Mastering The Art Of Loading And Unloading Truck Campers

Loading and unloading a truck camper can be intimidating, especially if you don't have enough experience with a particular truck and camper combination. The good news is that with patience and practice, it does get easier and less stressful over time. There are also several modifications and hacks that can help, such as using lasers, tennis balls, dog leashes, or a trailer alignment kit. The key is to find what works best for your specific setup and to get comfortable with the process.

Using a broom and dog leash to centre and align the camper

Loading a truck camper can be intimidating, especially if you are new to it. Here is a simple, inexpensive, and effective method to centre and align a camper using a broom and a dog leash:

Firstly, place a piece of blue painter's tape on the camper to mark its centre. Then, remove the tailgate and place a broom in the centre of the bed, extending a foot or so beyond the rear bumper. Measure the distance from the painter's tape to the edge of the camper. Using the broom handle as a guide, centre the truck with the tape.

Now, it's time to use the dog leash. On the front wall of the truck bed, next to the cab, place a magnet with a hook at a height of around 24 inches from the centre of the wall. Loop one end of the dog leash onto the magnetic hook and the other end to the far end of the camper. Check that the broom handle is still pointing towards the painter's tape.

If the line from the dog leash is parallel to the side of the camper, the truck is aligned, and you can slowly back up after checking the height of the camper. If not, adjust the front of the truck so that the dog leash is parallel to the camper's side and the broom is pointing towards the painter's tape.

Watch the corner where the dog leash touches the camper. If there is a gap, the camper is too far to the right. If the leash bends around the edge, the camper is too far to the left. Once the truck is aligned and the broom is pointing to the centre of the camper, remove the broom and back up slowly, maintaining the alignment with the dog leash.

The camper will now be perfectly aligned and centred, ready for your camping trip! This method is a cost-effective and efficient way to load your truck camper, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable camping experience.

Camper guide using PVC

Loading a truck and camper can be intimidating, especially if you don’t have much experience with a particular truck and camper combination. The good news is that with patience, practice, and perhaps a few tricks, loading and unloading gets easier and less stressful over time.

Step 1: Prepare the camper

One part of the guide is made of half-inch PVC pipe. There are two sections, each 5-feet long. Screw these onto both sides of the camper at floor level in the wood frame.

Step 2: Prepare the guide

The guide itself is made of two rods that are 6-feet long by 5/16-inch in diameter, and a 4-foot-long half-inch flat aluminum bar. Assemble these three parts together to make a square U-shape. You will need to cut the flat bar to make two holes for the rods.

Step 3: Insert the guide into the PVC pipe

Insert the guide (rod) into the PVC pipe. This way, the guide can slide in the pipe freely. When you pull the guide about 5-feet out of the PVC pipe, the guide will go between the camper's wheels. When the camper goes into the truck bed, the guide will slide back into the PVC pipe.

Jack flags to aid in truck camper loading

Truck camper jacks are an essential tool for levelling and stabilizing your camper. However, loading a truck and camper can be a challenging task, especially if you are dealing with a new combination of truck and camper. Here are some tips and tricks to help you load your truck camper with ease using jack flags:

Choose the Right Jack Flags

Jack flags are a simple yet effective tool to aid in truck camper loading. They provide a visual reference for aligning your truck and camper, ensuring that the camper is loaded at the exact right distance on each side of the truck box. When choosing jack flags, opt for a durable and flexible material such as neoprene. This will ensure that the flags can withstand the weight of the camper and won't cause any damage to your truck's finish.

Measure and Cut the Jack Flags

Once you've selected your jack flag material, it's time to measure and cut it to size. Cut a piece of neoprene or similar material that is approximately 6 inches by 12 inches. This size will provide enough surface area to easily see and adjust during the loading process. Fold the material around the jack, and use a drill or a sharp tool to create holes for attachment.

Attach the Jack Flags

Use zip ties or similar fasteners to securely attach the jack flags to the camper jacks. You want to make sure that the flags are firmly in place and won't shift or move during the loading process. Once attached, load the camper onto the truck and make any necessary adjustments to ensure it is in the exact right spot.

Fine-Tune and Mark the Jack Flags

After a few loading attempts, you will get a feel for the proper distance and alignment. Fine-tune the position of the jack flags by marking the exact spot on the jack where the flag should sit. This will ensure that you can consistently load your camper at the right distance and height. With practice, you will be able to load your camper quickly and efficiently, making your camping trips less stressful and more enjoyable.

Additional Tips

• Practice makes perfect: The more you load and unload your camper, the easier it will become. Don't be discouraged if the process feels intimidating at first.
• Use a spotter: Always have someone assist you during the loading process to ensure safety and provide guidance.
• Consider other loading aids: Explore other creative solutions, such as lasers, tennis balls, or dog leashes, to make loading your truck camper a breeze.

Magnetic wand for easy camper loading

Loading a truck and camper can be intimidating, especially if you are new to the process. Luckily, there are many modifications you can make to your setup to make loading and unloading easier. One such modification is the use of a magnetic wand.

A magnetic wand can help you centre your camper on your truck and ensure it is straight and aligned. To create this setup, you will need three magnetic wands, a spring, a tube, double-sided tape, and a 2-inch mending plate.

First, cut the magnetic wands to 2 inches in length. Glue the spring to one end of the wand, and insert and glue the tube inside the spring. Attach the mending plates to the underside of the camper, 8 inches out from the front, middle, and rear. Stick the magnetic wand to the mending plate.

When loading your camper, use your side-view mirror to align the springs with the bed rails of your truck. Adjust the position of your truck until all the springs are just touching the bed rails. With this setup, you can load your camper with minimal stress in just 15 minutes!

This modification is simple, inexpensive, and effective. It can help take the anxiety and arguments out of loading a truck camper and make the process a breeze.

The KISS camper loading system

Loading a truck camper can be a stressful and challenging task, especially for beginners. The KISS camper loading system is a simple, inexpensive, and stress-reducing solution that can make the process much easier. This system aims to ensure that the truck is always backed square and parallel to the camper, eliminating the need for complex manoeuvring.

To set up the KISS system, you will need a 3/16-inch by 50-foot polypropylene rope and some weights to keep the rope taut. Scuba diving weights or barbell weights are ideal, but any five-pound weights will work. Attach the weights securely to each end of the rope. You will also need some scrap pieces of wood to create "alignment guides".

Start by loading the camper onto the truck and lowering the driver's side camper jacks so that they just touch the ground. Stretch the rope from behind the camper to in front of the truck, ensuring that it touches the edge of the front and back driver's side tires. Measure the distance from the inside edge of each jack leg to the rope. Cut the scrap wood to match these measurements and nail on a short stub to create a tee shape. Mark each guide with "Front" and "Back" to indicate their positions.

Now, jack up the camper and pull the truck out. When loading the camper, you want each jack's height to match its previous position. You can use blue tape and a permanent marker to record the jack's heights on the camper's body. To load the camper, adjust the jack heights to match the recorded measurements and set the appropriate alignment guides against the jack's edges. Stretch the rope with weights attached so that it touches the edge of both alignment guides. Adjust your driver's side mirror to point straight down at the ground, allowing you to see the position of the back tire in relation to the rope.

Begin backing up your truck, manoeuvring it until the edge of each tire is just touching the rope. Maintain this position as you continue backing up, checking the position of the tires in the mirror and leaning out the window to monitor the front tire. With the KISS system, you can ensure that your truck is properly aligned with the camper, making the loading process safer and less stressful.

Frequently asked questions