Pickup Camper on 2014/ 2015 GM 1500

Jake56 · January 27, 2015

Has anyone here purchased a camper for their 2014 or 2015 GMC Sierra or Chev.... 1500 series . (Not interested in the 3/4 ton folks)

My truck is 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 double cab 4 x 4 with 6 and a half foot box , so it has roughly 1900 lbs payload allowed .So then the wet weight of Pickup Camper should not exceed that . (but maybe it can easily handle more?)

Anyone purchase a Palimino or Travellite or any other camper model that fit well without major upgrade to springs?

And if you upgraded springs what did you use , and what attachment method did you use for the truck to camper hold downs?

calgator73 · January 28, 2015

Has anyone here purchased a camper for their 2014 or 2015 GMC Sierra or Chev.... 1500 series . (Not interested in the 3/4 ton folks)

My truck is 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 double cab 4 x 4 with 6 and a half foot box , so it has roughly 1900 lbs payload allowed .So then the wet weight of Pickup Camper should not exceed that . (but maybe it can easily handle more?)

Anyone purchase a Palimino or Travellite or any other camper model that fit well without major upgrade to springs?

And if you upgraded springs what did you use , and what attachment method did you use for the truck to camper hold downs?

I haven't....and hardly any of these trucks actually have the claimed payload rating. What does your door sticker say for available payload? More stats here for weight distribution and CG

http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/printbook?pdftype=camper&lang=1&year=2014

Limitations:

The following 2014 model year General Motors truck models are not recommended for slide-in camper applications:

• Any pickup model with a Cargo Weight Rating (CWR) of less than 226.8 kg (500 lbs). A statement to this effect is

imprinted on the Truck-Camper Loading information label that states whether that vehicle is recommended for use

with a slide-in camper.

• C/K Silverado/Sierra 1500 crew cab,

• C/K Silverado/Sierra 1500 with 20” wheels,

Notes:

• C/K Silverado/Sierra 1500 Pickups should not be used for larger, cab-over type slide-in campers.

• Some vehicles may be equipped with exterior trim options that may interfere with installation of a slide in camper.

Using a slide in camper for these vehicles is not recommended.

Edited January 28, 2015 by calgator73

Jake56 · January 28, 2015

Thank you for the brochure Calgator.....however it specifically shows that the GMC 1500 Double cab is considered allowed then because it is not on the list and the payload allowed is 1850 .............so you have sort of proven it is okay to use it. I already knew that. I just want to know if anyone on this forum has used and what they purchased and how they configured and beefed up if needed be.

Spurshot · January 28, 2015

Just curious...does that 1900 lbs you mentioned, after considering a tank of gas and people in the cab?

Something else to consider: on my hunting trips I put a few hundred lbs of gear in the back of my truck.

Jake56 · January 28, 2015

Can we focus on my questions please.

Has anyone here purchased a camper for their 2014 or 2015 GMC Sierra or Chev ?

Anyone purchase a Palimino or Travellite or any other camper model that fit well without major upgrade to springs?

And if you upgraded springs what did you use , and what attachment method did you use for the truck to camper hold downs?

I don't need safety police about how much I can carry , that is my responsiblity and researched already.

calgator73 · January 28, 2015

Honestly no Jake. The smallest I've seen is 2500

kstruckcountry · January 28, 2015

http://4wheelcampers.com/

Jake56 · January 28, 2015

Honestly no Jake. The smallest I've seen is 2500

Your driving circle to see.... must be small...........up here GM 1500's, Ford F150's and Dodge 1500's have been used for campers for decades, you just need to set them up, I am asking if anyone on forum has similar camping pursuits as me with their truck. And camper manufacturers even make them for Dakotas and Colorados and Takomas, and none of them are 3/4 ton.

Edited January 28, 2015 by Jake56

calgator73 · January 28, 2015

I remember as a kid seeing 1/2 ton trucks with campers (think my grandfather had one on his dodge). These days all I see are monster 3k lb slide in campers with 2500 and more frequently 3500. Try rv.net? Looking to dry camp in the boondocks?

The reason I ask is I'm curious how much frame flex these things have with a load..or maybe cg limits. They specifically recommend against a crew/extended cab (there is no extended cab only reg, double and crew...makes me think they are forbidding anything but regular cab) and 20s. Just curious and not judging your confidence in your abilities. Did you look at the brackets on e-trailer?

