Can't thank you enough for this. I have been going a bit cookoo on figuring this exact subject out.

I bought a Laramie 2500 to tow my fifth wheel and it was in the garage most of the time. I switched for a 2019 Super Duty F-350 and I love it. Way more power than I need. I am very happy with my Ford. Have no problems at all

GREAT points!! I added this video to my "favorites" for future reference.

One factor to consider is what KIND of camping you're doing. Spend a lot to time on the beach in sand? Sometimes deep sand? Single-rear-wheel. I know, I know.......You can get 'offroad' tires for a Dooley.......but really the 350/3500s you see at places like the outer banks are all single-rear wheel. Roadbound and campsites??? Sure......Dooley can get you pretty much anything out there.

One ton diesel Dually -- buy it if you can and you will not need to upgrade later. I have a 2007 Ram 3500 dually with the 5.9 diesel. Bought it used in 2009 no regrets.

All the research I “thought” I had done, out the window. Thanks for sharing your insight and opinion, they’re ones that matter tremendously in this case. What a great video.

Very solid, vital info... This should be must viewing for newbies and many TC owners. I had to aquire this info piece by piece. This vid is a one source deal...! Well done.

Thank you. Very helpful. I knew a bit about this but not nearly enough. So glad I saw this before I bought anything. Awesome timing.

Thank you! I have the camper, but needed info on the type of truck to get. Everyone else seems to focus on the campers for a truck someone already has. I appreciate you taking the time to focus on the trucks needed for a camper one may have/be considering.

Really thorough review of truck size and camper adds. I will bookmark this so I can review it again. Thanks for posting.

I know you did this three years ago but maybe you will read this I am considering going truck camper, but after watching this it looks like I'm going to have to go dually tires. You gave me a lot of food for thought and I certainly do appreciate it I hope you get to read this. Have a great day and stay safe.

I've been watching/subscribed to your channel for a few weeks. I just want to thank you for all the great info you share. I watch all your new videos and also go back when I have time to watch older videos. Most of all, I like your "attitude" about people. You truly want to empower people to help them to make the best choices for them and their families from the start. I've always been a geeky girl/now 60+ woman who grew up watching Mr. Wizard and I really appreciate your low key informative style which assummes everyone can learn something from your videos regardless of age, sex, or whatever. Before this video I watched your video where you helped out the gentleman in the semi with tanker who was stuck in the ditch. You handled that with tack and compassion and you made it very clear to everyone who watched the video that each of us should be always be treated with respect and to not be treated as a photo-op to be up loaded to KZfaq. Thanks, Barb

I appreciate the informative videos. I always check out what you have to say before I make any RV related decision.

Helpful information. Thanks, BTBR!

Instinctively I knew this, but you just reaffirmed my own thinking. This is the video I've been waiting for.

My main reason-dispersed camping in the National Forest. I hardly ever pay for a campsite. And in my state, there is no registration required and therefore, no taxes on a truck camper.

Thank you VERY much for the information. This was very helpful.

Man I miss gulf waters and that drive across Mustang Island. This is a great video. On our way home from Port Aransas we got hit with some 75mph gusts. I have a Jayco Eagle HT 34' weighed in at 10k and a pin weight of about 2K. I have a 2500 SRW with remote air bags. My truck handled it well but the Dually would have been nice in that situation. Also they claim these 5ers are 1/2 ton rated....I guarantee you if there was a 150/1500 pulling that in those conditions they would have been in the ditch or worse. These manufactures will try to market however they can and in reality it can place people in dangerous positions. Great video!

Really good insight into the safety risks (swaying, braking, tire blowouts, etc...) inherit in choosing, too light a truck for a truck camper. Don't have my truck or camper yet but advice literally makes me want to choose a 1 ton DRW even for a 2500 lb. camper just to acquire the stability and safety that comes with a less burdened truck.

Good video. This guy knows his trucks. Smart info.

Excellent presentation and discussion - Thank You for the information! The diesel/gas decision dilemma is getting tougher because heavier diesel engines may decrease payload capacity. So many variables to consider! 👍KJA

Very well spoken and very informative! Well done!

Thank you for such detailed information really appreciate it it was very thorough now I just have to figure out what truck I’m gonna buy because I’m gonna be pulling a horse trailer along with the camper sounds to me like I need to get a duly

You make some great informative videos man. I either learn something new or it gets me thinking on every one

You sold me on buying a HD dually if I buy a truck camper. Thanks for the tips!

Very informative, thank you!

Thank you...Great information and video! 😁

Excellent video thank you.

Thank you for clearing all that up for me.

Glad I bought my dodge 3500 brand new back in 01. 400,000 miles later still running great like new and carried my back pack camper great. Thanks for the video and info.

that was done of the best info I have ever heard on KZfaq. I am not handy with trucks , with houses yes, not trucks. so that was great info. you are the guru of truck info. thanks for sharing!

wow, i liked the way you explained everything. dually is definately the way to go. even with a light camper, the interior weight from water, food, personal belongings, the dually could handle most of it. very informative. thanks a bunch.

