Truck camper

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by wbc409

You should get truck tires. You posted your tire size and there was a P at the start. Those are passenger tires. The tires you want should have an LT in the tire size and load range E.

Originally Posted by Ken B

If you don't have a transmission cooler make sure that you install one...

I agree 100%.

[Coley]

Ok full stop.
You do not have truck tires on your truck.
You have 'appearance tires' presenting a style element.
the 'P' designation means 'passenger car'.
You need an LT or (light truck) or equivalent rating for your tires.
So you will need to go out and buy some 8 bolt/16" rims, unless you already have some and then buy or find some heavy duty 16" truck tires that have an 'E' load rating marked clearly on the side.
If you run those passenger car/suv tires with that load.......you are playing with heavy fire.

my two bits.
Coley

[ItsJustMe]

Morning everyone
Thanks for all the advice, I'm definitely going to address tire issues.
When I bought the truck I did a lot of research and I chose the c20 over the c10
A buddy of mine had the c20 and his buddy had a c10 with a 396 in it.
They both wanted about the same amount but the c10 was dropped, looked beautiful but I wanted to use my truck. Towing ect.
So I bought 18 inch rims to give it a look without modifying suspension.
I'll try get some pictures up today.
Never the less now I'm hoping I can work with those rims

[FirstOwner69]

Here's something that may work tire wise. LT tire with plenty of load capacity. Diameter may be a concern at 33.1" especially in front. However, be sure to find out if your wheels are properly rated. Specifically, what make and model are your wheels?

There's lots of tire and wheel data on Tire Rack's website.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...8THT&tab=Specs

[cypressbog]

I had passenger car tires on my truck and as soon as I put a load on the truck I had a sidewall failure. I went with some Firestone Steeltex with load range E and had them install metal stems. I use the factory 16" white painted steel wheels found on almost all 70's to 80's Chevy, Dodge and Ford 3/4 ton trucks.

[ItsJustMe]

Some pictures

[ItsJustMe]

Finally figured out how to post pictures but not sure why they are sideways.
I'm going to go with E rated seems like everyone here agrees with that choice.
I will cross my fingers on the rim size issue.

[ItsJustMe]

It's been sitting for about a month or two.

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Welcome to the forum!

Can you clarify the length? Camper length is generally expressed as floor length. That would be an extremely long camper if that's the way you measured it. 11' would, of course, extend 3' beyond the end of an 8' bed and is typically the longest I'd recommend. I bought my truck in 1969 to carry an 11' cab-over camper. It could be a handful. Your gross vehicle weight rating is either 7000# or 7500# depending on the rear suspension. Be sure your total weight including passengers and gear does not exceed your GVWR. If it doesn't, you are probably OK if your truck is in top condition. Be sure your bed is securely anchored to the frame. There are only 8 bolts. So, be sure the floor, bolts and frame mounts are in great shape. Rear leaf springs would provide a more stable platform than coils but yours is likely coils.

I recommend tie downs that are frame mounted.

Here's a picture of mine taken in 1970 carrying the heaviest load it ever hauled.

Also, what tires are you running? How old?

Always enjoy seeing pictures of your truck with camper. I think its amazing that you still own this truck.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by lil hoodlum

Always enjoy seeing pictures of your truck with camper. I think its amazing that you still own this truck.

Thank you!

I wonder what ever happened here. These are ItsJustMe's only posts. He hasn't been on since a couple months after this thread.

[Caddylackn]

I recommend Load E tires, auxiliary (helper) springs or rear air bags, frame or hitch mounted hold downs, and a tranny cooler if you are going to run close to the 7,500 GVW, and also a heavy duty front sway bar. Change your brake fluid also, you don't want any water or moisture in it if you are going to go down a steep grade at 7,500 GVW, any moisture in the line will boil under long periods of heavy braking and cause brake fade.