I have been reviewing the different suggestions for supporting TC's when off the truck. I was getting ready to get material to build when I noticed the 55 gal metal drums I have laying around at the shop. They would be the correct height for what I need, I already have them. and my older TC isnt very heavy and is only a 8'. was wondering if 2 or 4 of these drums, with a sheet of ply across them would hold the weight???

Do you really want to have the TC that high when it's off the truck?

Plenty strong enough. I would use three. Two across back and one in front. Two spread farthest apart in rear would give better stability.

With a firm footing 3 or 4 should be plenty strong. The barrel is only 35.5" tall.

Drums are all I ever used on my very very heavy TC years ago. I used four of them because I had them. They worked fine. When the TC was in the truck I used a sheet of 1/2" plywood to get the right height. I'd put it between the drums and the TC as a place to store it.Bill

You could support the weight between both the jacks and the oil drums. When I use saw horses I also support the weight with the jacks too.Steve.

Will 55 Gal drums hold the weight? | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Super_Dave
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
wintersun wrote:

As the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it. If your camper's jacks are not broken then use them. If they are not then fix the jack(s) and do it while the camper is in the bed of the truck.

And if it ain't broke and you don't want it to break, give it some extra support. ;)
Reddog1
Explorer II
Jul 29, 2014
My 4,200 pound 11.5 foot TC sat on three steel drums for seven years that I am aware of (before I bought it). They were not on solid/level ground, so the TC did lean against an Oak tree.
wintersun
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2014
Lance, if you have reason to believe that a camper manufacture knows about this, states clearly in their owner guide not to use any form of support with their campers other than the attached jacks. Regardless of their reasons for stating this I can see no reason to ignore their recommendation. Last thing I would want is a 3,000 lb. camper falling off some stands and damaging me or the camper or anything else.

As the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it. If your camper's jacks are not broken then use them. If they are not then fix the jack(s) and do it while the camper is in the bed of the truck.
Camp__Forrest__
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
I use six for my 3,000 lb camper and I have no problems. I do have some pressure on my jacks, but the weight is definitely on the barrels.

Just to be clear, I am using steel drums, not plastic.
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Super_Dave wrote:
Use full beer kegs and they can serve dual purposes. LOL!

LOL! :)
Super_Dave
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Use full beer kegs and they can serve dual purposes. LOL!
Raften
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Hey Chuck, when I mentioned the state flower thing to a AK resident years ago, he got all huffy. No sense of humor.
cleary
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
I've seen lots of them used for that here in Alaska. The 55 Gallon Used to be our state flower, or so it seemed.

Chuck
sabconsulting
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
You could support the weight between both the jacks and the oil drums. When I use saw horses I also support the weight with the jacks too.

Steve.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2014
Drums are all I ever used on my very very heavy TC years ago. I used four of them because I had them. They worked fine. When the TC was in the truck I used a sheet of 1/2" plywood to get the right height. I'd put it between the drums and the TC as a place to store it.

Bill