Best way to load a slide in camper

[DocStressor]

I just loaded my camper for the first time this year and watched it slide over the wheel well and land with a clunk as I lowered it. I unload and unload the thing a bunch of times each season and eventually get pretty good at it, but I'm rusty without practice. It just made me realize how hard it is to line these things up right. Does anybody have a brilliant idea or method?

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1999 Quad cab 2500, SB, SLT, 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 54, tow and camper package, Lance 820 camper, Lance cabover stabilizers, Rancho 9000s, Airlift airbags,Reese Titan V hitch, Mag-Hytec differential cover with Amsoil 2000 75W-90 lube, Amsoil air filter

 

[illflem]

Lee, the way I load my 10' Alaskan camper is a breeze, but not available to most folks.
I use a forklift with 8' long forks, don't even have to move my truck!!! Some places that store campers for you also provide this type of service.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Lee,

The way I load our Lance is compliments of TDR member wcharlie.

I have the camper guides in the bed of the truck. They are installed per the instructions from Lance.

Raise the camper to clear the truck bed. Back fairly straight(to clear the fender wells and the dually wheels/fenders, in my case) under the camper to where the front of the camper just clears the front guides(you may need a hand held mirror to see the guides). Lower the camper to the bed of the truck enough to let the jack legs clear the ground. This will square up the camper to the truck. Raise the camper back up just enough to clear the truck bed to clear the bed, hook up your electrical cord, and continue backing up until the bumpers on the camper touch the front of the truck bed. Lower the camper and you should be square with the truck. This method gets your camper on the truck the same place every time. I have loaded the camper by myself many times and this system works very well for me.

Bill

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Y2K 3500QC, 6 Speed, 4. 10, SLT+, Camper & Tow Pkg. , Westin Chrome Nerf Bars, Mopar Flaps, Reese 20K Hitch, EGT & Boost Gauges, RPM 45 Gallon Aux. Fuel Tank, Highway Products 5th Wheel Toolbox, ECM Controlled PacBrake, Painless Wiring Kit, Mag-Hytec Diff. Cover, Rancho 9000, Air Lift 5000 Air Bags, TOYS: '97 Hitchhiker II 31' 5th Wheel, 2 slideouts, 19,750 GCW, '94 Lance 990 11' 3" Slide-In Camper, Torque-Lift Camper Tiedowns

[This message has been edited by Bill Stockard (edited 04-04-2001). ]

 

[Okie-Go]

These ideas are good. When I had one I put a mark on the middle of the camper front. I also put a mark in the middle of the truck tailgate. Make it big enough to see while backing. I just lined it up and back straight up till it was forward in the bed. This may be tougher for the bigger ones but worked for my 8 footer.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[ARARAR]

Best way to load it is with LOTS OF BEER.

 

[GRudy]

Here's where the Regular cab has it's benifits. I loaned my Lance to a freind last summer and we had a real pain in the neck getting it square in his Quad cab. With my Reg. cab I can turn around and and see excactly where the camper is in the bed. I like to look over my left shoulder and watch the camper / wheel well relationship as I back in. After it is backed in the whole way I get out and look up over the hood and roof to make sure that it is centered in the front. A level loading area is a must! All I can say is practice, practice, practice!

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George, Perry County, PA
99 3500, Reg Cab, 4x4, NV4500, ISB, 4:10,VA box,Putco Boss
running boards, Grover air horns,Westach combo gauge, Intense Blue.

 

[red1ton]

I provided this sage advice on another web bored:

I lift the camper as high as it can go, drop the transmission in reverse and hit the throttle full. The camper always finds a way to fit in the truck. I usually get it all the way in within 15 or 20 feet (just before I hit the house). I will probably have to replace the jacks as the camper slides on them until the camper hits the front of the bed. One of these days I will have to replace the bed as this method is really hard on the truck and
camper.

