How long can TC be on back of truck?

I extend the jacks to make the camper more stable when I go up on the roof to do maintenance. If I don't do this the camper rocks a bit and I feel more comfortable with it not rocking when I am up on top.

I added Atwood extensions to the feet of the front jacks so I can do this without needing any boards under them as my 4WD truck sits fairly high off the ground.

Mine goes on in May and unless the truck needs to go to the shop, it stays on until October or so.

I will add my .02 worth since I was once concerned about the same issue. Although my pop-up TC is quite a bit "lighter" than many models, I noticed that when it was on the truck fully loaded (an SD 250) the rear springs were flatter than I liked. I chose to add a set of Hellwig helper springs to assist with the load, especially since I am fond of traveling dirt roads that rarely if ever see any maintenance.

Not only did I see an improvement in the spring arch but I got considerably less sway while negotiating deeply rutted two tracks. Of course your mileage will vary and everyone's rig is different, but that my story and I'm sticking to it.

I guess I was dead wrong, too. I was thinking of a camper as a 'load' on a spring, just like valve springs. Valve springs will wear out with use, and the more the load on the valve spring (higher lift), the quicker they will wear out. That's why I felt a constant load will eventually weaken the metal of the truck springs. And that's why I was asking. But as previously said, in what time frame...

The springs will sag and not return to the original arc eventually if loaded or worked. The flexing back and forth will weaken the temper over time. I did not notice a change in ride height until I installed my lower StableLoads. I had to jack up the rear of the truck to get enough space to insert them between the spring pack and lower overload spring.

10.5 years so far... but I bought a truck that was built to haul a big camper... not one that had to be modified to haul it.

or... how long can it be in the truck?

ours is 11'11"... most in the bed, with 4' hanging over the rear bumper

dave17352 wrote:
I find this a interesting thread. I am interested in the same thing. I take the weight off if for more than a few days of just sitting. I would think it would make a difference but apparently I am dead wrong. I find this post very telling of just how wrong I must be.

bka0721 wrote:
I put my Lance 1191 on my Ford truck in the spring of 2009 and it has never been off of it since then, going on 5 years now. I made measurements at the time of the install and a month ago and the change in deflection of the suspension is unchanged.

I would be more concerned about age of your tires and how often you cycle them (use them enough to excite the oils within the tire). As stated before, your tires will wear out before the tread or suspension, in most cases.

b

Can someone explain why it doesn't wear out the suspension. I have seen pickups over the years where the suspension is worn out.

Design fatigue.

Anything will deteriorate, over time. That is why a certain amount of design fatigue is planned into anything. We know that a mountain overhang will collapse or an Arch in Arches National Park will fall, but in what life time or what period of time. No one knows for certain. We often think something, due to our own experiences, knowledge of a situation or what is told to us. Not always, is this true, due to other factors. But, if one designs something within certain parameters and the outside factors, built into a design is held, chances are there will be success. Thus the reason we have bridges, skyscrapers and Sky Cranes, it all comes down to tolerances. If you live within the prescribed tolerances you should be able to walk out onto the Skybridge and not fall into the Grand Canyon, for the foreseeable future, even though your Eyes, your Brain, your Wife are all saying you are going to DIE if you walk out there on that dang thing.
The biggest misconception in Truck campers is; The Truck Camper will tip over, when you climb into the Cabover when it is sitting on the ground. No matter how many people think, say, or has a distant relative that tells them otherwise, they will not believe you when you tell them; “it’s not gonna tip over’.”

I purchased and equipped my truck to support my Camper and all the bells and whistles I can pile onto it. The only issue that I have had is with the Tires. Even though the numbers say they are fine, my eyes, my brain and people walking up to me and pointing; “Hey, your tire is going flat.” So I made a change because my “Other Factors” told me I should. If you feel comfortable in talking off the camper every 14.8 hours, go right ahead. Who is going to change your mind. You should always choose what best suits you, not what someone has told you on the internet, even though you and I both know; Anything you read on the internet is true!

b

dave17352 wrote:

Can someone explain why it doesn't wear out the suspension. I have seen pickups over the years where the suspension is worn out.

The shock absorbers wear out.

The springs don't wear out but they can be bent out of shape when overloaded.

I find this a interesting thread. I am interested in the same thing. I take the weight off if for more than a few days of just sitting. I would think it would make a difference but apparently I am dead wrong. I find this post very telling of just how wrong I must be.

bka0721 wrote:
I put my Lance 1191 on my Ford truck in the spring of 2009 and it has never been off of it since then, going on 5 years now. I made measurements at the time of the install and a month ago and the change in deflection of the suspension is unchanged.

I would be more concerned about age of your tires and how often you cycle them (use them enough to excite the oils within the tire). As stated before, your tires will wear out before the tread or suspension, in most cases.

b

Can someone explain why it doesn't wear out the suspension. I have seen pickups over the years where the suspension is worn out.

I put my Lance 1191 on my Ford truck in the spring of 2009 and it has never been off of it since then, going on 5 years now. I made measurements at the time of the install and a month ago and the change in deflection of the suspension is unchanged.

I would be more concerned about age of your tires and how often you cycle them (use them enough to excite the oils within the tire). As stated before, your tires will wear out before the tread or suspension, in most cases.

b