Question??
Hi Folks, I'm thinking of getting a TC, and my main concern is how hard is it to take on and off?? I'm looking at either a Northstar Liberty or A Lance 825. I've got a 2014 Ford F350 Short Bed CC 4X4,...
Forum Discussion
I'm a newbie. We've had our TC about 7 months and a hand-full of trips.
I like the string-adjacent-to-the-truck idea. Might have to try that.
Things I've learned:
Level ground is much easier and never available.
Keep the front of the camper slightly higher than the rear.
Put the driver's seat back in a reclined position so you can get a better angle looking out your rear window, using your elbow or hand on the seat back to hold you up.
You can skootch the camper around on its legs by raising one rear leg, applying slight pressure to either side and lower the leg again. The rear leg that was not raised will pop over, after the pressure is off its base. Don't try this with the front legs, so I've heard. This procedure twists the camper if you're not lined up just so.
You can walk the camper using the bed of the truck by raising both legs on one side until that side, bottom corner touches down on the bed. When you raise the other two legs, the camper will settle down in a new location. This seems to help me a little when the ground isn't level side to side.
I get in and out of my truck at least 20 times.
I put "tie dye" duct tape on my bed mat, because I think I can see the colors better. One on each side and a small piece in the center that gets a fresh Sharpie arrow before I back up. Same for the piece of center-tape on the camper.
It gets faster and easier every time, so far. My first adventure loading it at our storage lot, a couple weeks ago, took me two hours, but I had to put the batteries and propane tanks back, get the cover off the A/C, etc. I took my time and enjoyed the sound of the trains passing 20 feet away while I worked. I waved at the Engineers. I'd like to get that 2 hours down to 15 minutes.
Oh, yea. One more thing. I don't have the patience to have someone try to help me. She's better off tending to more important tasks.
I like the string-adjacent-to-the-truck idea. Might have to try that.
Things I've learned:
Level ground is much easier and never available.
Keep the front of the camper slightly higher than the rear.
Put the driver's seat back in a reclined position so you can get a better angle looking out your rear window, using your elbow or hand on the seat back to hold you up.
You can skootch the camper around on its legs by raising one rear leg, applying slight pressure to either side and lower the leg again. The rear leg that was not raised will pop over, after the pressure is off its base. Don't try this with the front legs, so I've heard. This procedure twists the camper if you're not lined up just so.
You can walk the camper using the bed of the truck by raising both legs on one side until that side, bottom corner touches down on the bed. When you raise the other two legs, the camper will settle down in a new location. This seems to help me a little when the ground isn't level side to side.
I get in and out of my truck at least 20 times.
I put "tie dye" duct tape on my bed mat, because I think I can see the colors better. One on each side and a small piece in the center that gets a fresh Sharpie arrow before I back up. Same for the piece of center-tape on the camper.
It gets faster and easier every time, so far. My first adventure loading it at our storage lot, a couple weeks ago, took me two hours, but I had to put the batteries and propane tanks back, get the cover off the A/C, etc. I took my time and enjoyed the sound of the trains passing 20 feet away while I worked. I waved at the Engineers. I'd like to get that 2 hours down to 15 minutes.
Oh, yea. One more thing. I don't have the patience to have someone try to help me. She's better off tending to more important tasks.
