NRALIFR
Middle Earth
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Joined: 11/27/2005
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MegaCamper wrote:The COG is measured from the point that the camper would contact the bed, the problem is that the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle. I have not weighed in without the camper yet but i will this week (good point). I do have a 3/4 ton truck and it is a 6.5 ft. bed, the tires are rated for over 3900 lbs and dont seem to be the week link.
No, no, no, no....I think there's some confusion here about where your starting point is for measuring the COG. I put part of the blame for this on Lance, though. I've never liked their way of describing where the COG is on their TC's. Think about it....the horizontal COG of a specific model camper (wet, with standard features) is a fixed point on the camper. Why don't they just mark it on the side with a sticker? The COG is affected by what you put IN the camper, not what it's sitting ON.
Anyway, back to where the COG starting point is on your camper..... How are you coming up with "the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle"??? It sounds like you're describing a point on the camper that NEVER makes contact with the bed. Plus, as has been pointed out, and I'm sure you know, the 830 is MADE for a short bed truck only (not short and long beds, like the 805 and 815). I cannot believe that Lance (or anyone) would make a TC for a short bed with a COG that falls behind the rear axle.
I always considered "short bed" to mean 6.0 ft, yet you say yours is 6.5 ft. The picture in your profile shows the camper sitting all the way forward in the bed, though. So maybe I'm the one that's confused.
I still think weighing your truck empty will reveal the truth. If the front axle gets heavier with the camper loaded, the COG must be forward of the rear axle. If the front axle get lighter, it's behind the rear axle. I'm not a slide-rule guy, but I just can't imagine this not being true.
2001 Lance 1121/1995 F-350 PSD CC DRW. Many mod's and upgrades. See my Profile page.
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MegaCamper
Utah
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Joined: 08/30/2009
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NRALIFR wrote:MegaCamper wrote:The COG is measured from the point that the camper would contact the bed, the problem is that the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle. I have not weighed in without the camper yet but i will this week (good point). I do have a 3/4 ton truck and it is a 6.5 ft. bed, the tires are rated for over 3900 lbs and dont seem to be the week link.
No, no, no, no....I think there's some confusion here about where your starting point is for measuring the COG. I put part of the blame for this on Lance, though. I've never liked their way of describing where the COG is on their TC's. Think about it....the horizontal COG of a specific model camper (wet, with standard features) is a fixed point on the camper. Why don't they just mark it on the side with a sticker? The COG is affected by what you put IN the camper, not what it's sitting ON.
Anyway, back to where the COG starting point is on your camper..... How are you coming up with "the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle"??? It sounds like you're describing a point on the camper that NEVER makes contact with the bed. Plus, as has been pointed out, and I'm sure you know, the 830 is MADE for a short bed truck only (not short and long beds, like the 805 and 815). I cannot believe that Lance (or anyone) would make a TC for a short bed with a COG that falls behind the rear axle.
I always considered "short bed" to mean 6.0 ft, yet you say yours is 6.5 ft. The picture in your profile shows the camper sitting all the way forward in the bed, though. So maybe I'm the one that's confused.
I still think weighing your truck empty will reveal the truth. If the front axle gets heavier with the camper loaded, the COG must be forward of the rear axle. If the front axle get lighter, it's behind the rear axle. I'm not a slide-rule guy, but I just can't imagine this not being true.
Center of gravity is the balance point of a base-weight camper (with fluids) loaded onto a truck – and is measured from the point of contact (the truck's tail lights) forward towards the truck's cab.
I got this from the Lance website, The point of contact i assume is the rear wings on the camper where the taillight should almost contact the rear of the camper. When the camper is loaded i have a 7" or so space between that "point of contact" and the tailights. It would be much easier if the COG is measured from the point of contact with the front of the bed.
Also my bed does measure 6'5" and is a short bed. Its also the same bed that is on the quad cab short bed trucks.
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kblasor
Arizona
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Joined: 07/12/2005
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I thought the Megacab's bed was slightly shorter than the equivalent GM or Ford truck, because of well, the Megacab. Over on the cummins forum the guys are saying the bed is 6'3". That's only 2-3" different than the GM or Ford shortbed guys, but might be enough to worry about. Yes? No?
