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Truck Camper Forum _ General Discussion _ What to use for long term storage support??

Posted by: CCDAMEEK Aug 31 2009, 11:48 AM

Hello everyone.
My wife and I just purchased a used 2007 Starcraft Pop-up Truck camper. I am hauling it on a 2007 Toyota Tundra 4wd 5.7L, and to get it home was a piece of cake. Now I need to come up with long-term storage supports, as the owners manual indicates the jacks are to only be used for loading/offloading.

I would like something that can come with us easily as we travel so the truck might be able to be used for site-seeing.

Loaded weight should be around 1700 lbs. Any and all suggestions would be most appreciated.

ANYBODY, PLEASE GIVE SUGGESTIONS. WHAT DO YOU USE?

Thanks in advance.

Posted by: Spanky Aug 31 2009, 12:59 PM

I have heard of folding sawhorses but have never used them. Check with places like Lowes, Home Depot etc.
Gary

Posted by: mh45472 Aug 31 2009, 03:50 PM

I have heard of people making several lap jointed X's out of 3/4" plywood. They would fold flat for storage & travel. One caution, I recently looked into pop-up TC's and learned that Palomino does not recommend using their TC's off truck. Northstar says it's OK. I am not sure about Starcrafts but make sure the manufacturer recommends using the TC off truck first.

Posted by: CCDAMEEK Sep 2 2009, 08:37 AM

QUOTE(mh45472 @ Aug 31 2009, 12:50 PM)

THANK YOU. MIGHT WORK, BUT STILL LOOKING FOR MORE SUGGESTIONS ALSO.

Posted by: zatoichi Sep 3 2009, 04:56 PM

Lowes and HD both have a metal sawhorses but with that much weight I would go with four of them. Bear in mind none of those type of sawhorses are intended for that kind of weight.

Posted by: jeeper50 Sep 12 2009, 06:20 PM

I just bought a used '94 Palomino Bronco, I was thinking about using several concrete 8"x16" blocks in each corner, one laid on it's side and another standing up right. Glue them together for strength. The plywood X sounds like a good too.

Posted by: garbinator Sep 13 2009, 12:29 AM

For long term storage I ran acrossed this option, but you cannot haul it along with you.

http://www.riecotitan.com/camperdollys.html

Then of course there is this option I would think to be a pretty neat deal...

http://www.stablelift.com/

Posted by: jeeper50 Sep 13 2009, 10:43 AM

I like the dolly idea, for a temp solution, until I can get this camper repaired and ready to roll, I bought the blocks @ home depot for $1.35 ea.

Posted by: garbinator Sep 13 2009, 11:44 AM

For longterm... I use car jacks and 2X4's for the front of the camper only. I like the dolly too, big reason why I believe it would really be neat to have the ability to move it around if need be.

Posted by: Desert Rat Sep 17 2009, 03:17 PM

Our rig is a wee bit heavier--pushing 3500 pounds, but here's our take on it:

I cut two 4x4s (doug fir), their length matching the width of the camper floor box. After I have the camper lowered close to the ground, I put the two 4x4s under the camper, one close to the front of the box, the other near the rear. Then using travel trailer stabilizer jacks--the kind that "stack" into one another and have screw driven caps, I place a jack about a foot or so in from each end of the 4x4.

The result is, the jacks are supporting the 4x4s, and the 4x4s are supporting the camper. I cinch the jacks up fairly tight for security, and leave the camper corner jacks right where they are. At that rate you have support on all four corners, but in a broad space under the floor as well.

In an earlier camper incarnation, we actually had the floor collase out from under the rig while were sitting down at the dinette, having a nice meal. That put a quick end to a warm dinner, I'll add.

Posted by: Zzyzxx Sep 18 2009, 07:01 PM

I use cinder blocks with some redwood 4X4's strung between them, and lower the camper onto that. Then I lower the jacks and snug them lightly against the ground just in case we get an earthquake or something. Works, and is easy and cheap.

Joe