Camper On a 1/2Ton

[swissarmychainsaw]

I just picked up an Alaskan Camper, and quickly realized that I need to beef up the suspension on my 75 GMC c15.

Do 3/4Ton rear springs just bolt on? Those I can get cheap.
Do I need "helper" springs?

I'm a total newbie on this camper thing, so lend a hand!

Thanks!
--Nick

[Willowrun]

How heavy is an Alaskan Camper? I have a slide in camper on an '84 3/4 ton C20 crew cab. I had the camper on a '77 one ton dually before that and it hauled great even towing another square. Once I tried the same thing with the 3/4 I was amazed at the difference and it wasn't a good difference. I added helper air bags and a sway bar and it still doesn't tow as nice. I have found a big difference between 3/4 and 1 ton spring rates. My point? Unless the camper is really light the 1/2 tons just aren't a good rig to be hauling around anything of significant weight in the bed. I can get away with with the additions that I made to the 3/4 ton but there is one major weak point that your 1/2 ton has that isn't present in the 3/4 and 1 tons and that's the rear end. The 1/2 ton rear end isn't full floating (break axle, bye bye rear tire) and is pretty weak compared to the 14 bolt. I'm sure there will be people that have done/do it, but I don't recommend it and I have hauled some pretty stupid loads.

[swissarmychainsaw]

I like all your trucks!

My AK is an 8' Cab Over. I think the Alaskans are at least 1500LBS.

The web site (for new ones) claims:
1,430 pounds (dry) 2,240 pounds (wet)

Which seems like a crazy spread to me.

If that helps.

[Willowrun]

I believe "wet" refers to how heavy it is when actually loaded for camping (estimate of liquids, food, clothes, pot/pans, etc). Tire rating needs to be considered also. Nobody is going to stop you from doing it but keep the kids (if applicable) in a chase vehicle if you do use the 1/2 ton.

[baclay9]

Just sayin...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=595181
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[Rubble]

This is one of those areas where overkill is not a bad thing.That camper in a half ton is probably pushing it in good road conditions,add in some wind or you have to make some quick maneuver to avoid someone else & you might be wishing you had a heavier sprung truck.Far as the comment about full floaters in 3/4 tons,not always the case.I have a couple with semi 14 bolts,even had a camper special 1981 3/4 ton C25 that was semi.
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[ElGracho]

Another thing to keep in mind, your Gentleman Jim has the lightest of the 1/2 ton springs. Rides good, bad for loads.

Many campers have been hauled on 1/2 ton trucks especially when our trucks were new. The 1 ton dually is the ultimate camper hauler and if you want to use that camper a lot, you can pick up a 73-87 pretty inexpensively and it would make you very happy except paying the fuel bill...

[Willowrun]

Originally Posted by Rubble

This is one of those areas where overkill is not a bad thing.That camper in a half ton is probably pushing it in good road conditions,add in some wind or you have to make some quick maneuver to avoid someone else & you might be wishing you had a heavier sprung truck.Far as the comment about full floaters in 3/4 tons,not always the case.I have a couple with semi 14 bolts,even had a camper special 1981 3/4 ton C25 that was semi.
Posted via Mobile Device

True on the semi-floaters. No offense to your rigs, but never really understood the desire for the semi-floaters other than the ability for it to be 6 lug.

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

True on the semi-floaters. No offense to your rigs, but never really understood the desire for the semi-floaters other than the ability for it to be 6 lug.

Ya,I myself prefer the full floaters too...slowly trying to convert all mine to that set up.
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[dieseldawg142]

as posted, your best bet is just go 1 ton, for all the reasons stated.
i hauled my dad's 8 1/2 ft Rustler on my '78 3/4 camper special couple times, did it with no probs., but i knew it was always there, especially going up & down hills & around corners.
haul my 8 ft Travelmate with my 1 ton crew, i forget it's on there till i come into a corner too fast.
and base your weight on the higher end of the scale, it will add up amazingly fast ( i have to add almost 300lbs just for dogs!). my 8 footer is around 1700 lbs dry, loaded 26-2800 lbs is not uncommon
make sure you got good D or E load tires with the capacity, even on a 1 ton, unless a dually, tires are usually the limiting factor.
for a 1/2, pop-ups are usually your best option, (DirtyLarry has a real nice example of a quality pop-up)but if it's all you got, i would add airbags (easiest), snag a 1 ton swaybar & put some premium brakes in it & drive it like you got an egg under the throttle