Truck fit guide / One-ton truck
Truck Bed Camper for Ram 3500
The Ram 3500 has so much payload that the only Kimbo decision is bed length and SRW vs DRW.
Recommended Kimbo
Kimbo 8
From $42,990
Compatible generations
DJ, DT
2010–2018, 2019+
Payload range
3,140–7,710 lb
Door-jamb sticker is the truth.
Tailgate rule
Needs 6.5'–8' bed
Bed length determines tailgate behavior.
How it fits
Why a Kimbo works on a Ram 3500.
The Ram 3500 is one of the highest-payload trucks you can buy at a dealer — Tradesman 4×4 Crew Cab DRW configurations rate over 7,000 lb of payload. At one-ton class, the truck is so overbuilt for either Kimbo that you'll never know the camper is there. The DT generation (2019+) is the strongest current platform, with the 6.7L Cummins HO diesel and Aisin transmission combination available on Big Horn and higher trims.
Bed length matters more than trim selection on a 3500 Kimbo install. **6'4" Standard Bed** works for Kimbo 6 (tailgate stays down) and meets the K8 minimum. **8' Long Bed** is the premium Kimbo 8 platform — most install margin, supports future modifications, and the K8's mass distributes cleanly. SRW (single-rear-wheel) is the typical Kimbo configuration; DRW (dual-rear-wheel) works with our standard tie-down hardware.
Like the Ram 2500, the 3500 has coil-spring rear (one of two — there's a 3500-specific suspension variant on heavy-duty configurations). Same install advice: airbag overload assists for ride leveling under sustained load, even though the truck has the raw payload to handle either Kimbo without issue. Air-suspension trims (Limited, Laramie Longhorn) trade payload for ride quality and we recommend steel-coil-spring trims instead.
By generation
Year-by-year fit notes.
Truck-camper fit isn't one-size-fits-all across model years — frame, cab clearance, and suspension change between generations. Here's where each Ram 3500 sits.
2010–2018
Ram 3500 DJ (2010–2018)
2019+
Ram 3500 DT (2019+)
The math
Your payload margin, calculated.
Real numbers for a fully-provisioned Kimbo install on a Ram 3500 at the middle of its payload range. Substitute your own door-jamb sticker for a precise calculation.
Calculating for
- Ram 3500 payload (mid-range)+ 5,425 lb
- Kimbo 8 (base)− 980 lb
- Fresh water (4 gal)− 32 lb
- Propane (20 lb tank)− 30 lb
- Gear load− 100 lb
- 1 occupant in cab (200 lb)− 200 lb
Remaining margin
+4,083 lb
Calculated using the midpoint of the Ram 3500's published payload range. Your specific truck's door-jamb sticker is what counts. Trim packages, options (sunroofs, larger wheels), and tow packages can swing this number by 200–500 lb in either direction.
The Kimbo team's pick
If we were buying a Ram 3500…
If we were buying a Ram 3500 for a Kimbo, we'd get a DT (2019+) Big Horn or Laramie SRW Crew Cab with the 8' Long Bed and the 6.7L Cummins diesel + Aisin transmission. DRW only if you have a specific reason for it (sustained heavy towing). Skip air suspension on every trim. Add aftermarket airbag overload assists.
Recommended platform
From $42,990
Kimbo 8
Full-size living. Wet bath, queen bed, extended off-grid systems.
- — 980 lb base
- — R10 insulation, four-season ready
- — Queen cabover bed + dedicated wet bath
- — Hand-riveted aluminum monocoque shell
Ram 3500 questions
Ram 3500-specific questions, answered.
Talk through your Ram 3500.
Door-jamb sticker, intended use, modifications you're considering — bring it all by. We'll tell you honestly whether the rig will work the way you want it to.