FW capacity

sbryan@vtbryans.com wrote:

Gjac wrote:
Not knowing much about TC's this setup looks like it should be std on all TC's. The 4 skinny legs just look like they would be wobbly if you try to use the camper unmounted to the truck. Those that take the camper off do you need any other support other than the 4 skinny legs to make it more stable?

The so called skinny legs hold the TC just fine. If we are going to be in one place for more than a few days we dismount the camper and lower it down. Contrary to the way things look, the legs are very stable and the camper will not tip over on its nose.

. Shawn, that is good to know. That wa sone of my concerns.

Gjac wrote:
Not knowing much about TC's this setup looks like it should be std on all TC's. The 4 skinny legs just look like they would be wobbly if you try to use the camper unmounted to the truck. Those that take the camper off do you need any other support other than the 4 skinny legs to make it more stable?

The so called skinny legs hold the TC just fine. If we are going to be in one place for more than a few days we dismount the camper and lower it down. Contrary to the way things look, the legs are very stable and the camper will not tip over on its nose.

burningman wrote:
That’s because you haven’t attached a Stable Lift.
If you did, it would be five minutes. And effortless.

Not knowing much about TC's this setup looks like it should be std on all TC's. The 4 skinny legs just look like they would be wobbly if you try to use the camper unmounted to the truck. Those that take the camper off do you need any other support other than the 4 skinny legs to make it more stable?

SidecarFlip wrote:
..........

I like to offset my TC just a tad to the drivers side anyway. Gives me a better view out of the passangers side mirror.

Kripes that makes my OCD hurt.

Symmetry! We must have symmetry!

:):)

That’s because you haven’t attached a Stable Lift.
If you did, it would be five minutes. And effortless.

work2much wrote:

Gjac wrote:

work2much wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
AF860 = 50 gal I believe.
I carry extra water in a ballast bag (think bladder) that we use for ballast in our boat. Folds up small when not in use and the same 12V pump for use on the boat works well to get water transferred into the camper tank.
400lb ballast sack fits nicely on the back seat floor, seat or in the truck.

I am looking at these as well. We could run into town with the jeep and grab another weeks worth of water without breaking camp.

Is this common to tow in a truck camper? Do any of you leave the camper at the campsite and use your truck to run around for extended stays? Or is it too much trouble to unload and reload the camper off the truck?

I wouldn't say it's common. We like having the jeep to go explore places that a crew cab dually isn't able or practical. It tows quite effortlessly behind the camper.

It's common for us. Over 1/2 the time, we have a trailer behind the camper. Never towed a toad, but typically if we're at a spot for more than a couple days, I unload the camper. Rarely do we stay around camp unless right on a river for a couple days or something.
Some folks claim 15min to load or unload. Yeah maybe getting it backed in and the jacks up, but the whole process, tiedowns, packing up all the stuff, etc = better part of an hour unless it's just me and no interruptions etc.
So not as easy as dropping a trailer, but even if it's an hour out and hour back in, having the empty truck to do whatever is more convenient than packing the camper up for travel a couple times a day, IMO. Totally depends on the trip and the location and what I/we are doing though.

Gjac wrote:

work2much wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
AF860 = 50 gal I believe.
I carry extra water in a ballast bag (think bladder) that we use for ballast in our boat. Folds up small when not in use and the same 12V pump for use on the boat works well to get water transferred into the camper tank.
400lb ballast sack fits nicely on the back seat floor, seat or in the truck.

I am looking at these as well. We could run into town with the jeep and grab another weeks worth of water without breaking camp.

Is this common to tow in a truck camper? Do any of you leave the camper at the campsite and use your truck to run around for extended stays? Or is it too much trouble to unload and reload the camper off the truck?

I wouldn't say it's common. We like having the jeep to go explore places that a crew cab dually isn't able or practical. It tows quite effortlessly behind the camper.

All of you guys and gals are spoiled. My TC only has an 18 gallon FW tank and that's enough for 7 days of boondocking, more if I need it to be. A shower for the wife and I is less than 3 gallons of water. Doing two days worth of dishes is less than 1 gallon and that's not using paper plates. How much water you need is more about how much you use and that can be very little if you want it to be.

Kayteg1 wrote:
Loading and unloading the camper is a skill.
Some will do it in 3 minutes, others will spend 1 hr and still have it crooked.
We spend 10 weeks of 2017 summer traveling across the continent and having dogs, we most of the time drop the camper, so we could leave dogs with AC and go for visits or dining.
BTW one of best entertainment at lakes is go to boat ramp and see people backing up.
That might apply to loading campers as well, but you will not see many of them doing it at the same time.

Funny but very true. I can park my lawn chair at a boat ramp and watch. Great entertainment. Seen one hapless boater submerge his truck at the local ramp. Ruined his day.

Most are like Chinese fire drills but there are actually a few good ones. Not many though. Same with loading a TC. Lots of borderline loaders, not many good ones.

I like to offset my TC just a tad to the drivers side anyway. Gives me a better view out of the passangers side mirror.