Those are the parts absolutely required. That cable not only has heat shield tape since it's near the exhaust manifold, it also has a fusible link built in so it's worth buying. I used a cable tie to hold it against the frame and away from the manifold.
One more must have item is the bag of metric nuts that I had on my list. You need two for the relay and one for the starter. The metric size is the main reason of course but also they are made out of brass or something so I assume they won't rust.
It sounds like the truck hardly noticed the camper. That's the nice thing about a popup. If I got out a bit more, and if I had storage, I might consider owning a popup for off-road trips and a hardside for road trips.
That caboverbed shot is interesting. The way your camper is built the upper bed is almost another room. That's great for privacy but I wonder if I'd miss the ability to throw stuff up there easily. I tend to use that space for everything since it's the biggest free space in the camper. It is neat to have 3 rooms in a truck camper though.
I have a lot of metric nuts from all my motorcycles. None are brass however. Sell me the leftovers from your bag?
I have mounted the relay to the rear side of the battery support. Fits nice there. Now all I need is a truck to mount the battery support into.
My guess is Friday I'll pick it up.
BTW Vince, you have plenty of room in a popup. You just have be mentally roughing it. You can't bring it all with you, so you rough it. My wife and I have done 6 weeks on a motorcycle/sidecar camping trip and 6 weeks in the truck/popup. The biggest difference is we tend to eat in (90%) the camper and to eat out (90%) with the sidecar. That and it is much faster to set up camp with the popup. Of course, with the sidecar we can setup camp and the drive into town without closing up camp.
The beggest benefit of the camper is the ability to level the sleeping area. The tent is always at the mercy of the ground and we spent a lot of time trying to find the right spot for the tent. The truck we just park, maybe add a big rock or piece of wood under one or two tires, or dig a hole under one tire and onto the raised(lowered) spot to level. I can leave the jacks on the back to bring the back up, but usually don't.
I'm rambling......must need my morning caffiene fix.
My camper is so small that when I see your pictures the truck is overwhelmed by the size of the camper.
Just like Alaska.
So, where are you going to be camping this season? I imagine you try avoid the tourist crowds. Our favorites were Homer and the Dalton Highway. Least favorites were Seward, Anchorage and the area around Denali - all too crowded.
At any rate, Alaska is on our list of places to visit again when we retire (about 5 more years, depending on the state lottery and the other lottery (stock market)).
Enjoyed the pictures of your camper even if it is not our style of camper.
Well, cancelled my order for a 2001 HD extended cab and orded a 2001 3/4 ton HD 4wd LB CrewCab. Getting the base engine, 325hp 6.0L aluminium headed engine with 4.10 Locker rear end and 5speed manual. Got the base model with a bunch of adders... Have exactly 2.5" of clearance in my garage if GM's OAL numbers are correct.
Finally getting a truck to replace my '89 F350 CC. My 1999 1/2ton 4.8L reg cab longbed will be for sale once I get allocated.
Only bummer was couldn't get a 3.73 nor the new orange paint. GCWR is 16,000 lbs for my engine/ rear end combo, figure this will tow my 5,000 lb trailer and three dirtbikes in the bed no problem. GVWR is 9200 lbs for the 3/4 tons. All one tons come with dually and a gvwr of 11,400 lbs.
Got the tow package with the manual and the camper wiring.
Any guesses when I see this thing? This year I hope. Getting 16mpg with the 1/2 ton 4.8L running empty. Figure about 11 to 12 mpg with the new vehicle....you think?
Actually, I get stuck going to alot of the tourist places. If you want to fish for salmon within four hours of Anchorage, you're going to get crowds. The benefit of a camper is that you can choose to stand at the river during non-peak hours since you're not worrying about having to commute home or go somewhere to pitch a tent.
I went to Seward this past weekend. It's not very crowded yet, but that will change Memorial Day weekend. I went to Homer and Seward a lot last year. I also have access to a private bluff lot near Anchor River that overlooks Cook Inlet with an awesome view of Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Illiamna. It's a nice get away from the crowds and you're still only about 25 miles from Homer. Homer is about as far as it makes sense to go for a standard weekend trip. It's about 4 1/2 hours one way depending on traffic. I'm not going out this weekend, but will likely head to Homer after work on Friday, 5/19. I miss the three 10s I worked last year that gave me three day weekends every weekend. I was able to justify trips to Valdez (about six hours from Anchorage) when I had the extra day.
As far as storage, I've had no problem tossing sleeping bags and other gear in the bed area, usually for friends. The camper actually has plenty of storage. Those cabinets along the side of the bed are bigger than they look. There are also two other storage areas in the bed area. One is actually for a tv, but I don't have one in the camper. The other is pretty decent size on the wall between the bed area and bathroom. I've got the regular closet for hanging clothes in the hall area, plus there are drawers under that, plus there are the kitchen cabinets. My camper also has a basement storage that runs under the camper the entire length of the floor area. The lawn chairs, coleman stove, lantern, fishing gear etc. go there. Skis can fit in there also.
I have no problem with a popup. I've done the tent thing and got to the point where I was tired of being cold and dirty. About then a popup would have looked great. A relative offered me a hardside camper if I'd come to Texas and pick it up. I'd always wanted a camper so I jumped at the chance. I've been sold ever since.
Certainly you are welcome to some metric nuts when the time comes.
Thanks for the info Mike. Now go find out if they make a 285, that is what I really want. Also, can we put a 285 on a 6.5 inch rim? Some Edmunds people have done it but I bet it's not recommended.
Are you sure about the weight rating? It's good news. How did you determine this, you must have gone to manufacturer's web pages because the retailers don't give that kind of detail.
One more question, is that an All Terrain tire? Many M/S tires are street tires with a bit wider grooves.
