Looking for advice on 11 1/2 ft Artic Fox camper

[Tight Spin]

I am looking at buying a used Artic Fox 11 1/2 ft camper with a dinette slide out from a friend . My question is I have a 1 ton 2005 1 ton dodge diesel 4 door with a 6 speed manual transmission  and a full lenght bed and is not a dually. I was told it is not recommended to carry that big of camper without duallys. Anybody out there not using  duallys. I was looking at getting some wide tires in the rear in say a 12 ply.  Whats your input. Thanks Larry

[3boys]

Seen many of them on similar trucks. I would only do it with airbags and 19.5
tires that can handle the weight. Or set it on there and see how it rides.

[JustinC]

I personally wouldn't want to haul one that size without a dually. Even if you upgrade tires to handle the weight, you will still be very unstable in my opinion.

 I run a 2018 Arctic Fox 990 on a 2018 F350 dually with airbags and love it. I added the airbags because I tow a 25' enclosed trailer behind it on some trips.

[follow maggie]

Compare the weight if the camper with your cargo capacity & there’s your answer

[Special T]

Seen many of them on similar trucks. I would only do it with airbags and 19.5
tires that can handle the weight. Or set it on there and see how it rides.

This...

A dually would be more stable but the axle is stout and the tires are the main weakness.. 245 19.5 are rated at 5k a tire so they can handle the weight. The rear axle is a full floater so...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[deerlick]

I have a set of 19.5 vision heavy hauler wheels with 245 70 19.5 g rated falken tires I've ran on my 03 dodge for hauling my arctic fox camper. Getting ready to list them for sale only have 1500miles or so on them pm me if you interested. I hauled mine on a 2500 ram with rear sway bar and timbrens and have no problem.

[Southpole]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

[Tight Spin]

Thanks for all the input. You guys are great. I do have air bags so I am going to look into some tires. Deerlick what are you asking for yours.

[Angry Perch]

Compare the weight if the camper with your cargo capacity & there’s your answer

I think there's a little more to it than that.

[deerlick]

Thanks for all the input. You guys are great. I do have air bags so I am going to look into some tires. Deerlick what are you asking for yours.

$1500 for the full set of wheels and tires and lug nuts. tires are the falken bi850

[Tight Spin]

PM sent Deerlick

[Special T]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

[Southpole]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

We’ve had a 96 1 ton dually that also had a weak braking system. We’ve installed different brands of brake components over the years and nothing makes any difference, just glad we have a manual with the exhaust brake. A lot of our dodge pickup repair customers over the years also have the same opinion  .

[Special T]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

We’ve had a 96 1 ton dually that also had a weak braking system. We’ve installed different brands of brake components over the years and nothing makes any difference, just glad we have a manual with the exhaust brake. A lot of our dodge pickup repair customers over the years also have the same opinion  .

Ok I had a gen 2 and those brakes are bad 03 and better have great disk brakes

[deerlick]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

We’ve had a 96 1 ton dually that also had a weak braking system. We’ve installed different brands of brake components over the years and nothing makes any difference, just glad we have a manual with the exhaust brake. A lot of our dodge pickup repair customers over the years also have the same opinion  .

have you tried switching to gm 1 ton rear wheel cylinders. lots of info online with part#s, i did the swap on my 98 and really improves the braking over stock.

[Southpole]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

We’ve had a 96 1 ton dually that also had a weak braking system. We’ve installed different brands of brake components over the years and nothing makes any difference, just glad we have a manual with the exhaust brake. A lot of our dodge pickup repair customers over the years also have the same opinion  .

have you tried switching to gm 1 ton rear wheel cylinders. lots of info online with part#s, i did the swap on my 98 and really improves the braking over stock.

No, but good to know that. We’ve gotten used to what we have now.

[Happy Gilmore]

I'd get a second mortgage on your house. Put airbags on your truck and carry every front suspension component available and haul it with you in a trailer if you every drive on rough roads. If you go off road, maybe get a back up truck for when the front starts falling apart on you. good luck.

[KFhunter]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

We’ve had a 96 1 ton dually that also had a weak braking system. We’ve installed different brands of brake components over the years and nothing makes any difference, just glad we have a manual with the exhaust brake. A lot of our dodge pickup repair customers over the years also have the same opinion  .

have you tried switching to gm 1 ton rear wheel cylinders. lots of info online with part#s, i did the swap on my 98 and really improves the braking over stock.

