How to Load Your Truck Camper
If you’re a pickup truck owner, you might be considering a truck camper for your next RV purchase. Known as cabover campers and slide-in campers, this type of camper is meant to rest in the bed of a truck. There are many advantages to the cabover camper, and many outdoor enthusiasts wouldn’t trade their truck camper for any other type of RV. But if you’re new to truck campers, you probably don’t know what goes into loading one onto your truck. This brief tutorial will introduce you to the advantages of truck campers and will show you the best way to load and unload them. If you’re still in the market for a truck camper, stop by Campsite RV. Located in Cresco, Iowa, we’ll help you find the camper that’s right for you.
Advantages of a Truck Camper
Many people enjoy camping in an RV because you get the pleasure of being close to nature with the comfort of a real bed and modern amenities. Increasingly, people are turning to truck campers to provide the benefits of an RV, without the hassle of towing. These convenient RVs provide more maneuverable driving than your average RV, and can be parked just about anywhere. Just like a travel trailer or fifth wheel, you can unload them at the site of your choosing so that you have a place to stay when you need it and an unencumbered vehicle when you need it. Some truck campers even feature slide outs and residential style amenities such as cooking ranges and ovens. Because of their smaller size, truck campers can be very affordable and are well-suited for the budgets and space requirements of couples or individuals.
Installation
Installing a truck camper can be somewhat intimidating for new owners. It’s possible that lifting all that weight high enough in the air so that you can back your truck under it freaks people out. Regardless, loading a truck camper should be easy, so long as you have the right equipment and a spotter to make the process easier.
To start, you’ll want to jack your truck camper up until it’s approximately six inches above the bed of your truck. Consider investing in a rubber bed liner for your truck. Not only will this spare your truck unnecessary wear and tear, it will also provide grip so that should your ties come loose, your camper won’t slide out of the bed.
With the aid of your spotter, slowly back up under your truck camper until you are lined up. You can keep going until you actually touch the camper, as it probably won’t do any damage if you take it slow and it will help you get the best connection with the camper. Put your truck in park and then go hook up all of the electrical connections for brake or turning lights. Once these are hooked up, lower the camper down, dropping the front first and then the rear. Once it’s fully held up by the truck, it’s time to start the tie down process.
Camper Tie Downs
Tying down a truck camper can be more complex than you might think because on many trucks, there are simply no existing anchors to which you can tie your camper. You’ll almost definitely need to invest in tie down anchors. These can attach to the bumper of your truck, but the most secure anchor location is the frame. Some anchors will bolt around the frame with a bar that extends out past the truck’s body work. You’ll need at least one on each corner of your truck’s bed for a stable tie down. A device called a turnbuckle will connect your anchor to your tie down. These sometimes feature devices to record how much tension is being applied, which will help you keep the camper firmly in place without risking damage to your vehicle or your camper.
When you’re ready for a truly unique camper experience, try a truck camper. Campsite RV can help you pick the right one for your truck and your needs. We’re located in Cresco, Iowa, and we serve the areas of Cedar Falls, Rochester, Minnesota, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Come talk to one of our experienced RV enthusiast team members and drive away with your own slide-in RV today!