1978 C35 Camper Special

[JJenkinson5]

For my first post I have a question about suspension on soon to be my 1978 GMC C35 Camper Special Dually. I've been trying to read up on thia truck but I can't find what I'm looking for. The truck is a 1 ton, and a camper special. Not sure what that adds to the suspension. I am going to slam it, and eventually bag it, and still be able to pull my car hauler. Not sure what my options are. Does it have extra springs to remove? I've only ever dealt with S10s so this ia all new to me. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[animal]

@bucket or @RetroC10Sport could answer.

 

[Craig 85]

Welcome. Camper specials tend to have higher spring rates front and rear. Possibly a rear sway bar and dual batteries.

 

[Charlie]

 

[74 Shortbed]

Welcome aboard.

 

[JJenkinson5]

Thanks for the welcome. This is a project I've been waiting for, for a long time. I love the square body and to see one laying frame is beautiful. I am crazy happy tonjave found this forum site!!

Craig 85 does it have more springs than a normal 1 ton on the rear? Can I remove any without affecting that? I am getting the truck for payment for some bodywork, and I don't have it yet. I've went and looked and drove it. Motor needs gone thru, and it does not have dual batteries anymore. Thanks.

 

[bucket]

Welcome. Camper specials tend to have higher spring rates front and rear. Possibly a rear sway bar and dual batteries.

There was a couple different packages too. Also common to a camper special are things like camper brackets, wire pigtails, hd cooling and steeper gearing.

 

[JJenkinson5]

How do I find these out aside from just looking? What tells me what package?

 

[Craig 85]

How do I find these out aside from just looking? What tells me what package?

Look for a tag like this in the glove box. My truck has 8 leaves and an overload, but it is a 4WD and a SRW. That does not include the top spring (see photo 2). I recently had the leaves rebuilt and had 1 leaf removed. It should soften it a little. I'm sure you can remove more, you just won't have the weight capacity.

A Camper Special probably has the G52 package. This would have 9 leaves in the pack plus the bottom overload. It will also have the spring on top of the pack.

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[JJenkinson5]

Awesome thanks. I appriciate the help. I've read that some camper specials have 4 overloads but I'll check it out. I won't be putting a lot of weight in the bed especially once it's bagged.

 

[Derrick]

 

[JJenkinson5]

Another question about the truck. It has a 3+3 emblem. What is this for?

 

[Craig 85]

Another question about the truck. It has a 3+3 emblem. What is this for?

"3" people in the front seat and "3" in the rear. Crew cabs were also offered as Bonus cabs which deleted the rear seat. Never seen one though.

 

[JJenkinson5]

Well that should've been obvious, haha. I'm really going to like it here. Thanks again for answering my questions.

 

[bucket]

"3" people in the front seat and "3" in the rear. Crew cabs were also offered as Bonus cabs which deleted the rear seat. Never seen one though.

My old boss at the junkyard had a bonus cab, an '82 iirc. But a lot of the high end conversation trucks started life as a Bonus Cab. Since they usually got some kind of folding rear bench/bed.