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> Loading Camper, Is there easy way to load

tjmb
post Sep 5 2007, 07:24 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): NorthStar
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Ford F150 Crew
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack
Truck and Camper Setup: F150 crew, Air Bags, Northstar 850SC, Happijack Jacks and Tiedowns



sad.gif I have a Northstar 850SC with Happijacs mounted on an F-150. I leave it loaded because I have a hard time lining up right to reload. Does anybody know of an easy way to line up, or has anybody heard of mounting wheels to the jack plates so you can maneuver the camper instead of the truck?
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Mulepick
post Mar 7 2008, 07:20 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): had Lance, looking at Host
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '06 F-250 now looking at F-450
Type of Tiedowns used: Tork w/Fast
Truck and Camper Setup: Air bags, sway bar



Hmm. Welding caster wheels onto the jacks would be an interesting solution...
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garbinator
post Sep 20 2008, 11:34 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 3500 GMC Dually 4X4 Crew Cab DuraMax w/6sp variable Allison
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac, Altec power jacks
Truck and Camper Setup: Lance Legend 990 fully loaded series, Electric Jacks, Air Bags, heavy duty torsion bar, Titan extend-a-hitch, .357 Mag Marlin Lever Action (Cowboy rifle) for camper defense. Bose Acoustic Wave Machine to Ez the nights away...



QUOTE(tjmb @ Sep 5 2007, 05:24 AM)
sad.gif  I have a Northstar 850SC with Happijacs mounted on an F-150. I leave it loaded because I have a hard time lining up right to reload.


Practice! Body position is an utmost priority. Moving extremely slow in reverse even at a mere crawl, radical full left to right corrections are a must. Body position for me is I take my right knee and place it directly under me, this serves two purposes. First I can see the entire bed/camper for proper alignment while backing because I am sitting up at a much higher observation position, secondly it allows my left foot to remain on the foot brake so as to carefully control movement and fit of the camper.

QUOTE(tjmb @ Sep 5 2007, 05:24 AM)
Does anybody know of an easy way to line up, or has anybody heard of mounting wheels to the jack plates so you can  maneuver the camper instead of the truck?


If you were to mount wheels to the jacks as you stated how would you be able to counter any roll the camper would in many cases began as my camper only weighs 3400lbs unloaded. I seriously doubt my 234lbs of body blubber would be of much use moving, even stopping such a huge object unless you tried it on "perfectly" leveled concrete. As with my RV driveway, Mine is somewhat sloped for drainage...

As for a rack to set the camper down on yes, Lance makes one for its campers. It has very large wheels that the camper sits on, but when I saw them in action at my dealer they required two young strong backs to move even just a very short distance.

*
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Catch This
post Jan 10 2009, 03:05 PM
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Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Forf F 250
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: Currently looking for a Lance 845



As far as loading....practice practice practice and do it slow...you will get the hang of it. There are all kinds of assists i.e. tape on the camper and or tape on the bed of the truck. You can hang a small chain from the center of the cab over and align it with the center of the truck bed. As far as the wheels I wouldnt do it. How would you control any front to back movement while the truck is starting and stoping with the camper in the bed? I dont think the wheels are a good idea. Good luck.
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Spanky
post Jan 10 2009, 03:13 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance 1030
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1999 F350 Power Stroke Dually SuperCab
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1999 Ford F350 4x4 Super Cab 1 ton Dually Lance 1030 Torklift tiedowns



AS far as stands, When I unload my camper I have two sawhorses that I use to let my camper down on and it is very stable. I leave the jacks down just enough to help stablize it.
Gary cool.gif


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1999 F350 Power Stroke Dually Super Cab, 2003 Lance 1030
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randywana
post May 24 2009, 12:42 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): don't have one
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-150
Type of Tiedowns used: torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: Northstar 650 on a F150 truck; timberlane springs;torklift tiedowns; happijac quickloads;



I have a Northstar 650 on a F-150. I'm sending an attachment that illustrates the wheels and feet I adapted to my camper. You'll find this wider based foot and the wheels in the Northern Tool catalog on the net or in others that carry the Bulldog brand. Northern, I believe, has the best selection. These are the Northern part numbers. The wheels are part #128476-2806 with a capacity of 1500 lbs. per wheel and are $24.95 each. The foot is part #128479-2806 with a capacity of 5,000 lbs. per foot and are $12.99 each. These are both the Bulldog brand. To adapt the weels and and feet to my camper I bought some 2 inch square steel tube with 1/8" thick walls from a salvage yard. (see picture 1) I cut them to 6 l/4" length. This was to accomodate the feet which go inside the tube and the wheels which fit on the outside of the tube. I cut the exisitng feet of the Happijac with my reciprocating saw. I drilled a hole in both the tube and the legg to hold a 1/2" hardened bolt that is also corrosion resistant in order to connect them together. I drilled another hole in the bottom of the tube so that either the foot or the wheel would fit. There are also rouond fittings that could possibly be used on other jacks in a similar way. To align my camper perfectly on my truck, I use a rubber mallet to help turn the wheels. In the open the wheels turn fairly well. They roll great even if they're not ball bearing wheels. Yesterday, when I took the camper off the truck, I lowered the wheels and turned them toward the back of the truck. I was able to easily pull the camper off the truck by myself while my wife watched to make sure I didn't turn into the truck with one of the jacks. The wheels quite easily.
Hope this helps you enjoy and keep camping.
Randy

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Bikerndiver
post Feb 14 2013, 11:59 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Jayco
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra 4x4 V-8 Auto
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift w/Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: 2002 Toyota Tundra V8 4x4 with helper springs, Torklift tiedowns. 2010 Palomino Bronco 1251SB popup camper.



