Truck Campers for sale questions

[Cyn]

Hi all, I'm selling both my truck camper projects, and one guy wants to know if either would fit in his 6' truck bed.  His GVW is 9000 in a 2006 Dodge Ram diesel. I have '68 Frolic and '68-9 Real-Lite.  The RL weighs 2800 lbsm and hangs out and down over my 8'bed, the Frolic fits right in it.  Any ideas about one sticking out 2' whether it's doable or even safe?

Cyn

[Russell E Johnson]

Cyn,

Having the Frolic stick out 18-24 inches past the pickup bed would be OK, it is like having a 10 foot camper on a pickup that has a 8 foot box. However, I would not put the Real-Lite on a pickup with a 6-6.5 foot box. There would be 3-4 feet sticking past the end of the box and that would be unsafe.

[Cyn]

Thanks so much for the quick reply! He did say the measurements of his bed are 50" between the wheel wells and 78" bed, but it's 96"with the tailgate off.  I can't imagine that, but maybe his tailgate is extra thick or something.  I already suggested the Frolic for him, just waiting to hear back.

I'm thinking of converting the Real-Lite into a trailer if no one wants it for a camper.  I'd cut off the upper bunk and the hanging down part and attach it to a trailer frame.  I only have one set of jacks for the buyers anyway.

[Rick Faunce]

One thing to consider is where is the center of gravity on those campers? A slide in is generally set up so the weight is centered over the rear axle and if you put an 8 foot camper in a 6 foot bed that center of gravity is shifted back 2 feet behind the axle. That would NOT be good. Just something to think about.

[Lakota Wolf]

Todays, 6.5 ft boxes,, (built on the 4 door version pickups,, which enclude, Ford,Chevy,Dodge,Nissan and Toyota), are NOT DESIGNED for an over head full camper.

The design of the over all pick-up,(in your case 3/4 ton w/ diesel), with a standard or extended cab body can hold the unit safely. With the addition of the 4 door model pick-ups, the center weight is now over the front section of the frame just ahead of the real axle.Having a camper with substantial weight and having that weight extend beyond the rear bumper will put excessive stress on the trucks frame.The basic standard weight capacity of a 6.5 bed pick up is 2,000 lbs,, (old farmers rule,, a F-150 is a half ton truck, i.e, 1,000 lb rated truck, resulting in a double payload, The truck manufactures already took into account the average person will always overload their vehicles, even if they tattooed it on your forehead, a 3/4 ton and 1 ton pick up both have 3500 standard payload ratings, resulting it being loaded 7,000 lb payload.

If you do choose to install a heavy camper in a 6.5 bed,,, have a mechanic pull the number off the rear axle and get its weight rate, because even if you put on spring boosters or air bags,, overloading an axle will result in a catastrophic disaster.