Is it common to remove your truck camper at your camp spot?

I wouldn't call it common for up here. I personaly have never seen some one take it off at a campground.. maybe a seasonal site rental but even then most of the time you don't see a truck camper in thoes. so if you were to ask me I would say it is very uncomon, and for myself it isn't worth the hassel of removing and reinstalling on the typical uneven ground of a campground. when I do take it off at home it is on concrete blocks and 4x4's which I wouldnt be able to take with me unless I started hauling a trailer also. plus I have hydraulic jacks so you cant leave it sitting with pressure on the jacks. if I had a newer unit with screw jacks and electric motors to make it easier and faster to remove and load maybe, but in all honesty a small tow trailer would be much easier to use if that is your intention.

Steve

specta wrote:
.....
I've never taken mine off when camping, never had a need or desire to.

You also don't need cabin bigger than with 2 seats.
As we know, everybody is having different needs.
I removed my camper often, not only for convenience of easier driving in the city without it, but also I could leave my dogs in air-conditioned camper, when I went dining.

We have two campgrounds, one primitive and one with full hookups.
I don't recall ever seeing anyone in the primitive campground remove their camper.
I have only seen a few people in the full hookup campground remove their camper from the truck.
People do it but I wouldn't call it common.
I've never taken mine off when camping, never had a need or desire to.

I compare taking off my camper on campgrounds to lowering the roof on my convertible at red light.
QUITE A SHOW.
With remote-operated jacks it takes me about 2 minutes to drive the truck off and then I can lower the camper on front support beam, what solves all the potential parking issues. Mind my camper was scaled up to 7000 lb and about 22' of total length, so driving it on city parking lots was not easy.
Loading the camper takes few minutes, but then it took me 2 years before I figured out that my 360 cameras have trailer option, who made centering the truck a breeze.

Grit dog wrote:
^Some of those questions are specific to particular campers, but yes, just put some boards under the feet if on softer ground. You’ll want a little collection of boards, with you, for leveling the truck up with camper on, and or as pads under the jacks. I usually carried a handful of 2x6s and 4 plywood squares.
Most good campers will not be too wobbly if you lower them down. RE auto level, it’s not difficult to level, just think about how the camper moves and to not put it in a bind. Generally when leveling, or un leveling move one “side” at a time. IE 2 front jacks or both on one side etc.
you’ll also want or need to un level it for loading and unloading on sloped surfaces.

Dittos!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=s+removing+a+truck+camper+from+a+truck

Whether you want or need anti sway gadgets is subjective. Worry about stuff like this later after you have the camper and are familiar with it.

^Some of those questions are specific to particular campers, but yes, just put some boards under the feet if on softer ground. You’ll want a little collection of boards, with you, for leveling the truck up with camper on, and or as pads under the jacks. I usually carried a handful of 2x6s and 4 plywood squares.
Most good campers will not be too wobbly if you lower them down. RE auto level, it’s not difficult to level, just think about how the camper moves and to not put it in a bind. Generally when leveling, or un leveling move one “side” at a time. IE 2 front jacks or both on one side etc.
you’ll also want or need to un level it for loading and unloading on sloped surfaces.

Thanks for the photos notsobigjoe. Actually you've kind of addressed another thought I had but had not yet put into words. I'm picturing taking the camper off at my dispersed site which is on dirt. I think of the camper being supporting by the 4 telescoping stands (what is the right term for them?). The feet have relatively small footprint for the weight they support, maybe no big deal for storage on bare ground but what about if camper is fully loaded and being used? Would I need to put the feet on some wide supports to spread out the load? Would I need extra supports to combat wobble? Would the ground need to be absolutely flat for this to work? Is there auto-leveling technology like with a motorhome?

JimK-NY wrote:
A post like this seems to attract those who have removed their campers while camping. In spite of the responses, I would say removing the camper is rare. I spent 2 years camping full time in the National Parks in the western US. I can only remember seeing this happen once.

In any case what others do does not need to change your plans.

Being a winter snow bird destination Florida see's many take offs here, especially the bass fisherman. I go to many tourneys and there are several TC's that are off to use the truck for launching and retrieving. In the north east I have never seen one off. I've never gone to far west to comment on that. In the keys they take them off too. One thing I have never seen is any stabilization accessories being used other than jacks and blocks. I'm the only one I've ever seen with a pair of wobble stoppers. People ask me about them all the time. I still use blocks and jacks.
This is in my driveway but it's the same at the lake.

I also use slide out supports.

I tip it to the rear slightly because of the rain water run off and it tips my head up a little bit when sleeping.

JimK-NY wrote:
A post like this seems to attract those who have removed their campers while camping. In spite of the responses, I would say removing the camper is rare. I spent 2 years camping full time in the National Parks in the western US. I can only remember seeing this happen once.

In any case what others do does not need to change your plans.

May have been the year we were at Yellowstone then, lol. First thing I did was dump the camper so that it wasn’t hanging out back there for days of touring around the park.