I absolutely hate being involved in taking off and putting on our "new to us TC". I know that the bit of swaying when taking it off and on is normal, but it stresses me out. I am new at this of course and used to towing a TT... Will I ever get used to this? Or should I just get used to idea of having to have a shot and a beer once the camper is successfully placed on the truck and/or bzck on it's wooden nest.

I think you should get use to having a shot and a beer!! Makes me nervous too seeing it way up in the air like that.

I'll take the shots... no excuse needed. Besides, lets be honest; what's the worse that can happen? It falls? We're not saving the world here. It just makes a good story for later.Things move. Ever been standing on a bridge, as in a really tall over pass, when trucks are driving over at full speed? Thing move, and it's ok. You'll get use to what is 'normal' and go with it. You no doubt did the same with a trailer the first time you pulled it. If you're like most, after awhile you never even gave it a second thought. All in time. Crown helps of course... :)

Deb, the jacks that were used on your Amerigo that mount under the wings aren't known for being the most stable. The design of your camper doesn't lend itself to installing corner jacks like most have today, so you might want to consider a Stable Lift system. My first truck camper had jacks like yours and I hated them.:):)

When I bought my TC a couple of months ago I helped the seller load it on my pickup, He did not even tighten the bolts on the jacks more than finger tight after swinging them down, that plus them being cranked up to their highest because of his driveway... and because a couple of the mounting points were rotten made it unusually unstable. When I got it home and did my first unload I tightened the bolts down - big improvement - but then for my peace of mind, after having jacked it up a couple of inches from the truck bed, I grabbed the TC and pushed and pulled at it to see if it really was dangerous (figuring if it really was unstable it would just fall down on the truck). I moves around but it is basically pretty stable. Since than I work carefully but with the confidence that it isn't going to just dive off the jacks all by itself. My biggest fear is of pushing it off the jacks, by hitting a jack with the truck or not having jacked it up enough... so like I said, very carefully.

NRALIFR wrote:... you might want to consider a Stable Lift system. My first truck camper had jacks like yours and I hated them.:):)I have a 1988 Bigfoot 11.5 ft TC that had hydraulic jacks. Give it a go with rain and the wind blowing. About the fourth time my wife saw me loading the TC with the hydraulic jacks, running to each corner to raise or lower a jack, she said get rid of the TC or get a Stable Lift jack system. I told her I was not going to spend $2,500 for jacks to put on a $1,000 TC. Well, I can say with all honesty, the Stable Lift works great. I have the shot (or two) and a beer (or 6) just cause the lift is so great. There are other advantages to the lift, but I do not want to hijack your thread.Wayne

TC sways jacking up and down. will I ever get used to this?

rkortes
Explorer
May 02, 2014
I never did get used to it even with electric jacks. Was one (of many) reasons I went to a fifth wheel. That was always freaky to me.
Wagonqueen_Truc
Explorer
May 02, 2014
cool. THANKS
dadwolf2
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Wagonqueen Truckster wrote:
1971amerigo wrote:
Good morning Truckster
No different here and I still have the original 3 jacks from 1971.
What I did was I made up a set of the plywood x supports that are as tall as the truck bed. Reinforced them by adding vertical 2x6 to all the edges.
Now when I have to take the camper off the truck it is just a matter of raising it 3 inches to get if off the truck and lowering 2 inches onto the supports

Yea... we have a hug box (nest) my hubby constructed for the renovation. It is almost as high as the truck bed, but the problem is it weighs a ton. Hard for the 2 of us to slide it in and out from under the camper. Do you think there are coaster wheels strong enough to hold the weight of the TC?

Check out: www.castercity.com There are a lot of caster wheels strong enough. Not to long ago two of our TC'ers showed us pictures of excellent home built dollies that carry the weight of the entire TC.
1971amerigo
Explorer
May 02, 2014
The plywood x braces can be moved by one person
I made 1 for the front and 1 for the rear
Wagonqueen_Truc
Explorer
May 02, 2014
1971amerigo wrote:
Good morning Truckster
No different here and I still have the original 3 jacks from 1971.
What I did was I made up a set of the plywood x supports that are as tall as the truck bed. Reinforced them by adding vertical 2x6 to all the edges.
Now when I have to take the camper off the truck it is just a matter of raising it 3 inches to get if off the truck and lowering 2 inches onto the supports

Yea... we have a hug box (nest) my hubby constructed for the renovation. It is almost as high as the truck bed, but the problem is it weighs a ton. Hard for the 2 of us to slide it in and out from under the camper. Do you think there are coaster wheels strong enough to hold the weight of the TC?
Jfet
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Ours doesn't sway much at all but I have not had it up as high as truck level yet. It could be the extra wide stance (about 9 feet and 11 feet between the jacks.) I am guessing most truck campers have the jacks quite a bit closer together.
1971amerigo
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Good morning Truckster
No different here and I still have the original 3 jacks from 1971.
What I did was I made up a set of the plywood x supports that are as tall as the truck bed. Reinforced them by adding vertical 2x6 to all the edges.
Now when I have to take the camper off the truck it is just a matter of raising it 3 inches to get if off the truck and lowering 2 inches onto the supports
fatmanobx
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Increase your insurance coverage! That will do more for you than anything...
burningman
Explorer II
May 02, 2014
Often for peace of mind I run ratchet straps to trees (or whatever else) to keep my camper from being able to fall sideways wben I'm jacking it up. I've had various campers for about 25 years now and have never liked or gotten used to the mount/dismount process.
I'd love a Stable-Lift but they just cost too much. I know I'd use my camper a lot more if I had one though!

I should build one... hmmmm.... I do have a bunch of steel pipe left over from another project...
Wagonqueen_Truc
Explorer
May 02, 2014
oh and BTW, a good "used" stable lift may be in my near future or, as I suggested to hubby, buy a new truck for our business and make the white one the "engine" so to speak, for our motorhome TC and keep the camper permanently in the bed.

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TC sways jacking up and down. will I ever get used to this?

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