FYI, just to make sure, not only is there no disrespect to those to people with pop-ups and smaller hard-sides, that setup makes more sense for most people. My previous post have actually recommended pull behind trailers unless you have toys to tow behind. Often, class C's are a better choice for that, but I can't afford the extra vehicle.
I bought my camper with winter in mind in Alaska and towing toys. Alot of the weight is in the insulation and windows. The camper is rated to 40 below (I'll never test that.....on purpose). The set up I have is certainly not the best for alot of people. I can only emphasize that everyone look and drive before they buy. And....as with anything, if it don't feel right at first, it's not likely to feel right later. That love at first sight is USUALLAY for the birds. Give it a good test run before you MARRY into a commitment.......just my opinion.
Select site map (at the bottom), Light Truck/SUV tires, and the All Terrain T/A's.
The 265/285's in LRD carry the same as or more than a 245 LRE.
It does open up your choices.
Brutus,
I wasn't saying anything bad about your choice, it's just not my choice. Whatever works for you is fine for you. I don't understand 45' motorhomes either, but alot of people like them. My dad has a 28' trailer that he lives in half the summer. 1 week away, 1 week home, repeat as long as the weather permits. Not my style.
40 below. Let's see --- we'd be dead for about the last 30 degrees. We've been comfortable down into the 20's in our popup. Any colder and we will have to run the furnace. If we get caught in really cold weather we will leave the top down and we should be ok in that really small space with 1" insulation all around.
I've thought about a small trailer as a good alternative. But, if I really want to go off-road or on really bad dirt/gravel roads then the trailer is a problem. But for the rest of the time, leave the trailer at a base camp and go exploring. That litlle 'Bambi' Airstream looks really nice, but I've never checked the price.
Congratulations, you'll soon be joining the ranks of us conspicuous over-consumers. Why don't you bring it by this weekend and I'll take a bunch of pictures. (I don't remember if you own a digital camera or borrowed one before.) We can talk about the aux battery addition.
I'm curious to see what has changed by the end of the model year and to feel the firm ride suspension. I don't think you and your wife will feel this one is too soft. If it's too firm I can sell you a set of standard stock shocks for $5. What a deal.
This weekend I'm busy - as usual. We have 3 weekends until we go on vacation. Dorothy is going to France for 2 weeks. I have to get the fence back up before the city Historical Commission notices it is down. Move some wood to my daughters house (I have a truck without a camper now). Get 500 miles on the truck and do the first oil change. I have to get the truck ready for the camper - move the tiedowns, maybe the swaybar and all the usual stuff.
Going to be a busy couple of weeks.
I do have a digital camera, not the greatest resolution (640x480). But you can stop by if you are in the south bay and you want to see the newest addition to our used car lot (2 convertibles, VW Vanagon, El Camino and 2 Silverado's). The neighbors are starting to talk.
Today I work 1/2 day and then off to spend big bucks on a Dark Carmine Red truck.
What does the sticker in the glove box say is the maximum camper weight? Just curious....figure my HD version will be similar or a couple hundred lbs higher.
It's quieter, smoother and seems stronger than the 1500. The ride is not bad for an empty truck with firm ride suspension. Could be just right when we get the camper on.
Markbuck, the glove box label says 2702lbs. Max capacity is 3334lbs, minus 300 for two people minus 200 for a tank of gas and minus 100 for the added options and we are right at the 2700lb limit. With our popup and fully loaded we should have about 1300lbs of margin. Plenty to keep my wife from worrying about that.
They are currently selling 2500s for 2500 over list. We got ours with the GMS deal for $400 under invoice. Not bad! Out the door was $900 under MSRP. California tax and DMV was $2500.
We have a nice 99 Silverado 4x4 Reg Cab, Longbed, 1500, 4.8L, 5spd, AC, CC, PDL, Posi, Camper Mirrors, Fog Lights, Rear Slider, Aluminum Wheels, Fender Flares and more for sale. Charcoal Metallic with Satin Black flares and side moldings. 25,000 miles. Kelly Blue Book $21,000.
Way to go Mike!! Isn't that new smell great!. I have4,500mi on mine, & it still smells great. What oil are you going with for the first change? Are you going to go synthetic later? Vince, didn't you buy new Edelbrock shocks, & if so, how do you like them, or have you had a chance to test them with the camper? If you have posted before, I missed them. Do you bring your caper with you when you visit family in Grass Valley? Would like to see it next time your up this way. Could meet you in the Raley's parking lot. Easy in & out. Let me know.
I haven't received the shocks yet. They say they will ship them at the end of the month.
Sometimes I bring the camper up north visiting and sometimes not. It depends how long I'm staying and how cold it is. My mom is allergic to dogs so Dusty and I stay in a screen room when I visit. It's too cold in the winter so then I stay in the camper. This last trip I didn't bring it because I didn't need it and also my sister needed me to haul some hay for her horses. She just bought two horses but doesn't own a truck, or a saddle for that matter! Anyone know of a decent (running) sub-thousand dollar truck? Anyway only my brother is in Grass Valley and I don't usually bring the camper there. He lives in Alta Sierra, are you in that vast maze by any chance?
So far I've used 10-30 regular oil. I have 7500 miles now and will switch to synthetic on the next change. I guess I'll stick with the base AC Delco filter, at least until they come out with a premium version. I'm due for a new CD/radio and a maybe a rear differential pinion seal. How about you, anything on your go-to-the-dealer list?
I finaly got to try out my camper with the new air bags, what a world of differance they make in the handling, I hardly noticed any lean going around curves. I took my truck up to Big Bear lake his last week end and there was plenty of curves to try it out on. I was planing of adding a anti sway bar later, but after this last trip I am not sure I need one. Besides I can use the money for other goodies. I have been wanting to get a turbo temp, moniter for my truck so maybe I'll use the money for that. John
I barely noticed the new truck smell. I guess the old '99 still has that smell so I didn't notice. Ah, one of the benefits of quitting smoking years ago.
