Taking the camper off the truck

SidecarFlip wrote:

jornvango wrote:
One thing I noticed when taking off the camper is that it's much easier when the fresh water tank of the camper is empty. It is a lot of weight that is located in the front center of the camper.
When lifting the camper high enough with a full water tank, I notice that the front feet seem to bend: not sure if this is normal / OK to proceed?

Considering that water weighs a considerable amount per gallon (8.34 pounds US to be exact) and assuming your fresh water capacity (for an average is: 20 gallons, 20 times 8.34 equals about 166 pounds. Add the weight of your battery(s) at 65 pounds each (I have 2 under my front interior step where my FW tank is, that is another 120 for 286 pounds give or take. Lot of weight on the front jack legs.

Most TC's are built to use off truck (with occupants and gear (another 500 pounds give or take, on the jacks, but with the jacks almost all the way retracted...

I believe I'd be draining the FW tank before lifting the unit high enough to set in or remove it from your truck bed. Better to err on the side of safety rather than have a 'ooops moment'. Folding a leg will mean not only structural damage to the camper itself, it might even total the unit, not to mention the cost of salvaging it and collateral damage to the truck.

Like most big campers, ours is heavy. But it's not 10k heavy.. the bigger the camper, the bigger the jacks, usually, and they are built to hold a load. Ours (most??) are 2500# per jack. Full water, full tanks, full of lot's of our stuff, and there still isn't anything close to 5k on one set of legs.

Emptying tanks before taking off/putting on would defeat the purpose of 'ease'. Probably do that 20-30 times a year. What a waste of time and water.

Taking a camper on and off is like anything else in life. Understanding and practice make it easier, safer and less stressful.