This was the first time I ever did this during an outing and was curious how often other truck camper owners do this. I can't imagine I'd do it very much, but it's nice to have the versatility to do when needed.
2011 Wolf Creek 850N/Polar Cub/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Morningstar Sunsaver w/RM-1 & SureSine-300 Inverter 2011 Ford F-250/6.2L/3.73/Bilsteins/Air Bags/Torklift TD w/Fastguns 2004 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/5-spd US Navy Ret.
It depends on if I'm towing a boat on that trip, which if I am, the camper always comes off, and how long I'm staying in a place.
If I'm only staying a night or two, I'll leave the camper on. For my big cross-country trip this fall, I plan to leave the camper in place as much as possible for simplicities sake.
Follow me as I full-time the Redneck Way at The Journey of the Redneck Express CBChannel 17Redneck Express '1992Dodge W-250 "Dually" Power Wagon - Club Cab Long Bed 4x4 V8 5.9L gashog w/4.10 Geared axles '1974KIT Kamper 1106 - 11' Slide-in
Probably 2/3 of the time we'll drop the TC. Key considerations are the amount of time we're spending in one location and what are we doing while there. When we have the boat in tow, unloading the TC makes launching the boat easier although I have done it with the TC loaded.
We just came back from Denali NP and you're not allowed to travel inside the park in your personal vehicle so, despite the length of our stay, we left the TC loaded.
Of course other considerations are the ease of unloading/loading as in: do you have electric or manual jacks. Some will probably mention battery life considerations.
'11 GMC 3500hd SLT DRW D/A 4x4 Spray-in, Air Bags w/comp & controls, TL, Superhitch, 48" Supertruss, 9.5t Warn, front rcvr, Fox Shocks, '11 AF 1140, DB, AC, Gen, Solar, Thermal Windows, Wardrobe, Rear & Side Awnings, 18' Lund/40hp Honda 4 stroke
I am planning to purchase a truck & TC this fall (both used) and plan to spend many weekends up there, both to enjoy some snow this winter and escape the heat next summer.
Can't wait to stop lurking and actually join the team
BManning baking in Phoenix
2008 Ford Super Duty F250 XLT, 4x4, crew cab, 6.75' bed
5.4L V8 300hp/365ft-lb, 5sp Torqshift, 4.30 AAM gears
9400lb GVW 11200lb tow
2007 Volvo XC90 AWD V8
4.4L 311hp/325ft-lb, 6sp Aisin, loaded
6100lb GVW 5000lb tow
Never. I have "maybe" a quarter inch clearance on each side for the wheel well humps and the tailgate, so I need an almost perfect level spot to unload it, like my driveway. I do plan on taking it off for the first time in a year after my next trip in a couple weeks. I've got some detail work I want to do to it (I know Mike, photos, photos, photos!! .....
Dak
1995 Weekender model 910 extended cabover
Calvin, the 1996 creampuff Chev Silverado 3500 extended cab dually
Just about everytime we camp it gets off loaded. Mainly because my kids are 6 and 8 and it is much easier with it low for them. Plus, we have the boat with us 95% of the trips we take and it comes out of the water every night for peace of mind and recharging the trolling motor batteries.
John
John
2001 Ford F350 dually, crew, 4x4, 7.3
2007 Arctic Fox 990
1995 Champion Bass Boat
This past camping trip we needed the truck to go to a meeting, so we unloaded for the first time on a trip. It was a pain in the arse, mainly because the jacks don't run as strong on straight battery as they do when plugged in to shore power (Plus the camper is wet and significantly heavier than when loading/unloading at home), and it took way too long to get the camper back up again. I vowed that next time the camper stays on.
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