Not sure if you found this but it seems to be related to cg.

http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-chevy-silverado-payload-warning.html?m=1

Edited January 29, 2015 by calgator73

Jerry's Denali · April 20, 2015

Jake did you ever buy a camper?

I am looking at the Palomino ss550

Jake56 · April 21, 2015

Unfortunately up here in Northern Ontario Canada the choices were slim and Palominos would of been my first choice too !! but couldn't afford new (and dealer is 600 miles away) and no used ones around . ...and to go to a hard top version brand then to stay light you need to forego the bathroom ............., and to upgrade the truck with tiedowns was around $1000 and maybe upgrade springs if I had to go with whatever camper I found...it was just to expensive for what we would get in a 6 x 6 floor plan (plus overhead bunk)..........So now we see that we would get far more for the money, by going to a trailer camper instead (maybe 21 ft) and don't need changes to the truck and don't need to take the camper off during the weeks that I use truck for something else.

goodluck with your Palomino............my research showed it to be a good brand and weight

mjj · July 18, 2015

jericbarg, keep us posted. I've recently started looking into if my truck could handle one of those slide in pop up style campers. I found a good site here for models and weights.

http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/buyers-guide

Seems like if you stick to one closer to 1000lbs these trucks would handle it fine since you've got to add in all the other weight of passengers, cargo, etc. I have a small boat, about 3000 lbs so I was curious if this was doable as I can't tow both a trailer camper and a boat at the same time.

jamesmc321 · August 24, 2015

Just to throw this out there, to the OP and anyone else thinking of putting a 'slide in' camper in a half ton truck..

If you have 'modify' or 'beef-up' or 'upgrade' anything on the truck due to what you are putting in the back of it, you shouldn't be putting it in that truck... No matter what suspension, tires, etc.. you put on, the axle limit is still not increasing, the axle is not growing in diameter, the brakes are not growing - you can not just throw some airbags or springs in a half ton and expect it to increase the payload / safety of the truck / camper combo.

I live in Buffalo NY and see people from Canada (Ontario) all the time around here.. mini vans towing 24+ foot long trailers, I have a pic in my phone of an Explorer Sport Trac towing a 28' camper...even with WD system it was riding on the rear wheels - it is UNSAFE and anyone that gives advice to someone looking to exceed their vehicles limits / stated laws should all have their tires slashed and be forced to drive a golf cart the rest of their life. (maybe a 10 speed bike for nicer weather)

Just my two cents

EDIT:

I am not saying that all people from Canada tow incorrectly or that the OP is either, I am just saying that it seems like whenever I see someone all messed up towing, I see a CA plate with it...

Edited August 24, 2015 by jamesmc321

September 13, 2017

My truck payload is 1962 lbs. I would hope a 1000 lb camper would leave just enough room before reaching that limit with fuel gear and me. I'm 160 and my girlfriend will be 125 maximum when I finally get her back from the shop.

I would go with air bags as well as upgrade the shocks and tires. I do not drive like the rest of the world which seems to be on some urgent mission to reach the next traffic light to text their next message. It wouldn't go well if I tried to emulate them anyhow.

sdeeter19555 · September 13, 2017

My truck payload is 1962 lbs. I would hope a 1000 lb camper would leave just enough room before reaching that limit with fuel gear and me. I'm 160 and my girlfriend will be 125 maximum when I finally get her back from the shop.

I would go with air bags as well as upgrade the shocks and tires. I do not drive like the rest of the world which seems to be on some urgent mission to reach the next traffic light to text their next message. It wouldn't go well if I tried to emulate them anyhow.

Finding a 1000# slide-in is the fun part. The lighter they are, the more expensive they become...I have looked at aluma-lites for while now, that would be my choice.

I sold my older slide-in to a guy with a 1500 GMC back in 2011, he was sitting on the overloads with an 8-foot, 1400# camper and driving 400 miles back to Ohio.

Keep in mind that most load capacities reported by the manufacturer are within so many inches of the front bulkhead and only so high...a slide in doesn't fit that rating model. I'm not saying the truck won't handle it, just that your reported rating is different than the weight distribution of a slide-in camper.

Air bags will help, but they can cause pogoing if the shocks aren't strong enough and tick-tocking if not filled separately.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk