Stabilizing Truck Camper

[turtles]

Hello! I am new here and to Truck Camping.
We bought a Bigfoot camper that will be loaded on a GMC 2500 8' bed. My awesome hubby made an overbuilt wooden stabilizer for when the truck is not in use which is great but do we need something under it when we are out on the road when at campgrounds? The idea is to leave the camper behind at the campsite while we go exploring.
THANKS for any advice you can send my way!

[stevenal]

If your 'foot is like mine, it has a Happijac jack system. See http://happijac.com/images/pdfs/4150and45-4600.pdf step 6 under unloading.

[a_flyfisher]

Boatycall wrote:
You need these-- Torklift Wobble Stoppers.

I have a VERY heavy camper with two slides, these things made a HUGE difference, as good as having the camper on sawhorses. They permanently attach to the camper's front jacks so there is no storage taken up to store them.

How do these wobble stoppers attach to the camper - do you need to drill into the camper to attach a bracket that the wobble stopper holds onto?

[TxGearhead]

Go to Bigfootrv.com, then owners center "button" at top center, then owners manuals on the left side. I doubt you will ever find an owners manual for your year. Bigfoot "reorganized" with new owners in 2007??. They are showing a 2011-2016 manual available for download. Storage support should be the same. It's a very simple diagram, a sheet of plywood, three 4x4's, and concrete blocks.

[deserteagle56]

turtles wrote:
Thanks so much for the feedback! Coming across the owner's manual for a 1993 Bigfoot 2500 is kinda hard. But getting it as low as the jacks go is the take away from the discussion. Thanks Boatycall for the Wobble Stopper link. We'll check it out. THANKS again!

My Bigfoot 2500 is a 1996. Not sure how much difference there might be between a 1993 and a 1996 - but I do have the owner's manual for mine. I could scan and email you a copy if you are interested.

[turtles]

Thanks so much for the feedback! Coming across the owner's manual for a 1993 Bigfoot 2500 is kinda hard. But getting it as low as the jacks go is the take away from the discussion. Thanks Boatycall for the Wobble Stopper link. We'll check it out. THANKS again!

[Boatycall]

You need these-- Torklift Wobble Stoppers.

I have a VERY heavy camper with two slides, these things made a HUGE difference, as good as having the camper on sawhorses. They permanently attach to the camper's front jacks so there is no storage taken up to store them.

[TxGearhead]

Even though your hubby has already built something, check the Bigfoot owners manual for the specific way they want the camper stored when off the truck for an extended period of time. There are certain areas of the bottom of the camper they want supported.
I just drive around wherever I want with the camper. That's the beauty of it.

[GoinThisAway]

What year and model is your Bigfoot, turtles? If its a 2500 like mine you can use it off the truck. I've camped in mine for weeks at a time off the camper with no problem. It's a basement model and the tanks are suspended from the floor. Just lower it as far down as the jacks allow. If its a 1500 model or an older camper, I'm sure someone familiar with it will chime in.

[WNYBob]

I used 4 Al screw jacks to set the TC on as well as snuggling up the TC corner jacks. Worked great, but I didn't have power jacks and it took forever!

[Reddog1]

Welcome to the forum. You may find what you are looking for in the Truck Camper University-Projects/Repairs/Replacements & Tips

thread. I also suggest using the search feature. Many time you will find posts that are exactly what you are looking for.

Wayne
Moderator

[MKish]

Some campers are made to be used off the truck without additional support. You just lower the jacks as far as you can and keep it level. It depends on the camper, so check the manual if you have one.

(That said, I like to have my refrigerator and bathroom when I go exploring--it's one reason I'm fond of the TC!)