Forum Discussion

Camper_Jeff___K's avatar
Camper_Jeff___K
Nomad III
Aug 13, 2015

TC Quick Load Tip.

Take the guesswork out of loading the TC.
I put a piece of electrical tape, yellow flavored, dangling down from the front right corner of the TC tub. The dangling section has two stretches of tape stuck together so there is no sticky surface, just yellow vinyl electrical tape hanging. Plus it adds weight and rigidity to make the tape more useful to the purpose. You can see the darkened marks from the TC on my in truck bed lift platform where the edge of the TC rests. Using that as a guide line, I line the tape up with that line and back on into the TC for a quick easy uneventful loading. Hear of several methods to assist TC loading and I finally decided to try one of the methods with much pleasure.



Hope you find it useful.

J&K
Truck Campers
  • JoeChiOhki's avatar
    JoeChiOhki
    Explorer II
    Aug 13, 2015
    Hmm the dangly tape, I like that, staple a few along the camper to rub along the edges of the truck bed, fairly easy alignment :)

    Thanks! I'll remember to get myself some of that reflective strip that you can buy for hanging to scare off birds, that'll work wonderfully!
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Aug 13, 2015
    It was easier to load my AF into a pickup box than a flatbed deck because there was a reference (even if tolerances were tight). Maybe I should use a "dangly part" that I could actually see when I back up to the TC since right now it requires a second person giving commands which direction to go to line up the marks.
  • kerry4951's avatar
    kerry4951
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2015
    Id love to have the amount of clearance that you have. On my AF the upper part of the side wall is "stepped out" and I have about 1 1/4" of clearance before it touches the side of the tail gate opening.
  • towpro's avatar
    towpro
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2015
    I tried the tape down the center, but next time I took camper of the bed tape was stuck to the camper bottom. might try this method next.
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Aug 13, 2015
    Very smart! I've got lines down the center of the truck bed mat and one on the camper; but having a dangly part would be even easier! Thanks :-)
  • hedge's avatar
    hedge
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2015
    Like that, I don't have a lot of problem getting backed in but this one is simple enough to try.
  • Camper_Jeff___K's avatar
    Camper_Jeff___K
    Nomad III
    Aug 13, 2015
    gbopp wrote:
    The KISS method is usually the best. :)
    Thanks for sharing.


    Dead reconing is the simplest method.
    When I worked at Kenworth I periodically had to carry wide items through a narrow hall way. There was a line on the floor I knew if I followed I would not hit the protrusions on the side walls along the way. As long as the tape is on the wear line in the bed lift platform I know I am going straight in.
    The old tricks like keep this lined up with that were all subject to paralax error because of distance and angle.. and looking rearward over the shoulder or mirror. Then backing into the TC steering a little this way and that way making use of the brail method of loading or tap squeek drag and go.
    As long as the tape is on that line you're in. It's pretty simple and costs nothing.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2015
    The KISS method is usually the best. :)
    Thanks for sharing.

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