#ad


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2001, 3500, 2X4, QC, SLT, Auto, 3. 54 gears, camper and tow packages. Lance model 1130 camper. Rancho 9000 5 Speed shocks. BD Brake, autoloc, pressureloc. Hadley air horns. OEM bugshield w/eyebrows and dash cover. Member San Jose Ram Runners.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Yep, I remember reading about that unique way you load your camper. #ad
#ad


Bill

 

[illflem]

Don't know if this is a recommended way to do it, but my neighbor does it this way successfully. He has his camper propped up on four 55 gallon plastic drums, gets his truck lined up straight then backs up quickly. The tailgate sends the first two drums flying and the camper ends up more than half way in the truck, he then drives down hill and puts on the brakes, it slides in the rest of the way. Helps that he has a plastic bedliner. Never seen him take it off, but it involves a tree and chain.

 

[reoraider00]

I have a 11Z Elkhorn and a 93 D350 CC LE. The underside of my camper is black so I took some white out typwriter correction fluid and painted lines on the back vertical sides facing the front. Now when I back under my camper I just use these lines to guide me. I also have the receiver hitch extension which I mount on the truck before going under the camper. I make sure this is aligned with the camper bumper connection as I lower the camper onto the truck (electric jacks). There is no real easy way, just patience and experience. Hope this helps.

John

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93 D350 LE CC, Auto, 65,000 miles, Stock, 94 11Z Elkhorn Camper

 

[dresslered]

Good god illflem! Tell me that your neighbor does not have a 4000-lb. camper! #ad


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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, HO Cummins (ETH), 6-Speed (DEE), SLT+, 3. 54 LSD, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Heated Leather, Sliding Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine + diff. temp. ), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, Tork Lift camper tie-downs, Mag-Hytec, Mopar Tow Hooks, AND functional Halo light!
Bigfoot 3000 10. 11 Slide-in Camper. "Do it in a Dually"

 

[DocStressor]

Thanks for all the wisdom, guys. Let’s see, I like the fork lift idea, but the city says that I’d have to register the thing and get it smogged in order to be able to park it on the street. The barrel trick sounds useful also. But I don’t have any trees to hook a chain on to unload the camper. Bill Stockard’s method would work fine with a long bed, but with my short bed the front guides are all the way forward. Marking the bed and trailer seems the best way to go after arar’s beer method.

Now if somebody can just figure out how to stop my dog from breathing in my face every time I turn around to back up, I’ll be all set.


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1999 Quad cab 2500, SB, SLT, 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 54, tow and camper package, Lance 820 camper, Lance cabover stabilizers, Rancho 9000s, Airlift airbags,Reese Titan V hitch, Mag-Hytec differential cover with Amsoil 2000 75W-90 lube, Amsoil air filter

 

[Ramrod]

I am driving out to Montana in a few weeks to pick up our new 11DB S and S Camper. Its 18'10". I have a new Linex. Should I get a bedmat? Any other special instructions for a first timer. I will be traveling across country. A week long roadtrip. I have never driven a truck before with a slide, but have trailerd many of loads. Any advice would be appreciated.



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RED 98 3500 12v 4x4 Quad Cab SLT Larimie, 4"BD exhaust and brake, triple mount AutoMeter Ultra Lights, govenor spring kit, delivery valves, 370 B injectors, 332-700 camplate, 16 cm2, new carter lift pump,Mag-Hytec diff,Horton Fan Clutch, NorthWest Fear This mudflaps,custom dynamic timed pump by AWD,Linex,Tonneau cover w/ bike rack over the bed,Billet grill and bumpers inserts, Eclipse w/center seat sub enclosure and remote alarm.

80 Porsche 911 SC Turbo Look Porsche Club Racing Trackcar, Totally Bombed
Cannondale Killer V 900 SL

 

[DocStressor]

I've have had the Linex since new. You don't need a mat with the sprayed in liner. The only place the Linex has worn through is where the camper came down after an accident that involved hitting a jack on a rock ($5000 damage to the Lance). Hauling a heavy camper with your duelly should be a piece of cake. If you have too much weight in the back, and the truck over steers, add air bags. The 2500s seem to need them more than 1 tons. Good shocks will help also. The Rancho 9000s are nice because you can set the rears at #5 with the camper loaded to minimize side to side rocking, then go back to a lower setting when the bed is empty.

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1999 Quad cab 2500, SB, SLT, 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 54, tow and camper package, Lance 820 camper, Lance cabover stabilizers, Rancho 9000s, Airlift airbags,Reese Titan V hitch, Mag-Hytec differential cover with Amsoil 2000 75W-90 lube, Amsoil air filter