Using camper when not on truck

RoyB wrote:

For security reason I don't know if I would have guts enought to run off and leave my Truck Camper sitting on the ground unattended or not. In my case it would probably grow legs and wander off on me hehe...

Hidden motion sensor, 200 watt amplifier, recording of 4 pit bulls barking = no worries.

My Lance 981 is good off truck and OKed by the manual. Call Lance and inquire about your model if unsure.
Torklift makes a product called Wobblestopper which is effective in reducing and sometimes eliminating sway when camper is off the truck. It works.
wobblestopper

RoyB wrote:

For security reason I don't know if I would have guts enought to run off and leave my Truck Camper sitting on the ground unattended or not. In my case it would probably grow legs and wander off on me hehe...


Roy Ken

But just think of the security risk of people who leave behind those $500k motorhomes unattended. ;)

Maybe if you are boondocking in an isolated area, I could see the issue but assuming you are talking about a campground, I just don't see the issue.

Thanks everyone,
You set my mind at ease.
Although many campgrounds don't allow you to take the camper off the truck, it's nice to know its ok to do it if it's allowed.


Sue

Ever visit a Lance dealer with lots of models on the lot?

'Nuff said

Rick

I have spent the last 10 years in a Lance 1010, more than half of that time with it off the truck, suspended on the jacks, otherwise unsupported.

No problems, no worries.

I came to enjoy the sway. Kinda like being at sea. :)

Joe

It's been several years since I sold my Lance but one of the main reasons for buying it was because it could be used off the truck. Never had a problem with it.
I think it was a model 1120. Jim

I have seen a few Truck Campers show up at the camp grounds and back into their assigned spot. Then lower the jacks and unhook and drive out from under their camper then lower it to the ground with the bottom supported on the ground and held steady inplace with the jacks. Alot of the area under the TC has to supported only by the jacks it seems.

Sure doesnt take them much time to stow their TC doing this - 10-15 minutes or so...

Then they have their truck available to go places in...

For security reason I don't know if I would have guts enought to run off and leave my Truck Camper sitting on the ground unattended or not. In my case it would probably grow legs and wander off on me hehe...

I have seen it done several times however... Maybe the trick is to go all the way to the ground with the rear TC body. This one setup had several short 2x12s on the ground for the TC and jacks to sit on.

ADDED NOTE: If I was going to be doing this alot I would install eyelets in the roof side four corners and run these to the ground using earth augar anchors and 1/2-inch ratchet type web straps. I already do this with my off-road camper to prevent side to side movement when the wind picks up. Easy to setup and the earth augers leave no marks in the ground when uncrewed when you leave.

Roy Ken

From the Lance users manual
"Your camper is designed to be used while standing on the jacks in a lowered position without damage to the camper."

Most campers (the variety with 4 jacks) can be used when off the truck, but some I hear aren't structurally designed to support your weight when the floor is not directly supported by the load bed (or something else).

I don't know if that is the case with your camper, but some people carry the equivalent of a couple of folding saw horses to support the floor so the weight is distributed between these and the 4 jacks. Someone here, forget who, did something clever with a couple of bits of plywood that slot together to form an X, two of which support the camper when off the truck. Doing this also helps prevent sway.

Sway is another consideration - make sure you lower the camper down as much as possible. My camper has the old-style manual jacks held on by 2 bolts each at the top - this makes them much more vulnerable to sway. when off the truck I usually add a couple of saw horses underneath mainly to prevent the sway from causing damage to the jack mountings. Modern jacks which are screwed into the structure along a considerable length of their body won't suffer from this problem as much.

Steve.