Community Forums

bootstrap · 08-20-2024, 11:09 AM

Truck will be 2500 or 3500 with 8’ bed. Primary use will be my wife and I, occasional grandchild going and pulling a boat. We both enjoy fishing and planning more trips. I guess my immediate question is what jacks are required to take camper off at campsites and be stable? Then truck used to take boat to various lakes in area or just to/from boat ramp. Is this doable?

kvp · 08-20-2024, 11:18 AM

The camper would come with or have the option to come with jacks. Yes, you can do it. Just lower camper down when off truck for stability. Some campgrounds may frown upon you leaving it so plan accordingly.

08Carriage · 08-20-2024, 04:14 PM

Easy to take off, getting it back on square a little tougher.
Standard jacks with Stable camper bars

Dave Pelletier · 08-21-2024, 01:05 PM

Possible, but most people find that the idea sounds better than the reality. ....in fact, on the last two truck campers I had, I loaded it up in the spring and took it off in the fall! Depending on the camper, you may well need to put supports underneath rather than just relying on the jacks.

Other thoughts,

- 8' box is highly recommended

- not much cost difference between a 250/2500 and 350/3500 so go with the 1 ton for better payload figures, especially if you get a diesel.

- you will carry more stuff than you think. Allow 750 - 1,000 lbs or more for water, propane, batteries, food, clothing utensils, gear, etc. etc. I would recommend sticking under 3,000 lbs dry weight for any SRW truck; anything more and I strongly recommend DRW's.

For eg; https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/...-buyers-guide/

Dave

Marine359 · 08-21-2024, 01:13 PM

Of course, there’s always the option of getting a rail mounted pop-up instead of a slide-in. Many folks never plan on removing the pop-up. Everything can be removed from inside to use truck as a covered wagon. And for me, sweet spot is never removing and using my small utility trailer for over-size loads, or dirt/gravel.

Dave Pelletier · 08-21-2024, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marine359

Of course, there’s always the option of getting a rail mounted pop-up instead of a slide-in. Many folks never plan on removing the pop-up. Everything can be removed from inside to use truck as a covered wagon. And for me, sweet spot is never removing and using my small utility trailer for over-size loads, or dirt/gravel.

Yep. the smaller/simpler it is the less need/incentive to take it off...

Dave

bootstrap · 08-22-2024, 02:33 PM

Thanks everyone, I'll have to think this over. The rail mounted is definitely a no go. I use the truck pulling GN cattle trailer and a 36' flatbed GN along with hauling feed/feeding cattle and other ranch chores.

Goettsch · 12-12-2024, 06:23 AM

Used to be not all slideins had floors rated to live in off the pickup bed.

hemifoot · 12-12-2024, 08:28 AM

we used to take our Northstar off the truck if we were camping in a spot for more than a week.it was built to do this though.we would fish nearby lakes or go on a wander all the time.pop it off and lower it down as far as we could.

Stircrazy1 · 12-12-2024, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bootstrap

Truck will be 2500 or 3500 with 8’ bed. Primary use will be my wife and I, occasional grandchild going and pulling a boat. We both enjoy fishing and planning more trips. I guess my immediate question is what jacks are required to take camper off at campsites and be stable? Then truck used to take boat to various lakes in area or just to/from boat ramp. Is this doable?

some sort of screw jacks. if it is a older one like mine with hydraulic jacks, they are not meant to support weight for more than a load or unload. the biggest cause of hudraulic jack seal failure is people using them as stabilizing jacks or supporting weight long term on them and the temperaturee changes and seals get blown.

I never tak my camper of my truck, but if you are there are modles that are able to do that no proble like artic fox and a few others, just have to do the research and see what the manufacture recomends. there are other options like taking some sort of support with you. even though some are able to be used on the jacks that still sits wrong with me, here are some ideas and some are portable and would work good for camping. https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/...support-ideas/

there is also the stable lift system, but it costs money adds a couple hundred lbs to your rig and reduces ground clearance by a couple inches, but it does make it simple to drop and use your camper. https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/...le-lift-jacks/

mhbell · 12-12-2024, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bootstrap

Truck will be 2500 or 3500 with 8’ bed. Primary use will be my wife and I, occasional grandchild going and pulling a boat. We both enjoy fishing and planning more trips. I guess my immediate question is what jacks are required to take camper off at campsites and be stable? Then truck used to take boat to various lakes in area or just to/from boat ramp. Is this doable?

On my truck I have to put 2ea 2"x6"x8' Treated boards in the bed of truck to raise the camper high enough when loaded to clear the top of cab and sides of bed. When I remove the camper from the truck I use the 2 boards to support the floor and set the camper on blocks about a foot off of the ground easy to get in and out of that way and no chance of it blowing or falling over.
Mel