Is there an easy way to align the front of the camper?

[bkenobi]

I've had my TC for a few months now and am getting better with load times. I found that if I get it close at the back, I can center it perfectly by having someone push on the side in the last inch of lowering it. An even easier way is to use 2 air bags (the type used on car doors for lock outs) between the TC side and the rail.

The part I'm still struggling with is nailing the front spacing (side to side). I can get within a couple inches, but it seems like there should be some method to adjust that last little bit. Anyone have recommendations?

[Freep]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Looking at the laser method I can see it works well IF:
-you have long pad to straight the truck at the distance
-pad if flat

You are correct. At home I don't have a flat, long pad. I use the laser to help me get into position initially and I get the truck bed under the overcab before I raise the jacks to full height. I usually have to make slight adjustments while I'm under the camper. Once the jacks are up I look down the rail of the bed on the driver side while I'm backing in. Stopping and getting out along the way to check the clearances.

You can move around a bit if you turn your wheels to their max and then move forward or backward a few inches.

The ultimate would be to have a huge garage and casters under the jacks. Then I could just push the camper onto the truck.

[bkenobi]

I originally intended to put the camper next to my house lined up with it. The issue was that there is a planter 1.5x the length of the truck in front. In order to put it there in that angle, I would have to cut really hard leaving no room to line it up. Instead, I have it angled so the back end is in the same spot but it points to the edge of the planter. It looks kinda dumb, but until I trust my close loading, I'm NOT unloading there! I am either removing the planter or? At some point, I want to put up a metal hoop structure to park under. I'm not doing that till I am better at loading and know my selected location will work.

[Kayteg1]

Looking at the laser method I can see it works well IF:
-you have long pad to straight the truck at the distance
-pad if flat
-you don't have too bright sun.
But looking at the end, they install camera at low point in rear truck window.
I do have the factory camera on top of the window, what is basically unusable. I can only see in it if the camper is high enough to clear truck floor.
Now mowing that camera to the bottom of the window would make it much more useable.
Anybody tried that?
On the 2nd tough the factory camera has very wide angle what doesn't show well with distance, so maybe adding aftermarket would be better idea.
Than you can make idle pointer few inches in front of the camera to line up with dark dots on the camper?

[bkenobi]

I have more room on mine because I'm SRW. But that tolerance disappears when I get to the last foot or so. Like I said, I've got around 3/4" total gap to work with between the TC side and vertical bed rails. And there's no way to fix the front misalignment other than starting over once the back is in. Practice will help and gimmicks will come and go. But if I can use a gimmick alignment system to improve the practice, that would also reduce stress and make it more likely to be used for a quick weekend trip.

I'm getting better each time. I'm hoping one of these techniques will help me take a big step further even if it isn't used in a year or two due to more practice.

[Freep]

languiduck wrote:
It has always been interesting to me how this task of backing under the camper is very stressful for some folks, and that this simple method escapes them. Just back up so you have the same distance between the truck and the jacks showing in the mirrors. Simple. If you do this, you don't need any kind of centering device or laser beams, or a helper. I don't believe I've had to readjust more than 2 or 3 times in my life. It's just a load you're placing in the bed of your truck, nothing more, nothing less.

If I didn't have such tight clearances it would be a lot easier. With the dually and a lance 992, there is no room for error.

[Freep]

work2much wrote:
I came across this video a while back. It looks like a bit of work to set up, but if you were in the habit of dropping the camper often it could be a way to go. I liked the ingenuity.

Our new truck has a back up camera for the bed which makes loading pretty easy.

Laser guide

I use this method. It's difficult to do in full sunlight. Instead of a permanent mount for the laser in the cab, I glued an old hard drive magnet to the laser, put some felt on the bottom and I just stick it to the top of the cab, align the laser with reflective tape that I have stuck and marked on the bed.

The biggest problem is remembering to fetch the laser when I'm done.


The other thing I do is align the truck before I raise the jacks. It's easier to see the reflective tape on the TC and it's easier on my nerves.

[Kayteg1]

SidecarFlip wrote:
......Women are much better at lining things up anyways.

I know what you mean

[SidecarFlip]

joeshmoe wrote:
Try not to overthink this. It just takes time and Practice.

Why it's best to have the wife do it......Women are much better at lining things up anyways.

[SidecarFlip]

bkenobi wrote:
Must not be a heavy camper. My 10-2NL is supposed to be light, but the scales say a different story. I can't move mine on gravel.

Cannot even move my piddly pup up like that and it's on a power trowled concrete pad.

Mine weighs a ton which is a lightweight compared to most owners on here....lol

[SidecarFlip]

Kayteg1 wrote:
One thing to remember
YOU CAN'T PUSH THE CAMPER ON ITS JACKS WITH YOUR PICKUP.
My dually rolls on flat on idle and when it stops - I know it hit something.
I don't try to gas it.

You can but BAD things happen real fast.....:h

I have my wife stand next to the outfit and tell me when I'm 'there'....lol

[bkenobi]

I originally thought that I could get air bags for the front and move it the same way. But there's too big a gap and the weight is all at the front (seems anyway).

[bkenobi]

Must not be a heavy camper. My 10-2NL is supposed to be light, but the scales say a different story. I can't move mine on gravel.

[CptnBG]

I back under the camper by sight within a few inches of the camper touching the cab. Lower camper to almost touching. If "fine tuning" is needed I tap the jacks near the bottom toward whichever side is needed. Tap one side an inch or so then go to the other side and tap. Surprising how much you can move the camper like this, of course the jack pads need to be on a smooth surface.

[Kayteg1]

One thing to remember
YOU CAN'T PUSH THE CAMPER ON ITS JACKS WITH YOUR PICKUP.
My dually rolls on flat on idle and when it stops - I know it hit something.
I don't try to gas it.

[joeshmoe]

Try not to overthink this. It just takes time and Practice.