I realize for most of you this is not a big deal but I'll admit I was a little nervous about it the first time, particularly since my floor has some slope. My owners manual is basically useless for this and TC University had an article on loading but nothing on unloading. So I backed it under the carport, opened the dually jacks, removed the Fastguns, unplugged the cord and lowered the jacks until the rear (which were closest to floor) were just off the floor. Then I placed plywood squares under the rear jacks and 2 2X6's squares under each front jack so that all four jacks were extended about the same length. I then raised it by raising the front a few inches and then the back a few inches while keeping the front a little higher until I could see the truck bed clearly.After slowly driving the truck out I lowered it repeating the front to back operation while trying to keep the front a little higher until I got ready to do the final leveling.Questions:1. Any suggestions on the above process?2. I could not get the rear closer than 1" side to side level. When I raised the low side enough the other side lost contact with the ground. What's the fix for this?3. Is there any negative impact on the truck if you leave a heavy TC in the bed for weeks at the time when not in use?4. Currently I'm not planning on any off truck support for the camper. Is that something I should reconsider?Click For Full-Size Image.

To me, the weak point on a TC is the jacks and or how they're fastened to the TC itself though my experience with a TC is from years ago when they had wooden frames. Because of this, I always supported the TC on either four each 55 gal drums or stacks of pallets. I'd put most of them weight down on them with maybe 5% of the weight on the jacks for additional stability in high winds. I know lots of people just use the jacks, but my preference was to use additional support. I always had visions of trying to get the TC righted and on the truck again if a jack gave way and it fell over.Bill

Just make sure your slide in in, keep the front a few inches higher than the back, and only do 2 front jacks and 2 rear jacks at a time, never all 4 at once when loading or unloading

For long term storage I used cribbing under the camper and the jacks were more for stability than load bearingJim

I always make sure that the tanks are close to MT before unloading...My 4350# TC stays on the truck for weeks and beyond with no ill effects (7yrs and running...). I only off-load it when I need to haul cargo. Check with Adventurer about off-truck support, but I doubt it requires any...Not sure what you mean on question 2. Understand too that if your driveway slopes downward, the rear most edge of your truck bed will draw an upward arc as you pull away from beneath the camper. The main thing is when loading or unloading be sure not to bump TC. Practice makes perfect, side to side slopes should try and be avoided...

Questions: 1. Any suggestions on the above process? 2. I could not get the rear closer than 1" side to side level. When I raised the low side enough the other side lost contact with the ground. What's the fix for this? 3. Is there any negative impact on the truck if you leave a heavy TC in the bed for weeks at the time when not in use? 4. Currently I'm not planning on any off truck support for the camper. Is that something I should reconsider? Looks like you did a nice job. My only two comments are that I would support the camper under the floor with something. I used wood beams and cement blocks and lowered the jacks to the point where the floor was just touching the beams so the jacks also still provided some support. My second comment is that I never loaded or unloaded in the wind. Just a concern that things could get out of hand with the camper way high and the truck not under it even if only for a moment.

1st Time Unloading Camper - A Few Questions | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 02, 2014
If you can't get the rear within 1" side to side, the front must also be off 1", OR the camper is racked/twisted, which is not a good thing.

Just raise the low side front and back, or lower the high side front and back.
JumboJet
Explorer
Sep 02, 2014
brholt wrote:
805gregg wrote:
Just make sure your slide in in, keep the front a few inches higher than the back, and only do 2 front jacks and 2 rear jacks at a time, never all 4 at once when loading or unloading

Not sure I understand the first. Are you saying you shouldn't use the slide with the camper off the truck? Is that manufacturer dependent as it's done all the time with Arctic Foxes.

Same note for the last suggestion? We use all four jacks all the time, that is what the button is for. Is that not true for some TC's?

The slide should be kept in while loading and unloading. Once unloaded and stabilized, you can let the slide out.

I position my TC 2" high in the front and then use the "All 4" button to let the TC down while watching the rear jacks as one will always be slower than the other 3. I catch it up with the others and continue the process.

I took a 3/4" piece of plywood cut in to four 2' x 4' pieces with slots to make two "Exes" to place under the front and rear of the camper. Much easier to handle and store than pallets or barrels. I also place 4'6" 2"X8" boards across the "Exes" to provide even support.
billyray50
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
sue.t wrote:
With our Adventurer camper, we were told by the salesperson to not use it off the truck without support under the floor.

Thus we have two super-duper sawhorses under the camper when it's stored in the yard. The jacks are also down with minimal weight on them - the sawhorses take the weight.

Sue T.,

I believe your salesman was miss informed. I owned a 2012 Adventurer 86fb and for the year I had it I camped and stored it off the truck about 75% of the time. Had 3 adults sleep in without support. That's what Jacks are for.I would check with Adventurer. Wish I never sold it.. Long story... One can support it off truck in storage for peace of mine but I was told it was not a requirement.
sue_t
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
With our Adventurer camper, we were told by the salesperson to not use it off the truck without support under the floor.

Thus we have two super-duper sawhorses under the camper when it's stored in the yard. The jacks are also down with minimal weight on them - the sawhorses take the weight.
languiduck
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
I lift the TC up with all 4 jacks at the same time using the Lift All button on the remote. Remove the Fastguns, the 7 pin cable, and drive out. I then fasten the Torklift Wobble Stoppers to the front two jacks, lower the TC to about 18" off the ground and don't give it another thought. With those Wobble Stoppers you don't need anything else, it won't move when it's set down like that. It stays like that whether I'm living in it or it's sitting empty waiting for the next time I load it up. Just put a little angle on it and don't overthink it.
scottz
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
It looks like your jacks are still extended. Put them as low as possible when storing. It is a leverage thing, Leaving them extended puts unneeded stress at the attachment points.
deltabravo
Nomad
Sep 01, 2014
I leave mine on the truck for months at a time.

I also support it when it's off the truck, and leave the slide in unless I need to be in and out of the camper a lot during a short period of time (such as when doing upgrades).

When lowering the camper, I keep an eye on all four jacks where the touch the floor. I have on that ALWAYS lowers fast than the others and it will retract where it's not supporting anything. When I see that start to happen, I stop the lowering process and raise that jack some.
brholt
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2014
805gregg wrote:
Just make sure your slide in in, keep the front a few inches higher than the back, and only do 2 front jacks and 2 rear jacks at a time, never all 4 at once when loading or unloading

Not sure I understand the first. Are you saying you shouldn't use the slide with the camper off the truck? Is that manufacturer dependent as it's done all the time with Arctic Foxes.

Same note for the last suggestion? We use all four jacks all the time, that is what the button is for. Is that not true for some TC's?
GoinThisAway
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
Sounds like you did just fine, Mike.

In regards to #2, if you also raise the front jack on the side you're trying to lift it should shift some weight back on the opposite rear jack that wants to lift.
woodhog
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
I raise it above the bed enough to haul out from under.

Pile pallets under the camper so it is at about the same height as it was on the truck bed.

I then lower the jacks for a bit of stabilization, most all the weight is on the pallets. Makes for minimum jack movement, these things don't look like they belong sitting on those skinny little extended jacks.

If the camper is not level on the pallets, throw a few pieces of 4x4 under it and wedge with some wooden shingles..

I get pallets for nothing from the local building supply place.

The jacks are good stabilizers.