Question:
I'm looking for some experienced advice concerning putting a small
camper on a '97 GMC Sierra 1500 short bed 4x4 with the Z71 'off-road'
package.
I called GMC, gave them my VIN, and they said the dry weight is 4600
lbs, with a base payload of 1600 lbs. (which agrees with the labelled
GVW) However a certified truck scale shows 5200 lbs with 1/2 tank gas
and no driver (200 lbs). That would leave only about 700 lbs total payload.
Something is amiss, but be that as it may, does anyone have experience
or expert opinion on loading this vehicle?
I'm driving to Alaska for a couple of months, and just need minimal
interior facilities. I like to use a popup model, so that the cg would
stay low, but even 'reasonable' popups go from 1100 to 1300 lbs.
Answer:
-The brochure weights and capacities are very optimistic, and assumed a
stripped vehicle with no options.
Your actual usable payload is the GVWR from the plate on the truck minus
the truck scale weight.
I lost 700 pounds of payload between the brochure and the scale, so your
case does not surprise me.
-Unless you doubt your certified scale, GM has proven that they don't
know what your truck actually weighs, so they have proven that they
don't know your usable payload either.
I run my pickup camper at the vehicle GVWR, plus or minus a hundred
pounds or so, so I can't comment on running substantially over GVWR.
Obviously to be 3% over GVWR is much less of an issue than being 15%
over GVWR.
I would note that air springs made my unit drive noticably better,
reduced the side to side sway. My spouse kept bugging me to buy and
install them, and after I did it, both the driver and passenger noticed
a big difference. I think that the air springs effectively increased
the roll stiffness, probably by increasing the spring rate, but that is
just my explanation.
Another note is that the camper probably weighs more than they say it
does also, although I have heard that they have been tightening up on
that some in recent years.
Has anyone weighed their unit on a certified scale, and compared that
number to the dry weight on the unit sticker?
Scale weight is the only reality. Everything else, whether it comes
from the manufacturer, the brochure, the dealer, or someone on the
internet, is just an estimate. Whoever you talked to at GM is just
looking it up in a table or on a computer.
One other note, if you do this, is to use the camper tie-downs that go
to the frame, not the sheet metal box. (Torx makes them, I believe)
However, this is probably less important for a light popup than a
standard pickup campers