I will change the oil and filter at 5-600 miles with petroleum oil. Synthetic at the next oil change and change when the oil minder light comes on. I'll use 5W30 Mobil 1.
There is a premium version of the AC Delco filter. I think it is PF59G. The G is for Gold. I have seen other Delco filters in the premium version, but not the 59. Last time through Fresno I stopped at Wally-World and they had PF59s for $2.00. Got 6 for the truck and 6 more for my little Mercury Capri Converible.
I still can't believe how much smoother and quieter the 2500 is compared to the 1500. The ride is a little choppy on certain concrete highways, but that should improve with the camper. I actually think the 'Firm Ride' suspension will be adequate with the camper on. I had to try Z-71 and Bilsteins to get something strong enough for the 1500 with the camper.
Vince, If the Rancho boys don't come through pretty soon on shocks for our trucks, then I might go with Edelbrock as well. Let us know when you put them on & how they work. I'm just down the hill from Alta Sierra in Penn Valley, about 20/25 min. away. You can get real lost in Alta Sierra. Nice place though. I use at this time, the 5-30 oil, but Costco only carries the 10-30 Castrol oil, so on my next change, I'm either going with the 10-30, Amsoil, or Mobil 1. Did your radio go out, or are you just upgrading? At 1,050mi, GM had to replace the oil adapter that the filter attaches to. I happen to notice a spot on my driveway under the truck, so when I investigated, I could see where the drip was coming from, so got it fixed. Has been fine since then. Mike, I also quit smoking in 1980, & sometimes I can smell toooo much. Speaking of the oil minder light, I think mine is due to come on. My first change was at 1,000, & now I have about 4,500mi. How much air do you have in your tires? I usually run around 50psi empty, & of course, 80psi with the camper on. Very smooth with the weight, & not bad without the weight. My brother has a 2k Ford diesel, 4x4,LB, extra cab, & it rides much rougher than the Silverado. It will carry more weight though. I'll stay with the smoother ride.
The premium filters start with a U (Ultra Gold) so we want the UPF59. So far I haven't found a listing for one. They also make a Silver line of filters but I couldn't find ours on their lame web site. They didn't even list a V8 engine for our trucks. I plan on calling them some day since their web site doesn't have an e-mail contact method. If someone else wants to call, please do and let us know.
No kidding the truck is quieter, that's the difference between the stripo and the LS package. I'll trade dollars for road noise any day, I wish they offered more insulation as an option.
John, glad to hear the bags worked out so well for you. Doesn't your F-350 come with a rear stabilizer bar? I would think a 1 ton would. I bet you could buy a factory bar to install (unlike us poor GM slobs, stupid GM).
If you're comfortable with the handling as is then that's okay. But think about the improvement the bags made, well the bar will make it even better. Actually if the rear isn't sagging, I think the bar is more important. With the camper on, jerk the wheel out and back quickly and note the side to side rocking. The bar will reduce that by 50% or so. Of course shocks help with that too and you probably have good ones already. I forget what I paid for the aftermarket bar, I think $130. That's not too much for a driveability and safety improvement.
My radio was replaced due to a display problem, then the refurb they put in turned out to have an intermittent problem where it forgets there is a CD installed after the power goes off. So off to the dealer again. I don't mind the small problems but it's really a hassle to take it in. I wish they were open on the weekend.
After playing around I've settled on tire pressure of:
Empty - front 45, rear 40 Loaded - front 50, rear 80
I may loose a little gas mileage but it's a surprisingly noticeable ride improvement to lower the pressure. I think the load vs. pressure is still fine from a wear point of view. I haven't rotated the tires yet (7500 miles) but will do it soon. I typically do that about every 10k.
All this air in, air out, activity was the final straw in my justification for an air compressor. I bought the Coleman upright model they sell at Costco. So now I can fill up the tires in my driveway when I load the camper. Plus I get the neat air tools. They are fun but loud.
I still haven't checked my air pressure, it's whatever the dealer left it at. But then I don't even have 150 miles on the truck yet.
I will probably run 50/50 empty and 50/65 loaded.
I have to stop and get an aftermarket sliding rear window and a bed mat, then this weekend I can install the camper mounts, and next weekend the camper, and the weekend after that we start vacation.
Mike, I was thinking of getting the after market slider as well. Let me know what you end up with. I may even get a rubber mat, even though I have the Line-X. It would help keep down any movement for the camper. On the air, I put 60 front, & 80 rear, loaded. Vince, I also bought a compressor at Costco a few years back. It sure is handy to have around the house. Can find many uses other than just putting air in the tires. Looks like a warm rest of the week. Might have to head up to the Sierra Buttes & do some fishing. A COLD BEER, well, maybe.
I'm going to get a CR Laurence rear slider. Seems to be the only brand everone carries. Best price I found was $225 installed. Worst price was $299 installed at Campways.
The bed mat is mostly to protect the bed from the uneven bottom of the camper. It's only 1/8" bumps for the screws and moldings, but the mat can't hurt.
A nice warm weekend for working on the fence and the truck. I better get some more pickets painted during the week while it is still cool.
Thanks Mike. I think I'll take a look around, & see what I can come up with. What are you going to do with your old window, or should I say, new/old window? I also have some screws that are projecting out on the bottom of the camper, so a mat would protect the bed of the truck also, as well as keeping the camper more stable.
I also raised the front pressure above 50 when I first put the camper on. It just seemed like common sense since there is a heavy load. However I felt the ride difference quite a bit, the small sharp bumps and ridges could be felt in the steering wheel much more. After one of our contributors measured the front axle weight with and without the camper and found it was only about 150 lbs heavier on the front, I decided the extra air is not necessary. And after all, the GM door sticker says 50/80 at the full rated load. So I've run 50 in the front with the camper and it's just fine.
