Camper Calculator

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Camper Payload & GVWR Calculator

Use this calculator to determine if your truck can safely carry a specific truck camper, considering all additional weights. Exceeding your truck's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is dangerous and illegal.

Truck Specifications

Found on your truck's door jamb sticker.

Weight of the truck itself, with full fuel, oil, etc., but no passengers or cargo. Often found on the door jamb sticker or manufacturer's specs. If unsure, weigh your truck empty.

Camper & Load Details

Weight of the camper as it left the factory, without water, propane, or gear.

Each gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 lbs.

Weight of propane in your tanks (e.g., two 20lb tanks filled = 40 lbs).

Estimate for all personal items, food, cooking supplies, bedding, etc.

Combined weight of all occupants in the truck.

Weight of aftermarket items like bed liners, running boards, heavy duty bumpers, toolboxes, etc.

function calculateCamperPayload() { var truckGVWR = parseFloat(document.getElementById('truckGVWR').value); var truckCurbWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('truckCurbWeight').value); var camperDryWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('camperDryWeight').value); var waterCapacityGal = parseFloat(document.getElementById('waterCapacityGal').value); var propaneWeightLbs = parseFloat(document.getElementById('propaneWeightLbs').value); var gearAndSuppliesWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('gearAndSuppliesWeight').value); var passengerWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('passengerWeight').value); var truckAccessoriesWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('truckAccessoriesWeight').value); var waterWeightPerGallon = 8.34; // lbs per gallon // Validate inputs if (isNaN(truckGVWR) || isNaN(truckCurbWeight) || isNaN(camperDryWeight) || isNaN(waterCapacityGal) || isNaN(propaneWeightLbs) || isNaN(gearAndSuppliesWeight) || isNaN(passengerWeight) || isNaN(truckAccessoriesWeight) || truckGVWR <= 0 || truckCurbWeight <= 0 || camperDryWeight < 0 || waterCapacityGal < 0 || propaneWeightLbs < 0 || gearAndSuppliesWeight < 0 || passengerWeight < 0 || truckAccessoriesWeight = truckGVWR) { document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Truck Curb Weight cannot be greater than or equal to its GVWR. Please check your truck specifications.'; return; } // Calculations var truckAvailablePayload = truckGVWR – truckCurbWeight; var waterWeight = waterCapacityGal * waterWeightPerGallon; var totalCamperLoadedWeight = camperDryWeight + waterWeight + propaneWeightLbs + gearAndSuppliesWeight; var totalAdditionalWeightOnTruck = totalCamperLoadedWeight + passengerWeight + truckAccessoriesWeight; var remainingPayload = truckAvailablePayload – totalAdditionalWeightOnTruck; var resultHTML = '

Calculation Results:

'; resultHTML += 'Truck\'s Calculated Available Payload: ' + truckAvailablePayload.toFixed(2) + ' lbs'; resultHTML += 'Total Loaded Camper Weight: ' + totalCamperLoadedWeight.toFixed(2) + ' lbs'; resultHTML += 'Total Additional Weight on Truck (Camper + Passengers + Accessories): ' + totalAdditionalWeightOnTruck.toFixed(2) + ' lbs'; resultHTML += 'Remaining Payload Capacity: ' + remainingPayload.toFixed(2) + ' lbs'; if (remainingPayload >= 0) { resultHTML += 'Your setup is within the truck\'s GVWR limits. You have ' + remainingPayload.toFixed(2) + ' lbs of payload capacity remaining.'; } else { resultHTML += 'WARNING: Your setup is overloaded by ' + Math.abs(remainingPayload).toFixed(2) + ' lbs! You are exceeding your truck\'s GVWR. This is unsafe and illegal. You must reduce weight or use a truck with higher payload capacity.'; } document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = resultHTML; } .camper-calculator-container { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto; padding: 25px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .camper-calculator-container h2 { text-align: center; color: #333; margin-bottom: 20px; } .camper-calculator-container h3 { color: #555; margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; padding-bottom: 5px; } .calculator-inputs label { display: block; margin-bottom: 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #444; } .calculator-inputs input[type="number"] { width: calc(100% – 22px); padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 16px; } .input-hint { font-size: 0.85em; color: #666; margin-top: -8px; margin-bottom: 15px; } .calculator-inputs button { display: block; width: 100%; padding: 12px 20px; background-color: #28a745; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-size: 18px; cursor: pointer; margin-top: 20px; transition: background-color 0.3s ease; } .calculator-inputs button:hover { background-color: #218838; } .calculator-results { margin-top: 30px; padding: 20px; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #eef; } .calculator-results p { margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.6; color: #333; } .calculator-results p strong { color: #000; } .calculator-results .success { color: #155724; background-color: #d4edda; border-color: #c3e6cb; padding: 10px; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; } .calculator-results .warning { color: #721c24; background-color: #f8d7da; border-color: #f5c6cb; padding: 10px; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; } .calculator-results .error { color: #721c24; background-color: #f8d7da; border-color: #f5c6cb; padding: 10px; border-radius: 5px; font-weight: bold; }

