Here’s ⬇ how I have loaded/unloaded my camper shells. The below is provided for educational purposes only, solely as an example of what I’ve done.
This is a very dicey operation and great care must be used throughout the entire process. If one doesn’t make sure of having the camper shell in perfect balance on the jacks, or if it’s a windy day, or if one isn’t extremely careful moving the trucks out from under and back under the raised shell, the shell could get easily knocked down injuring the shell, the trucks or the folks trying to do this work. When I’ve done this, caution at all points of the process is my key focus.
1. I Rented portable camper jack lifts (like these⬇) from an equipment rental place and bought an 8’ 2x 6
2. I determined the COG balance point for the pop up shell
3. I put the jacks on both sides of the truck, parallel to those COG points
4. I unfastened the shell from the truck, lifted both sides and slid the 2x6 under it, at those COG points
5. I next put the ends of the 2x6 on the lips of the ⬆ jacks, with help of another, and start slowly cranking the shell up off of the truck bed (don’t do it on a windy day), pause once I have the shell about 2-3” off of the truck bed and double check the balance of the shell, if not in perfect balance, adjust as needed
6. I next raise shell up just far enough to safely drive truck slowly out from underneath it, being very careful not to snag jack stand feet with truck or tires
7. Next I carefully back up the donee truck under the raised shell. Again being careful not to hit the jack stand legs or shell, and making care the shell is high enough for the new truck to get properly under it. I adjust the line up of the shell to the bed sides once truck is fully under the shell.
8. With one guy at each jack, I slowly and evenly lower shell to truck bed, slowly slide out 2x6’s so the shell sits on the new truck bed, fasten shell onto the new truck bed.
