TIPS on HOW to LOAD a Truck CAMPER / Mechanical Jacks HACK / Travel Lite / Truck Camper Life-RV Life

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The first time loading a truck camper into the bed of our truck took 90 minutes. We have the greatest community, always willing to impart their insight. We heeded their advice and put together this loading a truck camper video to showcase the results. Join us as we share our tips on how to load a truck camper. We even include a mechanical jacks hack (manual jacks hack) to help those who have to crank it up. We have a 2020 Travel Lite 770R for those who are interested. Please feel free to look at our other videos dealing with truck camper-RV life.
TIME STAMPS
00:00 Intro on video
00:47 First step Measuring and Marking
01:38 Mechanical Jack hack / manual jacks hack
03:20 Lift camper and remove support features /final lift
05:36 An unexpected unpleasant surprise
06:01 Trial and Error of backing under the camper with tips
10:44 What I learned from this experience that can help you
12:00 Bringing camper down onto the truck
13:28 Using the Brophy Tie Down System
NOTE: Be sure to check out the great suggestions from some of our viewers in the comment section. One of our viewers, pointed out a mistake I made at the 11:35 mark. I said that I bought two 40V batteries as backups for my drill. They were 20V batteries but held more amp hours (4.0 aH). Do not use 40V batteries on a 20V drill. Also, please consider subscribing so you wont miss a video where we talk about life in a truck camper.
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Manual Jacks drill adapter
amzn.to/3fsg8Fh
Craftsman Drill shown in the video
amzn.to/30s4TZh
Jack Stands
amzn.to/30rYYDB
Brophy TieDowns (pack of 4)
amzn.to/3fo0Y3H
Tiedown hardware
amzn.to/2XrThng
INTRO BY RV MEDIA CREATORS:
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• How to make a video in...
Music: www.bensound.com

Опубликовано:

10 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 105

@hunterbroxton4535 11 месяцев назад

Not sure if it had been mentioned in the comments yet but I highly suggest marking leveling jacks once you have the correct height for your truck. That way when he’s using the drill to raise it up he can just go until he gets to the marked line and know that he’ll have it high enough! Hope that helps

@GrassRootsLiving 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the tip! We eventually did the same thing.

@DreamingOutloudRVing 3 года назад

Wow! More to it than I thought. Looks like you guys have a system and it will be faster after a few more installs. Enjoyed the video, sorry we missed the premiere. Paul & Magen

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

When we travel to Alaska, we plan on just keeping it on the truck. It is a lot like vanlife in that aspect. We will only take it off if we stay in one spot for more than 2 weeks. I don't think that will ever happen on the Alaska trip. No problem about missing the premiere. We know you'll watch it sometime. :) Thanks!

@Traveler_Greg 3 года назад

Great vlog. Well done loading. Greetings and thanks for sharing. Have a nice week. 👍

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thank you! You too! Thanks for watching! :)

@tthepikester 3 года назад

Great video points, THX! One great trick also is when you get your camper up to the height you need to load take a Sharpie and draw a line around the inner leg tube at the point where the outer leg and inner leg meet. That way when you're lifting the camper to bed height you just look for your marks on the legs and takes less time and guessing.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thanks that is a great idea!

@123chupadero 12 дней назад

When your off of center when camper is in bed of truck simply lower the camper jacks while someone is pushing the camper into the right position .... easy peazie

@fishslayersinc.5099 3 года назад

Good stuff! Thanks so much for sharing, going to make many people's lives much easier

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

I hope so! I think there are a lot of fisherman that would love going to fishing spots in a truck camper. :)

@johnschneider788 3 года назад

One more trick, take a rule tape to measure and record the support legs length when you take the camper off the truck. If the campsite is not level or uneven on a side this will ensure the proper height and a match to the truck bed for loading. Easy peasy loading

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Great idea! I will have to do that the next time. Thanks for the help!

@AvengerRVAdventure 3 года назад

Great informational video guys! I'm sure that will help someone out there... Thanks for sharing! 😀

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Hope so! We truly hope to give back to a community that has given us so much. Thanks for watching! :)

@SimpleLife4ever 3 года назад

such a great job my friend.. i really admire what you did...

