How to Load and Unload a Truck Camper Off Road? It’s not as EASY as you THINK!

Подписаться 7 тыс.

Просмотров 19 тыс.

50% 1

We arrived in Moab, UT and decided to offload the truck camper! Removing the camper makes off roading much easier… We show the complete truck camper removal with tips. Plus, we will reload the camper which has increased difficulty off road where the ground is uneven.
- It’s a massive help to have 2 people! The driver should follow instructions from the “spotter”. My wife likes to drive because she just follows directions (not responsible for mistakes).
- Level ground makes the process easier (especially when loading).
- Be careful of wind! You’ll want at least 1 person holding the camper to help stabilize if there is wind.
- Take your time! We can unload the camper in 19 minutes (or 9 minutes once jacks are attached). It takes 31 minutes to load the camper (save 10+ minutes if not removing the jacks).
- Always keep the front of the camper higher than the rear. A majority of the camper weight is on the front 2 jacks. By tipping it towards the rear it adds stability and transfers additional weight to the rear jacks.
- Electric jacks (wireless) make the process much safer and easier!
Feel free to share any additional tips or things that help you…
#truckcamper #superduty #overland

Опубликовано:

15 окт 2021

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 84

@byronbrasher8118 2 года назад

As you both will know, some YT channels enjoy subscription levels well beyond their channel's content value, while others are under-appreciated and deserve a much larger following. Your channel definitely falls into the latter category, and I'm thankful you continue to devote the time and effort you do. So thank you - again - for covering the practical side of truck camping full-time so well.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Really appreciate the encouragement! It's nice to see people watching and finding value in the videos... our goal is to use this channel to "give back" and help share ideas. Love to see it grow. :)

@jedarama Год назад

@ byron brasher Well said!

@mattwayne5013 2 месяца назад

TTWhen the woman does all the hard work. Props to your woman!

@TruckCamper 2 месяца назад

She is a champ! It definitely works best with two. :)

@kristholtz3283 2 года назад

Peter & Faith Thank you That was a VALUABLE USEFUL load/unload RARE video

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

That was the goal! Appreciate the encouragement...

@tomguertin7713 2 года назад

You kids are great for showing all this stuff you do.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Appreciate it! :)

@RichardInger 2 года назад

Thanks for that guys, super useful! We're hopefully picking up our truck camper in a week or so! Never had one before so your videos are really useful. We've done loads of 4x4 camping in Africa with Hilux/Landcrusers fitted out as campers but they have always been fully fixed to the truck, so this video is really useful!

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Absolutely! That's exciting... it's a great way to travel. Thanks for the comment. :)

@amydelpiere9315 2 года назад

I tuned in to see the camper unload/load, but the bike ride was a great surprise. Holy Cow! That is above my current physical endurance, but what a great trail :o

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Yes! That was a fantastic ride. Thanks for sharing:)

@2amRendezvous 2 года назад

Great content, not many actually this side of the truck camper setup. Now I see why people love electric jacks with remote controls vs an electric drill.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Thanks!! Appreciate it... :)

@jimdavis5936 2 года назад

Hi nice to see your load procedure. It’s great to have a partner when loading. When faced with Loading alone on my 3500 try the following. 1. Pull driver seat all the way back 2. Look over your right shoulder and eyeball right down inside of the truck and the out crop on the cassette toilet. Allow about 3/4 to an inch clearance, and your good. Don’t know if it’s different depending on the truck.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing how you solo load the camper! That can be rather tricky... Our welded camper guides make solo loading less feasible. However, they do keep the camper centered which is helpful off road. :)

@ClarkyMalarky Год назад

I understand the weight of the jacks etc .. I definitely use them to brace and stop annoying wind rocking when parked at night in windy conditions.

@TruckCamper Год назад

That can be a useful feature. We don't have much sway or movement when parked. And can aways park into the wind too. :)

@newwavecarpenter 2 года назад

I always watch to the end just to hear bye!

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

That's awesome! Faith will love that.... :)

@djjf45 2 года назад

Thanks, been looking forward to this video! Who got who into mtn biking? It looks fun and terrifying at the same time haha!

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Awesome! I got Faith into mt biking... she loves it. Although I like the more extreme stuff. Haha

@RaymondWardJr 2 месяца назад

I added extensions to my camper jacks. Downside is they are more wobbly. It looks like you could air down your rear tires and that would make you're loading at the angle much easier. I had mine get away, trying to load at an an angle, and she slid forward and smashed my bed in. Now my bed is touching the cab of the truck :( I'm glad I just watched your video, I was about to redo my suspension and was thinking of going to a 6" from 4.5". I'm going to try to keep the lift at 4.0" to 4.5", during to loading/unloading camper.