But it can be scary on slick roads

[KFhunter]

That big of a camper I'd run an F450 or Ram 5500


Thinking about a Ram 5500 desmogged,  with air suspension and 11 or 12 foot flatbed, purpose built with side boxes
Air suspension-->  https://kelderman.com/shop/air-suspension

[spin05]

I am looking at buying a used Artic Fox 11 1/2 ft camper with a dinette slide out from a friend . My question is I have a 1 ton 2005 1 ton dodge diesel 4 door with a 6 speed manual transmission  and a full lenght bed and is not a dually. I was told it is not recommended to carry that big of camper without duallys. Anybody out there not using  duallys. I was looking at getting some wide tires in the rear in say a 12 ply.  Whats your input. Thanks Larry

I have a 04.5 1-ton. I believe there only rated for 2850 lbs.  That 11 1/2 camper has to be way over that

[Special T]

I am looking at buying a used Artic Fox 11 1/2 ft camper with a dinette slide out from a friend . My question is I have a 1 ton 2005 1 ton dodge diesel 4 door with a 6 speed manual transmission  and a full lenght bed and is not a dually. I was told it is not recommended to carry that big of camper without duallys. Anybody out there not using  duallys. I was looking at getting some wide tires in the rear in say a 12 ply.  Whats your input. Thanks Larry

I have a 04.5 1-ton. I believe there only rated for 2850 lbs.  That 11 1/2 camper has to be way over that

While my dually is Rated for 11.5 k and belive the standard are 10 k... i can tell you that you can put a lot of miles on them above the GVWR. I likely have put more miles above the GVWR in one year that most would in 10 with a camper. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Duals are great. With a camper it's the front end that gets destroyed every 5k. Campers off road smoke front ends. Who cares about the rear??? New tires don't blow like 1978. Duals are rarely needed anymore

[MIKEXRAY]

An Artic Fox 11.5 ft camper is pushing 5000 pounds wet weight . You can spend thousands on special tires and suspension beef up but your still going to be way iffy hauling that kind of a load around. I personally wouldn't do it without a dually and as others have stated maybe a dually 4500 - 5500 . Can be done way over the trucks capacity.  Good luck.

[Happy Gilmore]

An Artic Fox 11.5 ft camper is pushing 5000 pounds wet weight . You can spend thousands on special tires and suspension beef up but your still going to be way iffy hauling that kind of a load around. I personally wouldn't do it without a dually and as others have stated maybe a dually 4500 - 5500 . Can be done way over the trucks capacity.  Good luck.

and when you go off roading the front end still gets destroyed and you need a kidney belt for the ride. Used to drive the company F 450 for special deliveries/emergencies on jobsites and borrowed to get firewood a number of times. anything beyond smooth pavement is pure hell ride. need a hard hat for when you hit bumps and get launched through the roof. about similar to my F 350 empty lol

[KFhunter]

Kelderman front and rear air suspension is the solution.

I've been thinking about my retirement camper a bit and thinking about a purpose built rig.

I see these 500 thousand dollar motorcoaches be just tore up on the Alaskan highway through Canada, I use to drive semi's in Canada and travel trailers and motorhomes do not like 1000'smiles of washboards and big potholes.  Trucks with slide in campers did the best, held up the best.

A 5500 or f550 on air bags designed for semi's is the answer I cam up with.


I want to put rickson singles on, they're designed for ambulances, firefighting brush rugs and such. They'll be mounted with commercial offroad tires.  I'll go with the option with all 4 wheels the same for rotation purposes and flare the fenders.


Kinda like this

[KFhunter]

We have a 2007 dodge 1 ton Dually manual that we haul our 11.5 Artic fox camper. We have Torklift over load pucks instead of air bags which we believe was a better stabilizing option for us. We run toyo m55 tires as well. Also, an exhaust brake cause dodges braking systems suck. I can’t imagine not having the extra set of tires for stabilizing the load especially fully loaded with water and gear. Don’t want to a Debbie downer but I’d hate to see you spend money and time getting setup for this then have it not work out. It’s quite a load.

I wish I had an exhaust brake.. but don't agree with your assessment on the brakes. The E brake sucks but...

We’ve had a 96 1 ton dually that also had a weak braking system. We’ve installed different brands of brake components over the years and nothing makes any difference, just glad we have a manual with the exhaust brake. A lot of our dodge pickup repair customers over the years also have the same opinion  .

have you tried switching to gm 1 ton rear wheel cylinders. lots of info online with part#s, i did the swap on my 98 and really improves the braking over stock.

No, but good to know that. We’ve gotten used to what we have now.

30 or 33mm (can't remember its been so long) GM cylinders make a huge difference in braking, the trade off is that it will lock up the rear brakes on slick roads, so anything slick I put in 4x4 to equalize the braking on slick roads, but you will get drivetrain lash doing that.  I rarely drive my old Dodge in the winter so the enhanced braking while towing is absolutely 100% an improvement. 

[KFhunter]

This is what I'm envisioning for the truck, even has the singles on it I want.  Imagine how easy it would be to chain it up, even with a camper on it.

Drop the camper and I can haul my gooseneck too, have a flatbed for general farm truck stuff.

[KFhunter]

I also see some cool rigs using those midsize trucks, topkicks

[Special T]

Well if you want an offroad camper buy a military surplus LMTV thats been converted. Likeley better and cheaper than a new dodge with camper anyway...

[KFhunter]

I thought about that, but long range trips on the interstates would hella suck.