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thank you so much 😀 I hope I can get it down a little faster though. :) Thanks for watching!

@emmashaye 11 месяцев назад

Thank you!!

@GrassRootsLiving 11 месяцев назад

You're welcome! I know that you sold your van, are you thinking of trying truck camper living inside of van life? We really enjoyed the advantages that truck campers have over vans. We would love to help answer any questions that you might have :)

@emmashaye 10 месяцев назад

@@GrassRootsLiving yes I am! I just bought a truck and now I'm looking for a camper. I'm sooo excited to get on the road again!! This one was huge question I had, so thank you!!

@bearfootadventures5545 3 года назад

Great video guys huge thumbs up 👍

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

We are so glad that you liked it. :) Thanks for watching!

@TheArtofRVing 3 года назад

* A baby giraffe....I am with ya sister. Nice lesson...look before you reach. I have never seen anyone put a truck camper in. I enjoyed the video*

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

🤗 We are so happy you enjoyed it! Now that you have seen a truck camper being put on a truck, are you ready to buy one? ;)

@CampingTherapy 3 года назад

I'm so glad that I was just watching this and not having to do it! I would be a nervous wreck. 😬

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

My wife gets very nervous. I don't really think about it because it is just something that has to be done. It does get a little wobbly sometimes though. ;) Thanks again for your comments!

@c.j.deyoungiii2704 3 месяца назад

Great vid! Nice to see ‘nubes’ doing this. I just bought a NorthStar (pick it up in May) and I’m a little anxious about loading and unloading it. Thanks for showing me how ‘easy’ it can be.

@GrassRootsLiving 2 месяца назад

Hope you enjoy it! Electric jacks are far better, but mechanical jacks are doable.

@PapaDrewsRV 3 года назад

Very very cool video thank you for sharing it

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Glad you enjoyed it. Are you ready to buy a truck camper now? ;)

@timothymitchell6415 3 года назад

Good job! I sincerely hope we run into one another again real soon .... or later, but sometime down the road.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

I hope so too! Our plans for next summer will be to travel to Alaska, if they will open up the borders. Enjoy Reno and tell everyone we said hello. :)

@pwb0511 3 года назад

I’ve only loaded mine 3 times also, hand cranked, it’s a job, by myself. Electric jacks would be a real plus I believe, in the long run.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

There is no doubt, having electric jacks is a real game changer. However, the impact cordless drill is a much, much better option than hand cranking the jacks. Is there a $1500 difference between the electric jacks and the drill. That is the real question for me. Since I don't take the truck camper off that often, I can't say it is worth $1500. Thanks for your comment and for watching.

@angelarosas7414 Год назад

Very informational TY

@GrassRootsLiving Год назад

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching, Angela!

@WanderLost 3 года назад

That is so stressful! I would be freaking out if it was me :). I guess it'll get easier the more you do it, but it's scary right now! :) Hope y'all are having a great week!

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

So true! It does get a little wobbly when it sits up that high. We prefer to keep it on the truck for that reason. Hope you have a great week as well! Thanks again for watching! :)

@erazco6568 Год назад

It is scary I’m afraid to lift my camper on my truck

@NovaSupernova 3 года назад

When you are lowering, bring it down to about an inch of your rails. Then lower the rear all the way and it will nicely slide slightly forward for a tighter fit. Then lower your front legs all the way.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing it. I will do it next time I have to load it. :)

@THEMANWITHIN89 3 года назад

Thats pretty cool.great job guys.you were awful brave with those wasp dean.i hate wasp they always sting me.lol

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

I don't know if I was brave or lucky. ;) Thanks for watching!

@THEMANWITHIN89 3 года назад

@@GrassRootsLiving hahaha lol.no problem.

@nextlevelhomeinspections6231 9 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for the great video! What did you say again about being able to shift the camper over by lowering one side first?

@GrassRootsLiving 9 месяцев назад

That is correct!