QUOTE(tjmb @ Sep 5 2007, 07:24 AM)
sad.gif  I have a Northstar 850SC with Happijacs mounted on an F-150. I leave it loaded because I have a hard time lining up right to reload. Does anybody know of an easy way to line up, or has anybody heard of mounting wheels to the jack plates so you can  maneuver the camper instead of the truck?
*



I made loading at home pretty easy...at least I think so. I built a "track" similar to an automated carwash, but for just my passenger side wheels. Either side would work, but I used the passenger side. I just back up until my right side wheels are in my track and then take my hands off the steering wheel and back up slowly and let the track "steer" me under the camper. I have a stopping block at the back so I can't back under too far. When I come home from a trip, I unload the same way and the camper is always in the exact position to load again..... Two years now and no issues at all.
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Spanky
post Feb 14 2013, 01:04 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance 1030
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1999 F350 Power Stroke Dually SuperCab
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1999 Ford F350 4x4 Super Cab 1 ton Dually Lance 1030 Torklift tiedowns



Wow thats pretty cool. Would love to see pic's of your setup.


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1999 F350 Power Stroke Dually Super Cab, 2003 Lance 1030
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Bikerndiver
post Feb 14 2013, 01:43 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Jayco
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra 4x4 V-8 Auto
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift w/Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: 2002 Toyota Tundra V8 4x4 with helper springs, Torklift tiedowns. 2010 Palomino Bronco 1251SB popup camper.



QUOTE(Spanky @ Feb 14 2013, 01:04 PM)
Wow thats pretty cool. Would love to see pic's of your setup.
*




I'll try and take some pics over the weekend.

I started with the camper loaded on the truck and backed it in where I wanted it. Then, on the outside of the passenger tires, I placed a 2x8 that was 10' long. (I later added 4 feet to this original 10' board to line up the truck more quickly) I drove 2 foot long rebar down into the ground every 2 feet on the outside of the boards to keep it in place on its edge. I attached the rebar to the board by using copper u-shaped pipe hangers...like the kinds plumbers use to hang 1/2 pipe from joists....

At the back of the rear passenger tire, i placed a concrete block...setting it into the ground about half its height. That stops the truck when i'm backing up. I marked the surface of the ground on the inside of the passenger side tires and then pulled the truck out. I then set up a board the same way on the inside of the tires as the outside. The track was then complete.

I then backed up slowly while the truck slid into the track. Once the rear and front tires were in the track, I let go of the steering wheel and slowly back up until the rear wheel hits the half buried concrete block. Crank down the legs and slide out from under..... Loading again is a one person job and takes less than 10 minutes! The TC is safely under my carport and loaded and unloaded in minutes!

Might not be for everyone, but it works, and works well for me!
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Spanky
post Feb 14 2013, 06:45 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance 1030
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1999 F350 Power Stroke Dually SuperCab
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1999 Ford F350 4x4 Super Cab 1 ton Dually Lance 1030 Torklift tiedowns



Curious to know why you choose to place it on the passenger side.


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Bikerndiver
post Feb 14 2013, 07:15 PM
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Member No.: 6,459
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Jayco
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra 4x4 V-8 Auto
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift w/Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: 2002 Toyota Tundra V8 4x4 with helper springs, Torklift tiedowns. 2010 Palomino Bronco 1251SB popup camper.



QUOTE(Spanky @ Feb 14 2013, 06:45 PM)
Curious to know why you choose to place it on the passenger side.
*


I put it on the passenger side because it was the side up against the carport wall....Less visible...Thats all.
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Lursa
post Mar 2 2014, 03:06 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): 1991 Cascade
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1999 Dodge Ram 2500
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: Nothing fancy. Camper only weighs 1000 lbs. Hauling a 3,000 lb. steel horse trailer.



Is anyone using a back up camera? New trucks have them installed but there's one I saw that's magnetic and will stick to hitch, tailgate, etc.

Do these work?
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bikepsych
post Jul 5 2014, 09:37 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2013 Ford F250 Diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac with remote
Truck and Camper Setup: Currently stock F250 diesel with Adventurer 89RB camper fully loaded. Happijac Tiedowns.