Mike why do you need a new rubber mat, don't you have one in the old truck?
No, my camper is sitting on the bed. When I pulled it out there were a couple of small rub marks in the paint, but nothing to worry about. Especially considering the roads this combination has been over.
Just a little piece of mind. I'm also going to put shims on the sides of the camper bottom so it fits snugly (1/8"-1/4" clearance) between the wheel wells. Then it is always centered.
Got my pickets painted last night. Tonight I will drill all the mounting holes and then tomorrow I can start to put them up. Hopefully I'll finish and have the whole weekend to work on the truck and to drive it some more. 156 miles and counting.
And Vince, I will check the air pressure this weekend.
The Chevy Silverado 2500's are available with the new 6.0L (366 ci) only. The 2500HD will be available with the 8.1L, but it will be big like the Ford SD. You might be able to find an old style 2000 leftover on a lot, but you can't order one anymore.
The new trucks come with a 4.3L V6 or a 4.8L, 5.3L or 6.0L V8. The three V8s are the same family. The 4.8L and 5.3L are only available in the 1500 and the 6.0L is only available in the 2500 and 2500HD(new for 2001) trucks.
The 6.0L is a strong engine, with 300HP and 90% of its peak torque at 1000 rpm. I don't think you will describe this engine as powerless. The new GM engines have more power than the one they replaced.
Nobody I know has complained about the 6.0L not having enough power. I have a 99 Silverado with the new 4.8L and it has plenty of power to push my truck (with PopUp camper) through the Sierra's and Rocky's without difficulty.
My dad has a new Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L (325 ci) (same as 6.0L but smaller) and it will pull his trailer up his test hill faster than the 98 Chevy 350 he traded for it. It has more power and gets better mileage to boot.
Depending on the dealers in your area, you might also look at the GMC (same truck, different grill).
Good luck,
Mike L 99 Silverado 1500 4x4 4.8L 5spd 00 Silverado 2500 LS 4x4 6.0L 5spd Deadhorse, Alaska 6-6-99
You will need a platform for the bed of the Superduty to clear the higher cab. I've got one. The dealer installed it. It takes me less than five minutes to get take it out or put it in. It's four screws that I take out with a cordless drill.
If you're moving to a bigger camper, make sure to do some research into the weight and the GVWR of the truck you plan to buy. The advertised dry weight of a camper is the base model with no options. Options added about 1,000 pounds to my camper. The windows for the arctic package make up a good chunk of that, but the AC is over 100 pounds, the microwave is about 100, the awning is 50. The generator is over 100. You may not get any of these options, but keep it in mind. Also, don't forget to add the weight of the water, propane, and gasoline. Then there is the weight of your gear and you and your passengers. Add all of this up, subtract it from the GVWR for the truck and chances are that anything bigger than a 8.5' hardside camper will exceed the GVWR of a 3/4 ton truck.
If you decide to consider a 1 ton, I'm pretty sure that Chevy is coming out with their new heavy duty line this fall. The photos I've seen look pretty sharp.
FYI, the advertised dry weight of my camper is 2,900 pounds. With options, it weighs 3,900 pounds. The truck weighs a little over 7,000 pounds with 38 gallons of gasoline. Loaded for a trip, including 30 gallons of freshwater, two full propane tanks, one passenger, me, and our gear, I tip the scales around 11,700, which is 500 over my GVWR of 11,200. It handles it great.
Last year, I ran without airbags and it didn't sit back too much. I put Ride-Rite airbags on a few weeks ago and it raised the rear a couple of inches. I'm running 80 psi with the camper on. Since I have the duallys, I didn't see too dramatic of a difference in the side to side motion. However, I do notice a difference in the up and down movement. A lot less bounce on the bumps and we've got some good size frost heaves on most of our hwys up here in Anchorage. I think I will see improvement in the side to side when I put the Ranchos on.
I put the camper back on this evening. I'm going to try my luck at catching an early King Salmon this weekend. The fish don't really start running for a couple of weeks. The camper will likely stay on through Labor Day since I try to get out just about every weekend in the summer. This is my second trip out this month.
I have a 2000 Chevy 2500 4x4 regular cab long bed and carry a Lance Squire 4000 9.4' cabover. It weighs about 2400lbs with gear. I had this camper on a '89 F-250 with the 5.0L (302ci) and let me tell you, the 6.0L is a vast improvement. I have enough power to do what ever I need now. No more creeping up the big freeway hills in the far right lane (as I'm sure you are familiar with) or pulling over every mile on mountain roads. And the mileage is about the same.
The truck handles the load fine except the "soft ride" shocks are a little overwhelmed. I put air bags on the rear but could live without. So I'd add a foot to Brutus' limit on 3/4 ton trucks. The factory sticker rates my truck for 2800lbs of camper (still more GVWR left), the ext cab version is a bit lower. Gary has that exact truck, are you out there Gary? In fact he had a 10.5' Lance on his for awhile.
The new GM 1 tons are dually only so you would have to want that. A 3/4 is just fine up to medium size cabovers. If you want a 11.5' with all the goodies then get a 1 ton. Whatever you get, if you can order a rear stabilizer bar and heavy shocks, do it.
I is the size of a camper shell, the sides fold out and down, the top goes up and tent material fills the space in between. The door and frame must slide up and down because it can be opened in the up or down position. It has a furnace, sink, stove, portapotti, etc. No cost listed.
And at only 750lbs it is adaptable to most any pickup.
If you are considering a Ford Super Duty with a 1999 or newer Lance camper, all you will need is a 1/2 inch sheet of plywood in the bed. Lance raised the overhead clearance starting in 1999. The sheet of plywood is needed because the bed sides of the 1999 and up super duties are taller at the rear than they are in the front of the bed. You need the 1/2 inch plywood so the sides of the camper don't rest on top of the bed sides at the rear.
