Let me apologize in advance for monopolizing the discussion with my camper decision drama!
So as I've mentioned Sioux and I just finished up our 3 week 40th Anniversary 4200 mile odyssey and had a great time. And I felt like my 2012 Ram 2500 with the Hemi and the Hawk on back did just fine. The only suspension mod I've made was adding air bags.
Even so, I really want to sell the Hawk and put an aluminum flatbed on my Ram 2500 with a new Hawk Flatbed model. (More interior room/ more amenities.) So I just weighed my current setup with full tanks and all our gear except (cough, cough) Sioux and it came in at 8900# which is 100# over the GVW! If I go with the Hawk flatbed combo I'll be several hundred pounds heavier!
So can I (should I) do this? (The big benefit of moving up to the flatbed is I can stay with my current Ram 2500 truck.) But I will be 400# or more over the GVW with the missus on board! (Not all due to her.) My options:
1. Sell current truck and buy a new 350 diesel. But I calculate a 20,000 buck hit between depreciation, extra cost and sales tax/registration. Meanwhile, my 2012 Ram only has 16K miles and is in perfect condition.
2. Beef up my 2500's suspension a bit more. Sway bar, extra spring in back? It handled fine on our journey over weight as-is.
3. Suck it up and exercise some self-control on what we take with us! (Harder to do than write.)
4. A combination of "3" and "4"
What I don't want to do is buy/mount the flatbed and new Hawk and find my existing Ram 2500 just can't handle it. Suggestions, anyone? And thanks in advance!
Steve
So as I've mentioned Sioux and I just finished up our 3 week 40th Anniversary 4200 mile odyssey and had a great time. And I felt like my 2012 Ram 2500 with the Hemi and the Hawk on back did just fine. The only suspension mod I've made was adding air bags.
Even so, I really want to sell the Hawk and put an aluminum flatbed on my Ram 2500 with a new Hawk Flatbed model. (More interior room/ more amenities.) So I just weighed my current setup with full tanks and all our gear except (cough, cough) Sioux and it came in at 8900# which is 100# over the GVW! If I go with the Hawk flatbed combo I'll be several hundred pounds heavier!
So can I (should I) do this? (The big benefit of moving up to the flatbed is I can stay with my current Ram 2500 truck.) But I will be 400# or more over the GVW with the missus on board! (Not all due to her.) My options:
1. Sell current truck and buy a new 350 diesel. But I calculate a 20,000 buck hit between depreciation, extra cost and sales tax/registration. Meanwhile, my 2012 Ram only has 16K miles and is in perfect condition.
2. Beef up my 2500's suspension a bit more. Sway bar, extra spring in back? It handled fine on our journey over weight as-is.
3. Suck it up and exercise some self-control on what we take with us! (Harder to do than write.)
4. A combination of "3" and "4"
What I don't want to do is buy/mount the flatbed and new Hawk and find my existing Ram 2500 just can't handle it. Suggestions, anyone? And thanks in advance!
Steve