Getting a truck camper can be your one-way ticket to a more comfortable adventurous lifestyle. After all, you won’t want your RV to slow you down, but you also deserve to have a cozy place to sleep and relax when you’re on the road. That’s where a truck camper can be a great compromise, but they require unique steps to get them ready for travel. You won’t be hitching it the same way you would for other RVs, so to help out those who might be scratching their heads, RV Station Colbert has provided a guide to mounting your camper onto your truck. If you’re still running into problems, though, stop by our location near Sherman, McKinney, and Gainesville, Texas and we’ll help you with all your RV related needs.
Raise the Truck Camper
Start with the camper slightly higher than where it’s going to end up, about four inches above the bed of the truck. This require a little shimmying, as you’ll need to raise each corner incrementally. We recommend starting at the front end and making your way back. This way, you won’t risk flipping the camper forward as the weight shifts.
Back up your Truck
Once the truck camper is high enough, you’ll want to back up the truck so it’s lined up exactly where it needs to be. You’ll want to clear the trucks wheel wells and avoid bumping the camper jacks. Take things slowly, especially the first time you do this, and even consider getting a spotter to help guide you.
Connect Wiring
Before you lower the camper and even before backing up all the way, you’ll want to make all the necessary electrical wire connections. It’s simply easier to do this first, rather than trying to work in cramped quarters.
Once everything is completely hooked up, you’ll want to continue backing your truck up until it’s in the right place. You don’t want the camper to bump the bumper or tail lights, as this can damage your truck, but if you’re a little worried about accidentally doing this, then consider getting a camper bumper kit.
Lower the Camper
Now it’s time to lower the camper. First, make sure you get all that wiring out of the way so nothing becomes disconnected or crushed. Then lower the camper just like you raised it, incrementally, from front to back. Avoid rushing this process so you can gently set the camper down on the truck and avoid damaging any parts.
Secure the Camper
Now you’ll want to make sure nothing moves while you’re on the road. You’ll need tie-downs and turnbuckles for this. Attach turnbuckles to the anchor points on the camper and the tie-downs on the truck. Proceed to tighten them. You’ll want to keep tightening until reaching a secure tension of 300 foot-pounds. We recommend getting turnbuckles that come with built-in indicators so you know when you’ve reached this point. You can also use a spring tension indicator or spring-loaded turnbuckles to avoid overdoing it and damaging your camper or truck.
And with that, you should be ready to hit the road and start your next adventure. It won’t take long to get used to this process, as it’s fairly simple, if time consuming. But the first few times around you may just want to practice. Set aside a morning or afternoon before your first trip to run through this process once or twice so nothing slows you down on the big day. If you still need the truck camper, or if you have any other RV-related questions, stop by RV Station Colbert and let us know how we can help you. We proudly serve Sherman, McKinney, and Gainesville, TX.
This information is for educational purposes. VIARV shall not be responsible nor retain liability for RVer’s use of the provided information. Prior to making any RV service decision, you are advised to consult with an RV professional.
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