IPB
Truck Camper Parts

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
Reply to this topicStart new topicStart Poll

Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+

> Roof clearance

apstang50
post Apr 16 2017, 04:47 PM
Post #1





Group: Members
Posts: 12
Joined: 24-October 16
Member No.: 9,235
Favorite Truck Camper(s): lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD extended cab
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift with Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: Just bought my first slide in. A 1992 Six-Pac.



So I need to build a box for my camper to sit on so the over hang will clear the rood of the truck. I've looked in the owners manual for the camper but it doesn't say. From the bottom of the camper to the over hang is about 40". From the bed of my truck the the top of the lights is about 42". I'm thinking if I build a 5-6" box for the camper to sit on, that should give me 3-4" of clearance. Just looking to see what everyone else has on average for clearance between the roof of your truck and the over hang of the camper. Thanx.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SidecarFlip
post Apr 16 2017, 07:15 PM
Post #2





Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(apstang50 @ Apr 16 2017, 04:47 PM)
So I need to build a box for my camper to sit on so the over hang will clear the rood of the truck. I've looked in the owners manual for the camper but it doesn't say. From the bottom of the camper to the over hang is about 40". From the bed of my truck the the top of the lights is about 42". I'm thinking if I build a 5-6" box for the camper to sit on, that should give me 3-4" of clearance. Just looking to see what everyone else has on average for clearance between the roof of your truck and the over hang of the camper. Thanx.
*



Not following your line of thinking. If you have a Lance and a normal pickup truck, the camper overhang (bunk I presume) should clear the cab with only a bed mat in the bed. I've never seen one that didn't clear. I've seen some close ones where the owners had to add a sheet or two of plywood, but never a box.

You start elevating the camper 5 or 6" off the bed, you'll have handling nightmares as well as tie down issues. With a hard side vertical Cg is important when it comes to roadability.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
apstang50
post Apr 16 2017, 08:34 PM
Post #3





Group: Members
Posts: 12
Joined: 24-October 16
Member No.: 9,235
Favorite Truck Camper(s): lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD extended cab
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift with Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: Just bought my first slide in. A 1992 Six-Pac.



QUOTE(SidecarFlip @ Apr 16 2017, 07:15 PM)
Not following your line of thinking.  If you have a Lance and a normal pickup truck, the camper overhang (bunk I presume) should clear the cab with only a bed mat in the bed.  I've never seen one that didn't clear.  I've seen some close ones where the owners had to add a sheet or two of plywood, but never a box.

You start elevating the camper 5 or 6" off the bed, you'll have handling nightmares as well as tie down issues.  With a hard side vertical Cg is important when it comes to roadability.
*




I didn't say I have a lance. Not sure where you got that? I'm not new to towing or hauling heavy loads. Just looking to see what others have for clearance so I can get a better idea of what I need.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
towpro
post Apr 17 2017, 07:40 AM
Post #4





Group: Members
Posts: 27
Joined: 7-February 11
Member No.: 5,281
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Arctic Fox
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 15 Ram 3500 Dually 4x4
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2016 Arctic Fox 990



Yes truck beds and cabs have changed through the years so older campers might not fit some newer trucks. I think I have heard of this problem with Ford?

anyway, most recommend screwing the required height adjustment framework to the bottom of camper so it comes in and out with the camper. Wish I had some measurements to help you.
Another group of people who have had to do this through the years were trying to accommodate 5th wheel hitch rails that were permanently mounted into bed of truck.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SidecarFlip
post Apr 17 2017, 08:55 AM
Post #5





Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(apstang50 @ Apr 16 2017, 08:34 PM)
I didn't say I have a lance. Not sure where you got that? I'm not new to towing or hauling heavy loads. Just looking to see what others have for clearance so I can get a better idea of what I need.
*



Got it from your data list right under your screen name... "Favorite Truck Camper: LANCE
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
JADE RACING
post Apr 17 2017, 09:32 AM
Post #6