Understanding Your Truck's Payload for a Camper

When planning to carry a truck camper, understanding your truck's payload capacity is not just about convenience; it's a critical safety and legal requirement. Overloading your truck can lead to dangerous handling, reduced braking efficiency, premature wear on components, and potential legal issues.

What is Payload Capacity?

Payload capacity is the maximum amount of weight your truck can safely carry, including passengers, cargo, and the camper itself. It's calculated by subtracting your truck's Curb Weight from its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).

  • Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): This is the maximum permissible total weight of your fully loaded vehicle, including the vehicle itself, all fluids, passengers, cargo, and any attached equipment (like a truck camper). You can typically find your truck's GVWR on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb.
  • Curb Weight: This is the weight of your truck with all standard equipment, full fuel, and other necessary fluids, but without any passengers or cargo. This figure can also often be found on the door jamb sticker or in your owner's manual. If you've added significant aftermarket accessories (like heavy bumpers, winches, or toolboxes), your actual curb weight will be higher than the factory spec. The most accurate way to determine your truck's curb weight is to weigh it at a certified scale (e.g., truck stop scale) with only you in it and a full tank of fuel.

Components of Your Total Load

When calculating your total load, you must account for every item that adds weight to your truck. This includes:

  1. Camper Dry Weight: This is the weight of the camper as it comes from the factory, without any water, propane, or personal gear.
  2. Water Weight: Fresh water is heavy! Each gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds. Don't forget to account for grey and black water tanks if they are full during travel.
  3. Propane Weight: Propane tanks have a tare weight (empty weight) and a filled weight. A standard 20lb propane tank holds 20 lbs of propane, but the tank itself weighs around 17-20 lbs when empty. So, a full 20lb tank is closer to 37-40 lbs.
  4. Gear, Food, and Supplies: This includes everything you pack into your camper and truck: clothing, food, cooking utensils, bedding, camping chairs, tools, bikes, kayaks, etc. It adds up quickly!
  5. Passenger Weight: The combined weight of everyone traveling in the truck.
  6. Truck Accessories: Any aftermarket additions to your truck, such as heavy-duty bumpers, winches, running boards, bed liners, toolboxes, or even a full tank of fuel (if not included in your curb weight measurement).

Why Accuracy Matters

Using accurate numbers for each component is crucial. Guessing can lead to dangerous underestimations. Always refer to your truck's door jamb sticker for GVWR and manufacturer specifications for camper dry weight. If possible, weigh your truck and camper (separately and combined) at a certified scale to get the most precise figures.

The Dangers of Overloading

Exceeding your truck's GVWR can lead to:

  • Compromised Handling: Reduced steering control, increased sway, and a higher risk of rollovers.
  • Extended Braking Distances: Your brakes are designed for a specific weight range. Overloading severely impacts their effectiveness.
  • Tire Failure: Overloaded tires can overheat, leading to blowouts.
  • Suspension Damage: Springs, shocks, and axles can be damaged or fail.
  • Legal Penalties: Fines and liability in case of an accident.

Always prioritize safety. If your calculations show you are overloaded, you must reduce weight or consider a truck with a higher payload capacity.

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