Hardside Camper in Half Ton Pickup

[Rad53]

Several companys make hardside campers for use in a half ton pickup truck. They appear to push the payload limit of a half ton truck and even over the limit in some cases. Would like to hear form you if you have done this, what your experiences are good & bad. Also did you beef up the truck suspension or tires at all.

[REW]

Rad,
If you get the pop up style and the soft sided walls to lighten the weight, you are in good shape with a 1/2 ton truck.

The lower running profile really helps the fuel mileage as well.

It is illegal to have any one ride in a pickup camper when the pickup is moving so there is little down side to have a pop up style camper.

REW

[jimmy4218]

I have an old pickup camper that I use for camping in the summer and hunting in the fall. I have a silverado 1500 that I added a leaf spring package to for @250.00 that added 3000 lbs. of capacity and only took under an hour to install. It was well worth it!

[Phil T]

It depends on the rear axle weight rating, suspension, frame, tire load ratings, etc. The rear axle weight rating can be found on a sticker that's on the driver's door frame or the edge of the door. If the axle is strong enough, the suspension can be strengthened with additional springs or air bags. Tire load capacities are easily upgraded.
Don't overload the axle!

[Shellback]

I seriously doubt any pickup with a hard side slide in camper will be within the legal GVW for a 1/2 ton when loaded with passengers and gear. I did a lot of research on the slide in campers and you may find some that meet the legal limits, they are using dry weights and no passengers or gear. I have an 06 Dodge 1500 4x4 Quadcab and it's load capacity is about 1350#s. My bare bones slide in pop up with no bath, but a loaded propane tank and water tank uses all of the weight rating. Throw in about 200#s of gear in the camper itself, 600#s of passengers, gas and gear in the truck, then the hitch weight of my boat, and you can see where I'm way over! I added Timbren overload springs, and my axle and tire ratings will carry the extra weight. Braking is okay with just the camper, but I needed to add brakes to the boat trailer to feel comfortable. Do a little searching on this site, and you will see 99% of truck campers are overloaded, and the methods they use to handle the extra weight.
http://www.truckcamperforums.com/index.php?act=idx

[Stripehunter]

Things like add-a-leafs, airbags, etc. increase LEVEL LOAD capacity, meaning they will keep your truck from sagging up to the amount they specify. BUT they DO NOT increase your vehicles GVW ratings. Such things make a heavy load much easier to handle, but they will not increase how much you can legally carry.