Loading camper in wind....

[COBOZ]

Any advice or issues? Still researching the purchase of a TC,but one thing I was thinking about..what happens when you drop the TC at campsite, then when you ready to go..it's pretty windy out. Putting a 3K lb camper 4 foot in the air doesn't sound like fun.

[COBOZ]

No it's not..for the most part it is fine...but there are those times when you wake up and its windy...thats all my post was about....can you load in the wind...or is it more mental that the camper is swaying while in the air. I currently have a popup slide in I use for elk camp that I can load and unload in 10 minutes, never have done it in strong wind....but I'm talking about going to a 3K plus daddy

[COBOZ]

mkirsch wrote:

COBOZ wrote:
The boat ramps here are mad houses..you have to pull off get the boat ready, then go get in line, sometimes a 1/4 mile..to get inspected at the very top..then do down pretty steep ones for awhile, turn around..then back up. Then we launch 2 - 3 times during a weekend at the lake. My whole point behind going to a TC is to drop it to launch a boat and keep my campsite setup, seems like that isn't a wise move...so I might just stay as is and keep the 5th wheel. Something more to think on. Thanks for all the advice.

Your concerns and hang-ups are mostly in your mind. If you load and unload enough it will become routine, and as far as the wind goes... Is it REALLY that windy where you camp?

[RickW]

You can also offer your camping neighbor $20 to temporarily park his motorhome upwind and next to you while you load/unload. :B

[mkirsch]

COBOZ wrote:
The boat ramps here are mad houses..you have to pull off get the boat ready, then go get in line, sometimes a 1/4 mile..to get inspected at the very top..then do down pretty steep ones for awhile, turn around..then back up. Then we launch 2 - 3 times during a weekend at the lake. My whole point behind going to a TC is to drop it to launch a boat and keep my campsite setup, seems like that isn't a wise move...so I might just stay as is and keep the 5th wheel. Something more to think on. Thanks for all the advice.

Your concerns and hang-ups are mostly in your mind. If you load and unload enough it will become routine, and as far as the wind goes... Is it REALLY that windy where you camp?

[Super_Dave]

See my signature, camper comes off every trip for the last 9 years and never had a problem. It seems that by nature, camping in places that we like to fish can get very, very windy. Be smart about it and you will do fine. Even on extremely windy days, there tends to be a point where there is at least a minor break. i.e. that 25 drops to 15.

[COBOZ]

The boat ramps here are mad houses..you have to pull off get the boat ready, then go get in line, sometimes a 1/4 mile..to get inspected at the very top..then do down pretty steep ones for awhile, turn around..then back up. Then we launch 2 - 3 times during a weekend at the lake. My whole point behind going to a TC is to drop it to launch a boat and keep my campsite setup, seems like that isn't a wise move...so I might just stay as is and keep the 5th wheel. Something more to think on. Thanks for all the advice.

[towpro]

how about a really good backup camera on top of camper roof?

[jefe_4x4]

Cobos,
If backing down a boat ramp is the only reason you want the camper off, do yourself a favor and leave it on. And leave the jacks at home. Of course, I am the self-proclaimed "King of Jacks Off" so take it with a grain of salt. Install a front class III hitch on the truck and carefully reattach the trailer to the front. Turn the trailer around while in the holding area and make the switch. You can see exactly what you are doing, since its a front row seat, and it is easy and slick to marshall the trailer down the ramp. If you have 2WD, the weight of the TC acts as a traction enhancer while backing up the ramp. Be sure to use a spotter when coming back up the ramp to the flat. Pre position the tongue height to just clears the front ball. You will surprised how easy this is, once you have a little practice. The only caveat is to have a couple chocks for the trailer wheels while it's sitting there on its tongue wheel waiting up on the flat for the aft to fore switch. Most boat ramp parking areas are completely flat, for a reason, but I like the belt and suspenders aspect of chocks.
This will save you a lot worry about wind; disconnecting the power and tie downs; kids playing under the off-loaded TC; and re-loading the TC.
jefe

[COBOZ]

Wow..you must be so fortunate to live in a place where the weather doesn't change on a dime. I live where it can be calm and (without warning) windy...and I didn't say "gale zone". This question would also apply at home, you are planning a camping trip, wake up to load the camper and its windy..and its windy for the next couple days. Do you postpone everything since its windy??? and I'm talking 10 - 20 mph..maybe 25.....not "gale force". Thanks.

[noteven]

Disconnect them one end at a time as you gently reload.
Then ask a passer by for a swift kick in your ass for unloading a camper in a gale zone in the first place.

[Jfet]

Our flatbed camper is a beast when it is up in the air. At 4500 pounds or so it would squish you flat as a pancake. I trust the mounts we made completely but since I didn't build the jacks I have to hope Reico knew what they were doing.

I read these occasional jack failure stories and shudder.

[towpro]

jmckelvy wrote:

billtex wrote:
Execute half of the the camper loading from the up wind side, then walk around the other side and load the rest from the down wind side.
Perfect.

:h

Perhaps I need another cup of coffee?

how about always park with nose into the wind? kind of like a boat?

[jmckelvy]

billtex wrote:
Execute half of the the camper loading from the up wind side, then walk around the other side and load the rest from the down wind side.
Perfect.

:h

Perhaps I need another cup of coffee?

[mkirsch]

Reddog1 wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
Look at TorkLift Wobblestoppers

How can these help unloading or loading in the wind?

They certainly would make loading a non-issue. Back into them, knock the camper over, problem solved.