N7KB
2008 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Determine center of gravity point on camper, using camper manufacturer instructions or published information.
Measure the distance from the center of gravity point of the camper to the front wall of the camper.
Measure the distance from the inside of the front bed wall of the truck bed to the center of the axle.
Compare those two measurements.
If the distance from front of camper to center of gravity point is greater than the distance from inside front bed wall of truck bed to axle center line, then the camper center of gravity is to the rear of the truck axle and the camper should not be hauled on that truck.
If the distance from front of camper to cener of gravity point is less than the distance from inside front bed wall of truck bed to axle center line, then the camper center of gravity is forward of the truck axle and the camper is ok to be hauled on that truck.
05E350 6.0PSD
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d3500ram
colorado
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Joined: 07/31/2006
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MegaCamper wrote:... i feel the front end is too light. ... What about adding a heavy steel custom bumper with winch up front to help balance things out? An extra 200 lbs that far up front might help. Granted, it will not change the COG, but would possibly help the handling.
2005 Dodge 3500 SRW, Qcab, NV-5600, diesel, 4WD, Helwig sway bar, 9000XL
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flakjacket
Fremont, CA
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Joined: 05/04/2005
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MegaCamper wrote:NRALIFR wrote:MegaCamper wrote:The COG is measured from the point that the camper would contact the bed, the problem is that the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle. I have not weighed in without the camper yet but i will this week (good point). I do have a 3/4 ton truck and it is a 6.5 ft. bed, the tires are rated for over 3900 lbs and dont seem to be the week link.
No, no, no, no....I think there's some confusion here about where your starting point is for measuring the COG. I put part of the blame for this on Lance, though. I've never liked their way of describing where the COG is on their TC's. Think about it....the horizontal COG of a specific model camper (wet, with standard features) is a fixed point on the camper. Why don't they just mark it on the side with a sticker? The COG is affected by what you put IN the camper, not what it's sitting ON.
Anyway, back to where the COG starting point is on your camper..... How are you coming up with "the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle"??? It sounds like you're describing a point on the camper that NEVER makes contact with the bed. Plus, as has been pointed out, and I'm sure you know, the 830 is MADE for a short bed truck only (not short and long beds, like the 805 and 815). I cannot believe that Lance (or anyone) would make a TC for a short bed with a COG that falls behind the rear axle.
I always considered "short bed" to mean 6.0 ft, yet you say yours is 6.5 ft. The picture in your profile shows the camper sitting all the way forward in the bed, though. So maybe I'm the one that's confused.
I still think weighing your truck empty will reveal the truth. If the front axle gets heavier with the camper loaded, the COG must be forward of the rear axle. If the front axle get lighter, it's behind the rear axle. I'm not a slide-rule guy, but I just can't imagine this not being true.
Center of gravity is the balance point of a base-weight camper (with fluids) loaded onto a truck – and is measured from the point of contact (the truck's tail lights) forward towards the truck's cab.
I got this from the Lance website, The point of contact i assume is the rear wings on the camper where the taillight should almost contact the rear of the camper. When the camper is loaded i have a 7" or so space between that "point of contact" and the tailights. It would be much easier if the COG is measured from the point of contact with the front of the bed.
Also my bed does measure 6'5" and is a short bed. Its also the same bed that is on the quad cab short bed trucks.
Why would you measure the 7" space behind your taillights when the point of contact is at the taillights? Wouldn't the measurement be 43" forward from the taillights?
2005 Silverado 3500 LT, CC DRW 4WD D/A, Ride-Rites, Rancho 9000, Line-X, XM Radio (That I can't live without)
2007 Lance 1181, Fastguns
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billtex
RI
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Joined: 07/20/2004
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I hate to rain on your parade, and I don't know a lot about Dodge's, but there is a certain cab/bed configuration that had very low payload and is not suited for TC or 5er's. There was LOTS of discussion about this on the 5er forum.
You may have this particular configuration and that may be the issue.
For sure the 830 is for short beds...your bed may be too short. Get that tape measure, look in your glove box at the sticker, and get this all figured out.
