I'm wondering about what I am going to need to do this. I live in Alaska and we are going to hit the road to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle area first then maybe branch out a bit) first part of next week in the hopes of finding a used slide in camper to bring home. Our truck is an 06 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 with an 8 foot box and extended cab. It will need the following things that I can think of: The bars that bolt to the frame that the TC ties down to. Isolator relay and wiring harness for the camper. Some sort of mirror extension. Anything else that I would need? On the mirrors, I have seen some people use a type that attaches to the TC itself under the overhang. Is this acceptable, at least for the short run? About the bars, the last time I owned a TC it was on an old 82 Ford and all I remember it having was a piece of channel iron running across and bolted to the frame. Is this still the case or have these tie downs bars gotten sophisticated like everything else? The isolator is something I can do myself so shouldn't be a problem. The rest I am going to have done while on the road so any advice on how to find a decent shop to do the work (and how much it should cost) would be appreciated.Thanks!

Before I retired I delivered to these folks for many years. They are always setting something up.Torklift central http://torkliftcentral.com/315 Central Ave NKent, WA 98032Call Us (877) 343-6933Don't count on just pulling in though. Their usually busy and need appointment. And they are big $$$ for what they do IMO. But do good work (of what I've seen) When you get in Seattle and are stuck on where to get stuff done, send a PM with what you need done and maybe I can assist as to where I would go.

What kind of elect. outlet do you have on the truck? My 06 has the flat pronged outlet @ the rear and the front of the box, the camper you get will need to plug into something. Mine has an isolator built in the system with a fuse under the hood. From what I heard the Lance campers have a different configuration on the wiring than all the others, but I may be misinformed. When I turn my ignition switch OFF it separates the starting battery from the other battery under the hood and the camper. might check Q some salvage yards and replace the mirrors with the extendable ones from a GM truck should be only about 3 bolts to do this, remove the inner part of the door and you can see them. JMHO

If you buy a TC from a private party, they usually have the hardware to go with it. Whether it fits your truck or not is another story. I was lucky when we bought our Lance in 2001. The guy that sold it to us had a Dodge pickup also, so all the tiedown hardware was a direct transfer, which we use to this day some 14 years later. If you buy it from a dealer, they should have all the hardware for you to get it off the lot.jefe

On your behalf, I looked at the Seattle Craigs list tonight and thought the prices were a lot higher than in N. California. Plus, the pickin's were a lot smaller than in CA. Also, is appears WA you must buy a special license plate for the Camper. Not so in CA. It's just cargo. One more thing. TC's in CA spend a lot less time in the rain than WA campers. Somethings to think about.jefe

Doesn't matter about the tag requirements where you buy, it matters about the tag requirements of the state your vehicle is tagged in. If Alaska doesn't require tags, then you won't need any.I do agree that prices in CA due seem to be lower and definitely about the rain issue.Also, make sure you know your weights and how much you can actually carry. Don't forget, dry weight of a camper is usually about 1,000# less than the weight wet.One of the nice things I like about Oregon are the weight scales are available for anyone as long as they aren't being used for trucks. They look off, but turn on as soon as you put weight on the scales.

Setting up my truck to haul a camper back home.

KD4UPL
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
Forget the angle iron across the frame. You want either Happijac or Torklift tie downs.
Chevy's do not have isolators but many campers do have them. I'd wait on that until you see what camper you get. If it has an isolator then no need for one in the truck. You can always just unplug the cord when you stop for the night.
You will need a 7 pin connector for the camper unless you get a Lance which uses their own 6 pin.
Be sure you leave your tailgate at home. If you bring it with you you'll have no where to put it for the trip home except inside the camper.
dave17352
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
I would put on a set of torklift tie downs. Then you would be ready to mount any standard Truck camper. I have used other systems, but find torklift to be the best. Then if you buy a camper with some happy jack tie downs all you need is some quicklinks and chains and your ready to go. Wiring can very depending on the TC. You would have to deal with once you buy your rig.
Butch50
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
Crumm wrote:
Your truck should have a isolator if it has a tow package. You just need to build a extension or hardwire it to the left front corner of the bed.

For tie downs check out Happijac and Torklift

http://www.happijac.com/index.php/products/tie-downs

http://www.torklift.com/index.php/products/tiedowns/tie-downs

Since you are in Alaska like me Amazon Prime is your friend for the tie downs.

The isolator is not a given. I had a 2002 Chevy dmax/Allison dually with the towing package and it did not have the isolator.

Then my 2006 and 2013 Ram 3500 diesel dually with tow package also didn't have the battery isolator.

My 2006 Ford F550 and my 2011 Ford F350 both had isolators on them.

I believe that the only manufacturer that installs one from the factory is Ford.
Crumm
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
Your truck should have a isolator if it has a tow package. You just need to build a extension or hardwire it to the left front corner of the bed.

For tie downs check out Happijac and Torklift

http://www.happijac.com/index.php/products/tie-downs

http://www.torklift.com/index.php/products/tiedowns/tie-downs

Since you are in Alaska like me Amazon Prime is your friend for the tie downs.
kohldad
Explorer III
Mar 11, 2015
Doesn't matter about the tag requirements where you buy, it matters about the tag requirements of the state your vehicle is tagged in. If Alaska doesn't require tags, then you won't need any.

I do agree that prices in CA due seem to be lower and definitely about the rain issue.

Also, make sure you know your weights and how much you can actually carry. Don't forget, dry weight of a camper is usually about 1,000# less than the weight wet.

One of the nice things I like about Oregon are the weight scales are available for anyone as long as they aren't being used for trucks. They look off, but turn on as soon as you put weight on the scales.
jefe_4x4
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
On your behalf, I looked at the Seattle Craigs list tonight and thought the prices were a lot higher than in N. California. Plus, the pickin's were a lot smaller than in CA. Also, is appears WA you must buy a special license plate for the Camper. Not so in CA. It's just cargo. One more thing. TC's in CA spend a lot less time in the rain than WA campers. Somethings to think about.
jefe
jefe_4x4
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
If you buy a TC from a private party, they usually have the hardware to go with it. Whether it fits your truck or not is another story. I was lucky when we bought our Lance in 2001. The guy that sold it to us had a Dodge pickup also, so all the tiedown hardware was a direct transfer, which we use to this day some 14 years later. If you buy it from a dealer, they should have all the hardware for you to get it off the lot.
jefe
Itchey_Feet
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
What kind of elect. outlet do you have on the truck? My 06 has the flat pronged outlet @ the rear and the front of the box, the camper you get will need to plug into something. Mine has an isolator built in the system with a fuse under the hood. From what I heard the Lance campers have a different configuration on the wiring than all the others, but I may be misinformed. When I turn my ignition switch OFF it separates the starting battery from the other battery under the hood and the camper. might check Q some salvage yards and replace the mirrors with the extendable ones from a GM truck should be only about 3 bolts to do this, remove the inner part of the door and you can see them. JMHO
path1
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
Before I retired I delivered to these folks for many years. They are always setting something up.

Torklift central http://torkliftcentral.com/

315 Central Ave N
Kent, WA 98032
Call Us (877) 343-6933

Don't count on just pulling in though. Their usually busy and need appointment. And they are big $$$ for what they do IMO. But do good work (of what I've seen) When you get in Seattle and are stuck on where to get stuff done, send a PM with what you need done and maybe I can assist as to where I would go.

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Setting up my truck to haul a camper back home.

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