How often do your remove the camper from the truck?

mkirsch wrote:
You will get answers that cover the entire range, from people who never take their camper off and can't fathom anyone that would ever take their camper off, to others who take their camper off every time they stop and can't fathom anyone who would ever leave their camper on.

Well said. :B

I took mine off my truck twice last year. It went back on a few weeks ago.

I had two TCs. A pop up and a hard side fiberglass.
I used both for work. I would use them weeks at a time, be home a week or two then head back out.
It is a big enough pain that when home only one week I would leave it on. Two weeks and then just depends on how much driving I planned to do between (usually I was tired of driving so avoided it when home).

It is simple in theory, but does take time. It can be a chore. Tailgate needs to come off and go somewhere safe, don't drop it, its heavy but easily manageable. The camper is always sitting on something (X's, saw horses, pallets) so raise camper, remove platform, store platform/move platform. Prep truck, which for me involved the batteries that stayed in the truck bed, the electrical connection, putting boards in the bed, the rubber mat all just so. Back truck in most of the way, connect the things, back in the rest of the way. Some ppl are good enough they get it perfect the first time, prepare to do a few back-n-forths to get TC centered where u want it. Lower TC. I had remote motors but it still was a chore. I had air bags, so air up the air bags to get truck level again. Lug out the Troqlift tie-down arms, the chains and hook it all up, tighten down the tie-downs. Fill water if you prefer to drain out water for storage to make TC lighter and not stress the floor (depends on quality of your TC). Dont forget that license plate move. Hook up trailer wires to TC, check, Two mirrors out.. Good to go.
Yea, it is a bit of work.
I got rid of TC.
Now I have trailer: Back truck up, drop it on the ball, clip the chains in and the 7-pin. Done.

Be sure this is what you want.
The Pop-up is neat, but unless it is an Alaskan you are in a tent when the top is up, all the noises and lack of insulation as a tent. Lack of security of a hard wall (not that campers are hard to break into).
The hard side is nice too, heavy, and lot of weight on your expensive truck with expensive front end parts - as opposed to super cheap easy-to-fix trailer axle and leaf springs. Your truck is going to carry the burden and weight and get worn out faster....
Keep all this in mind...

In close to 10 years our big Citation 10.8 S camper might have come off the truck maybe 10 times. We used it mostly in the winter to go do our ski patrolling at Crater Lake and Willamette Backcountry here in Oregon.
In the summer, the Harley was the main mode of transportation.
Happy camping, KEN

Mine goes on in the spring and comes off in the fall.
I never drop the camper when camping because I don't need the truck to go sightseeing.

Here's how I load it

Here's how I unload it

If I was staying in one place for a week I might take it off the truck. And If I was taking the truck in for repair I would take it off. Other than that it lives on the truck ready to go. fully stocked. We do live in earthquake country. In the truck bed(vs on Jacks) is the safest spot for our emergency home.

i only have it on when I am using it. when I am done I take it off, unless i am heading out again soon and dont need the truck for anything else.

Steve

NRALIFR wrote:
Frequently.

I don’t leave it on at home, and I set the camper on two long 4 x 6 timbers that give me a couple of tight parallel guides to watch as I back under. When I need the floor space in the garage that the truck is occupying in this picture, I park under the camper quite often. I just watch the gap between the rear tires and the 4 x6’s as I back under.



I also take the camper off frequently while we’re traveling. I need to be able to do it on short notice, so I’ve avoided putting things like extra batteries in the truck bed. You’re correct in your assumption that being on unlevel ground can make loading the camper more difficult. You can generally get the camper off on a slope without too much trouble, but when you go to put it back on if there’s things in the bed that reduce the clearances, it just makes the job more difficult.

Acadia NP, ME


McKinney Falls SP, TX


As for getting the truck serviced, I’ve done it both ways. Consider this, any garage that can handle a class C RV can handle your truck with the camper on it. Including putting it on a lift.

:):)

I think it is safe to say that is not a standard-issue garage. :) Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

We rarely take the camper off the truck when traveling. Occasionally, if staying put for a while, but not often.
I probably load/unload our camper 8-10 times/year. Maybe more?

I allow 1/2 hour for the process (I prefer to be alone so I can focus, and not rush).

It’s no big deal, but usually there is no reason to unload when traveling. One of the advantages of a TC is to have your “stuff” with you. It’s easy to drive/park anywhere.

Ditto on the more you load and unload the camper the easier it becomes. Go slow and have a spotter if possible.

What I think you'll find that with electric jacks, taking it off is very easy. Its the getting it back on that can be problematic for some folks. As suggested it is best to to both (on and off) on even and level ground. Go slow and having a "spotter" can help as well.

With my old truck+camper+mirrors I took the camper off quite often, might of wanted to use the truck or was staying for a few nights or just wanted to go cut some firewood and haul it. Easy peasy once you get the hang of it.

In the last handful of years I've just left the camper on the truck. Most (if not all) oil service places have very tall bays that can fit a truck+camper and outside of oil changes, my truck has not needed to be serviced.


- Mark0.