8 replies to this topic

[KThomas]

What tips do you have for a Newb for backing and loading my Palimino truck camper on my Tacoma? Most helpful YouTube vid? Getting Torklift tie downs installed next week then go get my camper. Can I do it solo?


Sent from my iPhone using Wander The West

[ntsqd]

Do. Not. Be. In. A. Hurry.

 

Take it easy, go slow, inch at a time if that seems necessary. I open the door and pick something on the ground for reference. Move a little, get out and walk around looking it over. Plan the next move, execute it using that or another ground reference. Stop, look it over. Repeat.

[Alley-Kat]

And, even though the first few times you'll be doing it slow and carefully, you'll get better at it, be more acurate  and it will happen faster over time.

Edited by Alley-Kat, 29 July 2016 - 01:31 PM.

[XJINTX]

I put a piece of blue painters tape on the bottom rear edge of camper dead center. I then put a piece on the back edge of my truck bed. That way when backing up my wife can guide me so I am as centered as possible. Than as already mentioned I take my time backing completely in, lowering jacks and tightening down. Oh and don't forget to plug it into the bed outlet

[smlobx]

I'm still a relative newly so I am still using a spotter.
Last time we loaded the camper it took us about 15 minutes to back it in and hook everything up.
That was after I raised the camper off its storage bed....I'm still nervous about jacking the camper up that high!

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Put a piece of masking tape down the centerline of the truck bed, and on the center of the camper front wall. It helps. As others said, go slow.

Oops, just saw XJ said the same.

[Vic]

after a couple of times you will develop some visual cues and it goes on smoothly.

 

One trick we learned with the old camper that we applied to the new camper - mark the jack legs with a permanent marker when you get the camper up to the right height for loading and unloading - saves either going to high or too low next time around and all that eyeballing if it will clear the bed floor.  

[KThomas]

This is all great - I love the tape down the truck bed! Thanks friends!

[Bill D]

As mentioned above, the most important thing is do not be in a hurry.

 

Here are some of my tips:

 

-When you are lined up, you should NOT be able to see the rear jacks.  The front jacks will be blocking their view.

I like to close one eye and make sure I am spot on.

The further away you are from the camper when doing the initial alignment the better.  This will give you more room to make minor corrections as you make your approach.

 

-look for even spacing.  Ie. 2 inches on each side

 

-Having the camper up higher typically makes it easier

(I put marks on my jack stands to ensure I have cranked them up high enough)

 

-tuck the wiring harness out of the way

(You don't want it to snag up while backing under the camper.)

 

-When you are backed approx. 2/3 of the way under (before you back under the wider rear portion) get out and check how things are going.  This is when I hook up the wiring harness anyhow.  Check how your alignment is going, whether you need to make a steering correction to the left of the right.  (If you are out to lunch, pull forward and try again).

Again having the camper higher typically gives you a bit more grace because your truck box is typically narrower at the bottom with a slight curve to the bottom of the box,

Also having the camper higher makes it a bit more tippy.  You might think this is a bad thing but it isn't, it gives you room to make corrections.  You can slightly edge it over if needed or lower one side a crank or two and let gravity help center the camper.

-One other thing to look for is the the rear end of the camper is not too low.  Just because the front end made it, doesn't mean the rear end will.  Go to the back and duck down to ensure you have the vertical clearance on the rear end as well.

 

-Once you are underneath, you can once again use gravity to butt the camper up against the front of the truck box, by adjusting how far you let the front end down in relation to how far you let the rear end down.  The further you let the front down in relation to rear will move the camper forward, toward the cab of the truck.  You can also do the same thing to compensate for slight driver side/passenger side alignment.

 

 -Your camper is going to settle.  Don't worry about it being perfect.  Tighten your turnbuckles, but don't over tighten them.  You want a little bit of play to allow the camper to settle.  Drive about 50 km and then check them again for proper tightness.

 

BTW, I've never had a spotter help me.  I park my camper in extremely lumpy grass in an older back yard.  I have to drive over and old sidewalk that is about 3 inches higher than the grass because the earth has settled over time.  I've also loaded up the camper a few times in the winter on icy lumpy conditions.  Where the snow is a few feet deep and I shovelled a path to the camper.

Edited by Bill D, 31 July 2016 - 07:03 AM.