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

jmtandem
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2014
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.
3_tons
Explorer III
Sep 01, 2014
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...
Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
For long term storage I used cribbing under the camper and the jacks were more for stability than load bearing
Jim
805gregg
Explorer
Aug 31, 2014
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
Trackrig
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2014
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

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1st Time Unloading Camper - A Few Questions

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