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> Electric Jacks vs. Dinghy towing

RogerLA
post Mar 14 2009, 01:55 PM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 13-March 09
From: Los Angeles
Member No.: 3,076
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F350
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1995 F-350 7.3 PS Crew Cab Long Bed Dually Super Hitch Airlift 1988 Lance 980 11.3



Hello all, I'm new to TC. I've had my camper on the truck for about a year. The camper has hydraulic jacks and I am just too lazy (scared) to operate them. With a few camping trips planed for the summer, I want to have the freedom of driving to the nearby cities while camped. I have about $1,700 to spend on this project. I am not sure if I should invest in some electric jacks, mechanic jacks or a tow plate/tow bar/break system and bring my car with me. Your opinion is appreciated. Thanks
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LindaH
post Mar 14 2009, 03:26 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Eagle Cap
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually (Cummins engine)
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift w/Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: Eagle Cap 950, 2 100-watt solar panels, 2 6-volt AGM batteries, 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter, Motosat Executive satellite TV dish, Torklift 5-step Glow Steps.



It's not that big of a deal to take a camper on and off a truck...it just takes some practice, particularly in backing underneath to get it loaded again.

I doubt that you'll be able to get a base plate, tow bar, and brake system for $1,700...at least installed. Don't even know if you can buy the equipment for that amount, but perhaps if you buy used and do the installation yourself.

ON EDIT: You may want to take a look at the ReadyBrute Elite RV Tow Bar. It comes with the integrated ReadyBrake plus safety cables and in-dash light monitoring system for $831. You would still need a base plate, but this is one of the few systems you might be able to get and install (yourself) for the $1,700 you have to spend.

Of course, you could just keep your hydraultic jacks and learn to use them to save yourself a bunch of money! dry.gif
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RogerLA
post Mar 14 2009, 11:07 PM
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Joined: 13-March 09
From: Los Angeles
Member No.: 3,076
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F350
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1995 F-350 7.3 PS Crew Cab Long Bed Dually Super Hitch Airlift 1988 Lance 980 11.3



Thanks Linda. How about mechanical jacks? Aren't they much easier to operate? I think I can install them by myself.
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weld1
post Mar 18 2009, 05:49 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): arctic fox
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 3500 silverado SRW
Type of Tiedowns used: Custom
Truck and Camper Setup: 2005, 3500 silverado SRW, Firestone airbags,Rickson 19.5 wheels and toyo 225 load range G Arctic fox 990 loaded. 18ft pontoon.



QUOTE(RogerLA @ Mar 15 2009, 05:07 AM)
Thanks Linda. How about mechanical jacks? Aren't they much easier to operate? I think I can install them by myself.
*


Roger, I have had several campers that i installed hydraulic jacks on, I like them better that mechanical. How big is your camper? When I camp I am usually fishing or hunting and I always set the camper off. I can set it off In 10 minutes using hydraulics. It will take a little longer to pack up to leave. You cannot beat the ease of electric but there is always a chance of failure. Of course any jack can fail, my suggestion, if your camper is not to big, use the hydraulics.
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RogerLA
post Mar 18 2009, 10:23 PM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 13-March 09
From: Los Angeles
Member No.: 3,076
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F350
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1995 F-350 7.3 PS Crew Cab Long Bed Dually Super Hitch Airlift 1988 Lance 980 11.3



QUOTE(weld1 @ Mar 18 2009, 10:49 PM)
Roger, I have had several campers that i installed hydraulic jacks on, I like them better that mechanical. How big is your camper? When I camp I am usually fishing or hunting and I always set the camper off. I can set it off In 10 minutes using hydraulics. It will take a little longer to pack up to leave. You cannot beat the ease of electric but there is always a chance of failure. Of course any jack can fail, my suggestion, if your camper is not to big, use the hydraulics.
*




My camper is a 1988 Lance 980 11.3. The truck is a 1995 F350 crew cab dually. No sure if it it is considered a big camper or not. I usually camp with the kids by my self and I have my hands full. Anything that can make my life easier when camping means a lot. I guess I'll start practicing with what I have at home. Roger
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weld1
post Mar 19 2009, 10:37 AM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 18-March 09
Member No.: 3,082
Favorite Truck Camper(s): arctic fox
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 3500 silverado SRW
Type of Tiedowns used: Custom
Truck and Camper Setup: 2005, 3500 silverado SRW, Firestone airbags,Rickson 19.5 wheels and toyo 225 load range G Arctic fox 990 loaded. 18ft pontoon.



QUOTE(RogerLA @ Mar 18 2009, 11:23 PM)
My camper is a 1988 Lance 980 11.3. The truck is a 1995 F350 crew cab dually. No sure if it it is considered a big camper or not. I usually camp with the kids by my self and I have my hands full. Anything that can make my life easier when camping means a lot. I guess I'll start practicing with what I have at home. Roger
*

That is a fairley big camper, If your camper is not prewired for electric it would be more of a job to install electric. either way it is expensive. the more you use it the more you will like the hydraulic. they were my favorite until i had a camper with electric. best of luck to you and have a great camping season.
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brownies daddy
post Mar 20 2009, 12:18 AM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 4-March 09
From: san diego ca
Member No.: 3,068
Favorite Truck Camper(s): LANCE (Of Course)
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: FORD (WHAT ELSE?!!)
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac
Truck and Camper Setup: Brownie is a great big beautiful 03 Ford f350 ,7.2 power stroke diesel,4x4 STX superduty crew cab ,she runs a super chip ,firestone airrite bags, with airrite dual control airbag compressos.she sports a pro comp 9.5 inch suspention lift ,37x12.5x16 pro comp x terrain tires,american raceing wheels, dual fox shocks,on the front and sigles in the rear,in the cab we have a alpine stereo system, a 950 watt alpine amp,boston acoustic speakers,alpine sub woofer , a cobra c.b with a firestick hood mounted attenna, on her back we have a Lance 980 11.3 camper, fully loaded with all the options,and we just installed a sattelite dish,she pulls with a reese towbeast class5 receiver with thr reese tow bar exstention .she pulls a 97 jeep tj and a 20 ft bayliner no problem, shes been in the sand ,mud ,snow and countless boat ramps and has never let me down



QUOTE(RogerLA @ Mar 19 2009, 03:23 AM)
My camper is a 1988 Lance 980 11.3. The truck is a 1995 F350 crew cab dually. No sure if it it is considered a big camper or not. I usually camp with the kids by my self and I have my hands full. Anything that can make my life easier when camping means a lot. I guess I'll start practicing with what I have at home. Roger
*


Dont be afraid of your hyd jacks go ahead and use them ,its like backing a boat down the ramp the slower the better , you will see its no problem ,it just takes alittle time and practice wink.gif I would use the money elsewhere and not buy the electric jacks the hydralic ones work good and the are easy to maintain
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RogerLA
post Mar 20 2009, 05:26 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 8
Joined: 13-March 09
From: Los Angeles
Member No.: 3,076
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F350
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 1995 F-350 7.3 PS Crew Cab Long Bed Dually Super Hitch Airlift 1988 Lance 980 11.3



QUOTE(brownies daddy @ Mar 20 2009, 05:18 AM)
Dont be afraid of your hyd jacks go ahead and use them ,its like backing a boat down the ramp  the slower the better  , you will see its no problem ,it just takes alittle time and practice wink.gif  I would use the money elsewhere and not buy the electric jacks the hydralic ones work good and the are easy to mantain
*



Thanks guys, I'll keep the hydraulic jacks.
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