How to Load a Truck Camper onto a Pickup using a Laser! 

After watching your video, I purchased the same lazer and heat sink that you used. I can now just back right under my camper the first time. Thank you for sharing this mod! Randy

Very clever. Hooking up the camper was the main reason I didn't want to get one. I'm rethinking that decision now. Thank you for this.

First thing I did when I bought my camper is sit down and try to figure out an easier way to load it. I don't think I would have come up with this on my own without seeing your video. Kudos to you and thank you so much for making that video! I ended up using a cheap $36 self-leveling crossline laser and the same principle. I usually self-leveling crossline on a camera tripod to keep my camper perfectly level while raising and lowering it as well

Of all of the loading videos that I've watched this is without a doubt the most effective & effortless way to do it. VERY WELL DONE!!!

Thanks Charles, I spent 10 years as a short hauler and was ashamed of my inability to quickly (and most important, perfectly) align my TC to my F350. This solution was quick to engineer, and easy to use for one-shot loading, and for that I thank you sir.

That's brilliant - well done Charles. I just finished spending several hours attaching extending, kind of antennae to the front of the camper - 2 thin, rigid, 1" * 1" wooden sticks that are exactly parallel to the camper base but extend into the pick-up bed about 5 feet - to provide a way to line up. But your way is much more elegant.

Charles, Enjoy your travel videos and upgrade videos. Very impressed with this how to video!!! Take care, Dean

Big props to the camera woman....oh you too Charlie! Seems like you found a logical way to make a stressful task very simple. Good job!

Best video to date! Loved the thought put into this video and idea. Keep up the great videos!

Great video, love the laser system and the detail of your process

What a neat and elegant design. I'll be installing one. Thanks!

Excellent! We will be getting our first TC soon and your solution looks like a great solution.

Well done, you deserve the win on the video alone. My FWC Hawk is on most of the time but I still may build one of these.

Super awesome! I am going to combine that with my third center brake light camera and make it so much easier👏🏻👍🏻

Pretty neat! I have always relied on my two white lines painted on the bedmat (Masked with tape and a couple of coats of spray paint) but this looks even easier yet, although a little more prep work plus the laser always in the back window but I will probably try it!

Great idea I'm going to try it. I don't have sliding rear window so I'm going to mount a Ryobi laser with magnet on front center of my truck bed and then use 3 marks on inside of the tailgate to do initial laser setup alignment.

Genius for sure! Thanks for sharing such a great idea.

Outstanding!! Thanks for sharing.

Smart, you must be an engineer (at heart)

Smart dude, biggest compliment... Didn't act like it... Well done.

great idea. thanks for sharing

Engineer here. Very nice work!

Great job! I'm in the process of pricing a 2016 Lance 1172 and wanted to get an idea how to square the truck to camper. You solved my dilemma.

Great video. Thank you.

Nice! I may give it a try with 5th wheel.

Instantly a subscriber. I need to be around people who can think

Nice idea and good explanation . I like others was concerned with a side slope to the driveway . Thanks for explaining the solution . My wife hates helping me with this chore . If there wasn’t that box extrusion for the bathroom , it wouldn’t be so bad , not to mention the 1 inch clearance from the dually fender on each side . Not my favorite thing either , gotta have patience . Could you use your rear view mirror to line up lines ? I can feel the crick in my neck now .

you, the man.

thanks great video!

The trick is keeping that truck lined up as you’re going back. My 2022 F450 has adaptive steering and just breathing on the steering wheel will change your trajectory.

This laser idea is a life saver! My wife and I are newbies and our truck doesn't have a sliding rear window. I took an aluminum angle iron and mounted the system on it. The angle iron ,makes it easy to lay right on the top of the front of the truck bed just below the rear window. By marking a spot on the top front of the truck bed I can easily turn the laser on and place it in the exact center and use it as Charles does. When I'm finished, I just pick it up and store the unit inside the cap to keep it out of the weather. Loading the camper is SO easy now!

Question- if the camper jacks were adjusted to make the camper level on un even ground and the truck was backing in on the uneven ground wouldn’t that throw off the laser line to the 3 points? Seems to me the camper jacks would have to be adjusted so the bottom of the camper was on the same slope as the truck bed. However should work on level or near level ground. As I think about it… if the truck was placed very near in position, then the jacks were adjusted so the 2 marks on the camper box were inline ( equal distance) from the vertical laser line, then the truck was repositioned so all three points matched it should be very close.

love it!

AWESOME!

that is slick

have you ever thought about putting the laser on the driver side door and corresponding marks on the camper so you can also use your driver side mirror? seems like it might be easier than trying to twist around to look out the back window. any thoughts???

I tell you, if you loaded a truck camper with a quad cab then you know why this is a great video. I have a ford f350 with a lance camper and it's very hard to load because your blind. Thanks for the video.

really interesting but i use a piece of tape centered on my bed & a piece of tape centered on my camper nose wall align them then ..back up ; )

Engenuity personified !!

very good idea I have repaired a lot of cab over campers that got knocked off the jacks by guys trying to load with improper alignment love the video but please a cabover camper is a body load a trailer has it's own axle or axles and a tongue to tow it by thanks for your video cc

If your truck is not on level ground and rocks side to side, doesn't this effect the laser aliment? I load on concrete at home, but rarely have level ground to unload at the campground.

Awesome

Did your heat sink have bolt holes in the back of it. I got one and the bolt holes on on the side and bottom. I may have to get a piece of metal with a 90 degree bend at the top.

