Best way to store a truck camper

My main element to protect from is the sun. I have a shade sail system that is high enough for me to drive under with the camper on the truck. Camper is next to the house, behind a gate to protect my million dollar investment!! :B Or should I say, not being in an HOA is priceless?

Obviously the best system if you have the space is indoor storage.

Costco tarp shed (12 x 20) and then raised up 5 feet on 3" PVC piping. Sides and back of shed stay on, front is removed. Here in rainy coastal BC, snow load is not usually much of a worry, so it stays up all year. Dry, and protected from the UV, my last camper's life was extended by several years and my 2001 Alpenlite looks like new

Gotchya. So if you don't back under the camper just right, its a way to make it right. I'd be worried about messing up the bed of my truck doing that though!

Meaning, he powered the jacks individually or two at a time to adjust the position of the camper from one side to the other in the bed. It was odd to watch, but he definitely had skill at doing it because he scooted it around inside the truck bed like it was nothing until it was right where he wanted it. He claimed to do it all the time when in a tight spot.

Could you elaborate on what you mean by walking the camper around with the jacks? Sorry if that is a dumb question, but I don't quite follow what you mean by this.

TheHardWay9 wrote:

Caveat: Maybe supporting an aluminum framed camper isn't as important as supporting a wood framed camper due to the increased rigidity of the aluminum.

I know this...the guy that loaded my camper onto the truck used the jacks to "walk" the camper around in order to line it up. It made the most horrible torquing and twisting sounds as he did it. My wife and I looked at each other in shock. He saw the look on our faces and said, it's alright. Still, I wasn't convinced. He further said that "You can even replace one jack with only the other 3 supporting it".

I've since confirmed THAT part with other NW owners. But apparently, not something you want to do on a regular basis. So...I figure, if an aluminum framed camper can do that, why can't it just sit pretty supported by the jacks alone?

Either way, I guess I'm building a dolly now. This forum tends to make me paranoid.

joeshmoe wrote:
Okay, I'm gonna ask a stupid question....

What's wrong with parking it in the driveway, lowered with only the jacks supporting it? That's how mine is sitting and that's how i see dealers store them. Some campers seem to be on lots for months and even years on end

This.
I went as far as contacting the manufacturer (CampLite) of my TC to ask about storage on the jacks. They said there is no problem with doing this. They said lower it as much as possible, try to keep it on a level surface, and I'll be just fine.

Caveat: Maybe supporting an aluminum framed camper isn't as important as supporting a wood framed camper due to the increased rigidity of the aluminum. I can how long storage on the jacks could add stress points to the wood frame where the jacks are attached. However, I feel that today's campers are much more advanced than the TCs of the 80s, and are designed to stand up to the rigors of storage.

With that said, I have opted to store my camper in my shop supported on jack stands at each corner and 4x4 posts running side to side for the added stability. The camper doesn't move around nearly as much when we are walking in and out of it cleaning, packing, etc.

I store mine inside a 16,000 sq/ft warehouse wit 24' ceilings. plenty of space...

Here ya go. Nothing that hasn't already been suggested, but still worth reading:

Storing truck camper

I appreciate the knowledgeable response.