Hi, I just joined this forum a couple days ago and this is my first post, so thanks in advance for allowing me to ask a question and tap into the vast collective knowledge of the members here.
I traded-in my Jeep Wrangler for a 2013 Frontier PRO-4X king cab a couple weeks ago. I moved from a Jeep to a truck so I could carry a camper in the truck's bed rather than camping on the ground all the time. I've ordered a pop-up camper (which I guess some refer to as a 'canopy') similar to the one in this pic that davidshourd posted on this forum back in 2009:
The pop-up camper I'm getting is a stripped-down empty shell Bobcat model made by All-Terrain Campers. The camper will weigh about 500 lbs empty, and I imagine could be a few hundred pounds heavier when packed with water, food, gear, etc for long road trips (plus up to maybe 350 lbs in the truck's cab for 2 passengers plus gear), all within the truck's listed max payload of 1215 lbs (for a PRO-4X automatic).
I'm completely ignorant about suspensions, but I gather from the searches I've done so far on this forum that some modification to my truck's suspension may be useful to counter sag and improve ride & handling for continuously carrying a 500-800 lb bed load on paved and unpaved roads. From the various threads I've read, there appear to be lots of different options with various pros/cons and cost/benefit trade-offs for different people's situations and preferences. Options I've seen recommended include adding air bags, rubber helper/overload springs, an AAL extra leaf spring, or a custom leaf spring pack. For example, …
In my case, since I don't have a separate storage spot for a camper, it will probably be on my truck full-time, again weighing about 500 lbs empty when I'm home and maybe a few hundred pounds heavier when packed for long road trips, with most of the miles on pavement but sometimes on rough dirt tracks (rarely in snow). According to Nissan's spec sheet, my 2013 PRO-4X comes with a Dana 44 rear axle and Bilstein off-road shocks, which I'm guessing are stiffer than normal shocks. I'm not intending to lift kit my truck and would like to avoid having to make other modifications to accommodate added lift. I don't plan to do any hardcore off-roading with a camper on, but I'll likely find myself on 4x4 roads from time to time. I'm willing to pay for a durable long term solution that is adequate for the load and conditions, but I'd prefer not to over-engineer this and spend unnecessarily.
The helpful folks at All-Terrain Campers recommended Firestone Ride-Rite air bags, which they said should cost about $350-$400 installed. I'm thinking they have a lot of direct experience with their truck campers and probably know what they're talking about. But I've read mixed reviews about air bags not lasting very long and also limiting suspension travel when driving on rough roads, and given all the various options I've seen recommended on this forum, I'm curious what Frontier owners like yourselves might recommend for my particular situation?
Thanks a lot, and sorry for such a long post right off the bat.
I traded-in my Jeep Wrangler for a 2013 Frontier PRO-4X king cab a couple weeks ago. I moved from a Jeep to a truck so I could carry a camper in the truck's bed rather than camping on the ground all the time. I've ordered a pop-up camper (which I guess some refer to as a 'canopy') similar to the one in this pic that davidshourd posted on this forum back in 2009:
The pop-up camper I'm getting is a stripped-down empty shell Bobcat model made by All-Terrain Campers. The camper will weigh about 500 lbs empty, and I imagine could be a few hundred pounds heavier when packed with water, food, gear, etc for long road trips (plus up to maybe 350 lbs in the truck's cab for 2 passengers plus gear), all within the truck's listed max payload of 1215 lbs (for a PRO-4X automatic).
I'm completely ignorant about suspensions, but I gather from the searches I've done so far on this forum that some modification to my truck's suspension may be useful to counter sag and improve ride & handling for continuously carrying a 500-800 lb bed load on paved and unpaved roads. From the various threads I've read, there appear to be lots of different options with various pros/cons and cost/benefit trade-offs for different people's situations and preferences. Options I've seen recommended include adding air bags, rubber helper/overload springs, an AAL extra leaf spring, or a custom leaf spring pack. For example, …
…and the various recommendations go on & on.
In my case, since I don't have a separate storage spot for a camper, it will probably be on my truck full-time, again weighing about 500 lbs empty when I'm home and maybe a few hundred pounds heavier when packed for long road trips, with most of the miles on pavement but sometimes on rough dirt tracks (rarely in snow). According to Nissan's spec sheet, my 2013 PRO-4X comes with a Dana 44 rear axle and Bilstein off-road shocks, which I'm guessing are stiffer than normal shocks. I'm not intending to lift kit my truck and would like to avoid having to make other modifications to accommodate added lift. I don't plan to do any hardcore off-roading with a camper on, but I'll likely find myself on 4x4 roads from time to time. I'm willing to pay for a durable long term solution that is adequate for the load and conditions, but I'd prefer not to over-engineer this and spend unnecessarily.
The helpful folks at All-Terrain Campers recommended Firestone Ride-Rite air bags, which they said should cost about $350-$400 installed. I'm thinking they have a lot of direct experience with their truck campers and probably know what they're talking about. But I've read mixed reviews about air bags not lasting very long and also limiting suspension travel when driving on rough roads, and given all the various options I've seen recommended on this forum, I'm curious what Frontier owners like yourselves might recommend for my particular situation?
Thanks a lot, and sorry for such a long post right off the bat.