Immobile truck camper

[mgrady619]

I've read all of the "can a 1/2 ton carry a camper" conversations, no desire to poke that with a stick. I have a twist on the question:
Assume I get the camper into location, either empty and within weight rating, or renting a 3/4-full ton to get it there, then move into it as the increasingly common Silicone Valley streetside apartment, can I load it down at that point? Do the stilts, or whatever the proper lingo is, provide enough support to take the load off the axles? Obviously braking/handling are no longer a concern, but how about suspension, tires, axle?

Thanks in advance

[Grit_dog]

OP, take the free camper, sell it. Use the $ to buy a TT, proceed with the rest of your plan. Problem solved.
Or don't live there!
I wouldn't move to Seattle right now if you gave me a death threat or about double what I'm currently making. But we're here and the only hope is to gtfo in a few years while our house is still worth double what we bought it for.....

[burningman]

It’ll work. I’d add a set of helper springs just so it sits right and doesn’t look screwy

[Grit_dog]

work2much wrote:

mgrady619 wrote:
I've read all of the "can a 1/2 ton carry a camper" conversations, no desire to poke that with a stick. I have a twist on the question:
Assume I get the camper into location, either empty and within weight rating, or renting a 3/4-full ton to get it there, then move into it as the increasingly common Silicone Valley streetside apartment, can I load it down at that point? Do the stilts, or whatever the proper lingo is, provide enough support to take the load off the axles? Obviously braking/handling are no longer a concern, but how about suspension, tires, axle?

Thanks in advance

It sounds like there will be a truck under the camper one way or another? Truck axles/tires etc. are rated for driving where load stresses are substantially intensified. When the truck is parked you could substantially go over any GVWR/GAWR numbers without having to worry about damaging the truck. On a practical note though parking along a road where you may be required to move it would make sense to have a suitable truck to drive safely vs. being towed.

To me, it sounds like the OP has a 1/2 ton truck and is going to park the camper and live in it. Not pulling the truck under the camper every evening and sitting the camper down in the truck bed. Who'd do that daily?
OP, most newer campers can be used just fine off the truck. Worst case, lower down onto supports. Best case, just lower it enough so it doesn't wiggle much and you're good.

[mgrady619]

The camper is a Alpenlite Durango late model (looks like they stopped producing in 2001?) in good shape for $0. Sounds like the dry weight is still going to require I rent an enterprise truck to relocate it.

[RickW]

mgrady619 wrote:
... I would just do a standard shell but I have an offer on a free slide in camper from a wealthy relative.

What is the brand, size and weight of the free slide in truck camper?

Then we can advise if a half ton truck can be safely used for transport or stationary support.

[work2much]

mgrady619 wrote:
I've read all of the "can a 1/2 ton carry a camper" conversations, no desire to poke that with a stick. I have a twist on the question:
Assume I get the camper into location, either empty and within weight rating, or renting a 3/4-full ton to get it there, then move into it as the increasingly common Silicone Valley streetside apartment, can I load it down at that point? Do the stilts, or whatever the proper lingo is, provide enough support to take the load off the axles? Obviously braking/handling are no longer a concern, but how about suspension, tires, axle?

Thanks in advance

It sounds like there will be a truck under the camper one way or another? Truck axles/tires etc. are rated for driving where load stresses are substantially intensified. When the truck is parked you could substantially go over any GVWR/GAWR numbers without having to worry about damaging the truck. On a practical note though parking along a road where you may be required to move it would make sense to have a suitable truck to drive safely vs. being towed.

[DutchmenSport]

Saw two different truck campers at the state park we were at just this last week end. One was off the truck, standing alone, and family of 4 using it at the campsite.

Second one was strapped to a utility trailer, resting on the floor of the trailer, unhitched from the truck. Another family of 4 using it.

I would think, with any truck, regardless of size, you could lower the jacks to suspend the truck camper over the bed of the truck, or even just enough to reduce the weight in the bed of the truck, or perhaps to level the truck camper without removing it completely from the bed of the truck.

I don't think the OP was asking for a debate on "is this acceptable or permissible in my Home-owner-association community?". Rather, can it be done, ... say for example ... "at home" ... the answer is yes. I see it quite often at Indiana state parks where truck and truck camper have separated.

[Bedlam]

The jacks have sufficient capacity to hold you and the full camper up on their own. Typically you would lower the camper to ease the stress on the jacks and make access easier. Some people add support under the floor if the camper does not have a basement or if they are trying to minimize any movement while they are inside.

If you load the camper on a truck or trailer, you can lower the jacks to help stabilize the camper rather than have it move on the suspension and tires. Normally you would lift it just enough to slightly unload the truck's rear suspension but not enough that the camper would clear the bed. If the ground on which you have the camper set is uneven, you will want to remove the camper tie downs so you can level camper and let the truck only be semi-leveled.

In my area, campers must be screened from street view if kept on your property and no one is allowed to live in them unless your property is zoned for multi-tenant use.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Leaving it on stilts looks like pushing it even on the RV tolerant area of the Silicon Valley.

Most cities in Cali has 72-hour limit on RV parking and same is true for driveway, this one under HOA rules.

More prudent is to call the city and check HOA regs.

[jimh406]

Probably can buy a good trailer for cheaper and be able to move it with your 1/2 ton if needed. That’s likely going to be required to dump assuming you use shower/water/toilet. If you are using a casette and not the shower or water, it wouldn’t be required. I wouldn’t personally buy an RV that I can’t move. You could also put a truck camper on a trailer, but you have to make sure the trailer will hold the load.

Back to the original point, you can build supports out of plywood, etc to support the truck camper while off truck and just lower the jacks down to the supports. There are a few designs here if you do a search in the archives or a general web search.

[twodownzero]

The camper I used to have, even though it was supposed to be "light" would probably have pushed virtually any 1/2 ton truck to the bumpstops when fully loaded for a trip. I doubt it'd be dangerous but you'd definitely recognize that it was loaded like that. I wouldn't want to use the legs with the chains attached to the truck for fear of stressing the eye bolts, but if you did, you could raise it.

[jaycocreek]

I've read all of the "can a 1/2 ton carry a camper" conversations, no desire to poke that with a stick

I must of missed them..I have carried overhead truck campers on 1/2 ton trucks before,and it works just fine if you don't go to big..I had a brand new 1976 Chevy Scottsdale 1500 4X4 with a brand new Security 8ft overhead truck camper(Non-slide) that road and drove as good as any 3/4 ton with something like an AF-811 ever would...And my only addon was 2500# coil axle mount springs....About $15 back then...

Just one example of three, which was my favorite 1/2 ton with TC..

[valhalla360]

Assuming you have a 1/2 ton and it's legal to live there.

Yes, you could slide the truck under it to take up a big percentage of the weight with the legs holding the rest, so that it looks like the truck is holding it. Most can even be used with just the legs and no truck (that's you you typically see them shown at RV shows).

[Kayteg1]

The linked article talks about street parking, what is Police jurisdiction and whole California has a law forbidding street parking for longer than 72 hr.
Parking on driveway or yard is Building Department jurisdiction and different laws apply.
Some areas will apply 72 hr law to RV, (or boat) visible from the street, some will let you get away with it. The life truth is that BD will never send inspector unless neighbour complains.