@user-wj9pq5lh4v Год назад

Hello folks, Im a newby at this as well (first time). Great video and thank you. The only thing I noticed is that your tie down brackets may be mounted to far back on the truck bed rails and should be more forward when installed as this would also prevent the camper pulling out of the box like saying climbing a super steep hill or quick takeoff. Thanks again for the awesome easy understanding video

@GrassRootsLiving Год назад

Glad it was helpful to you! We have since sold the camper. If we get another one I will keep the tiedown tip in mind.

@mortenthenorwegian2875 3 года назад

Hey there! The tape in the midle was a good ide. I use tape, but on a another spot. I think you can adjust sideways a litle bit by tilt hard to on side also. I wonder, have your camper rubber under the camper? I use a rubber carpet on the bed, so the camper do not move around. Nice video!

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Great tip! I will have to look for a rubber carpet. The board that we use does have a tendency to move over time. Thanks again!

@mortenthenorwegian2875 3 года назад

@@GrassRootsLiving I bought a rubber cow stall mat / blanket. It was less than 1 inch thick, heavy, but very solid.

@nhungchuyendinhungcauchuyen 3 года назад

hi my friend sending love from Viet Nam

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thanks so much for the love. We love making new friends from the other side of the world. :)

@nhungchuyendinhungcauchuyen 3 года назад

@@GrassRootsLiving i subscribed and watched this video 5 minutes . hope you do the same and have 5 minutes for my video.

@filobetobaby 3 года назад

If it's misaligned by a few inches it's easier to move the camper than the truck. Seems scary but you can wiggle it around pretty easy on the legs.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

I think my wife would literally die of a heart attack if I did that. :) I do think you are right however. Thanks for sharing the tip. :)

@Ritterkritterz Год назад

Do you put a support/jack somewhere so when getting in bunk the camper does not tip forward?

@GrassRootsLiving Год назад

No, there is no need to have an additional jack. The back of the camper is where most of the weight is located. The weight of a couple of people on the bed will not come close to upsetting the balance.

@patnamlopallemucchatlubysu3112 3 года назад

Ice video. Pl stay connected

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thanks so much! I will have to check out your channel as well. :)

@toddmccue1823 11 месяцев назад

Wow that took for ever to load camper..After loading camper enough times ,you should not need tape centering.Using your mirrors watch camper lower walls in relation to truck bed sides. It is a good practice to keep front jacks raised 3-6" higher than rear jacks, when raising and lowering on to truck bed. This relieves stress on front jacks from sleeper cantilever weight . full water tank, and only one mounting point on front jacks vs.rear.When truck is positioned under camper to load, apply truck e brake, Automatic put in neutral shift position. Manual trans. pull out of gear. When lowering camper lower back jacks down and fronts so rear of camper seat on bed first,now seat front of camper. You should see that truck rolls slightly forward. You are seating front of camper tight to front of truck bed without stressing camper, truck bed or front camper bumpers. Oh remember to plug in camper harness before dropping camper.

@GrassRootsLiving 11 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for the great tips!

@zagarick 3 года назад

Sir, hope you can help me. I live in russia and we dont have camping culture so it is almost impossible to find jacks like yours to lift a truck camper. I'm trying to look on ebay or Amazon but all I can find are rv tongue jacks. May be you can help me with a correct link or at least correct name of this equipment so I can find it myself. Thank you

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

This is the jacks on our truck camper. There is a storage of them in the USA. Good luck, and let me know if you need more help. pantherrvproducts.com/14032m4/

@georgepppp533 3 года назад

2 drills, 2 people would be even better

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

We have done that as well. However, one of us had to film. 😉😂. Thanks for watching!

@livingStyle 3 года назад

This is so amazing. Like and support. New friend here. I hope you will connect.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thank you, I will. In fact, the footage you have at Mirror Lake brought back some wonderful memories for us,

@420BLUNTLEY 2 года назад

I have a 1995 Chevy 1500. Can I use this brophy mounting attachments?

@GrassRootsLiving 2 года назад

The Brophy tie down system appears to be compatible with almost all trucks. I was very pleased with how it performed. I would purchase it again if I got another truck camper.

@briancollier3573 2 года назад

I have a 1996 Chevy 2500 and they work just fine.

