Lance 855s on a 2004 Sierra 2500

[AWHITING80]

Hey!

I have a 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4x4 short bed, 4 inch lift with 17 inch wheels. I'm looking into a suitable camper for my truck. Lance advertises the 2500's as a suitable truck for the 855s model, but it is obviously well over the payload capacity when wet.... before adding everything else to the equation.

Does anyone here "push the limits" successfully? I know all about the insurance issues with a set-up like this.

Airbags and E-rated tires are on my truck as well.

Thanks for your replies in advance.

[Chevy Joe]

Hi Aaron

 

I was looking into this myself, spent a few weeks Reading, Looking and Learning, came to conclusion you get more bang for your buck with a travel trailer, Including being able to unhitch and use your truck for fun, including storage in the bed on your truck

 

If slide in is really what you want they have some Aluminum and modern composites that are very light

 

Here are Two:

https://www.livinlite.com/truck-campers.php

http://www.palominorv.com/RealLite/

 

As far as "pushing the limits", Never a good Idea..... Google images is full of flipped crushed trucks

 

Trucks can be upgraded to increase your truck's capacity

 

Also, on a side note, all the camping and RVing forums I have read say NO PASSENGERS while driving slide in campers

 

Even if it is a legal gray area morally it is not.... Wood campers splinter like toohpicks

 

Be Safe

 

Joe

[Chevy Joe]

BTW Aaron,

 

I did some checking and the Lance 855s Truck Camper's Wet Weight w/Std. Equipment is 3032 Lbs.
(that does not include weight of all your stuff and people)

 

My rough guess is by the time you add all that stuff you would be at least 1000 Lbs over and in a very bad place, most people have a wife and kids so there's about 500 pounds for people, then you have food....

 

What are the specs on your Truck?

 

I know you want as much camper as possible, I felt the same way, that's why I'm getting a travel trailer

 

I have a few links to RV'ing forums where the guys do this all day long, let me know if you want them

 

Joe

 

 

[ColoradoDave]

I've been researching Lance as well and decided against the 855S because it is too heavy when fully loaded with gear, people, water, etc.

 

Here are a few campers that I put together (with weights given in both dry and wet lbs) that should be suitable for a short box 2500.

 

Lance

865 1818d/2703w

825 1726d/2611w

 

Camplites

TC8.5 1900d/2802w

TC6.8 1780d/2523w

 

Northern Lite

8-5Q 1768d/2603w

 

Travel Lite

890SBRX 2020d/2819w

800SBX 1640d/2369w

 

Palomino

HS6601 1771d/2665w

HS800 1675d/2569w

 

Northstar

Laredo SC 2090d/2975w

8.5 Adventurer 1940d/2741w

Liberty 1775d/2577w

[Chevy Joe]

I've been researching Lance as well and decided against the 855S because it is too heavy when fully loaded with gear, people, water, etc.

 

Here are a few campers that I put together (with weights given in both dry and wet lbs) that should be suitable for a short box 2500.

 

Lance

865 1818d/2703w

825 1726d/2611w

 

Camplites

TC8.5 1900d/2802w

TC6.8 1780d/2523w

 

Northern Lite

8-5Q 1768d/2603w

 

Travel Lite

890SBRX 2020d/2819w

800SBX 1640d/2369w

 

Palomino

HS6601 1771d/2665w

HS800 1675d/2569w

 

Northstar

Laredo SC 2090d/2975w

8.5 Adventurer 1940d/2741w

Liberty 1775d/2577w

 

Nice List !!

[uh6tdrvr]

I added a set of 2500 leafs to my 09 1500 and its night and day in the way it supports the weight of my boat trailer. I got mine at the self pull yard by me for 15 each! Not sure how much they will help the "legal" weight the bed supports but its amazing the difference that they made in the way the truck handles.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

I added a set of 2500 leafs to my 09 1500 and its night and day in the way it supports the weight of my boat trailer. I got mine at the self pull yard by me for 15 each! Not sure how much they will help the "legal" weight the bed supports but its amazing the difference that they made in the way the truck handles.

Those heavier leaf packs will definitely help with the rear end sag as you have already noticed with your boat.

 

Just remember that your truck is still a 1500 series pickup and the maximum weight rating set by GM will not change no matter what kind of HD parts you throw at it.

Adding HD leaf springs doesn't increase the maximum weight the 1500 series truck is rated for. You still have a smaller rear, gears, brakes, lesser frame, etc..........Good idea going with those springs. They should at least give you a little more stability when towing heavy.

Really good deal too, can't beat the price you paid! Did you get any rear lift by adding them?

 

 

Sent from my crappy iPhone 6

using Tapatalk

[uh6tdrvr]

No, not really any lift with them just no more sagging. I do have an are cap on the back though that makes it settle at least an inch in stock form. With the factory block and my 2in RC spacer it sat level at 39 3/4. I put my 3 in RC block back in and got about the inch and a half back. Im at 40 3/4 with the cap.

Edited May 25, 2015 by uh6tdrvr