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Author: Subject: Truck Camper Broke Dodge in half
surabi
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[*] posted on 1-1-2023 at 10:39 PM


Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
S,

He probably took the truck to wherever he bought the camper.


Yes, that's what the article said. But if I was making a major purchase like that, with the potential for serious injury if the info was wrong, not just to the vehicle, but to the driver and passengers, I'd do more research beyond taking the word of a business that is making a profit off my purchase.
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bajarich
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[*] posted on 1-1-2023 at 11:26 PM


It doesn't mention what the road was like or how fast he was going when this happened. Probably not the smooth highway in the photo. Also that camper has a slide which adds a whole lot of weight behind the rear wheel.
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 12:05 AM


Quote: Originally posted by bajarich  
It doesn't mention what the road was like or how fast he was going when this happened. Probably not the smooth highway in the photo. Also that camper has a slide which adds a whole lot of weight behind the rear wheel.


At one point, Pavel says he noticed a creeking sound coming from underneath the truck. He inspected the shocks and springs but couldn't find an issue, so he and his wife continued to their designated camping spot. It was days later, on a two-and-a-half-day drive north, that the frame split. They were roughly 100 miles from the United States border.

Pavel describes the truck "surging" forward, like it had a flat tire. He stopped to check everything again but still didn't spot any issues. From there, they traveled at slow speeds of "5-10 mph max," but the problem soon revealed itself as full-on cracks on both sides.




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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 08:27 AM


There is a DIFFERENT payload capacity for Campers due to the weight distribution of campers which is MUCH lower than the total payload, hence why his warranty claim was denied. I have No Idea why this was not mentioned in the article or here.

You have to look at the sticker in the glove box for this rating and/or in the owner manual, it is not listed on the door jam with the other ratings, nor in general specs. In addition to weight they also have guidelines for center of gravity location.

Most guys overload their trucks with their campers.
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 08:54 AM


https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/bbg/pdf/2016/docs/ram/hdram...

The highest rated 3500 on this spreadsheet for a camper is 6744 lbs.
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 08:56 AM


https://en.dodge-club.net/manual_download.php?id=1474

No camper recommended
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 09:04 AM


And in the photos it definitely looks like the center of gravity of the camper in not forward of the rear axle which is needs to be thus overstressing the frame.

The diesel engines create about 62% weight load on the front axle, then add in the crew cab taking space, and put the center of gravity behind the rear axle and you have a heavy weight over the front axle (engine) and heavy weight behind the rear axle AND pop, uneven load loaded at each end of the truck, nothing in the middle but upward pressure from both end loads. POP, CRACK.
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 09:55 AM
A welded frame I had once upon a time


I bought a Blazer with a repaired, cracked frame once. It had the opposite loading problem, it was grossly front end heavy!

I bought it because I needed a snowplow to keep several properties accessible in an Anchorage winter. Besides the weight of the plow, the Blazer had the unlikely selection of the GM 6.2 diesel engine. It had a beefed-up suspension, and sandbags in the rear helped when the plow was mounted.

The frame cracked on the driver's side, about in the middle of the driver's foot space. The frame was welded, then a section of plate steel was bolted on to bridge the repaired area.

I had that rig for a couple of seasons, and the weld outlasted the 6.2 diesel!




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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 12:26 PM


My 95 F350 crewcab diesel 4x4 had the frame crack and split apart between the cab and bed. I noticed the 12" long diagonal crack while underneath doing a routine inspection. We welded it up and added a long gusset plate over it and on both sides. The other side of the truck had a similar crack growing but was only an inch of crack so far. This was around 2015 and with roughly 300,000 miles. Lot of off roading where bed hit cab twisted up. But also a lot of miles hauling the largest Lance camper they made and towing a ski boat. I think the offroading lead to the cracks more than the max loading on the pavement. Anyway its a good idea to crawl under and inspect trucks every once in a while. Unless its a Toyota. But then again a Toyota could not even do what this truck or a big Dodge could do.
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 12:43 PM


He has something not mounted correctly, or welded on frame in bad spot. Dont know if I need worry my 96 Dodge turbo diesel 5 sp 4x4 still on stock clutch. Pulled 40ft house trailers campers with super heavy rack two big 450 motos on back. Off road everything but none had the over hang he has. Im told mine has heavy C channel frame new trucks box frame. Except thin wall metal
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baja-chris
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 01:29 PM


You can see his front camper tie down goes to an arm which is supposed to be bolted to the frame. Bet he welded it and created a brittle area. Those frames are designed to flex. But just a wildass guess.
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 02:29 PM


Who knew nomadlandia had so many forensic structural engineers!

Most of you are guessing from your armchairs,… all you really need to know is that he overloaded his pickup (and probably improperly loaded too), and he broke his frame, and he is out a lot of money.

Driving around with your load maxing out your pickup, doing many miles at >max load, your pickup will break!

What is the point of a slide in camper? Why not just tow a trailer? A full size pickup with 7,000 lb slide in camper is not an offroad vehicle.




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baja-chris
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[*] posted on 1-2-2023 at 03:04 PM


How do you know it was overloaded? I can't tell what year the truck is or what options are on the truck but some new Dodges have payload ratings exceeding 7500#. Also what does the camper weigh, was it full of fluids, etc. OK, enough from me. I already said it was a wildass guess.
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[*] posted on 1-3-2023 at 09:18 PM


Quote: Originally posted by bajarich  
It doesn't mention what the road was like or how fast he was going when this happened. Probably not the smooth highway in the photo. Also that camper has a slide which adds a whole lot of weight behind the rear wheel.


in an interview the guy said they were going a constant 55-60 mph through Baja
since most people lie when it comes to speed ...




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[*] posted on 1-3-2023 at 09:33 PM


center of gravity for the 102" camper is 61.5" (manufacturer's web site)

not even considering the crap hanging in the back and how the load was spread out inside, the CG is behind the rear axle

Screen Shot 2023-01-03 at 9.30.35 PM copy.jpg - 180kB




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[*] posted on 1-4-2023 at 09:31 AM


I've got a Lance slide in camper like that, they're heavy. Looking at that pic you'll notice that the frame looks intact, not broken. I suspect that where the bed attaches to the frame became unattached and it leaned back.

Looking at the image again I'm thinking I'm wrong.

[Edited on 1-4-2023 by Glidergeek]
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[*] posted on 1-4-2023 at 09:55 AM


The frame broke -both sides. The picture of the failure can no longer be found. It looked like the frame was factory butt welded to join the two half's and that it broke at that those both locations. No rust was noted - just raw metal at the weld.
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