@desertfox122 2 года назад

Be extra careful when driving with the brophy tie downs. I went on a road trip all throught the rocky mountains and they did not survive the trip. Two of them were totally bent and the top rail of my truck bed was bent out of place.

@maineiacoutdoors689 3 года назад

Nice job loading. You bought 40 volt batteries as spares for your 20 volt drill? "can you use a 40v battery on 20v tools? No, not without intervening circuitry to step down the voltage to 20 volts. You can generally use a higher capacity battery (that is one with more amp hours and thus run time) but the battery itself has to be 20 volts. Higher voltages will destroy the tool."

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thanks so much for pointing this out. At the 11:35 mark, I misspoke. I said that I picked up two 40V batteries. I meant to say I picked up to 4.0 aH batteries (that are also 20V). They hold more of a charge than the one that came with the drill but I assure you that they are 20V. My mistake but I am so glad that you pointed it out so others that read this will not make a mistake and buy 40V batteries. :)

@maineiacoutdoors689 3 года назад

@@GrassRootsLiving We all make a gaff here n there. You just proved you're human is all. Subbed ya.

@user-wj9pq5lh4v Год назад

I think he meant 2amp vs 4 amp batteries not volts. I have the same craftsman power tools

@erazco6568 Год назад

I need to get a bigger drill it’s scary lifting a camper

@GrassRootsLiving Год назад

That is one of the first things I noticed as well.

@lawrence7065 Год назад

Ya know what works really great. Electric jacks with a remote.

@GrassRootsLiving Год назад

Our soft side pop up truck camper had electric jacks with remote. You are right, it was the best. However, this one did not have one so it was a process. lol Thanks for watching!

@markfitzsimmons7544 2 года назад

The first time you back under the camper, use a sharpie to put a mark on the extended legs. That way each time you jack it up again you'll see the marks and know you're high enough.

@GrassRootsLiving 2 года назад

Thanks for the great advice Mark!

@markfitzsimmons7544 2 года назад

Of course! Installing a dual battery isolator on my camper today. There's always a project to do!

@garyferguson1552 3 года назад

What would a person do if it fell over.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

I have a friend with a bobcat who would set it back up. We are very careful not to take chances with it. I can definitely see why it would be a concern though. Thanks for watching!

@1966johnnywayne 3 года назад

5:10 DON'T WALK BETWEEN THE TRUCK AND CAMPER when the camper is sitting high, off the blocks and vulnerable to wind gusts. If that camper were to suddenly shift forward and you're in that 'pinch point' ... GAME OVER.

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Good point! I will make a point of remembering that next time!

@Jack-ne8vm 3 года назад

2 people, 2 drills?

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Great idea, but one of us was doing the filming. If we are in a hurry, we would certainly use two. :) Thanks for watching! :)

@doitmanrv1084 3 года назад

: )

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Thanks again for watching! :)

@OurEndeavor 3 года назад

done it many times and never looks fun lol

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

I definitely think that we will get much quicker at it but you are right I don't know if it will ever be fun. Thanks for watching. Can you think of anything that we missed that would make it quicker or more efficient?

@OurEndeavor 3 года назад

@@GrassRootsLiving Yeah we did that just about every other weekend for 9 years with my son was racing motocross, you have it covered pretty much, only thing I couldn't see on yours was we had a 2x6 piece of lumber on edge up front as a spacer to keep the camper from rubbing on the bed of the truck. The rest is practice practice practice LOL... it gets easier. Nice job working together too! Cheers- Dave

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

@@OurEndeavor thanks. Good to hear that from people that have so much experience. This camper has build it spacers, so that's handy. Not sure we'll ever be good enough to want to do it every weekend, but we're sure a lot better than when we first started. lol Thanks for your comment and support.

@sslusshy 3 года назад

Don't waste money on that cheap bit they sell, go get a long socket cut a notch in it with a grinder and you just saved $25 bucks

@sslusshy 3 года назад

Also having a peice of plywood under your camper its going to want to slide out, bad idea. Go get a piece of 1" rubber cut at an ifa store thats the same size as your plywood!

@GrassRootsLiving 3 года назад

Great ideas! Thanks for letting us know and thanks for watching! :)