Like Vince said, I carried a 10.5' Lance on my 2K 3/4, 4x4, LB, extended cab, 6.0L/300hp. Prior to me purchasing this camper from my friend, it was hauled around on a 94 chev, 3/4 2wd, LB, extended cab, 350, & they had no problem with this package. I sold it because I wanted something newer, & a little smaller, so I purchased a 2k LANCE 915 lite, which is a 9'6" extended cab camper. My truck hauled the 10.5 with no problem, but I feel this size (915 lite) for the 3/4 is a better choice, Dry weight is 2059lbs. I added a micro, air, inner spring mattress, & a few other goodies which brought my weight up a bit, & even with the full tank of gas, supplies, some water & my passenger, the truck had no problem what so ever in the power department. The ride was great also. Feels very safe. I only have the air bags at this time, but will be purchasing Ranchos 9000/ or Edelbrock shocks,& a sway bar. These two items should increase the safety factor as well. Bottom line.. the 6.0L, 3/4 has no lack of power for my 9'6". What ever camper you get, get electric jacks if it's in your budget. By the way, I have the 410 axle. Good luck!
Before you make your final decision think about the F350, or 3500 if its not going to fit in your garage any way size dosen't matter, the ride is almost the same as the F250 with the Ford and the the price isn't much different. I would think the Chevy is about the same way. If you go with the duals you will never have to worry about over loading your truck, (Within reason)I have a 2000 F350 crewcab dually with the diesel engine I wish for more power. Don't let the dual wheels scare you off, it only takes a couple of weeks to get used to then you won't be worried about them at all. When you drive around with one of these trucks all you is have to keep a eye on the side mirrors, if the mirrors clear what ever it is you are driving by the fenders will too. John
vince4 - I actually exchanged a few words with you last year when I first got my rig. I was trying to find the original jack system for my camper. Still no luck.
mledtje- you said that the new Chevy would be "big like the Ford SD". Did you mean big engine, or big as in tall? One of the things I like about the Chevy's is the shorter height.
I just got this months issue of Trailer Boats magazine. They reviewed the 2001 Chevy 3500. What a head turner! In their test, they tested the Duramax 6.0L diesel by Isuzu that will be out next year. Looks great but I am more of a gas man than diesel although they did say that Isuzu seems to have solved the diesel clack issue. They did review the trannies that will be available for the 8.1L and the 6.0L and both performed well under extremely heavy loads.
I have no problems with the dual rear axles if other than the added cost. My first choice would be a 3500 Crew Cab but George Washington and his greenback gang say an ex-cab 3/4 ton is it. (Unless my company does even better than expected this year.)
Sorry to be so long winded, keep sending in the stories, and I like the photos.
P.S. Duracozy-It's about time someone figured out that a tent trailer would fit in a longbed......
blawless - nice pictures. What year is that camper? It looks like a classic.
Mike - it's funny but just this weekend I was wondering if it would be possible to have a shell with limited camper goodies, and there it is. I wish they would show the inside, I wonder if you can put any cargo in the bed with the tent down.
I think the current 3/4 ton Silverado is a great size.
I meant the new (for 2001) 2500HD/3500HD trucks will be larger. Don't know for sure, because I haven't seen any dimensions but I suspect they will be both physically larger, and will have larger engines available.
I like my new 2500 Silverado. It has a bigger frame, axles, suspension, brakes, engine, and transmission than the 1500. The body and interior is the same as the 1500. With the 8600 GVWR and 3334 payload it is rated at a 2700lb camper.
Mike L 99 Silverado 1500 4x4 4.8L 5spd 00 Silverado 2500 LS 4x4 6.0L 5sd Deadhorse, Alaska 6-6-99
Did you get your window installed today? I checked at One Stop Truck Shop, & there best price was $199 for the window, & $100 to install. How did you get such a good deal? Is yours the Duovent, or the Trivent? Douvent slides in two directions, & the trivent slides in one direction. What store did you get it from? May have to drive down there.
Comments
One more must have item is the bag of metric nuts that I had on my list. You need two for the relay and one for the starter. The metric size is the main reason of course but also they are made out of brass or something so I assume they won't rust.
I have mounted the relay to the rear side of the battery support. Fits nice there. Now all I need is a truck to mount the battery support into.
My guess is Friday I'll pick it up.
BTW Vince, you have plenty of room in a popup. You just have be mentally roughing it. You can't bring it all with you, so you rough it. My wife and I have done 6 weeks on a motorcycle/sidecar camping trip and 6 weeks in the truck/popup. The biggest difference is we tend to eat in (90%) the camper and to eat out (90%) with the sidecar. That and it is much faster to set up camp with the popup. Of course, with the sidecar we can setup camp and the drive into town without closing up camp.
The beggest benefit of the camper is the ability to level the sleeping area. The tent is always at the mercy of the ground and we spent a lot of time trying to find the right spot for the tent. The truck we just park, maybe add a big rock or piece of wood under one or two tires, or dig a hole under one tire and onto the raised(lowered) spot to level. I can leave the jacks on the back to bring the back up, but usually don't.
I'm rambling......must need my morning caffiene fix.
Later,
Mike L
Just like Alaska.
So, where are you going to be camping this season? I imagine you try avoid the tourist crowds. Our favorites were Homer and the Dalton Highway. Least favorites were Seward, Anchorage and the area around Denali - all too crowded.
At any rate, Alaska is on our list of places to visit again when we retire (about 5 more years, depending on the state lottery and the other lottery (stock market)).
Enjoyed the pictures of your camper even if it is not our style of camper.
Enjoy the sun,
Mike L
Finally getting a truck to replace my '89 F350 CC. My 1999 1/2ton 4.8L reg cab longbed will be for sale once I get allocated.
