I might have to sell the Wildernest

[adrenaline503]

Sadly, it looks like it will be too difficult for my wife and I to load and unload the Wildernest. She doesn't want to drive around with it on the truck, so it needs to removed pretty regularly. I don't have a garage that I can use for the lift systems, nor am I willing to pay 400 bucks for a set of camper jacks to safely lift it. I have been tossing some ideas around on how to make something for cheaper using scaffolding jacks (tall mechanical screw jacks), but nothing that great has come to mind. It sucks because I have put over 100 hours into the project, and now its not even any fun because its a bi1ch to load. I should add that my wife is 5' tall, that isn't helping matters. I knew this was a risk when I bought it, oh well. Anyway, I am looking for some last ditch economical suggestions, or a buyer in the Seattle area who might be interested.

 

[goodtimes]

When I was in high school, I figured out a way to remove the top from my '72 blazer....solo. A variation may work for you.

Now, to start things off, I have no idea how much a wildernest weighs...or how it mounts to the truck...so take this for what it is worth.

I used a simple 8' long 2x4 as the only "tool". After the top was unbolted (12 bolts, IIRC), I would stand up in the back of the blazer (bent at the waist and knees), then using my legs I would lift the back of the top about 4 or 5" off the bed rails. I would slide the 2x4 under the top / over the bed rails so that it stuck out either side about 12 - 14 inches. Now it was a simple matter to pull the top strait off the back....no risk of it falling off to the side because of the 2x4 sticking out.....once almost all the way off, I would simply lower the back end to the ground, walk around and pick up the front end, so the wieght was primarily on the rear 2 corners. It was a simple matter to walk it back a couple of feet on those two corners, and set the front end down. It literally took about 10 minutes....7 of those were unbolting the top. It would go on just as easy.

If you don't like the idea of lowering it to the ground...build a pair of collapsable saw horses (brackets available at home depot, sears, etc) about 6' long and just a couple inches taller than the side rails of the truck bed. Set them up next to the truck, as close as you can get them while allowing you room to get the truck in/out. Again with 2x4's, lift one end of the wildernest with your legs, and slide the 2x4 under the wildernest, with the ends resting on the saw horses. Repeat for the other end. Then simply drive your truck out from under it. Reverse to install the wildernest.

good luck!

 

[adrenaline503]

When I was in high school, I figured out a way to remove the top from my '72 blazer....solo. A variation may work for you.

Now, to start things off, I have no idea how much a wildernest weighs...or how it mounts to the truck...so take this for what it is worth.

I used a simple 8' long 2x4 as the only "tool". After the top was unbolted (12 bolts, IIRC), I would stand up in the back of the blazer (bent at the waist and knees), then using my legs I would lift the back of the top about 4 or 5" off the bed rails. I would slide the 2x4 under the top / over the bed rails so that it stuck out either side about 12 - 14 inches. Now it was a simple matter to pull the top strait off the back....no risk of it falling off to the side because of the 2x4 sticking out.....once almost all the way off, I would simply lower the back end to the ground, walk around and pick up the front end, so the wieght was primarily on the rear 2 corners. It was a simple matter to walk it back a couple of feet on those two corners, and set the front end down. It literally took about 10 minutes....7 of those were unbolting the top. It would go on just as easy.

If you don't like the idea of lowering it to the ground...build a pair of collapsable saw horses (brackets available at home depot, sears, etc) about 6' long and just a couple inches taller than the side rails of the truck bed. Set them up next to the truck, as close as you can get them while allowing you room to get the truck in/out. Again with 2x4's, lift one end of the wildernest with your legs, and slide the 2x4 under the wildernest, with the ends resting on the saw horses. Repeat for the other end. Then simply drive your truck out from under it. Reverse to install the wildernest.

good luck!

Your plan is exactly what I am doing now. I built a pretty impressive cage that I back into, raise the canopy on the beams and drive out. That plan just isnt working out as I had hoped.

 

[mog]

I used a pair of boat winch type camper jacks to load and unload my FWC with no problems. You can buy the winches for about $15 each at Harbor Freight, use 'black pipe' for the uprights, and low buck metal for the cradle and upright supports. I'd guess $50-$100 depending on the source of the metal. If you want a hand drawn diagram, just let me know.

 

[adrenaline503]

I used a pair of boat winch type camper jacks to load and unload my FWC with no problems. You can buy the winches for about $15 each at Harbor Freight, use 'black pipe' for the uprights, and low buck metal for the cradle and upright supports. I'd guess $50-$100 depending on the source of the metal. If you want a hand drawn diagram, just let me know.

please

 

[taco chaser]

Keep the camper, sell the wife.:hehe:

 

[adrenaline503]

Keep the camper, sell the wife.:hehe:

Yea, I kinda want someone to keep me warm in there....

 

[DaveInDenver]

Yea, I kinda want someone to keep me warm in there....

A big fluffy dog? They love WilderNests.

 

[Clutch]

Why doesn't your wife like having the Wildernest on the truck? Too many dirt bag rock climbers hitting on her? My girlfriend loves mine, we used it just last week. Loves how simple it is.

So did you sell it? I saw one for sale on the Seattle Craigslists...it was deleted, wondered if it was yours.

Whatevery happened to you getting a new canvas for it? The $20 tarp seems to working for me....would like to have new material. The Earthroamer Jeep's top looks swell. That whole concept would be killer on a new generation Tacoma.