Need help understanding Truck Capabilities

[WehuntSam]

In 2001 I purchased a 2001 Silverado 1500 HD Crew Cab 4x4 for the specific purpose of adding a slide-in truck camper. I was soon discouraged when all the camper dealers told me that my “1/2 ton” truck was not capable of carrying any of their units available in 2001.
This was very confusing as the truck is equipped with eight-lug wheels and a 6.0 liter V8. I believe it has a larger braking system as well. All of the available reviews on the 2001 1500 HD clearly state that the truck is in fact a ¾ ton with ½ ton badging.
Further research indicates that the only difference between the 1500 HD and the 2001 -2500 Silverado was one leaf spring.
The Vehicle Weight Limits shown on the sticker reads:
GVWR = 8600 LBS
GAWR FRONT = 4410 LBS
GAWR REAR = 6000
The Camper Sticker in the glove compartment reads:
CARGO WEIGHT RATING = 1949 LBS
DIMENSION A = 68 INCHES
DIMENSION B = 32 INCHES
I found additional information on the Auto channel review of the truck in 2001:
Curb Weight
5,600 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
8,600 lbs
Max Payload
3,000 lbs


I weighed the truck at a local salvage yard and the 5600 lb. curb weight is accurate.
What is the maximum dry weight and wet weight can I safely use with this truck?
My preferred camper is the Cirrus 720 with minimum options adding 132 lbs. to the 1875 lb. base dry weight for a total dry weight of 2007 lbs.
What are Dimension A and B ?
All help appreciated.

[Grit_dog]

^ Quite a profound statement my friend.

[Kayteg1]

Don't mind Grit dog,
He is known forum troll and "BS of the year" award winner.
You can always put him on ignore list if he bothers you.
I just learned to read his replies as thin air.

[WehuntSam]

Thanks Grit dog. I understand Walmart has a special on "blinker fluid" I suspect you've already got a good supply!

[Grit_dog]

Naw Jayco, if you missed it I suggests he could carry a smaller camper but to know what he's loading up. Can't un buy a camper and he seems pretty attached to the truck.
I agree with you. Except that you suggested that the 6k axle rating is conservative in the 1500HD, as it is in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. It is not.
Is it fine for 6k? Yup. Is it under rated, no, not really. Not with a long service life.
Unlike you, it does not appear the OP has years and years of experience doing everything under the sun with a pickup truck, nor does it sound like he's real saavy about them. With that combo, it could get kinda spendy before he gets the rig where it is comfortable for him to drive (or icbw).
And yeah, I'm a tad over gvw with the old white whale on back of the 2500 Mega, but it ain't the scariest thing I've driven.....by a long shot, lol!

[jaycocreek]

It's so easy to get side-railed in these topics for some..The op only asked two questions:

I weighed the truck at a local salvage yard and the 5600 lb. curb weight is accurate.
What is the maximum dry weight and wet weight can I safely use with this truck?
My preferred camper is the Cirrus 720 with minimum options adding 132 lbs. to the 1875 lb. base dry weight for a total dry weight of 2007 lbs.
What are Dimension A and B ?
All help appreciated.

Somehow that got lost because it is a 1/2 ton, which is witchcraft to some with an RV...So a quick look at Truck camper magazine gave this about the TC the op is interested in and ask about..

What is the dry weight of the Cirrus 720?

The 2019 Cirrus 720 is 1,875 pounds dry.

When we fill the fresh water tank, add a 65-pound battery, and fill the 20-pound propane tank, we’re at 2,120 pounds wet. Add in the electric jacks, air conditioner, side awning, and all of the options, and the wet-with-options weight is 2,340 pounds.

The op does not need a new truck/a 2500 truck or even a different axle to haul the truck camper he wants..His 8600 GVWR HD 1500 is more than enough for that camper and his 3000# payload.

Dang Grit dog...Kinda hard on the new guy huh...

[TxGearhead]

Grit dog wrote:
@txgearhead, yes a FF axle swap is relatively easy and straight forward on these trucks, IF your name is txgearhead. But the OP doesn't know a muffler bearing from blinker fluid. How much do you think that little ordeal would run him?
Answer, a he!! Of a lot more than selling his (apparently) pristine 1500hd and buying a nice similar age 2500hd.

LMAO

[jaycocreek]

G dog wrote:
Negative Jayco, you got yerself confused here.

