One solution to using the Arctic Fox off truck
In the summer, we fish and ride bikes. Fishing for us is with a boat, and we nary ever moor the boat. It's even common for us to change lakes during the day, so we're leaving the camp site in the AM, return for lunch maybe (or nap....) and then head out again. Doesn't matter, no agenda ever, but keeping it easy is key to us.
Skip the debates of whether one should, could or won't use their camper off truck. And skip the long beat up debate about AF's off the camper. We do this for two reasons; manual says to and the end result is a much more stable and comfortable camper to us (when off the truck).
Did this last year, just getting around to writing something up.
Whatever system I came up with, it needed to be simple, easily adjustable, and easy to carry. I realize that most truck campers have a serious storage issue. I can't answer that, as everything is a compromise. To load this in the camper/truck would take away room for something else or be to big a hassle for some. But it works for us.
The stands are set to easily adjust. Within seconds. No, they aren't powder coated, waxed or X-lined. In fact, I think the coil rod still has some manufacturing oil in some areas. The wood bases are way to big for what's needed and I'm probably going to cut them down a couple of inches in each direction. But it was easier for me to start with something a bit larger and adjust down. The size was not for bearing; it was for keeping the units vertical during set up.
Started with a small plate and piece of pipe. A small weld and some holes for bolts.
Couple of temp screws to lock it in place;
And some small through bolts for the finish;
The other half is a piece of coil rod welded onto another plate, and then a couple of wings welded on;
This is how they go together. Rocket science it ain't;
And, voila`;
Set up is easy. When we get to our site, I dump the boat, back in, dump the camper and start to lower it. I lower it all the way to the level we want it, then quickly level it up. While I'm holding that button getting the thing to lower, I'm pulling the 4x's I carry out, spread out the base plates and get the coil rods out. The base plates we carry on the flatbed outside under the wings. The 4x4's carry along side the boxes on one side (4 @ 5') and the coil rod tops carry inside one of the boxes. I easily have those items out, three sets on each side, before the camper has gotten down to the ground.
Once I get the camper close enough to level for us, we put the 4x's in the saddles under the camper.
With a quick twist, we turn each nut until the 4x is at the base of the camper. There is not measuring, no guessing. Just hand twist the nut. Coil rod is quick; one could spin the nut from one end to the other in a few seconds.
This picture is exaggerated for the purpose of the posting;
And, it's on;
At a site, the way it should be;
I've got another thread "Linky to edge protection"(Link to be here when done) on what we did to ease the loading while protecting the camper. No doubt the reason many don't take the camper on and off is because of the reloading time. We worked on that too, and it goes hand in hand with this set-up.
If we're staying more than one night, and fishing, the camper comes off. No questions, it's that easy.
When we're on the bikes or sleds, it doesn't matter as we ride from the site. Camper stays on the truck. Which is next on my list I think. HWH or Bigfoot..????
Thought for the day: Are you only grateful for a job when you don't have one?
Skip the debates of whether one should, could or won't use their camper off truck. And skip the long beat up debate about AF's off the camper. We do this for two reasons; manual says to and the end result is a much more stable and comfortable camper to us (when off the truck).
Did this last year, just getting around to writing something up.
Whatever system I came up with, it needed to be simple, easily adjustable, and easy to carry. I realize that most truck campers have a serious storage issue. I can't answer that, as everything is a compromise. To load this in the camper/truck would take away room for something else or be to big a hassle for some. But it works for us.
The stands are set to easily adjust. Within seconds. No, they aren't powder coated, waxed or X-lined. In fact, I think the coil rod still has some manufacturing oil in some areas. The wood bases are way to big for what's needed and I'm probably going to cut them down a couple of inches in each direction. But it was easier for me to start with something a bit larger and adjust down. The size was not for bearing; it was for keeping the units vertical during set up.
Started with a small plate and piece of pipe. A small weld and some holes for bolts.
Couple of temp screws to lock it in place;
And some small through bolts for the finish;
The other half is a piece of coil rod welded onto another plate, and then a couple of wings welded on;
This is how they go together. Rocket science it ain't;
And, voila`;
Set up is easy. When we get to our site, I dump the boat, back in, dump the camper and start to lower it. I lower it all the way to the level we want it, then quickly level it up. While I'm holding that button getting the thing to lower, I'm pulling the 4x's I carry out, spread out the base plates and get the coil rods out. The base plates we carry on the flatbed outside under the wings. The 4x4's carry along side the boxes on one side (4 @ 5') and the coil rod tops carry inside one of the boxes. I easily have those items out, three sets on each side, before the camper has gotten down to the ground.
Once I get the camper close enough to level for us, we put the 4x's in the saddles under the camper.
With a quick twist, we turn each nut until the 4x is at the base of the camper. There is not measuring, no guessing. Just hand twist the nut. Coil rod is quick; one could spin the nut from one end to the other in a few seconds.
This picture is exaggerated for the purpose of the posting;
And, it's on;
At a site, the way it should be;
I've got another thread "Linky to edge protection"(Link to be here when done) on what we did to ease the loading while protecting the camper. No doubt the reason many don't take the camper on and off is because of the reloading time. We worked on that too, and it goes hand in hand with this set-up.
If we're staying more than one night, and fishing, the camper comes off. No questions, it's that easy.
When we're on the bikes or sleds, it doesn't matter as we ride from the site. Camper stays on the truck. Which is next on my list I think. HWH or Bigfoot..????
Thought for the day: Are you only grateful for a job when you don't have one?
