18 replies to this topic

[canfindtom]

Thank you again all.  I have come to the conclusion that it is too risky - too many things that could go wrong.  So, while I think it is possible, I think it is not worth the risk.  

 

Glad I posted and got your feedback.  It may have saved me a big headache.

 

[Murdog]

I realize this is an old post, but IMO the two biggest risks are:  extra strain on the front jacks as they will be taking not only a greater amount of load but the load will not be directly vertical, but will instead be leveraging against the attachment point.  I've learned from experience that it takes very little lateral load to break a camper jack off it's mount....they aren't designed to be strong laterally.  Second, you risk tipping camper forward onto it's front, it doesn't take much downhill slope to cause a camper to tip forward.  Depending on how slopped your driveway is I would be extremely careful. And like someone else said, consider how you'll put things back together if it all goes south on you.

[PaulT]

Check this product. 
https://www.truckcam...er-accessories/

 

Paul

[57Pan]

  I have to take my camper on and off in my sloped driveway. There is probably 4-5 inches difference in heights. I jack the camper up level, meaning that the back has to go up higher in relation to the ground.  I don't understand how you would think that there is any more weight on the rear legs, the jacks don't know that they are higher. It is nerve racking for me only because my camper is so high, but part of that is because my truck is slightly lifted.

 In a perfect world I would like to take it off on level ground, but it isn't an option where I live.

[Vic Harder]

  I have to take my camper on and off in my sloped driveway. There is probably 4-5 inches difference in heights. I jack the camper up level, meaning that the back has to go up higher in relation to the ground.  I don't understand how you would think that there is any more weight on the rear legs, the jacks don't know that they are higher. It is nerve racking for me only because my camper is so high, but part of that is because my truck is slightly lifted.

 In a perfect world I would like to take it off on level ground, but it isn't an option where I live.

Same here.  I put blocks under the lower jack points, effectively "raising" the ground level so that the jacks really don't know that there is a difference in height.

[BBZ]

I do it all the time with my Grandby, but.. I have 4 very solid cable jacks, the kind that are used when you only really need 2 and find the balance point.. I put the more stout ones in the front where more of the weight theoretically will be and the others in the back (also pretty stout but not as stout as the others).. 

 

I would guess my slope is 6 inches.. I certainly don't leave it up long, but it feels really solid..

[Donner99]

I didn't have any problems and the camper sat like this for a week while i got my work done. Granted the truck was trapped but it sat nicely. As i drove out from under it the bed kept rising, once i let the airbags out I was able to get far enough out to get my work done. 

 

 

 

 

[PackRat]

My driveway is half-sloped...meaning the camper and the jacks for it are more or less on a flat section. The rear tires are, of course on the flat section, but the front tires are on the sloped section. I drive in backwards and then put my small leveling ramps I use out in the boonies behind the front tires and then carefully back up on them. My "ramps" are made from 3/4" plywood with one 2" x 6" full length with a 45 degree cut on the front end to drive up on. I have a second 2" x 6" with a 45 degree end that is attached to the other 2" x 6" which lets me back up even further to get the FRONT of the truck up the total height of the ramps (3/4" ply plus two 2" x 6"s).

 

That levels the camper to where the jacks are located and it is simple enough now to raise the camper and drive forward out from under the camper on the jacks.

 

HOWEVER: I have to raise the camper enough to allow for the truck bed to clear the front of the camper as I start down the sloped section as it is now lighter and will sit higher at the rear of the truck bed.

 

NOTE: It is never a good idea to leave your camper on the jacks for the winter or even for any length of time. Lower it onto a framework of cribbing that distributes the weigh on many cross members! You can choose to leave a LITTLE upward force on the jacks but for any length of time, why not get them indoors for the winter also.

[camper rich]

I too have a sloping driveway and have experienced the jacks "walking" a few inches.  I think that one solution would be to tether the camper in some fashion so that it can't move downhill on you, perhaps some nylon webbing wrapped around it tied to your garage or a car parked behind, or just some stout stakes.  I could tie mine to the trailer hitch on my Vanagon which is parked in my garage.