@TruckCamper 2 месяца назад

I was concerned about that with jack extensions. We've been using wood blocks which don't have adverse affects. Loading/unloading on unlevel ground can be a challenge. Wind can increase risk as well. It takes lots of practice to efficiently drop and load. We've become faster over time... Thanks for sharing! :)

@byronlemay2166 2 года назад

Don't you just love it when you have so much time on your hands...that you can just, think of stuff to do? I always enjoy your videos. I know Moab like the back of my hand, but I'm wondering where that campsite is?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

HAHA - so much time but it's usually rather filled. Think this was Cottonwood BLM (near Fins N Things).

@smsjr36 2 года назад

Love the video! Did you guys build your truck camper basement? If so do you have a video on it? Also why not keep the legs on the camper?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Thanks! We don't keep the legs on for several reasons: wind drag, weight distribution (low is better) and they would be likely to get damaged off road. Yes, we have videos on most of the modifications. Here's this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GI0bqczcWHk.html

@aponoypi 2 года назад

Very good video. One question instead of just wood blocks. Have wood blocks with wheels that you can lock so you can easily adjust and align to camper. With practice must get easier aligning the truck. Like a laser guide light. Moab is a blast

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Thanks!! Loading/unloading the camper in the shop is fairly quick/easy. We have guides welded into the truck bed. Wheels might be possible on smooth level concrete but it would be a bad idea on the dirt. Outdoors in the dirt can get interesting with wind and uneven ground. Our truck is rather tall which means the jacks are fully extended which decreases stability. But it works... and nice having the option of removing. Thanks for sharing!

@joem6234 2 года назад

Not sure if you mentioned why you don’t keep the jacks permanently installed ? Great bike video. What makes the truck camper load and unload great, is you have good teamwork.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

We remove the jacks to lower the center of gravity (more stable off road) and avoid damaging the jacks off road. It may help with wind drag somewhat... Yes! Teamwork is key to camper life. Thanks for sharing! :)

@jimburger9418 2 года назад

In my opinion, leaving your camper jacks on is asking for trouble. A simple, seemingly minor "bump" against a boulder, log, or embankment while driving off-road has the potential to really cause some damage to the camper. To wit: there is a guy in town who was involved in what should have been a minor parking lot accident when another vehicle hit his camper jack; instead of a dented bumper/fender he ended up with the corner of his camper getting destroyed. The amount of force the camper jack can lever on a corner is substantial.

@kristholtz3283 2 года назад

Peter if u have the clearances space can u line those bed welded aluminum angle camper SIDE ONLY (NOT BOTTOM OF ANGLES BUT MAYBE?) guides with Teflon strips so the sides of the camper slide in easier?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

That's an idea. I've considered. But realistically you need the truck in alignment which just takes some adjustments. Not a big deal (with 2 people). :)

@sjf67gto 11 месяцев назад

Awesome View, I have a question about your your jacking system the remote does it come with the jacks or can you buy it separately and add it to an any Jack system?

@TruckCamper 11 месяцев назад

Jack motors and remote can be added to existing jacks. Basically an add on. :)

@jimburger9418 2 года назад

Getting my FWC Fleet on and off my 2000 Tundra is an absolute nightmare! Consequently, when it is off I so dread the process of loading it I often don't! Did you feel similarly when you had your FWC Hawk?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

HAHA - So much!! I actually bought the FWC planning to remove it between trips... Never did. It lived on the truck till the camper was sold. It was so sketchy! Not a fun process. Power jacks make a massive difference...

@MovingToMnPro 2 года назад

Thanks for the video, I need to learn about these jacks. This Moab place looks like a wasteland though.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

You bet! Moab has incredible red rock landscape. We did a couple videos while there. Not many trees tho! Thanks for watching

@marcosflores9705 2 года назад

Video of u going up hells gate .... am one of the guys with the little jeep group that helped spot u up the trail

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Hey Marcos! Yes... will be posting that video soon. Appreciate the help. It was fun meeting and hanging out with you guys.

@vicking4569 2 года назад

I added a camper on my truck and it doesn’t come with the stands to get it off. What would be the best way to load and unload the camper or what should I add on?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

I really like these Happijack jacks. The wireless motors make it much quicker and controlled.

@jorgesalinas6697 2 года назад

Maybe I am missing something.. whenever I load/unload my Palomino HS750, I just raise it about 4" higher than the bed, back into as straight as I can. Then, lower it rear first, done! I'm not sure what all the pushing and positioning "by hand" is going to do??. Understand you are dealing with something that weighs close to 2K lbs.. if that thing decides to move or tip, your hands are not stopping it. Is there a reason you didn't want to lift your camper higher?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Take a look at our truck build videos... we have welded guides in the bed to keep the camper centered. We go off road and need the camper to not be moving around. We have lots of videos on off road trips (check em out). The challenge with this location was uneven terrain. Flat ground is much easier. Setting down the front first is a good idea because that is where the majority of weight is. Thanks for watching! :)

@mikea4074 2 года назад

Some slide out drawers may be handy in there

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Not a bad idea... Overall it works well for us! :0

@mikea4074 2 года назад

@@TruckCamper thought it may be a little help. I never realized it was this big of a pain. But not horrible.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

@@mikea4074 Not easy but great having the ability to remove while out. It is a lot easier dropping it in the shop (level ground + no wind).

