Best way to remove a camping- topper?

[fkovalski]

I have a WilderNest truck topper on back of the ole’ CTD. It is the type that has a fold- up tent on top of the hinged ceiling (similar to FliPac which is still made today but side loaded. ) Because of the extra tent canvas and support poles, it has a bit more weight at its top portion when compared to standard type toppers. I would like to some how rig up an overhead support crane/ winch (pulleys & rope) system where I can back into the hoist assembly, attach a few clips, raises the topper (which will eventually be lowered and supported solidly) then drive away. I am wondering if any one has ideas one how to fabricate the overhead hoist structure (preferably wood construction. ) I am wondering what the best way is to make this thinga- ma- bob in such a way for proper clearance and without racking (or using a whole forest of lumber. ) I would like it to be free standing and not have to bore holes on which to sink vertical uprights. Sinking the supports would prevent the racking, but it makes for tough digging by hand in my current temps. Any and all ideas are appreciated. –frank.

 

[mgonske]

You mean like this?



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Sorry--the stable was there when I bought the place, but I don't have horses, so I made the end rails removable and "stable" my topper under it I used an $80 electric hoist from Northern Tool.



I had a Wildernest on my Toyota, and loved it--I sure wish they hadn't gone out of business.

 

[fkovalski]

mgonske- That's a nice setup. One thing I forgot to mention- I'd like to not have to pull a building permit But, yes- this is what I was thinking in a more simpler for and most likely with out a roof.

 

[dblake]

I had a wildernest on my little Toyota also. I kinda liked it but found it only slightly better than a tent on the ground and it started to damage my bed rails by deforming the metal with all that weight. I only had mine off once. I removed the rear window and got underneath it with a wooden pallet on the forks of a forklift. Good luck with your pulley system.

 

[wsurf]

I had a aluminum skinned shell that had a metal frame. Very durable but heavy. It took 4 strong guys to take it off and it was a handful. I built a wooden dolly with 4 industrial strength caster wheels. The dolly rails were about the same height as the bed and I would slide off the shell onto the dolly and roll the dolly to the side yard. It works very well. I made it with 2x4's, 4x4's and plywood for gussets. Wood screwed it together.

 

[Dane]

I have a shell with "windoors". It has side windows that open just like the rear window of a shell.



When I need to remove the shell, I back the truck into my garage. In the rafters of the garage I have 4 heavy duty tie down straps hanging. I attach the straps to the 4 corners of the shell and hoist it up about 6" on each corner, and drive the truck out from underneath the shell.



When done, I back the truck into the garage and lower the shell back onto the truck.

 

[fkovalski]

I would have really liked to be able to use my OH garage strucutur to lift the topper, but my whole premis is to take it off to get the truck in. You'd think that architect would design for taller vehicles (<--self jab )

I think I will try the "lift from inside" the topper, "support from out" method.

 

[OTRPU]

Hi all, Don't know the best way to remove one but saw the fastest way last Wednesday. Running I-70E just before pulling off at a Flying J, pickup w/topper in front of me, watched it sail up in the air and land in a crumpled pile along the side of the road. I flashed and honked, but he kept going. Don't know if he even noticed it was gone. Can't believe he wouldn't though. Sometimes the wind can be scary guys. Bolt um on good.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[fkovalski]

Don't know the best way to remove one but saw the fastest way

:-laf :-laf

It just amazes me how some folks can be so ignorant of thier vehecles. Must have been quite the sight to see there, OTRPU.

 

[OTRPU]

I really felt for the guy, and was concerned the durned thing might land on me. I've stepped in a few piles like this in my life. . . I personally experienced the fastest way to pull a pancake type IV out of a Porsche 914, just drive it over a tree stump taint short enough for the front member to clear. Yup jerked it danged near clean outta that little car. Since I saved so much by pulling it fast I had enough left to replace it with a 2. 7 flat 6. When you done a few things like this you tend to have alittle more empathy for others misfortune. I thought about stopping and picking it up in the back of the PU and trying to get it to the guy, but second thought it looked like junk.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[OnlyCummins]

Here's a link to a hoist system being auctioned on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2344471386&category=300



As for a free-standing structure, how about a single steel pipe mounted horizontally to an exterior wall of a building? Hey ... it's free-standing! If you did attempt something like that, it'd probably be a good idea to have it welded to a steel plate & then gussetted & then thru-plate that to the wall with bolts. Got the idea from barns I've seen with ridge timber extended for storing feed upstairs (loft?).



Good luck.

 

[merryman]

I am able to back in right beside my garage so I placed 4 post--two against the garage wall and secured to it about 6' apart and two matching posts out from the wall about 14" further from the garage wall than the width of the truck. On each post, at a height about 4 inches higher than the bed rails of my truck, I mounted a bracket that a heavy angle iron would set in and with a hole through the bracket and the angle iron.

I made a simple tri-pod of square tubing and mounted a boat winch attached to a center movable tube with a square of plywood on top.

I back between the posts, set the tri-pod in the truck, use the tripod mounted winch to push the canopy up high enough to slide the angle iron under the canopy and onto the post brackets. I then secure the brackets with bolts, let the canopy down on the angle iron and drive out from under it.

Every thing but the winch was made from stuff laying around my shop; I picked up the winch a junk dealer for $10.



Vaughn