Sock Puppet
Adventurer
This is a great benefit that shouldn't be overlooked.
Camper confusion
- Thread starter trouthead
- Start date
This is a great benefit that shouldn't be overlooked.
trouthead
New member
Agree. Good point. Never thought about that.
trouthead
New member
Yep. Compromising. I hear you on the 55mph issue. If I can find a system that allows for a (relative) easy on and off procedure, that will help.
MINO
Adventurer
I wouldn't say my phoenix is hard to remove - just would prefer not too carry the happijacs (extra weight and aero drag).
Phoenix uses a ratchet-strap system that ties to the bed anchors - real simple to loosen and undo.
If you know what you're doing, you only need to lower 3 of the 4 legs to get it off/on the truck.
Phoenix uses a ratchet-strap system that ties to the bed anchors - real simple to loosen and undo.
If you know what you're doing, you only need to lower 3 of the 4 legs to get it off/on the truck.
I also take my Phoenix on and off pretty regularly. The act of backing under the camper and then securing with turnbuckles is fairly quick, the most time consuming part is raising the camper via a drill bit adapter on the jacks. I store my camper in my garage on a dolly that I roll in and out. This is nice for protecting the camper from the weather, but it also means that when I load it I have to raise the camper bottom approximately 32" to clear my bed, which takes some time. I usually can roll it out of the garage and load it in 45 minutes, with about 35 minutes of that being working the jacks up by slowly raising each jack a bit and doing a circle around the camper. Imagine how long it would take with a hand crank at a campsite. If the campsite has AC power and you bring a drill, that would help, but a battery drill won't cut it. All that being said, if you plan on storing the camper outside on a platform that could keep it high (about the same height as your truck bed), then you could use the jacks as stabilizers to keep it from tipping over but the weight would be on the base. Then, raise it an inch or two, roll or remove the base, and slide your truck under it. That would take about 10-15 minutes to load. Will you be storing the camper inside? Outside? In your driveway? Can you setup a storage base when the camper is not in use that is close to the height of your truck bed?
As for the camping part, some say don't use or walk in without support underneath, but you really don't need much. I have seen home made bases out of sheets of 3/4" plywood that are notched halfway through to interlock. The sheets form an X under the camper and the camper rests on the X with the jacks as outriggers. You could easily camp in that type of setup with no problems and you wouldn't have to raise and lower the camper much when loading and unloading. I have considered (and probably will make) a set of these for my camper. Something like this (stolen from another ExPo thread):
I think it really depends on your preference for a base camp and how often you will be travelling without the camper while camping. If only a few times per year, then it is reasonable to take it off and leave on a base of sorts. If it is every camping trip, a trailer might be better. However, I will echo other comments when saying traveling off road with a trailer would be daunting. My wife and I spent about a week throughout California this spring near Mt. Shasta and the eastern Sierras and there were several places where a trailer would have prevented us from going. At one point, the road was blocked with snow and I had to turn around and I don't even think a truck with an 8' bed would have made it, much less a trailer. It ended up being about a 19 point turn. Good luck!
As for the camping part, some say don't use or walk in without support underneath, but you really don't need much. I have seen home made bases out of sheets of 3/4" plywood that are notched halfway through to interlock. The sheets form an X under the camper and the camper rests on the X with the jacks as outriggers. You could easily camp in that type of setup with no problems and you wouldn't have to raise and lower the camper much when loading and unloading. I have considered (and probably will make) a set of these for my camper. Something like this (stolen from another ExPo thread):
I think it really depends on your preference for a base camp and how often you will be travelling without the camper while camping. If only a few times per year, then it is reasonable to take it off and leave on a base of sorts. If it is every camping trip, a trailer might be better. However, I will echo other comments when saying traveling off road with a trailer would be daunting. My wife and I spent about a week throughout California this spring near Mt. Shasta and the eastern Sierras and there were several places where a trailer would have prevented us from going. At one point, the road was blocked with snow and I had to turn around and I don't even think a truck with an 8' bed would have made it, much less a trailer. It ended up being about a 19 point turn. Good luck!
subterran
Adventurer
The OP said he wanted to offload his camper at his destination, and drive the truck off to go fishing, etc. This means that he would only need to jack up and down the camper a few inches. It was not about storage, so jacking up 32" or so is out of the question.
If the intent of all this is to reserve your campsite, for maximum efficiency I would suggest carrying an easy-up awning, or quick backpacking tent or something you can erect quickly to hold your spot, and leave the camper on the truck. Sometimes, we have just set up our table and chairs and left some junk there to establish an occupied camp.
If you insist on offing the camper, remember that you will have to carry about 100 pounds of jacks around with you. Also, I would use an external tie-down system like my rig has, instead of using the hidden tiedowns. They are much easier to get to and faster to deal with, with less busted knuckes. When you get done fishing and return to camp, just back under the camper, and lower it back onto the truck to support the floor, and get to cooking up those fish you caught. It would be pretty easy to rig up an external tiedown system on just about any truck camper you get, or if you're having one built, install both internal and external so you can tie it down both ways, as you choose.
Bolt on 4 of these to the corners:
If the intent of all this is to reserve your campsite, for maximum efficiency I would suggest carrying an easy-up awning, or quick backpacking tent or something you can erect quickly to hold your spot, and leave the camper on the truck. Sometimes, we have just set up our table and chairs and left some junk there to establish an occupied camp.
If you insist on offing the camper, remember that you will have to carry about 100 pounds of jacks around with you. Also, I would use an external tie-down system like my rig has, instead of using the hidden tiedowns. They are much easier to get to and faster to deal with, with less busted knuckes. When you get done fishing and return to camp, just back under the camper, and lower it back onto the truck to support the floor, and get to cooking up those fish you caught. It would be pretty easy to rig up an external tiedown system on just about any truck camper you get, or if you're having one built, install both internal and external so you can tie it down both ways, as you choose.
Bolt on 4 of these to the corners:
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Rovertrader
Supporting Sponsor
Another consideration on trailer vs truck camper, should you encounter ferries, like to Nova Scotia, Vancouver Island- where ever, the trailer is a limiting factor- and added expense...
bearman512
Adventurer
Why not TOAD?
I used to hook a trailer to the truck and load the JEEP, this throws quite a bit more weight on the tongue because of the 18" extension bar.
I just attached a tow bar to the Jeep now and I can be on the road within 10 minutes.
I used to hook a trailer to the truck and load the JEEP, this throws quite a bit more weight on the tongue because of the 18" extension bar.
I just attached a tow bar to the Jeep now and I can be on the road within 10 minutes.