OK, I have read everything I can find on this topic, but am still uncomfortable with what I hear (especially from dealers, lol). I am looking at a Lance 861, which is a single-slide unit with a dry weight of just over 3,000 lbs. Now Lance states that this camper is designed for 3/4 ton short bed trucks. I am looking at Ram trucks, and not even the 3500 (1 ton) will "officially" handle this weight. What gives?
Both the truck sales guy and two different Lance dealers have absolutely assured me that I don't even need to go to a 3500 -- that a 2500 will be fine. That combo would be nearly 500 lbs overweight DRY! Also, the COG that Lance lists in their specs (which don't even include WHERE they measure from, but I think it's the rear) would seem to put it behind the rear wheels by a few inches. Would having the fluids onboard move the COG forward?
At this point, I don't know whom to trust. I do plan on going back to the truck dealer and getting the official axle weights from the door panel, which I meant to do when I was there, but forgot.
Oh, by the way, I have also been assured that I absolutely do not need a dually. In fact, the truck guy told me that, officially, a dually REDUCES the available payload.
Any help/advice appreciated!
Both the truck sales guy and two different Lance dealers have absolutely assured me that I don't even need to go to a 3500 -- that a 2500 will be fine. That combo would be nearly 500 lbs overweight DRY! Also, the COG that Lance lists in their specs (which don't even include WHERE they measure from, but I think it's the rear) would seem to put it behind the rear wheels by a few inches. Would having the fluids onboard move the COG forward?
At this point, I don't know whom to trust. I do plan on going back to the truck dealer and getting the official axle weights from the door panel, which I meant to do when I was there, but forgot.
Oh, by the way, I have also been assured that I absolutely do not need a dually. In fact, the truck guy told me that, officially, a dually REDUCES the available payload.
Any help/advice appreciated!