5 replies to this topic

[TylerD]

Just purchased an Alaskan nco, don’t know what year and haven’t seen the camper in person. It’s an older one, looks in decent shape. Will I have any issues putting it in the back of my 2001 Dodge 2500, my concern is that it will clear the sides of the truck bed. Any advice appreciated.

[fesser]

Hello TylerD, and congratulations on the purchase.

 

I have three older Alaskans and have yet to actually take one camping, however, I have hauled more than a few home.  As far as issues hauling it in your Dodge, I can't speak with any personal knowledge on that particular truck.  However some simple basics points apply to any truck (CO guys have a whole other set of cab clearance issues).

 

The biggest issue encountered with many modern pickups hauling old Alaskans is the height of the top of your bedsides.  The Alaskans I have here are all about 19" from the bottom edge of the floor to the underside of the portion that extends over the truck's bed sides.  As an example my Superduty Ford bed sides are about 20" tall (going by memory), so it is necessary to put something under the Alaskan's floor to raise it enough to safely clear the sides.  Some double stacked 2x6's were more than enough to gain necessary clearance in my case.  I think I even hauled one with single stacked 2x4's with a sheet of 3/4 plywood on top once.  I also bring some shorter boards to use as a spacer in front of and behind the camper to limit front to back movement. 

 

Each camper can present its own clearance problems.  I hauled one where the water hose fixture was mounted on the underside of the overhang in direct conflict with the top of the bed rail, and another where someone mounted big tie down eye bolts in the same are causing a clearance issue. 

 

I am not going to get into how to anchor the camper the best way.  There are many posts on here where it is discussed.  I have hauled 8' NCO's in my longbed with the tailgate closed, not anchored other than blocking the front and back, and got them here without problems, but it is a lot of weight, that is not secured, so you could say that it wasn't safe/smart to do it that way.  I have also hauled a 10' NCO in the longbed with the tailgate down and some fat straps across the back of the camper (also not the safest or smartest way) without any issue.  My personal plan (when I finally get one finished) is to bolt through the floor into some permanently fixed threaded holes in the truck bed, and to use something to help support the underside of the overhang a bit to take some of the flex off of the door opening.

 

Post some pictures when you get it home.  I for one love seeing what people have found.  If you need other measurements let me know.

 

Frank (Napa, CA)

[TylerD]

Thanks Fesser, that’s exactly the info I was looking for. Going to throw some 2x6’s in the back so I’m sure to have clearance.

Will post pictures when I get home. Thanks again.

[wcj]

Your vintage truck is probably good to go. The newer trucks are the problem with bed rail height. My 2004 chevy fits but rides better on a piece of plywood. 

 

Lots of mounting options happy to discuss if interested.  My first came home with a couple of ratchet straps over the top. Still do that sometimes when the winds are sever cross winds. 

[TylerD]

Thanks WCJ, yes, for right now I’m just transporting it home from a couple hours away, will look into better securing it to the truck later.
I measured my bed rails and they’re right at 19” with a rubber Matt on the bed so will have to put some two-by’s down first.

Glad I got this figured out ahead of time. Thanks again.

[thisoldcamper]

You might want to take a sawzall and some other cutting tools. Depending on whether your Alaskan has flat sides on the lower box or the extended storage behind the wheel wells, you may need to operate on it to get it to fit at the tailgate. I had to cut off one of the behind the wheel well boxes to get mine to fit for the ride home. Get the seller to measure the width at the rear of the camper to see if it will fit at your tailgate.

Cut road side box off - notice the difference in the overhang left vs right. 2001 Chevrolet, 1978 Alaskan NCO.

Edited by thisoldcamper, 14 March 2021 - 10:54 AM.