Anyone Haul Around A BIG Camper? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69sixpackbee · 11-14-2003, 08:32 PM

I am looking to put an 11.2' Lance on my '72 C-20 and want to make sure it is ikay. Yea, physically it is a shoe in but I am concerned with the added weight. This camper is 2500 Lbs dry and my truck is a 5500 GVW + air bags. I have cabover camper stabilizer shocks on the front as well. I have All Terrain KO 265/75-16's on the back that are an "E" rated tire @3450Lbs. My concern would be braking but I have the good discs up front and the 12X3's in the back (Dana rear) I know this 402 and 4-speed is up to the task in the power dept. but am I pushing it with the load?
I remember seing alot of BIG campers on the backs of these older trucks when I was growing up. Hell, my dad had a '51 3100 with a 6 and a granny gear and we had an 11 1/2 footer on the back of it and I don't remember any problems.
Any advice is appreciated.

da-burb · 11-14-2003, 09:11 PM

I had this one on a 71 C20 camper special. 402,th400, dana60. It handled it very well. I didn't have a problem getting it moving or stopped. No mountains here in the Midwest though. It was a little rocky in the side to side department, but nothing that felt dangerous.

69sixpackbee · 11-14-2003, 11:52 PM

Thanx!

cableguy0 · 11-15-2003, 12:10 AM

that c20 probably wont even notice its back there lol it will handle it just fine dont worry about it

da-burb · 11-15-2003, 01:39 AM

Cableguy0 is right about the truck not caring if it is back there. The first time I took the camper off I expected my MPG's to go from 10mpg to 11 or 12mpg. It didn't budge off of 10. It didn't do any better and it didn't do any worse, loaded, empty, with the wind or against it.

PanelDeland · 11-15-2003, 01:43 PM

I would agree on the weight.I would however suggest great shocks and sway bars for the side to side stability.

69sixpackbee · 11-15-2003, 02:01 PM

I've got the front sway bar and heavy coil-over shocks too.

71gmcfanatic · 11-16-2003, 02:43 PM

I am looking to get a camper for my 3/4 ton too, im glad someone is finally talking campers on these trucks.

dinnut · 11-16-2003, 05:16 PM

that camper is huge

da-burb · 11-16-2003, 05:39 PM

This is the very first Chevy truck I owned. Purchased it back in 91-92 with the camper, just as she sits here. The camper is an old one, but it is just as nice today as it was back then.

Scrub · 11-16-2003, 06:18 PM

I ran a huge 12 footer on mine. I did have problems in the the wind, but I discovered that the camper was actually too light compared to the windsurface. THis thing had almost a foot between the top of the cab and the bottom of the cabover. Then the cabover part was almost 4 feet tall for a total height around 10 feet. I had to fill the water tank and add extra weigh to keep all four wheels on the ground.

Also I had a real problem with a set of tires that didn't seem to have any tracking ability. I changed over to 265r75 16 tires and then it drove pretty good. IMO, You have the most stable tires possible .

I also had a 8.5 foot 2000 model Alpenlight on the same truck and it was fine, and I drive in the mountains. It was one of the new campers with a queen bed cabover. In fact the hood hit the cabover as the camper was nearly longer than the truck. I did have to put a sway bar on it though, so it sounds like you have it made.

You should be absolutly fine.

Happy camping!

Daves72'GMC · 11-16-2003, 10:59 PM

Mine use to have the same size camper on it as da burb's and my uncle use to tow his explorer behind it up to Beaver Utah with no problem but got about 8 MPG. Mine has 402BB Turbo 400, 3/4 Dana 60.heavy duty rear springs and use to have the overload rear shocks with the springs around them.These trucks are pretty tough.

69sixpackbee · 11-17-2003, 01:00 PM

Heres what I have on it now but I am going BIGGER BABY!!

11-14-2003, 08:32 PM	#1
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	Anyone Haul Around A BIG Camper? I am looking to put an 11.2' Lance on my '72 C-20 and want to make sure it is ikay. Yea, physically it is a shoe in but I am concerned with the added weight. This camper is 2500 Lbs dry and my truck is a 5500 GVW + air bags. I have cabover camper stabilizer shocks on the front as well. I have All Terrain KO 265/75-16's on the back that are an "E" rated tire @3450Lbs. My concern would be braking but I have the good discs up front and the 12X3's in the back (Dana rear) I know this 402 and 4-speed is up to the task in the power dept. but am I pushing it with the load? I remember seing alot of BIG campers on the backs of these older trucks when I was growing up. Hell, my dad had a '51 3100 with a 6 and a granny gear and we had an 11 1/2 footer on the back of it and I don't remember any problems. Any advice is appreciated.

11-14-2003, 09:11 PM	#2
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	I had this one on a 71 C20 camper special. 402,th400, dana60. It handled it very well. I didn't have a problem getting it moving or stopped. No mountains here in the Midwest though. It was a little rocky in the side to side department, but nothing that felt dangerous. Attached Images __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

11-15-2003, 12:10 AM	#4
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	that c20 probably wont even notice its back there lol it will handle it just fine dont worry about it __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

11-15-2003, 01:39 AM	#5
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	Cableguy0 is right about the truck not caring if it is back there. The first time I took the camper off I expected my MPG's to go from 10mpg to 11 or 12mpg. It didn't budge off of 10. It didn't do any better and it didn't do any worse, loaded, empty, with the wind or against it. __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

11-15-2003, 01:43 PM	#6
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	I would agree on the weight.I would however suggest great shocks and sway bars for the side to side stability. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

11-14-2003, 11:52 PM	#3
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	Thanx!

11-15-2003, 02:01 PM	#7
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	I've got the front sway bar and heavy coil-over shocks too.

11-16-2003, 02:43 PM	#8
71gmcfanatic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 101	I am looking to get a camper for my 3/4 ton too, im glad someone is finally talking campers on these trucks. __________________ 1971 gmc 3/4 ton, 350, t350

11-16-2003, 05:16 PM	#9
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	that camper is huge __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

11-16-2003, 05:39 PM	#10
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	This is the very first Chevy truck I owned. Purchased it back in 91-92 with the camper, just as she sits here. The camper is an old one, but it is just as nice today as it was back then. Attached Images

11-16-2003, 06:18 PM	#11
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	I ran a huge 12 footer on mine. I did have problems in the the wind, but I discovered that the camper was actually too light compared to the windsurface. THis thing had almost a foot between the top of the cab and the bottom of the cabover. Then the cabover part was almost 4 feet tall for a total height around 10 feet. I had to fill the water tank and add extra weigh to keep all four wheels on the ground. Also I had a real problem with a set of tires that didn't seem to have any tracking ability. I changed over to 265r75 16 tires and then it drove pretty good. IMO, You have the most stable tires possible . I also had a 8.5 foot 2000 model Alpenlight on the same truck and it was fine, and I drive in the mountains. It was one of the new campers with a queen bed cabover. In fact the hood hit the cabover as the camper was nearly longer than the truck. I did have to put a sway bar on it though, so it sounds like you have it made. You should be absolutly fine. Happy camping! __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

11-16-2003, 10:59 PM	#12
Daves72'GMC Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Asheville, N.C Posts: 952	Mine use to have the same size camper on it as da burb's and my uncle use to tow his explorer behind it up to Beaver Utah with no problem but got about 8 MPG. Mine has 402BB Turbo 400, 3/4 Dana 60.heavy duty rear springs and use to have the overload rear shocks with the springs around them.These trucks are pretty tough.

11-17-2003, 01:00 PM	#13
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	Heres what I have on it now but I am going BIGGER BABY!!



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.