Geewizard
Alaska, USA
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Joined: 08/25/2004
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I considered removing my jacks when I first got the camper for weight, mpg, and clearance but then I had a situation where I used the jacks (and Torklifts) to help change a rear tire. That was so handy that I decided to leave them on.
Tundra Double Cab
Outfitter Apex 8
Full Size Rig Pic
Remote Alaska Camping 1
Remote Alaska Camping 2
More Remote Camping near Denali
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kylekai
Sandy Ego, CA
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Joined: 09/12/2006
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Geewizard wrote:I considered removing my jacks when I first got the camper for weight, mpg, and clearance but then I had a situation where I used the jacks (and Torklifts) to help change a rear tire. That was so handy that I decided to leave them on.
I never thought of that. Would it have been possible to change the tire without the jacks, or did the jacks just make the task easier?
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jmtandem
carson city nv
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Joined: 01/18/2006
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With all the frontal area of a camper, I seriously doubt that the jacks will contribute to measurable lesser fuel mileage. The AC on top of the camper is probably more of a drag than all four jacks combined. If you need to get the camper off the truck for some reason and the jacks are home I would hardly think positively about the miniscule fuel mileage I was trying to save.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed airbags overload springs bumpers
'00 Elkhorn 10V w/basement
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jmckelvy
North Alabama
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Joined: 07/25/2006
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Nemo667 wrote:jefe 4x4 wrote:I like the way you think.
However, I must remind you I am the self-proclaimed "king of the jacks-off"?
regards, as always, jefe ...ok...naw...never mind 
ROFLMAO
01 Chevy 2500HD,EC,4X4,LB,LineX,Westers PCM,Hellwig Sway Bar,Timbrens
2008 Northstar 8.5 Arrow
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Groover
Pulaski, TN
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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I also use my jacks to level and stabilize the camper. I find mine essential for changing rear tires. My camper does weigh about 4,000 pounds and has 4 feet of rear overhang so others may not have this issue but even when using the camper jacks it is all I can do to lift the rear axle with the standard issue truck jack. I also feel a lot more secure working on the truck with the extra feet on the ground.
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MasterBoondocker
nw lower Meeeechigan, TN and FL
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Joined: 10/11/2003
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My jacks-are-OFF for a way diff reason. So if someone backs into them or I hit something with them ... you can damage the camper BIG TIME. ALSO ...if they are on .. the chance of theft is great also.
I first did this after seeing a listing on eBay for a 3 or 4 year old camper that someone had backed-INTO one of the rear jacks. The insurance company had "totaled" it.
That really messed that rear section up. I am a pretty handy person .. but I would not have wanted to tackle that job.
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JohnJM
Wycombe PA
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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I have mine on for a couple reasons......
1. if I need to change a tire. YU need a jack to lift all the camper truck etc, not the stock jack. 2, on a ford to get the spare down you need to acess the back bumper.
2. If break down and need to flatbed the truck out you need to drop the camper. They will not flat bed a tuck with camper its too high and too heavy. YOu have a pop up so you might be ok with this issue.
Ive had both situations come up in the past and if I hadnt had my jacks ont he camper I woulda been even more royally screwed.
John M
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jmtandem
carson city nv
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Joined: 01/18/2006
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masterboondocker,
The chance of theft is greatly lessened with jacks on if you add a simple switch that stops the power to that jacks. Then the jacks won't work.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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I have been dreaming about a camper made with easily removeable jacks, like the jacks that my slide-in utility body uses, which loads and unloads just a camper. The jacks are fifthwheel/gooseneck trailer landing gear jacks (very heavy duty, 2000 lbs each) with a L-shaped horizontal extension welded onto them that fits into a 2" i.d. square steel 'reciever tube' opening in each corner of the utility body and pin in place with a hitch pin, just like the reciever hitches on our truck. All four jacks install or remove in less than 5 minutes and can be stored anywhere, including in the basement of a camper.
I think this would be a very useful feature to have on a camper used for off-road, or where jack weight is an issue, the jacks can be left at home. If they are needed on the road, if the truck can carry their weight, then some place can be devised to store them. They are not nearly as long as a regular camper jack, as they only go from the ground the lower corner of each 'wing' on the camper/utility body.
I have a Callen steel framed camper shell I intend on welding reciever tubes into each corner of at some time in the future so I can use the uitility body jacks to also load/unload the camper shell, and I may end up with a project of making that camper shell more 'habitable', since I can't afford another real camper now but still want to go camping (if gas prices ever come back down, or if I make more disposable money in my business).
Here is the link to the jacks that my utility body uses:
www.fleetwest.net
Other pics of the jacks are on this page: Load'n'Go
The link to the Fleetwest main page with more jack pics and a little video of a utility body beining loaded on a truck with the jacks is on the main Fleetwest page, which is in my signature below. Click on "Load'n'Go service body" in sig.
Pics of the utility body loaded on my truck can be seen by clicking on my description in sig that takes you to photobucket page with pics of the truck and body.
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
LoadNGo service body
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
B&W TurnoverBall g-neck Curt Magnum rr DrawTite ft
HD springs Rancho9000s Bilsteins poly sway bushings
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & Lock-Rite rear
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JimBollman
Upstate NY
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Joined: 08/31/2006
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I have the 3 fold up jacks so I don't think I would save a lot from air flow but I leave mine off sometimes just to get them out of the way. We camp in tight spots a lot and you tend to run into them when you walk by. I have never liked the jacks that stay vertical, I figure I would hit them on something.
Jim...
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