Finally found a Callen, now need some jacks...

[Czechsix]

Any brands/designs of camper jacks better than others? Anyone have a model you'd buy again?

I just found a Callen on CL, it's actually going over to Callen Campers tomorrow to get a slider window put in - but I'm going to need some way to get the thing on and off the truck by myself, and not by using a forklift.

I'm thinking camper jacks, but I'm not seeing a ton of info about them. I'm sure there are crappy ones out there, and models that last forever...

I'm voting for the forever myself. I can do without more crap.

Any thoughts?

 

[ExpoMike]

I would think if you are going to Callen Campers, they would have a method of getting it on and off. They have to put them on when someone comes in and buys one.

Now if you are planning to put it on and off at home, there are two typical ways. One is corner jacks but you'll need to have mounting plates installed that can handle the load/stress. Other way is cable jacks, which typically have a flat plate that come up under the long side of the camper, placing the jack part on the CG of the camper. Then you jack up each side until high enough. Not sure if this method would work if the camper doesn't overhang the bed rails, as you need something for the flat plates to catch a lip on the camper. If flush to the bed rail, there might not be any way to get this under the camper without lifting it first.

 

[Fish]

Callen uses a forklift.

 

[Czechsix]

Yah, not worried about Callen moving it, but as I said, I'm looking for a good set of jacks. I'm aware about reinforcing, and the various systems - I just don't feel like building something myself if I can get it off the shelf.

So are any brands better than others?

If I have to make it myself, I'm thinking about going pneumatic rams, and just using a bottle and valve system. I could easily use the air down/air up octopus I have, just make sure there are schraeder valves, or some kind of QD...Then again, I've got a million things I need to do. So it again comes back to who makes good jacks - mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic. Don't need to carry much, no more than a 500# lift will be plenty of margin.

 

[Czechsix]

Ok, got the jack issue solved. Scott at Callen had a few used ones I got a good deal on. Now I've got to figure out how to hack a powered slider window into the Callen. Nothing like another project!

Thanks for the replies folks!

 

[Fish]

So what did you get? Do they bolt on or hook? I wouldn't mind an easy way to remove my Callen...

 

[Czechsix]

Scott had a couple of the windlass style ones you put at the CG to lift off the truck, so nothing bolted or hooked on. He quoted $1K for a jack setup, which is more than I wanted to spend. The hundred bucks for a set of used jacks seemed much better to me

I'll be picking it up later today from Callen, had them reseal the roof JIC, do some lights in LED, have to swap all the rest of the lights out to LED, and get a quote from a manufacturer about a power slider for the front, then do some other mods.