Unloading and camper support

[Freeborn530]

Camper is a 2004 Bigfoot 9.6 2500. I will be at the RV park for two months, when I take the camper off the truck what is a base to lower the camper on to? I see some using scissor jacks, pallets with a 4X8 ply sheet, or just use the jacks? Any suggesting welcome.

[ajriding]

The slotted plywood is the most stable, and easiest to transport as far as 'stability to easy-of-transport' ratio. 4x8 foot plywood, cut in half, slotted makes two Xs that you sit under the TC.
You should not need any additional boards for your short stay, just sit the TC on the Xs directly. At home I do put 3/4 inch shelving planks across to provide a lot of flat surface for the TC to sit on, but tat is for long-term parking.

I use 3/4 treated plywood for home storage, and sit small 2x4 scraps at the edges to keep the plywood out of the water when it rains. For your short-term purposes I imagine a thinner board will do, ½ inch or even 3/8 plywood (or osb) since the camper jacks will still carry part of the load. The plywood X is really to just give a solid base, to keep TC from wobbling, and to help support the floor while out of the truck, so it is not necessarily needing to carry all the weight of the TC.

Best thing is that you just lay the plywood down in the truck bed and plop the TC on top of it for travel. You may need another rubber mat - one on bed, one on the wood. I have not tried sitting the camper directly on the plywood. Maybe, because the wood grain has a lot of friction, it would not slide much without a mat though. I do not know…

If you have an 8 foot bed, then perfect, if a shorter bed, then cut the X pieces so they fit in the bed. For a 6 foot bed you would have 1.5 foot tall Xs for instance, assuming the TC can lower that far down.
Consider that the plywood might be able to extend past the end of the truck bed with TC loaded, it just depends on the under side of your particular TC.

[bigfootgrey]

This is how I support the Bigfoot at home. On the road the camper is lowered more and lynx leveler blocks with cap are used instead of wood blocks. Been doing it this way for 9 years without any problems.

Bob

[Kayteg1]

I support only front as that is where heavy water tank is and I have seen separations in this area.
I've been using 4x6 under front edge and couple of 4x4 cut to length, to make legs, but then I was able to find aluminium 3x4 tubing, what is lighter and more convenient for the job.
Even there are only 2 legs, they add a lot to camper stability.
My rear overhang will not let me lower the floor closer than about 16" from the ground.

[Starpig]

4' X 8' X 3/4" sheet of exterior grade plywood. rip it into 4 ea. 2' X 4' pieces on the table saw, then cut a 3/4" wide "slot" at the center of each that is 1' deep to allow 2 pieces to slide into each other to create an 'X' shape. One sheet of plywood will make 2 ea. 'X's', place one under the front and one under the rear of the camper and lower until it rests on the two 'X's'. I place the plywood flat on the bed of the truck before I load the camper.

There are pictures here:
http://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23973227/print/true.cfm

Regards,

Jeff

[Bradymydog]

For my Bigfoot 25c 9.4 for long term storage, I made a "foot print" pallet with (3) 4x4's cross ways at the Bigfoot recommended locations. In your case, I would just use (3) 4x4's purchased locally. Support the 4x4's by (6) Camco jacks, cheap, lightweight aluminum and they nest. Much lighter than scissor jacks and much more stable (I have tried both). You'll need (10) pieces of 2x stock or heavy plywood to go under all jacks to prevent the jack bases from settling into the pavement or ground. For example (1) 2x10x8 cut into 9 1/2" pieces would work well. Very easy to level and the camper will be rock stable, with little to no load on the 4 camper jacks.

[_squish]

We have a Bigfoot 1500 when it's off the truck it's lowered to as low as it can go with the stabilizing stands with a wood plank and the frame that normally is under the camper when the camper is in the bed of the truck. The jacks are down but a lot of weight is supported under the camper. I don't trust my jacks and I don't trust the stands but I trust the whole system.

[TxGearhead]

Look at a Bigfoot owners manual, which I believe they have on the Bigfoot website. There are specific areas that Bigfoot wants supported. Basically across the front, at the kick-out skirt area, and as far back as possible. The Camco aluminum screw jacks should work. Probably will need support under them....16" x 16" plywood should work.

[Youngm3571]

Search for “I Beam” sawhorses on the internet; mine are built to just about the height of my truck bed for convenience.

[mountainkowboy]

Built my own support system, works on semi uneven ground and takes up no room to haul.

[jimh406]

I used Camco Aluminum Stack Jacks with a board on the top and bottom. $31 from Amazon and relatively small since they stack.

[bigfootgrey]

We did 3 months with the camper off the truck. Lower the jacks to maintain clearance for sewer hose connection. Then we placed 3 lynx levelers and 1 leveler cap under each of the 4 aluminum stacker jacks. On top of the jacks a 4x4 the width of the camper bottom with carpeting glued on the contact side. On the jack side, drill holes to accept jack heads about 1/2” deep. All items store in the camper basement when traveling. Kept the camper very stable. Jacks need re tightening after settling

Bob

[guidry]

I use 2x4’s and sawhorse brackets. And a 3/4” plywood from my truck bed then set the camper on them.

[Lwiddis]

“or just use the jacks?”

Not the best practice. Stabilization only.

[markowwes]

If we are staying more than a couple days we always unload, first level with the camper jacks then tighten up on the screw jacks until tight. Never had trouble with stability.