Only bummer was couldn't get a 3.73 nor the new orange paint. GCWR is 16,000 lbs for my engine/ rear end combo, figure this will tow my 5,000 lb trailer and three dirtbikes in the bed no problem. GVWR is 9200 lbs for the 3/4 tons. All one tons come with dually and a gvwr of 11,400 lbs.
Got the tow package with the manual and the camper wiring.
Any guesses when I see this thing? This year I hope. Getting 16mpg with the 1/2 ton 4.8L running empty. Figure about 11 to 12 mpg with the new vehicle....you think?
I went to Seward this past weekend. It's not very crowded yet, but that will change Memorial Day weekend. I went to Homer and Seward a lot last year. I also have access to a private bluff lot near Anchor River that overlooks Cook Inlet with an awesome view of Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Illiamna. It's a nice get away from the crowds and you're still only about 25 miles from Homer. Homer is about as far as it makes sense to go for a standard weekend trip. It's about 4 1/2 hours one way depending on traffic. I'm not going out this weekend, but will likely head to Homer after work on Friday, 5/19. I miss the three 10s I worked last year that gave me three day weekends every weekend. I was able to justify trips to Valdez (about six hours from Anchorage) when I had the extra day.
As far as storage, I've had no problem tossing sleeping bags and other gear in the bed area, usually for friends. The camper actually has plenty of storage. Those cabinets along the side of the bed are bigger than they look. There are also two other storage areas in the bed area. One is actually for a tv, but I don't have one in the camper. The other is pretty decent size on the wall between the bed area and bathroom. I've got the regular closet for hanging clothes in the hall area, plus there are drawers under that, plus there are the kitchen cabinets. My camper also has a basement storage that runs under the camper the entire length of the floor area. The lawn chairs, coleman stove, lantern, fishing gear etc. go there. Skis can fit in there also.
Certainly you are welcome to some metric nuts when the time comes.
Are you sure about the weight rating? It's good news. How did you determine this, you must have gone to manufacturer's web pages because the retailers don't give that kind of detail.
One more question, is that an All Terrain tire? Many M/S tires are street tires with a bit wider grooves.
http://members.home.net/vofm/compressor.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/gauges.jpg
I bought my camper with winter in mind in Alaska and towing toys. Alot of the weight is in the insulation and windows. The camper is rated to 40 below (I'll never test that.....on purpose). The set up I have is certainly not the best for alot of people. I can only emphasize that everyone look and drive before they buy. And....as with anything, if it don't feel right at first, it's not likely to feel right later. That love at first sight is USUALLAY for the birds. Give it a good test run before you MARRY into a commitment.......just my opinion.
I found the information on the BF Goodrich website:
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/
Select site map (at the bottom), Light Truck/SUV tires, and the All Terrain T/A's.
The 265/285's in LRD carry the same as or more than a 245 LRE.
It does open up your choices.
Brutus,
I wasn't saying anything bad about your choice, it's just not my choice. Whatever works for you is fine for you. I don't understand 45' motorhomes either, but alot of people like them. My dad has a 28' trailer that he lives in half the summer. 1 week away, 1 week home, repeat as long as the weather permits. Not my style.
40 below. Let's see --- we'd be dead for about the last 30 degrees. We've been comfortable down into the 20's in our popup. Any colder and we will have to run the furnace. If we get caught in really cold weather we will leave the top down and we should be ok in that really small space with 1" insulation all around.
I've thought about a small trailer as a good alternative. But, if I really want to go off-road or on really bad dirt/gravel roads then the trailer is a problem. But for the rest of the time, leave the trailer at a base camp and go exploring. That litlle 'Bambi' Airstream looks really nice, but I've never checked the price.
Later,
Mike L
Hope my 2500 shows up today.
I'm curious to see what has changed by the end of the model year and to feel the firm ride suspension. I don't think you and your wife will feel this one is too soft. If it's too firm I can sell you a set of standard stock shocks for $5. What a deal.
Going to be a busy couple of weeks.
I do have a digital camera, not the greatest resolution (640x480). But you can stop by if you are in the south bay and you want to see the newest addition to our used car lot (2 convertibles, VW Vanagon, El Camino and 2 Silverado's). The neighbors are starting to talk.
Today I work 1/2 day and then off to spend big bucks on a Dark Carmine Red truck.
Later,
Mike L
What does the sticker in the glove box say is the maximum camper weight? Just curious....figure my HD version will be similar or a couple hundred lbs higher.
It's quieter, smoother and seems stronger than the 1500. The ride is not bad for an empty truck with firm ride suspension. Could be just right when we get the camper on.
Markbuck, the glove box label says 2702lbs. Max capacity is 3334lbs, minus 300 for two people minus 200 for a tank of gas and minus 100 for the added options and we are right at the 2700lb limit. With our popup and fully loaded we should have about 1300lbs of margin. Plenty to keep my wife from worrying about that.
They are currently selling 2500s for 2500 over list. We got ours with the GMS deal for $400 under invoice. Not bad! Out the door was $900 under MSRP. California tax and DMV was $2500.
We have a nice 99 Silverado 4x4 Reg Cab, Longbed, 1500, 4.8L, 5spd, AC, CC, PDL, Posi, Camper Mirrors, Fog Lights, Rear Slider, Aluminum Wheels, Fender Flares and more for sale. Charcoal Metallic with Satin Black flares and side moldings. 25,000 miles. Kelly Blue Book $21,000.
Later, I have to go driving.
Mike L
00 Silverado 2500 LS 4x4 6.0L 5spd
Seemed like a great song to start with, especially since the 99 has never had the radio on while piling up 25,000 miles.
Later,
Mike L
Vince, didn't you buy new Edelbrock shocks, & if so, how do you like them, or have you had a chance to test them with the camper? If you have posted before, I missed them. Do you bring your caper with you when you visit family in Grass Valley? Would like to see it next time your up this way. Could meet you in the Raley's parking lot. Easy in & out. Let me know.
Gary-
Sometimes I bring the camper up north visiting and sometimes not. It depends how long I'm staying and how cold it is. My mom is allergic to dogs so Dusty and I stay in a screen room when I visit. It's too cold in the winter so then I stay in the camper. This last trip I didn't bring it because I didn't need it and also my sister needed me to haul some hay for her horses. She just bought two horses but doesn't own a truck, or a saddle for that matter! Anyone know of a decent (running) sub-thousand dollar truck? Anyway only my brother is in Grass Valley and I don't usually bring the camper there. He lives in Alta Sierra, are you in that vast maze by any chance?
So far I've used 10-30 regular oil. I have 7500 miles now and will switch to synthetic on the next change. I guess I'll stick with the base AC Delco filter, at least until they come out with a premium version. I'm due for a new CD/radio and a maybe a rear differential pinion seal. How about you, anything on your go-to-the-dealer list?
John
I will change the oil and filter at 5-600 miles with petroleum oil. Synthetic at the next oil change and change when the oil minder light comes on. I'll use 5W30 Mobil 1.
There is a premium version of the AC Delco filter. I think it is PF59G. The G is for Gold. I have seen other Delco filters in the premium version, but not the 59. Last time through Fresno I stopped at Wally-World and they had PF59s for $2.00. Got 6 for the truck and 6 more for my little Mercury Capri Converible.
I still can't believe how much smoother and quieter the 2500 is compared to the 1500. The ride is a little choppy on certain concrete highways, but that should improve with the camper. I actually think the 'Firm Ride' suspension will be adequate with the camper on. I had to try Z-71 and Bilsteins to get something strong enough for the 1500 with the camper.
Later,
Mike L
I'm just down the hill from Alta Sierra in Penn Valley, about 20/25 min. away. You can get real lost in Alta Sierra. Nice place though.
I use at this time, the 5-30 oil, but Costco only carries the 10-30 Castrol oil, so on my next change, I'm either going with the 10-30, Amsoil, or Mobil 1. Did your radio go out, or are you just upgrading? At 1,050mi, GM had to replace the oil adapter that the filter attaches to. I happen to notice a spot on my driveway under the truck, so when I investigated, I could see where the drip was coming from, so got it fixed. Has been fine since then.
Mike, I also quit smoking in 1980, & sometimes I can smell toooo much. Speaking of the oil minder light, I think mine is due to come on. My first change was at 1,000, & now I have about 4,500mi. How much air do you have in your tires? I usually run around 50psi empty, & of course, 80psi with the camper on. Very smooth with the weight, & not bad without the weight. My brother has a 2k Ford diesel, 4x4,LB, extra cab, & it rides much rougher than the Silverado. It will carry more weight though. I'll stay with the smoother ride.
Gary-
No kidding the truck is quieter, that's the difference between the stripo and the LS package. I'll trade dollars for road noise any day, I wish they offered more insulation as an option.
If you're comfortable with the handling as is then that's okay. But think about the improvement the bags made, well the bar will make it even better. Actually if the rear isn't sagging, I think the bar is more important. With the camper on, jerk the wheel out and back quickly and note the side to side rocking. The bar will reduce that by 50% or so. Of course shocks help with that too and you probably have good ones already. I forget what I paid for the aftermarket bar, I think $130. That's not too much for a driveability and safety improvement.
After playing around I've settled on tire pressure of:
Empty - front 45, rear 40
Loaded - front 50, rear 80
I may loose a little gas mileage but it's a surprisingly noticeable ride improvement to lower the pressure. I think the load vs. pressure is still fine from a wear point of view. I haven't rotated the tires yet (7500 miles) but will do it soon. I typically do that about every 10k.
All this air in, air out, activity was the final straw in my justification for an air compressor. I bought the Coleman upright model they sell at Costco. So now I can fill up the tires in my driveway when I load the camper. Plus I get the neat air tools. They are fun but loud.
I will probably run 50/50 empty and 50/65 loaded.
I have to stop and get an aftermarket sliding rear window and a bed mat, then this weekend I can install the camper mounts, and next weekend the camper, and the weekend after that we start vacation.
Later,
Mike L
00 Silverado 2500 LS 4x4 6.0L 5spd
Vince, I also bought a compressor at Costco a few years back. It sure is handy to have around the house. Can find many uses other than just putting air in the tires. Looks like a warm rest of the week. Might have to head up to the Sierra Buttes & do some fishing. A COLD BEER, well, maybe.
Gary-
The bed mat is mostly to protect the bed from the uneven bottom of the camper. It's only 1/8" bumps for the screws and moldings, but the mat can't hurt.
A nice warm weekend for working on the fence and the truck. I better get some more pickets painted during the week while it is still cool.
Mike L
Gary-
Mike why do you need a new rubber mat, don't you have one in the old truck?
Just a little piece of mind. I'm also going to put shims on the sides of the camper bottom so it fits snugly (1/8"-1/4" clearance) between the wheel wells. Then it is always centered.
Got my pickets painted last night. Tonight I will drill all the mounting holes and then tomorrow I can start to put them up. Hopefully I'll finish and have the whole weekend to work on the truck and to drive it some more. 156 miles and counting.
And Vince, I will check the air pressure this weekend.
Mike L
The new trucks come with a 4.3L V6 or a 4.8L, 5.3L or 6.0L V8. The three V8s are the same family. The 4.8L and 5.3L are only available in the 1500 and the 6.0L is only available in the 2500 and 2500HD(new for 2001) trucks.
The 6.0L is a strong engine, with 300HP and 90% of its peak torque at 1000 rpm. I don't think you will describe this engine as powerless. The new GM engines have more power than the one they replaced.
Nobody I know has complained about the 6.0L not having enough power. I have a 99 Silverado with the new 4.8L and it has plenty of power to push my truck (with PopUp camper) through the Sierra's and Rocky's without difficulty.
