This all happened on a Wednesday before my first camping trip.
Well, I put a flat bed on my pickup. Before the flat bed, the camper just barely went higher then the truck. After, I needed about 3 inches.
I had the idea that all I had to do was put some 4x4's under the feet and it'll work out fine (Had done this with a smaller camper I had).
Wrong, the back leg kicked and over it went. Luckily I had the truck under the front for support, which kept it from toppling even worse, and even more luckily I had just rebuilt the read portion this spring, adding full 2x6 framing in the rear floor.
No damage to the camper framing. Some light aluminum bending, but otherwise just destroyed my jack plates and three jacks.
I put the last picture up on facebook, and a buddy stopped by. We used boat jacks and a floor jack to raise the camper. When done with that, he helped me put some galvy pipe into the jacks and extended the jacks high enough to load onto the truck. This is something I should have done first... I had done the same thing for my last camper and I knew better.
Thankfully I had some steel angle thick enough to act as a jack plate, and my friend Dion had just given me some old camper jacks he had lying around. By Friday afternoon, I was on the beach!
Its been a great summer on the beach, even if I am very leery about loading the damned camper now.
Well, I put a flat bed on my pickup. Before the flat bed, the camper just barely went higher then the truck. After, I needed about 3 inches.
I had the idea that all I had to do was put some 4x4's under the feet and it'll work out fine (Had done this with a smaller camper I had).
Wrong, the back leg kicked and over it went. Luckily I had the truck under the front for support, which kept it from toppling even worse, and even more luckily I had just rebuilt the read portion this spring, adding full 2x6 framing in the rear floor.
No damage to the camper framing. Some light aluminum bending, but otherwise just destroyed my jack plates and three jacks.
I put the last picture up on facebook, and a buddy stopped by. We used boat jacks and a floor jack to raise the camper. When done with that, he helped me put some galvy pipe into the jacks and extended the jacks high enough to load onto the truck. This is something I should have done first... I had done the same thing for my last camper and I knew better.
Thankfully I had some steel angle thick enough to act as a jack plate, and my friend Dion had just given me some old camper jacks he had lying around. By Friday afternoon, I was on the beach!
Its been a great summer on the beach, even if I am very leery about loading the damned camper now.
Thanks for all the feedback on the flat bed. Its cost 2500 and I bought it locally in Ma. Cost less than fixing the original bed that i smashed up (Backed into a tree trying to avoid a head on while pushing snow. Second time I would have had the bed side replaced) I absolutely love it! Apart from using it with the truck camper, I do light hauling and trash removal for extra money and its perfect. It also holds a small flotilla
Crossroad Trailer Website
Ive been looking for corner jacks, but they are few and far between here. Used, good condition Truck campers are kind of rare in the Northeast and parts sell quick. I was lucky to have access to extra jacks. Im not sure if anyone noticed, but when I re jiggered everything I added a 2x8 along the bottom side plates for more rigidity and it will serve as part of the framing for under cabinets, and I added a fourth Jack. Having only three was why the camper toppled (Aside from my stupidity anyways)
Crossroad Trailer Website
Ive been looking for corner jacks, but they are few and far between here. Used, good condition Truck campers are kind of rare in the Northeast and parts sell quick. I was lucky to have access to extra jacks. Im not sure if anyone noticed, but when I re jiggered everything I added a 2x8 along the bottom side plates for more rigidity and it will serve as part of the framing for under cabinets, and I added a fourth Jack. Having only three was why the camper toppled (Aside from my stupidity anyways)
I would really like the idea of using the flat truck bed. This sure looks like you can gain some precious storage area. I always thought I would get a Truck Camper but storage space was always a killer for me. I would definitely be pulling a utility trailer behind the truck camper.
I'm guessing you were not able to use the standard TC side jacks - perhaps the flat bed gets in the way... These would allow you to just back under it with the truck bed and then let down the jacks????
Would have been a piece of cake using these four TC jacks like shown in these two google photo...
Roy Ken
I'm guessing you were not able to use the standard TC side jacks - perhaps the flat bed gets in the way... These would allow you to just back under it with the truck bed and then let down the jacks????
Would have been a piece of cake using these four TC jacks like shown in these two google photo...
Roy Ken