So....no one is using the magnetic backup cameras?
BG
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dubob
post Jul 6 2014, 09:17 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): 2011 Lance 992
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2010 Chevy 2500HD, Ext Cab, 6.0L
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac w/ Qwik-Loads
Truck and Camper Setup: TC pulled behind the truck on a gooseneck trailer



QUOTE(bikepsych @ Jul 5 2014, 08:37 PM)
So....no one is using the magnetic backup cameras?
BG
*

I use an iBall back-up camera. I put a white line (tape) down the middle of my truck and another tape line on the front of the camper. I start with the camera sitting about half way back on the white line and keep the two tape lines lined up as I back up the truck. As I get within about 6 inches of the camera, I stop and reposition it (magnetically) to the top of the front of the truck bed. Again, keeping the two tape lines in-line I back up until about 8 - 10 inches from finished and then remove the camera. Then I finish backing up to the rubber stops.

I think a laser level would work just as good if not better, but I haven't figured out a way to mount the level to the exact center of the front edge of the truck bed such that it will exactly shine the laser the entire length of the center line (white tape) and then strike the front of the camper to keep the center line on the camper exactly under the laser light.


--------------------
Bob Hicks, from Utah
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KY_Campers
post Jul 7 2014, 06:55 AM
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Hey Bob,

Thanks for the link to the IBall Back Up camera!


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CindyOR
post Jul 31 2014, 05:31 PM
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Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2500 4x4 Chevy Silverado
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac with standard tiedowns
Truck and Camper Setup: 2000 Chevy Silverado 4x4 Extended Cab with 1998 Fleetwood Angler 8' self-contained camper



QUOTE(tjmb @ Sep 5 2007, 07:24 AM)
sad.gif  I have a Northstar 850SC with Happijacs mounted on an F-150. I leave it loaded because I have a hard time lining up right to reload. Does anybody know of an easy way to line up, or has anybody heard of mounting wheels to the jack plates so you can  maneuver the camper instead of the truck?
*




My son, who is an engineer, thought of using a laser to line things up. We only use ours for the winter season, so haven't tried this yet. But our fall back position remains - when we load, we do it when 3 people are on site. We need the driver and one on each side in the back of the camper. We haven't figured out a better way yet, but I'm pretty sure, since my son is the driver when we load, he'll have the laser part worked out this year and we'll see how it works. Our camper is such a tight fit on our truck you can put a piece of paper on each side and that's about all the room you have to work with. I can't even imagine trying to load it on my own.
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Real Lite
post Aug 13 2014, 11:54 PM
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Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '04 F-350 Diesel 4x4 SRW CREW
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Truck and Camper Setup: 1990 Real Lite 1160 on a 2004 Ford F350 Diesel 4x4 SRW Crew-Cab



QUOTE(bikepsych @ Jul 5 2014, 06:37 PM)
So....no one is using the magnetic backup cameras?
BG
*



I ordered a camera system from a company in China. I have a monitor on my dash, a camera on the back of the camper, and they connect wirelessly to each other. Not a Back-Up, but a full time "rear view" camera.

Works pretty good, but sometimes RFI obscures the view.

I ordered a second monitor I could have inside the camper, lets me see outside. Camera has infrared, so night time view is good.

bout $300, I think including shipping.

Was a pain doing business direct with China, had to Western Union money, but they did deliver.


--------------------
1990 Real Lite 1160
2004 Ford F350 Diesel 4x4 Crew Cab
Based on Kitsap Penninsula, Washington State
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KY_Campers
post Aug 16 2014, 05:51 AM
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QUOTE(Real Lite @ Aug 14 2014, 12:54 AM)
I ordered a camera system from a company in China.  I have a monitor on my dash, a camera on the back of the camper, and they connect wirelessly to each other.  Not a Back-Up, but a full time "rear view" camera. 

Works pretty good, but sometimes RFI obscures the view.

I ordered a second monitor I could have inside the camper, lets me see outside.  Camera has infrared, so night time view is good.

bout $300, I think including shipping.

Was a pain doing business direct with China, had to Western Union money, but they did deliver.
*


Do you have a link from the place you ordered the camera ?

Thanks!


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LDHunter
post Sep 25 2014, 06:48 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2006 F350 6.0 Lariat King 8'
Type of Tiedowns used: None
Truck and Camper Setup: Looking for a camper right now.



QUOTE(dubob @ Jul 6 2014, 10:17 AM)
I use an iBall back-up camera.  I put a white line (tape) down the middle of my truck and another tape line on the front of the camper.  I start with the camera sitting about half way back on the white line and keep the two tape lines lined up as I back up the truck.  As I get within about 6 inches of the camera, I stop and reposition it (magnetically) to the top of the front of the truck bed.  Again, keeping the two tape lines in-line I back up until about 8 - 10 inches from finished and then remove the camera.  Then I finish backing up to the rubber stops.

I think a laser level would work just as good if not better, but I haven't figured out a way to mount the level to the exact center of the front edge of the truck bed such that it will exactly shine the laser the entire length of the center line (white tape) and then strike the front of the camper to keep the center line on the camper exactly under the laser light.

*



That makes a huge amount of sense.... I can think of several security applications for the iball as well... Great idea... Thanks... smile.gif
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KY_Campers
post Sep 26 2014, 06:58 AM
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I mounted a board on ''each side'' of the camper and put carpet on them... I also mounted a board on the front of the camper.

Having the boards on the camper helps when loading the camper... I just watch out the back window when loading and the boards guide the camper in place between the wheel wells.

The boards also keeps the camper from moving side-to-side.


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