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mjonesd
Contributing Member
USA
2 Posts |
 Posted - 06/13/2010 : 11:32:57 AM
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I have recently purchased a 2004 850. Any suggestions/tricks on backing up to load the camper...solo or with the help of my wife?
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3 tons aint pc
Contributing Member
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2010 : 12:26:00 PM
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Just a few quick items;
1) Try to keep the front of the camper slightly higher (say, 2-3") than the rear.
2) Do NOT over extend the jacks. Do NOT operate them blindly...only operate them when you can visibly see leg travel...(there should be 'WARNING' markings near the end of the jack leg travel; do not exceed...). Tip: If your truck is high off the ground (4x4), place a 2x4 block under the jack leg to provide a bit of additional safe leg travel. Good on unpaved surfaces too.
3) Where possible, avoid loading/unloading on unlevel ground (a slight front to rear grade should be fine). When backing under camper, carefully watch both truck bed clearance & tail gate opening. Take it a bit at a time...you'll get better with practice.
Note: Truck beds are often narrower and deeper at the tailgate/rear than near the truck cab...go figure!
4) Do not operate jacks without charged batteries. Shore/genny power alone does not provide sufficient current to properly run jack motors.
5) Do not 'overtighten' tiedowns...snug is good.
6) If campsite leveling camper using jacks, be sure to loosen/disconnect camper tiedowns to prevent damage to camper structure. |
Edited by - 3 tons aint pc on 06/13/2010 12:30:00 PM |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
695 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2010 : 5:37:59 PM
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I made this from a post on RV.net It is made with a 1/2" emt conduit and a piece of 1/2" X 6' fiberglass rod. I line the rod up parallel and flush to the wheel well and back straight in.
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2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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wnjj
Contributing Member
USA
139 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2010 : 7:24:41 PM
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When you're backing in you can do a pretty decent job of getting close to centered by just using your mirrors and keeping an equal amount of space between the front jack legs and truck sides. Once you get closer you can watch the gap between the fender and camper. It's also fairly easy to keep the space between the bedrail and camper the same on both sides by eyeballing how far in (or out) the taillights are hitting on the back wall panel behind them. Doing just this I can usually back in to within an inch or so of center. It helps that there's diamond plate there and I can count the number of diamonds between the bed rail and camper as I back in. If yours doesn't have diamond plate you could also add a few marks back there that are the same distance on both sides so you have something to line up towards.
If you want a perfect job every time, once you get loaded really well, take a tape and measure from the camper to stake pocket (for front and rear) and make notes. In the future you don't need to run to the passenger side to know when you are centered. If your wife wants to help, hand her a second tape measure but be sure you agree on what you're measuring too/from.
For front to back slack I've found that putting my foot on the brake, shifting into D or R for a second then back to park will cause the truck to move an inch or 2 once the slack is taken back up when I let back off the brake in park. I get the front bumpers just lightly touching and when the slightly nose-high camper is dropped into place they end up crushed decently.
Hang the electrical cord over the jack before you back in. Don't forget to connect it before you completely lower if you truck sides are a tight fit like mine. Be sure to put the slack where it won't end up under the camper.
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2007 EC950 slide #0179 |
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mjonesd
Contributing Member
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2010 : 1:03:41 PM
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| Thanks very much for all of the good suggestions. I am sure that, over time, loading and unloading will become second nature for me. |
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3 tons aint pc
Contributing Member
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2010 : 4:34:44 PM
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Uh oh, I almost did it...I was attempting to pull out from under the raised camper atop a 4x4 truck and on a slight downhill slope. With the camper up so high I always check myself. But this time not so well...Pulling out from under I heard a little something funny, and something else just didn't feel right. I stopped, got out and checked around the truck and realized that the passenger side dually fender was smack up against the forward jack...Duh, I forgot to swing out the passenger side jack. So I got lucky, but with the camper up so high it could have been a real disaster. I'll have to put this down as a near miss.
As Always Best Regards,
3 tons |
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skiierdave
Contributing Member
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2010 : 9:03:28 PM
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| Hope you didn't do any damage. |
2009 1050 with most options
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 DSL, Rancho RS 9000 shocks with on board compressor, Stable loads, Air Lift air bags with compressor. Vision 19.5 wheels and Toyo M-608Z. Hellwig sway bar
USN Retired (ETCM,QMCM, COB/SS) |
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3 tons aint pc
Contributing Member
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2010 : 03:39:09 AM
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| Well I'll admit to feeling pretty stupid about this, but thankfully I got away with only a minor vertical scratch on the front-mid section of the passenger fender. Over a time I've actually gotten fairly good at doing this, knowing now what to watch for...But what gets me is overlooking that which seems so darn obvious...I've previously had a few other minor scares in this regard too...Maybe I'll develop a mandantory check-list, as I'm learning to no longer trust myself!! |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
695 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2010 : 04:41:31 AM
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| As hard as we try, the real fact is we are excited and occassionaly rush it. I've ripped my power cord pulling out without disconnecting it. |
2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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thepadg
Senior Member
USA
254 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 07:30:29 AM
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| Yea I've done some of those things too. As you get older you tend to forget to do things os maybe we should make a Check list to run through every time we load or unload the camper. Better safe then sorry I say. |
thepadg
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Cummings Diesle
2004 Eagle Cap 1150 with slide
2001 Excel 33 RLE 5th Wheel |
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3 tons aint pc
Contributing Member
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 03:56:32 AM
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| I'd put it right up there with getting over confident while riding a famaliar motorcycle. |
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thepadg
Senior Member
USA
254 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 06:15:15 AM
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| You could paint two white lines just wider then your camper on the bed of your truck. Laid down equal distances from the side rails. You just keep the camper between them and you'll have it on strait and centered. |
thepadg
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Cummings Diesle
2004 Eagle Cap 1150 with slide
2001 Excel 33 RLE 5th Wheel |
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Poulsbo1
Contributing Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 7:31:48 PM
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| I use white lines also. I have another related question. We would like to use our truck for running around and such at campsites. Assuming we are on a level site - any issues for sleeping in overhead bed when camper is on jacks? I have cargo trailer that I could carry supports to lower the camper on and not use jacks. |
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admin-Rich
Founder
USA
1804 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2010 : 03:55:39 AM
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Please start a new topic for overhead bunk discussions.
There is no problem using the overhead bunk for sleeping when off-truck.
Equipment, fresh water, gray water, fuel etc. far out weigh the empty overhead bunk area.
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2005 Eagle Cap 1150 - #1118 -|- Dry bath w/ all factory options except solar.
2005 F350 CC 6.0 diesel dually: GVWR 13000
Truck with 2 people and full tank of fuel: 8360 lbs.
Camper weight with full tanks: 4420 lbs
GVWR with camper, full tanks, gear and food: 12,780 lbs
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thepadg
Senior Member
USA
254 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2010 : 04:53:38 AM
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| Sleep in the camper off the truck all the time. Even did it with the 9 ft TC I stared out with. |
thepadg
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Cummings Diesle
2004 Eagle Cap 1150 with slide
2001 Excel 33 RLE 5th Wheel |
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Topic |
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Loading camper