Group: Members
Posts: 46
Joined: 12-December 14
Member No.: 7,895
Favorite Truck Camper(s): adventurer
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 07 gmc 3500 dually D/A
Type of Tiedowns used: torklift/fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: 07GMC3500 dually diesel/auto airbags torklift tiedowns/fastguns 56 gal transferflow tank banks spd brake/tuner;06 adventurer 106DBS 2.5ownan geny awning topper torklift stairs remote bbq rear awning ext trl hitch/basket for sewer tote



WHEN WE TRADED OUR LAST T/C, THE NEW TO US, A 2006 Adventurer106DBS came with an aluminum 4x4 frame that had been fabricated and was screwed to the bottom of the t/c. When I initially loaded the t/c onto our 1 ton dually I noticed that it had nearly 10" of clearance between the cab roof and under belly of t/c. After returning home I removed this framing and now have about 5" clearance at the clearance lights. Handling was amazing after the removal. That was a return trip from lower New Hampshire to Ontario. Turns out that the previous owner had a newer Ford with a deeper box and needed the clearance for the bed rail tops. Not all campers are built to the same specs.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SidecarFlip
post Apr 17 2017, 06:39 PM
Post #7





Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



Always keep in mind that the higher the camper sits, the higher the vertical Cg is.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
RV_Tech
post Apr 18 2017, 10:24 AM
Post #8





Group: Members
Posts: 201
Joined: 27-July 12
Member No.: 6,199
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Hallmark, Northstar, Outfitter
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 SRW 6.2 Supercab
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack front, Torklift rear
Truck and Camper Setup: Hallmark Ute XL No modes to truck Torklift Fast Guns Fast guns had to be cut down to absolute minimum (14 1/2") to use with Happijac front tie down and Hallmark camper.



With the newer Fords the bed rail height issue is well documented with Northstar offering a bed riser for Ford trucks as an option and if you pull up "bed riser" on the web, you will see a load of different designs.

Steve
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dorado
post Apr 20 2017, 12:03 PM
Post #9





Group: Members
Posts: 31
Joined: 2-February 17
Member No.: 9,387
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1995 Ford F-350XLT Crew Cab
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac
Truck and Camper Setup: F-350XLT:Airbags, Happijac Tiedowns, 1997 Lance 880



I have a '97 Lance on a '95 F-350. The previous owner of my camper doubled stacked 2x4's for clearance on his truck. While taking it home I noticed that I had a lot of sway. I removed one layer or 1.5" and that little bit improved the sway and handling immensely. You want the camper as low as you can get it and still have clearance. I would remove the last layer of 2x4's except I have things bolted into my bed that I need.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SidecarFlip
post Apr 20 2017, 08:30 PM
Post #10





Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(Dorado @ Apr 20 2017, 12:03 PM)
I have a '97 Lance on a '95 F-350. The previous owner of my camper doubled stacked 2x4's for clearance on his truck. While taking it home I noticed that I had a lot of sway. I removed one layer or 1.5" and that little bit improved the sway and handling immensely. You want the camper as low as you can get it and still have clearance. I would remove the last layer of 2x4's except I have things bolted into my bed that I need.
*



Thats vertical Cg or the pendulem effect. The higher the load, the more sway. Why truckers haul heavy machinery on a drop deck. You want the load as low as possible.

One of the main reasons I sold my 97 Lance HS. My 350 Ford 4x4 is 6 over stock so the Lance sat way high (13' 2" to the top of the AC unit) and in a cross wind or a curvy road, I was keenly aware of the high center of gravity. With air bags and sway bars (front and rear), it was rock and roll. Very disconcerting at times.

My new Palomino SS has a much lower vertical Cg and I purposely load heavy items on the floor (like my inverter generator). Unlike the Lance, the Palomino carries it's batteries in the front compartment with the FW tank, on the floor. My Lance had it's battery box up high on the side. My propane bottles were also high. The Palomino carries them lower and every pound of weight factors into the sway equation. Finally, I don't have a roof air unit now. Thats 100 pounds way up in the air that adds to the rock and roll.

My truck does double duty as a farm truck so I have a gooseneck hitch in the bed, but it folds away so it don't stick up at all.

Basements are nice on a TC, but basements add to height and that adds to sway.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicTopic OptionsStart new topic
2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
 

Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 28th March 2024 - 11:37 AM