@jimburger9418 2 года назад

Instead of a "drawer," maybe just as useful approach would be to fit/place a thin piece of plywood, or fiberboard in there; the board could lay directly on the truck bed with items then placed on top. With some type of handle, it could be pulled out and pushed in relatively easily, I'd think. Quick, dirty, and functional.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

@@jimburger9418 Good idea... only challenge is there are floor supports. That's why sliding them in is tricky. We built the basement with minimal clearance to keep the camper overall height as low as possible. Realistically it works alright and we don't put on the jacks often...

@ForeignLifestylestory Месяц назад

i can only run one jack at a time.. if i try to run two, my controller kicks out.. trying to come up with a way to re wire.. or change something

@TruckCamper Месяц назад

Most likely a wiring or motor issue. Likely pulling too many amps. Could be bad connections, jacks need lubricant or motors having issues.

@noeflores5794 2 года назад

Can you sleep in the camper while it's off the truck? Is this common with other truck campers?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Yes absolutely. But not all campers are strong enough. Need to confirm .

@MusicLuv80 Год назад

Can you sleep in the camper when it is not on the truck and it is not on the ground?

@TruckCamper Год назад

Yes. We used it off the camper. The jack stands we use add extra stability. Works great!

@MusicLuv80 Год назад

@@TruckCamper Awesome! Thanks for your answer.

@benjilacombe7478 2 года назад

Hey guys, I emailed Ronco about that B309 water tank you installed. I have the same camper and wanna do the same tank. They send me a form asking dementions, fittings and fitting placement. You mentioned the dementions on a post but not the fitting sizes and location, any help would be great. Also, if you would have done anything different about that upgrade?

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

We have all the details in the video description and on the Expo Forum: expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2020-northstar-liberty-expedition-truck-camper-build.216281/page-2 We are removing the gravity feed hose. Not needed with the top "clean out" deck plate (easy to dump water into tank). And we fill with our modified plumbing which uses the city fill port and is connected to a siphon pump and filtration (see video on filters for details). When tank is full it would have a tendency to slosh out of the exterior fill (off road and hard corners). Some of the water would track back inside as well. We would just do the bottom corner connection and top center vent connection. We are plugging our large 1.25" fill port since no longer using the exterior gravity fill.

@benjilacombe7478 2 года назад

@@TruckCamper Got it, thanks guys for the info. One trip out with my Liberty, now I'm adding a soap dish to the shower wall...I drop the soap every time and what a pain to pick up. My heater didn't work at high altitude levels above 7k ft...another pain.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

@@benjilacombe7478 That's strange with the heater... we've been over 10k with it. Maybe dometic has a fix...

@benjilacombe7478 2 года назад

@@TruckCamper Called a dealer in Colorado, the tech says to check the gap in the igniter. They don't set them up to ignite at higher altitudes, you guys must have got a Wednesday camper...hehe.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

@@benjilacombe7478 Haha maybe so! They are really simple. Which is typically good for reliability

@georgekerr8804 2 года назад

Scary!!!

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

HAHA - It does feel sketchy at full extension!

@KenandCarla 2 года назад

I have never seen anyone take those levelers off of their truck campers. They usually keep them on.

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

Removing the jacks helps with wind drag and lowers the center of gravity. Plus keeps them from being damaged off road. :)

@KenandCarla 2 года назад

Okay 👌 thanks for explaining. We never had a truck camper. In an airstream now because of the simplicity…old people…lol

@ForeignLifestylestory Месяц назад

if it wasn't for her it would take you a hour.. hahah

@TruckCamper Месяц назад

She is essential... We've improved speed. It is significantly harder on uneven surfaces.

@ebutler2023 Год назад

Why don't you just raise the camper about 2-3 inches above bed & back under. Seems like you're making more work for yourself... At least that's what we do with our Host TC

@TruckCamper Год назад

We have camper guides welded to the truck bed. The camper needs to be rather square and even to set down. We off road our camper and need to keep it in place. Thanks for sharing

@kristholtz3283 2 года назад

Hate to see u guys struggle lining her up

@TruckCamper 2 года назад

It is a challenge off road where the ground is uneven...

@SunnyCalifornia2023 Год назад

Mine jacks jam so much that it takes me hrs to load or unload and is completely frustrating. For that reason I rarely use the camper 🫤 Huge buyer regret.

@TruckCamper Год назад

Time to upgrade the jacks! You can add wireless jacks like these to any camper.