kcabpilot wrote: This topic comes up often and there are usually a good number who say they do offload at the campsite for various reasons but I think you will find that the vast majority of TC users do not offload at the campsite.
To be honest, I've been doing this for over 30 years and have never actually ever seen anyone that offloads. It may be more of a recent idea with the advent of electric jacks but it still seems like an odd thing to do, at least to me - I can't think of any good reason to do it.
In your case, with tripod jacks I'd say unequivocally that you should dismiss the notion entirely - not a good idea.
Our first 2 TC's had hydraulic jacks and yes I never took them off(TC) until trip was finshed.
Now with electric jacks, TC off in 15 min. and truck ready to shuttle, sight see, drive on rough road to trailhead without beating******out of TC etc. Sounds like a good reason to me.
BTW, Happijac has an option on their jacks that allow you to drop legs manually by flicking lever on motor, pushing down on pad until leg is on groung, flicking lever back and then raising TC on electric thus saving time and juice by not dropping leg by motor.Of course it works in reverse.
Dave
2006 F350 Diesel 4X4 CC SRW, Michelin XDS-2 19.5's, Vision Wheels
2011 Outfitter 9.5 Extended Cabover
Some Of Our Fun:http://daveincoldstream.blogspot.ca/
crosscheck wrote: Sounds like a good reason to me.
You've got that option Dave, I'm just saying that I've never had any good reason and that includes launching boats and going everywhere we've gone over the past 30 years. In fact, now days when we return from a camping trip the camper stays on the truck at home until a time comes that I need the truck at which point it comes off and stays off until we decide to go camping again. So I have striven to minimize the number of times I load/unload the camper as much as I can and that's what works for me.
My point is aimed at the new user who asked the question and I think that as he gains experience he will probably find, like the majority of us, that there is no need to offload at a campsite.
1994 Lance 990 on 1997 F350 PSD Dually "Rhino Haunches"
We are new to TC's - hope to make our first trip in 2 weeks. We plan to off-load ours for most weekend stops. Our main reason for getting tc is to save fuel over using our class c. Our second reason is that we are tired of relying on friends to launch our boat when we camp with them, or having to tear down camp every time we need to launch or pull the boat. This way we can set up camp (including awning) and not disturb it until we get ready to leave.
For those that leave it on and still use the truck...don't you ever set up awning, lights tables etc???
The Bradford's
Western NY
24'Class C TIoga Montera
1996 Jayco pop-up TC
Always unload, if were staying overnight the camper is off the truck. That way we don't have to break up camp to go somewhere with the truck. Shoot by the time I get everything ready to go and stored, I can have the camper on or off. 15 minutes or less its on or off for us. Plus our Okanagan 811-SL is stable off the truck. With electric jacks its coming off the truck.
Sure going to miss the Truck camper.
Pete
2004 Duramax/allison Trans C/C 4x4
2012 Landmark Key Largo
2008 Lund 1825 Pro Guide Tiller, With a Evinrude 90 HP E-Tec
NavigatorC130A wrote: We are new to TC's - hope to make our first trip in 2 weeks. We plan to off-load ours for most weekend stops. Our main reason for getting tc is to save fuel over using our class c. Our second reason is that we are tired of relying on friends to launch our boat when we camp with them, or having to tear down camp every time we need to launch or pull the boat. This way we can set up camp (including awning) and not disturb it until we get ready to leave.
For those that leave it on and still use the truck...don't you ever set up awning, lights tables etc???
Yes but I can unsetup and be leaving in less then ten minutes. Many times we don't plug in so its just a matter of bringing in the awning, raising jacks, bringing in the slideout and going...
We'll leave camp chairs behind at the site and sometimes the bikes too locked to a tree or table.
2011 Dodge Ram 3500 4*4 Black dually Laramie 4.10 gears
2011 Arctic Fox 1150 Drybath
2009 Polaris RZR w/fun parts
2011 Polaris Sportsman 550 XP EPS w/stuff
2006 Polaris Sportsman 500 w/stuff
1977 K5 Blazer 1 ton modified
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid (her car)
It depends on the type of camping you do I suppose. For us, we are usually traveling on a road trip. I've got all sorts of stuff packed in the side wings of the bed, a boot between cab and camper windows and a receiver extension. We carry all we need to the campsite and there's never any need to run into town on an errand. Sight seeing is done with the camper along.
I guess, for us, it goes back to the days when practically nobody had an extended cab and did have 3 or 4 kids that either rode in the camper or didn't come along. There weren't any electric jacks back then either so there was never a thought of unloading at a campsite.
Still, even now, despite all of those who do it, I've never actually seen or met any of you out on the road. I don't think I've ever seen an unloaded TC at any of the places we've camped at, and that's a lot of places over the past 30 years.
Quote: Yes but I can unsetup and be leaving in less then ten minutes. Many times we don't plug in so its just a matter of bringing in the awning, raising jacks, bringing in the slideout and going...
Blazer, all the items you mentioned are exterior. So either your wife does the inside or you never unpack like home when you get there. Putting the wet bar away is a chore in and of itself! LOL!
Truck: 2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
Camper: 2007 Eagle Cap 850
Boat: 2003 Jetcraft 2125 - Yamaha 150 HP & 8 HP Kicker
This might just be my lack of skill in backing up and loading the TC on the truck. The tight tolerances on my TC and truck (approximately 5/8" on each side)have me less inclined to unload and load on a frequent basis while on vacation. I also noticed based on the very limited pictures of people who unload, is that they are camped on what appears to be perfectly level paved or concrete pads. I haven't camped with my TC in places like that yet.
When my skills improve on loading my TC, I may change my viewpoint!
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dadwolf2 wrote: This might just be my lack of skill in backing up and loading the TC on the truck. The tight tolerances on my TC and truck (approximately 5/8" on each side)have me less inclined to unload and load on a frequent basis while on vacation. I also noticed based on the very limited pictures of people who unload, is that they are camped on what appears to be perfectly level paved or concrete pads. I haven't camped with my TC in places like that yet.
When my skills improve on loading my TC, I may change my viewpoint!
I set mine off on spots where the back jacks are 2ft high the front down as low as they go. Or one side is a foot or more higher then the other side. For most most times the boat is along, thus I drop the camper and use the truck to do all the other stuff. Have not see a spot I have camped yet that, was bad enough to leave the camper on the truck.
Plus ours has less than 1" on each side when it starts into the bed, with tape in the floor of the bed and on the back window. Plus a piece dead center of the camper. I back up then stop to hook the power cord up. Then on back, Wish I had the room to hook the power cord up like most after the camper is all the way forward. But can't get your hand down in there with the on.
Pete
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