Not at all young man..The op is asking about a TC that is way way lighter than my Lance 9.6 and that 9.6 loaded for bear weighs 6,000 pounds on the rear axle on a F-350 DRW(A heavier truck than his)..His truck and the truck camper he wants,won't be that heavy and his Chevy axle weight is 6K,and we all know the axle is good for more than that,not that it matters..

The op has a rare 1500 HD truck with the same 8600 GVWR as other 2500 trucks and 1400# more GVWR than my F-250(7200 GVWR) I hauled a Lance 8.6 over hill and dale without issue..

Kinda funny there G-dog, coming from a guy hauling a AF-811 clone on a 3/4 truck.. Your like how many pounds over GVWR?????

I am under GVWR by the way...laffin

[Grit_dog]

@txgearhead, yes a FF axle swap is relatively easy and straight forward on these trucks, IF your name is txgearhead. But the OP doesn't know a muffler bearing from blinker fluid. How much do you think that little ordeal would run him?
Answer, a he!! Of a lot more than selling his (apparently) pristine 1500hd and buying a nice similar age 2500hd.

[Grit_dog]

jaycocreek wrote:


That just shows the "lack of" knowledge of the camper dealers..Silicone gets the same bad rap on the internet as 1/2 ton trucks do, yet Bigfoot uses silicone on there campers as well as countless RV dealers for repair..

GM gives your HD 1500 a 6K rear axle rating, which is definitely more from the manufacturer of the axle as my Sterling(Ford) axle is...My F-350 DRW with a Lance 9.6 TC loaded ready to camp, weighs 6K even on the rear axle when I last weighed, out of curiosity..

Your not going to have any problems with a TC on your HD 1500 truck,within reason..Guys around here think an AF-811 is just fine on a 3/4 ton truck when it actually overloads a newer 3500 DRW in GVWR..Double standard..YES...

Your truck is a rare find, so enjoy it and don't listen to the nay sayers about 1/2 ton trucks,they are wrong about most of them but especially wrong about the HD version truck campers and towing with it

Enjoy just about any 8'6" TC on that truck.

Negative Jayco, you got yerself confused here.
A 9.5 sf axle is not "under rated at 6klbs." It's only marginally stronger than other sf axles. You're comparing your full floating axle and everything that goes with it to a legit heavy half type axle. Not a double standard. Rather a lack of understanding.

But this should serve to confuse the OP that much more. Hence my reccomendation in his cas e to find a real 3/4 ton truck.
"I " would put 3k on that truck, but I wouldn't want to as better options for basically the same $ are readily available when the setup is marginal to begin with.

[Grit_dog]

Lwiddis wrote:
Yeah, you don’t need a bigger truck. Hopefully only you will pay the price for running overloaded.

Good to see the captain of the weight police checking in. Welcome!

[towpro]

jimh425 wrote:

towpro wrote:
Truck Camper Magazine has a buyers guide that includes true weights. its been pretty accurate for the 2 truck campers I bought in recant years.

Does Capri advertise there? If not, they probably aren’t listed.

yes they 7 Capri campers listed.

[TxGearhead]

First liar ain't got a chance...
I bought a new 1982 F250, straight 6 300cu in, 4speed granny gear, heavy Twin-I beam front end, F150 rear end (not FF), dealer added A/C, I added a radio.Couple years later a co-worker was selling a cabover he bought from another co-worker. Maybe 5 years old. An 8ft. wood framed Tejas made in Beaumont TX. I didn't have a clue what it weighed, and didn't have a clue what a CAT scale was. After I almost flipped it in Oklahoma in high winds I put a set of helper springs on it. After that we went all over East Texas, Arkansas, and Yellowstone. Several trips to Colorado elk hunting pulling a utility trailer. That 300 six would pull mountains as good as a friends 350 Chevy, he said. After about 4 years I sold the camper. The Ford rear end was howling and the transmission would jump out of gear on a good bump.
All that said, I would be shopping to see if there was a heavy duty Chevy rear end available that would be a simple swap out.
Yes Truck Camper Magazine has at least interviewed the owners of Capri, and maybe a review. The Capri is a basic camper with some good options. Fairly popular on the Texas rodeo circuit.

[burningman]

Just for the record, years ago I had an F150 with extra rear springs, and I carried a ten footer and towed a 17’ boat. And I broke the rear axle. (31 spline 9-inch).

[Grit_dog]

Good for you! Go getcha a camper!
Fwiw, I’d take a Cirrus tomorrow. Seems to be very well thought out campers.
Don’t let wood frame scare you. We’ve had 2 different campers, same exact model. 1 aluminum, 1 wood. Zero differences in them from my perspective.