Valuable information! thank you. this hit hard on what I am deciding to do concerning buying a camper and not go passed the Max load rating. Your video took care of a lot of my questions.

Thank you for this info!!

Really great information here. Having had experience with a Ram 1500, we discovered that the actual weight of the camper was about 600 lbs heavier than advertised. The only thing you left out is my recommendation to stop at a certified CAT Scale and get the actual weights to compare both payload and rear axle rating. You did mention that some people who rig half tons do replace the stock tires with higher load capacity tires, but there are times when the wheels themselves are overloaded. We ended up upgrading to a 2500 and chose one of the lightest campers in the market (2180 lbs). I added an adjustable Hellwig sway bar and nothing else. We're about 400 lbs below the payload and rear axle rating fully loaded and the rig drives beautifully. You alluded to the additional weight of the diesel detracting from the payload and I found that the "trim levels" of the truck also reduce payload as the trim level goes up (electric running boards etc.) Payload on our 2016 Ram 2500 Tradesman 2WD, Crew Cab with the 6.4L Hemi is 3600 lbs.

Great video and solid advice. Thanks

thank you so much for all the great information!!!

Great information! Thank you so much!

Thank you. This was an excellent and informative video.

this answered many of my questions

Thank you very much. Just looking at getting into RV-ing and looking at truck campers, after looking at vans for a while. Right now, the truck campers seem to offer more options. Anyway thank you again!

Great Video! You covered a lot of Very Important information in a short period of time. A lot of Food for Thought!! Thanks!!

Great video! So helpful!

Nice job covering a complicated subject. My 1999 Chevy 3500 crew cab non dually has a sticker in the glove box that says not to exceed a 2000 pound camper. 1 ton truck with a one ton camper makes sense but from what I can tell everyone else's 1 ton trucks can haul a heavier camper. Easy fix would be to remove the sticker from the glove box lol j/k. I have a great camper from the 60s and it weighs 1200 but has no bathroom and I want a shower so I will look for a new truck. Thanks for your informative videos

This is great information...thanks for sharing.

Good day, I Really Appreciate this information, cause I've a ½ Ton Van, and was considering putting one of these on it.

Outstanding and invaluable information freely given. Thank you so much! No truck camper for me. Looking for a small travel trailer to pull behind a Tundra.

My take away here is you are going to buy a truck to haul a camper, dually trucks are the way to go you don't have to worry about going over payload specs and you can future proof if you want to up grade

Excellent video thanks so much for sharing

Well done! Thank you!

Awesome, just the type of info I was looking for, torn between a Grand Design 40' and a Host Mammoth 11.5

Thanks for the info‼️god bless you and your family‼️

If you want a truck camper, buy a dually long bed and save yourself from trading up once you learn truck camping is not about going light, where the trailer community advertise as 'light weight'. Truck campers are all about Payload and GVW. Folks need to do more research before buying trucks with intentions on buying a TC. Great job on your videos as always!

Thanks for that information.

good info. it's much appreciated!

Thank you for the video

Gah damn, I wanted to haul one of these truck bed camper things but my mother in law already has me sittin on the overload springs, not to mention she takes up all the room in the bed!

It is so refreshing to watch a video that explains truck payloads. I have owned six campers over a 40 year period and my latest camper an Arctic Fox, two slide is 4000 pounds dry and truly a Dually camper. I ordered my 2016 Silverado Dually with the 6..0 engine to get another 670 pounds of legal payload and my tire sticker shows I have a 5500 pound payload which I can overload if I completely fill my fresh water tank. The newer Duallys have really raised payloads. I had an 08 Duramax Dually I just loved but it only had a 3700 pound payload and I was almost a ton overloaded with my Arctic Fox on . I have had air bags on prior trucks I owned, I now use the stableload spacer blocks that engage the overload springs and IMHO , they are far superior to airbags. Too much air pressure in air bags give you a mushy ride. My 2016 Dually Crew Cab 4X4 6.0 gas has been great so far, handles the Arctic Fox very well, very little body roll and easily take curves faster than posted speeds. Thanks for a very good video.

I'm interested in getting a truck camper but I go back and forth between a single rear wheel (SRW) or dually 1-tons. The pickup will be my daily driver.

Great information!

Great info

Thanks for this video, it helped.

great video, thank you

Thank you, just starting to learn. What about removing the truck bed? I have seen others say that was the biggest game changer?????

Wow! You really "ruff" it camping!

Super helpful! Ty!

Good info. Thanks

Thank you! Much appreciated! It is a point. I didn't figure out that I need to compare weights, I just thought about length.

Great info, thanks

I remember once seeing a huge new camper on the back of a small early '90s Toyota truck. The rear was sagging so much that the bumper almost dragged on the ground, and the front was lifted so much that he almost couldn't steer when he hit a bump.

I TOTALLY knew where you were driving to because of the bridge, water and surrounding oh man i'm missing south texas

The other thing to consider is on a 2500 a diesel takes away 800 or so pounds of payload, sometimes more. My 2500 has a payload of 3100 pounds, so a diesel truck would only be at 2200 to 2300 pounds. So if you are dead set on diesel go up to a 3500.

Thanks again for the great videos. I was wondering where you get your testing information such as breaking, body roll or acceleration on trucks equipped with conventional, fifthwheel or slide in camper? And I'm talking all trucks in every class. I can't seem to find it anywhere where it says what you can or cannot haul or pull with a half ton or 1 ton and if they where actually tested for breaking or handling.

Love the video with all the great information and also I recognize that driving path being that I’m from Aransas Pass lol 👍🏿

Thank you for the info! I love your videos! You have taught me a lot about trucks and I just realized you have camper videos too! For about a year now I have been in the market for a truck to haul a truck camper that I am actually planning on living out of full time... I am still saving up and unfortunately have a strict budget, and I also have never considered myself to be a big truck guy so I really didn't like the idea of having to get a huge diesel or dually. After doing a ton of research on trucks and engines I decided for several reasons that gas is better for me, but with a gas engine, I think I definitely need the payload of a 1-ton because I only have an idea of what size camper I want. Now that I've heard your 2 cents, I am worried that I need to get a dually! 2 questions about duallys... 1. I will be doing a lot of snow driving and driving to and from mountain ski resorts. I've always had the impression that duallys are less ideal for off-roading and snow. Are they less ideal for winter driving? 2. Do they get worse fuel mileage than their SRW counterparts? I'm going gas so I don't want to get killed on my MPGs. Thanks for all your wisdom!

Great video as usual. Your editing is really top notch as well.

Thanks for the excellent information BTBRV! I just wanted to add, that when trying to determine if your truck will be able to accommodate a particular camper, be sure to read the fine print on the manufacturer's site. Many will specify a dry weight without options. For example, the Northwood Arctic Fox 865 is listed as 2,641 lbs but that doesn't include the 595 lb mandatory fox value pack. One also needs to add the estimated weight of cargo as well as water (8.3 lbs per gallon) and propane (60 lbs typical) to determine a realistic total. Even a non-slide camper like the Arctic Fox 865 can easily be about 4,000 lbs fully loaded.

If you order the Payload Package on a Ford F150, it is rated for about 2700 lbs of payload. The package gets you beefed up springs, wheels and tires, a bigger diff, and an oil cooler. That is a "half-ton" pickup that may be an exception to your rule, if the buyer of the camper keeps the weight of the unit down.

I have a 2016 RAM 3500 Diesel Dually with a Northstar 12 STC camper. I weighed the unit at a CAT certified scale with only me aboard and nearly full payload with fuel, water supplies and it weighed 13,150 lbs. The RAM is rated at 14,000 GVWR so if I had 3 passengers I would be pushing closer to my limit. The Northstar from the factory was measured at 3641 lbs dry, but when load can be quite a bit more. I am glad I bought the dually and recommend all to be aware of their payloads with respect to GVWR.

Just to back up what was said: I have a 3/4 ton Dodge diesel crewcab 4x4 w/towing gear ratio...To haul Lightest Lance camper #1840 dry, I need overload springs (to simulate 1-ton), large sway bar, air bags and load H 19.5 tires and it is still a handful to drive for any emergency maneuvers ....plus weighs 11,700 when actually loaded to camp.

thanks for good information

Very informative. Thank you. I am a new subscriber.

EXCELLENT! I have a half ton Silverado...max load is only 1600 lbs including passegers so not recommended for most truck campers....

Good job

,thanks so much great info

Good informative video.

Very good info!

My 2001 f250 has to plow prep with diesel. It actually has the sway bars and the rear overload springs. Only thing it didn’t come with was the tie down points but that part is a minor problem. Am thinking on a palomino ss1500. Pretty sure I will be alright.

Great info and video. Thank you.

very good information

Great job, been trying to decide what truck and what cab-over to put together for my emergency SHTF. I know diesels require very costly maintenance; double filters, double batteries, higher fuel costs, six tires plus a seventh for a spare, etc. Gas can be found most everywhere and prices are affordable for long term camping away from home. How good were the 1970's Chevy Camper Specials? Should I get four-wheel drive and the new Lite Campers made of all aluminum may be okay for a 3/4 ton truck. What do you think? Loved the no nonsense delivery of your video.

One thing you overlooked was tire rating. Tires on a 3/4 ton won't carry the added weight very well. 1 ton rated tires will give you greater capacity than tires on a lighter vehicle.

I’m waiting for you to discuss 1/2 ton brakes versus the the heavier brakes on 250/350.

I played it smart. And I just take my semi attached to my fifth wheel trailer XD