My dad has a new Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L (325 ci) (same as 6.0L but smaller) and it will pull his trailer up his test hill faster than the 98 Chevy 350 he traded for it. It has more power and gets better mileage to boot.
Depending on the dealers in your area, you might also look at the GMC (same truck, different grill).
Good luck,
Mike L
99 Silverado 1500 4x4 4.8L 5spd
00 Silverado 2500 LS 4x4 6.0L 5spd
Deadhorse, Alaska 6-6-99
Monday I take the truck in to have the rear slider installed ($200 installed). I guess I'll have a spare rear window.
Mike L
If you're moving to a bigger camper, make sure to do some research into the weight and the GVWR of the truck you plan to buy. The advertised dry weight of a camper is the base model with no options. Options added about 1,000 pounds to my camper. The windows for the arctic package make up a good chunk of that, but the AC is over 100 pounds, the microwave is about 100, the awning is 50. The generator is over 100. You may not get any of these options, but keep it in mind. Also, don't forget to add the weight of the water, propane, and gasoline. Then there is the weight of your gear and you and your passengers. Add all of this up, subtract it from the GVWR for the truck and chances are that anything bigger than a 8.5' hardside camper will exceed the GVWR of a 3/4 ton truck.
If you decide to consider a 1 ton, I'm pretty sure that Chevy is coming out with their new heavy duty line this fall. The photos I've seen look pretty sharp.
FYI, the advertised dry weight of my camper is 2,900 pounds. With options, it weighs 3,900 pounds. The truck weighs a little over 7,000 pounds with 38 gallons of gasoline. Loaded for a trip, including 30 gallons of freshwater, two full propane tanks, one passenger, me, and our gear, I tip the scales around 11,700, which is 500 over my GVWR of 11,200. It handles it great.
Last year, I ran without airbags and it didn't sit back too much. I put Ride-Rite airbags on a few weeks ago and it raised the rear a couple of inches. I'm running 80 psi with the camper on. Since I have the duallys, I didn't see too dramatic of a difference in the side to side motion. However, I do notice a difference in the up and down movement. A lot less bounce on the bumps and we've got some good size frost heaves on most of our hwys up here in Anchorage. I think I will see improvement in the side to side when I put the Ranchos on.
I put the camper back on this evening. I'm going to try my luck at catching an early King Salmon this weekend. The fish don't really start running for a couple of weeks. The camper will likely stay on through Labor Day since I try to get out just about every weekend in the summer. This is my second trip out this month.
The truck handles the load fine except the "soft ride" shocks are a little overwhelmed. I put air bags on the rear but could live without. So I'd add a foot to Brutus' limit on 3/4 ton trucks. The factory sticker rates my truck for 2800lbs of camper (still more GVWR left), the ext cab version is a bit lower. Gary has that exact truck, are you out there Gary? In fact he had a 10.5' Lance on his for awhile.
The new GM 1 tons are dually only so you would have to want that. A 3/4 is just fine up to medium size cabovers. If you want a 11.5' with all the goodies then get a 1 ton. Whatever you get, if you can order a rear stabilizer bar and heavy shocks, do it.
Vince's rig
http://members.home.net/vofm/camper1.jpg
Brutus' rig
http://members.home.net/vofm/frontright1.jpg
Mike's old rig
http://members.home.net/vofm/LFUP.JPG
Have you looked at any more cameras? I haven't used mine too much yet but I like it so far. I found it at an on-line store for $280. Olympus D-360L.
http://www.newcoenterprise.com/camper.htm
I is the size of a camper shell, the sides fold out and down, the top goes up and tent material fills the space in between. The door and frame must slide up and down because it can be opened in the up or down position. It has a furnace, sink, stove, portapotti, etc. No cost listed.
And at only 750lbs it is adaptable to most any pickup.
Mike L
Gary-
John
vince4 - I actually exchanged a few words with you last year when I first got my rig. I was trying to find the original jack system for my camper. Still no luck.
mledtje- you said that the new Chevy would be "big like the Ford SD". Did you mean big engine, or big as in tall? One of the things I like about the Chevy's is the shorter height.
I just got this months issue of Trailer Boats magazine. They reviewed the 2001 Chevy 3500. What a head turner! In their test, they tested the Duramax 6.0L diesel by Isuzu that will be out next year. Looks great but I am more of a gas man than diesel although they did say that Isuzu seems to have solved the diesel clack issue. They did review the trannies that will be available for the 8.1L and the 6.0L and both performed well under extremely heavy loads.
I have no problems with the dual rear axles if other than the added cost. My first choice would be a 3500 Crew Cab but George Washington and his greenback gang say an ex-cab 3/4 ton is it. (Unless my company does even better than expected this year.)
Sorry to be so long winded, keep sending in the stories, and I like the photos.
P.S. Duracozy-It's about time someone figured out that a tent trailer would fit in a longbed......
http://www.webpak.net/~bnt/camping/camping.html
I hope I got the link set up right.
John
Mike - it's funny but just this weekend I was wondering if it would be possible to have a shell with limited camper goodies, and there it is. I wish they would show the inside, I wonder if you can put any cargo in the bed with the tent down.
I meant the new (for 2001) 2500HD/3500HD trucks will be larger. Don't know for sure, because I haven't seen any dimensions but I suspect they will be both physically larger, and will have larger engines available.
I like my new 2500 Silverado. It has a bigger frame, axles, suspension, brakes, engine, and transmission than the 1500. The body and interior is the same as the 1500. With the 8600 GVWR and 3334 payload it is rated at a 2700lb camper.
Mike L
99 Silverado 1500 4x4 4.8L 5spd
00 Silverado 2500 LS 4x4 6.0L 5sd
Deadhorse, Alaska 6-6-99
Gary-