I would not want to travel around with a light front end.
As noted, you need to the weigh the truck empty. This is critical to determining where you are at.
I would also weigh with full H2o tank.
One other option mentioned is adding weight to the front; when I put my bike rack and 3 mountain bikes on the front-my truck handles better!
Good luck, take your time and get it right.
Bill
2006 D/A CC
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Camping all around New England
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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flakjacket wrote:MegaCamper wrote:NRALIFR wrote:MegaCamper wrote:The COG is measured from the point that the camper would contact the bed, the problem is that the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle. I have not weighed in without the camper yet but i will this week (good point). I do have a 3/4 ton truck and it is a 6.5 ft. bed, the tires are rated for over 3900 lbs and dont seem to be the week link.
No, no, no, no....I think there's some confusion here about where your starting point is for measuring the COG. I put part of the blame for this on Lance, though. I've never liked their way of describing where the COG is on their TC's. Think about it....the horizontal COG of a specific model camper (wet, with standard features) is a fixed point on the camper. Why don't they just mark it on the side with a sticker? The COG is affected by what you put IN the camper, not what it's sitting ON.
Anyway, back to where the COG starting point is on your camper..... How are you coming up with "the part of the camper that would first make contact with the bed hangs well behind the taillight thus the COG behind the axle"??? It sounds like you're describing a point on the camper that NEVER makes contact with the bed. Plus, as has been pointed out, and I'm sure you know, the 830 is MADE for a short bed truck only (not short and long beds, like the 805 and 815). I cannot believe that Lance (or anyone) would make a TC for a short bed with a COG that falls behind the rear axle.
I always considered "short bed" to mean 6.0 ft, yet you say yours is 6.5 ft. The picture in your profile shows the camper sitting all the way forward in the bed, though. So maybe I'm the one that's confused.
I still think weighing your truck empty will reveal the truth. If the front axle gets heavier with the camper loaded, the COG must be forward of the rear axle. If the front axle get lighter, it's behind the rear axle. I'm not a slide-rule guy, but I just can't imagine this not being true.
Center of gravity is the balance point of a base-weight camper (with fluids) loaded onto a truck – and is measured from the point of contact (the truck's tail lights) forward towards the truck's cab.
I got this from the Lance website, The point of contact i assume is the rear wings on the camper where the taillight should almost contact the rear of the camper. When the camper is loaded i have a 7" or so space between that "point of contact" and the tailights. It would be much easier if the COG is measured from the point of contact with the front of the bed.
Also my bed does measure 6'5" and is a short bed. Its also the same bed that is on the quad cab short bed trucks.
Why would you measure the 7" space behind your taillights when the point of contact is at the taillights? Wouldn't the measurement be 43" forward from the taillights?
The camper center of gravity measurement is taken from a specific, fixed point on the camper that has nothing to do with how the camper fits into the truck bed. Camper center of gravity is not a truck issue, it is strictly a camper design/construction issue. Does not matter the kind or size of truck.
Where that center of gravity point is in relation to the truck axle once the camper is loaded is what decides whether the camper will be a safe match for the truck or not.
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Dome
Southwest Washington State
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Joined: 05/25/2007
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43" from the camper tail lights, right? I think thats what I'm reading on the lance web sight. I also agree with SoCal that cog has nothing to do with the truck. On my Adventurer camper it's marked on the side of the camper, wonder way Lance chooses not to indicate were cog is on there campers?
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halibutman214
Oregon
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Joined: 09/06/2009
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I spoke with a friend of mine this morning at the local Dodge dealer and will revise my earlier statement somewhat. I'm not so sure anymore how safe this is. The bed on the Megacab and the Quadcab shortbed are the same bed 6.5 ft and the frame is the same as a longbed frame. Because the Megacab extends another 1.5 ft further back it pushes the COG for a camper back and that is why they do not recommend putting a camper on a Megacab. If the Lance dealer said it was fine he should not have done so but then my dealer said my 830 would be fine on my truck with NO mods. Yes it can handle it but I sort of like my headlights to shine on the road.
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