Grossly overloaded Dodge 3500 w/truck camper - frame visibly flexing

[wwillson]

A couple months ago we had this thread that talked about a broken frame on a Dodge 3500:

Broken Frame on Ram 3500 Dually Hauling Truck Camper

https://www.thedrive.com/news/broken-ram-3500-dually-shows-a-camper-can-still-overload-a-big-truck I haul a TC myself & thought these accidents were interesting... There is a braking point that's for sure. These triple slide campers should never be put on a 1 ton unless your reg cab, 2 wheel...

bobistheoilguy.com

Today I saw this truck in Alamogordo, NM. The gap at the top between the cab and the bed was at least 1.5" wider than the gap at the bottom. Unfortunately, the jack was lined up with the gap when I took the picture. You can still clearly see the frame is flexing. How anyone could stand there and look at this and think it's "OK" to get on the road is beyond me.

 

[PimTac]

Look at the running board for another perspective. He might break down way out in nowhere land.

 

[Deleted member 89374]

Oh dear Lord... that frame...

 

[ctechbob]

Maybe him and the Missus weigh 350# each, that will counteract the upward bow some .

Hopefully, he just breaks down all by himself and doesn't take out a busload of people when that thing splits in half on a bridge expansion joint.

 

[clinebarger]

The tongue weight of the trailer on top of the extended hitch just adds insult to injury.

 

[01rangerxl]

I've done some dumb stuff in Rangers, but that's ridiculous.

 

[billt460]

Not to mention the reduced fuel economy, brought on by the back half of the truck always being forced to climb uphill!

 

[brianl703]

It might hold together better than you think. Not sure what was holding this thing together at the end other than the driveshaft and the brake/fuel lines:

 

[spasm3]

That hitch its ridiculous. Crazy to extend it that much and tow a trailer. Completely unsafe. i would not want to be anywhere behind that when it lets go, and it will let go at some point.

 

[meep]

It probably has already.

 

[GON]

Shortly after reading the story about the Ram frame brake in Mexico, I was passed on I 5 south of Seattle by a F350 with a camper, I suspect he was driving about 80 mph. That F350 with the camper at 80 mph was bouncing and swaying the back end of the truck like it was a small boat at sea with high winds. The added stress on that F350 frame from small changes in grade and direction on the interstate, at 80 MPH was huge. That slide on the back of the F350 was moving about like a carnival fun house.

Lots of risks with slides in. Weight, high speed, and road conditions........ multiply those risks.......

 

[c502cid]

I work for a company that sells sway bars and steel helper springs. While I think the overloading by the half ton crowd is even worse, I just can't get past how many people just ignore gvwr. I start every conversation with an end user stating "no helper spring, airbag, overload, add a leaf, etc can increase your factory gvwr. Then they think I'm lying because someone on the internet says our products can do just that.

 

[DemoFly]

Perfectly legal. Nothing wrong here.

 

[billt460]

The tongue weight of the trailer on top of the extended hitch just adds insult to injury.

That's it in a nutshell. That Jeep should be parked much farther back on that trailer. Especially having that hitch extended so far rearward.

 

[ls1mike]

I will file this under that "Just because you can, does not mean you should". How did this person look at this and think "Ok good to go."

 

[ctechbob]

I will file this under that "Just because you can, does not mean you should". How did this person look at this and think "Ok good to go."

Same kinda person like my wife who sees the oil light come on and keeps driving?

 

[GON]

It took me a while to better understand the extended trailer hitch. Only after I took that second look, did I get a better visual of how far the slide in actually extends from the end of the truck bed. I did some very amateur line drawings to better see how bad this configuration really is.

 

[4WD]

It took me a while to better understand the extended trailer hitch. Only after I took that second look, did I get a better visual of how far the slide in actually extends from the end of the truck bed. I did some very amateur line drawings to better see how bad this configuration really is.

View attachment 141055

Consider a dolly for the Jeep or tow it 4 down ?

 

[GON]

Consider a dolly for the Jeep or tow it 4 down ?

4wd,

I don't think he should be towing anything behind that extended slide in camper.

If he must keep that configuration and must tow a vehicle, needs to sell the jeep and buy a smart car or similar, tow behind, dolly, or aluminum trailer.

But I sense he purchased on wants, not on needs. That is his choice, but I suspect his choice is a safety to risk to him and others.

 

[Pablo]

What is Maurices?