Charles, I'm in the midst of installing the laser. Are you using sheet metal screws to secure the heat sink to th Al bracket in lieu of the hex nut screws provided? If so, what size screws are you using? In attaching the bracket to the back of the truck are you only penetrating the seat backing? If so, does that provide enough stability? Sorry for all the questions....not very mechanically inclined!

Quick question - Looks like you're using some sort of rubber bumper mounted to the front of your camper to halt its forward progress when loading. Is that correct and where did you find those. Thanks

Great Video Charles, I am a contractor and recently bought a truck camper. I always figured that loading it with a laser is the way to go. Ca you let me know what brand of Laser you used ? I also designed and built a custom "Guide" for my F-350 Bed that prevents it from sliding sideways. I will share an image soon. Not cheap to build but works like a charm. Thanks Michael

“Tavool” bright green laser available on Amazon July, 2022 for @$50. Appears to come with mount. I have a 2008 Northstar pop-up camper, and the gray water tank is a long rectangle that is attached under the camper in a way that really impedes loading of the camper onto my truck. There is only about 1/2 of space to clear. This is going to help! Thanks!

OUTSTANDING! Are you selling these? Would really like to purchase one.

I have been loading truck campers for 40 years, I just straightened my camper on my truck this morning as I can never get it straight. It's always off on one side or just crooked. Going to rig me up a laser. Thanks

Great setup, an answer to my problem for sure. Do you have a materials list? Vendor list? Also, the only thing you didn't mention is how you measured for the position of the laser in the truck.

have you considered somehow setting up maybe a backup camera on the front of the camper ??

the link to the laser doesn't work. Do you have another one?

Would it be better to use color tape?

Nice, hope you applied for a Patton for your invention?

Loading a truck camper is hard, if you have a crew cab. I have seen people measure the middle of the camper 1/2 way then the truck bed 1/2 way and go simply by the lines. In the crew cab you literally have about 3 feet where you are blind. Truck campers are the ONLY way to travel. Now if you stay in one camp ground for a week and it rains, then you go a little wacky. Bigger truck campers are HEAVY! And the dealer, will see you a camper EVEN if your truck is not safe to haul it. I LOVE MY lance camper but I think I would like the Chalet but the weight. oh boy! Great video. I'm afraid I will never go through all this trouble when a little tape will do the trick.

This is a great video, especially for someone who is backup handicapped. I do have one question, was the bracket custom made or is it available off the shelf. If off the shelf, can you please post where to get one.

I feel this is the best solution so far for aligning and loading my camper. Uneven ground is not an issue as I have a remote control for independent electric jacks. The only issue I have is that in the video, the alignment process is done on a cloudy day, under trees, and plenty of shade. I bought the same system, installed it just like in the video but when I turned it on in the morning with bright sunshine facing the front of the camper the green laser does not generate enough light to see the white fiberglass or the silver reflective tape at over 8 feet away. Now I feel like I have to load the camper either early in the morning, late afternoon, or when it’s cloudy, which doesn’t happen regularly in the southwest. I will try a different, possibly more reflective tape first, or possibly a red laser. Ideas anyone?

Great job Charles! Quick question, noticed gas tanks on forward inside of truck - wondering what size and where can I purchase them. Been debating how to safely transport a couple gallons of gas - newbie to truck camping! Thx

What is the purpose of the red and yellow cans you seem to have tied against the bed walls?

Excellent method! Could you elaborate on the components (source) for your laser unit? Thanks!

It seems as if the system would be thrown off if the truck were not on level ground. How do you correct for a site that has a left-right slope? (extremely common in my experience)

Which beam angle did you get, the 40 or 60 degree one? Or was it the fan angle?

sorry...didn't see the hidden set screws in heat sink. I was sent a package of 5 lasers ( Diode Module) by mistake!

are there any clamp type of things to hold the camper to the bed of the truck?

Charles.....you do any private truck camper consulting for "truck camper for Dummies"?😜

Word of ADVICE to anyone considering ordering this alignment system. I ordered the system, received the system MINUS any mounting bracket. When I contacted the seller about why I did NOT receive a bracket for mounting the system, all I keep getting is run around. In fact in one email, the company even admitted, by listing that a bracket was part of the package. So, if you don't want to be forced to fabricate your own mounting bracket, do NOT bother ordering this item from Bright Modest. If I end up getting some type of satisfactory remedy, I will update you.

You have a link at the Prospekt?

Nice, but if the truck camper is level and the driveway isn’t won’t that throw off your premise (ie parked on a dirt or gravel spot)?

After just purchasing a new truck camper, I have decided that I definitely need to incorporate your method of loading it on the truck or I think my marriage won't survive😜! In looking at the link the model you specify only has up to a 60 degree fanned angle. They must have changed it as it is the same model you specified. Think the 60 degree will work?

Are you selling these?

Now all you need is an ardino that will tell you distance.

What is the heat sink used for ?

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I have no clue what your video is about. I seen a very nice dually...

Not sure I understand how this system keeps you from backing under the camper crooked. It seems all it does align the front of the camper with the back of the cab of the truck. Seems like you could still load crooked and hit the back of your camper with the back of your truck.

where did you get the laser? can you get them at Lowes hardware?

This is one of the reasons Ford doesn't have a reverse overdrive option.

i'll give you 26 million for that patent/lift and back up 18km per hour scoop

Not very accurate. You are assuming that the ground where the truck and the camper sits are on flat and even. I wouldn't do this. Too much can go wrong.

There are no degrees of “unique”!