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Truck camper off truck on slope

dennych1
Explorer
Explorer
My driveway has an incline. Driveway is about 30 ft long and goes up about 2.5 ft. High at the top. Do you guys thing it would be OK to take camper off truck or is it to much of a slope.
Thanks to all the experienced people
Dennis
23 REPLIES 23

3_tons
Explorer III
Explorer III
If you try it on the slope, block up the front jacks a couple inches...When you pull the truck away, pay close attention to the traveling arc of the beds rear trailing edge - this arc will require the camperโ€™s rear jacks to be a bit higher than what first appears necessary...

Congrats,

3 tons

dennych1
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks everyone. I am picking up 2010 arctic fox 990 from Truck Camper Warehouse March 23. I heard many good reviews about Bill and Ryan there. This is first truck camper. I also have a 36 ft Big Horn Fiver.
Thanks
Dennis

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Explorer II
The camper might not care about the slope, once lifted and horizontal pads don't put stress on the footing, but as AnEv942 pictured, loading it on the truck, where rear sits on the bed while front is still several inches above will always be challenge.
When making "headache wall" behind cabin can be one of the options, I would rather think about dropping the camper with big gap behind the cabin and re position it later on flat street.

Oldtymeflyr
Explorer
Explorer
This is not a big problem. The camper does not know it is on an incline. The camper's weight is pulling it to the center of the earth, not down the slope.

Shims under the front of the jack legs will help some because the jacks will want to twist forward. A better solution may be just some tapered jack pads.

The real problem with a camper is side slopes, then things get complicated in loading and unloading.

Good luck.

Rick

Reality_Check
Nomad II
Nomad II
I'm with Grit dog on this..

I just don't see the big deal. 1:12 is pretty tame. Ideal? most of life isn't.
'16 F550 CC, 4x4 with Link Ultraride air suspension, '18 AF 1150. Just so we can play with our snowmobiles, dirt bikes and fishing boat. And new 20' tag along...kayaks, bikes, mc's and extra water and food!!

dhull
Explorer II
Explorer II


I was forced to use this pad in Tennessee which has a "slight" incline after I declined the other "slight" incline site I'd booked. No way I was trying the booked one. Hey it's Tennessee.
No way I'd have tried the second one without our hosspads. They helped by allowing jack feet to dig into the rubber more on the uphill side and lock them down. It didn't cut into them but I'm sure would if tilted enough.

I have the same situaton at home with uphill slope but since I have a gravel drive i can dig out a layer of gravel for hosspads to lie horizontal, so no problem as long as front of camper is kept higher than the rear. I wish driveway was flat! What we need are ball & socket joints against the ground!
As long as it's all the same slope for the length you need for the whole process not that big of deal to loud/unload for our Wolf Creek. My drive drops about 20" in 30 feet I have.

KD4UPL
Explorer
Explorer
I've unloaded on flatter surfaces and didn't like the experience. I wouldn't even try it on that slope. I'm not saying it's not possible just that in my experience I'd never want to do it.

burningman
Explorer II
Explorer II
If thatโ€™s where you want to park, you should investigate doing what everyone ought to do anyway.
Throw those spindly junk corner jacks in the scrap heap and put on a Stabil-Lift.
Problem solved, and now itโ€™s about 400% easier to load and unload.
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AnEv942
Nomad
Nomad
Wow- Now I know Im a woos, I wouldn't even consider let alone attempt.
Our jacks are 10 1/2' apart, feet are ร˜5 1/2". If I were able to get camper up, jacks vertical, feet would be 1/2" off at front edge, Which wouldn't happen, something would yield.

The entire camper would have to be raised approx. 10 1/2" at front jacks just to get level before lifting. Add another 2" to raise above rear of bed that's almost 48"...(from the 36" truck bed height). Fairly sure extended height would be beyond our jacks travel. But if it cleared, setting at that height at that angle, doubt I could get the truck out from under fast enough. Getting back on truck seems might be even more entertaining.

Just to visualize
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Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
You all realize this is the same slope as, say, an ADA compliant sidewalk ramp from the sidewalk to the street, right? Or just a bit steeper than a typical 6% mountain freeway grade.
Not ideal, but not a problem in and of itself.
I would suggest the OP make sure of his driveway grade though.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Explorer II
dennych1 wrote:
The camper is a arctic fox 990.

No. Do not load or unload this size camper on a slope.
The two surfaces (flat bottom of the camper and flat surface of the truck bed must mate evenly).

If you try to do that, it will twist the jack(s) or bow them if they don't slip. Additionally, it will put tremendous stress on the camper frame where the jacks are mounted.
2021 Arctic Fox 1150
'15 F350 6.7 diesel dually long bed
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wnjj
Explorer II
Explorer II
Grit dog wrote:
30โ€ rise over 30โ€™ is 1:12 or 8.33% slope or about 4.5 deg slope.
Not a big deal imo. Other than loading and unloading. Might be tough if the truck is a tall 4x4 and the back end is cranked up with air or springs before loading.
If it looks like the jacks donโ€™t want to sit flat when you level it out , may want to shim up pads under the jacks.
Itโ€™s not ideal for loading and unloading but the camper wonโ€™t care when you level it out. Donโ€™t tweak the jacks. 1โ€ shim under a 12โ€ pad will level the jacks if your slope is accurate.


I believe this is the key. The metal pads on the jacks will try to lay flat on the slope which will force a bend into the jacks when the camper is level. If you can shim the jacks the camper won't know if the jacks are sitting on flat but different elevations.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
I wouldnโ€™t have when I had a TC.

Why canโ€™t we ask, Rick? lol
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Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
30โ€ rise over 30โ€™ is 1:12 or 8.33% slope or about 4.5 deg slope.
Not a big deal imo. Other than loading and unloading. Might be tough if the truck is a tall 4x4 and the back end is cranked up with air or springs before loading.
If it looks like the jacks donโ€™t want to sit flat when you level it out , may want to shim up pads under the jacks.
Itโ€™s not ideal for loading and unloading but the camper wonโ€™t care when you level it out. Donโ€™t tweak the jacks. 1โ€ shim under a 12โ€ pad will level the jacks if your slope is accurate.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold