Camper Jacks on One Ton

[mbaston]

I started to back into my camper today with my new 03 DRW 3500. My jacks (this is a 6 month old camper) will not clear the fenders of the duals. I though about fabricating some one inch tube and place that between the jacks and the camper. Does anybody else have any ideas?

 

[TowPro]

Do a search on this forum using "jack extenders". We went through this back in Dec when I got my DRW.



I still have not figured out what I am going to do, Everything is covered with snow, and I am almost does the frame mounted holddown (again, snow).



The problem with mine is I only need to move the jacks a little bit to clear the fenders, but the jack foot is a "tri" pod arangement, which will hit the tire when I pull under the camper. On the 2500 the tripod "almost" hit the tires, does that mean I need to move the jacks out 1 foot each side? then I would be over 108" wide!



When the snow melts, we will find out. I may make some small concrete pads that I can put some solid cinderblock on so I can remove the camper without the feet on the jacks.

Originally posted by mbaston

I started to back into my camper today with my new 03 DRW 3500. My jacks (this is a 6 month old camper) will not clear the fenders of the duals. I though about fabricating some one inch tube and place that between the jacks and the camper. Does anybody else have any ideas?

 

[BigFun]

I have swing out brackets on my camper (Lance 1161). Without them I for sure would hit my DRW fenders. Did you previously own a DRW truck or did you up to a DRW? Your jacks may not have swing out brackets. I'll include a photo.

 

[mbaston]

Hey Tow Pro, at least you have snow. We have had only about 8 inches all winter and it is gone. My grass is turning green already and the trees are budding. And its February in Alaska!!!!!



BigFun, I don't have the swing out brackets. I have the Atwood electric Jacks. Will the HappiJacs brackets work on these? I am not sure what Atwood makes. Man, they want a lot of money for these.



I had a 2000 2500 SRW before.



Questions:



1. I just need two for the front right. I don't see how the rears will rub anything once the camper is on.



2. I had the happijac tiedown system on the 2000 SRW. I know I have the get new stabilizer tie down system and bar, however, can I use the same shock/turbuckles or do I need to replace them too.



3. People have used these on the 03 dually right? I don't want to pay for them and they still not clear.



If anybody has any other suggestions on this transfer, I would sure appreciate your sharing them. I thought (I know, shouldn't have) that I could just transfer everything off my old truck to my new. Get out the checkbook again.



Thanks for the help.

 

[BigFun]

I have ythe Atwood electrics as well. Don't need swings on the rear. I don't believe the 03 DRW is any wider than the rest of them. The swing outs should clear fender wells fine.



Use the shock turnbuckles. Front attachments require them. You'll probably need longer threaded hooks for the front and rear or longer length of chain at each corner.



Don't know about the setup for the 03 DRW. Maybe some of the DRW guys can chime in here.

 

[Crazy Horse]

mbaston,

You will need to do some measuring. I don't know what kind of camper you are looking at, but all Lances other than the 815 will work on your dually with Atwood "swing out" brackets. The Lances are 93" wide and with the swing outs on with Atwood jacks you have about an inch and a half clearance on both sides. Last I heard 6 Robblees had the swing out brackets available. If not try Mobil Trailer Supply in Anchorage.

 

[mbaston]

I was given information that the happijac swingouts will work on the attwood jacks. I hope this is true because I have ordered them as well as the entire happjack frame mounting system less the tie down shocks/bars as I have them from the last truck.



I hope I didn't waste 150 bucks.

 

[mbaston]

and I have the Western Canada 9. 5. The specs say it is 96 inches exterior width. This will be tight!!

 

[mbaston]

What am I thinking



as my camper is wider, I will have a bit more clearence. Still will be tight though.

 

[TowPro]

What kind of feet does you jacks have on them? My problem is the tires running over the feet.

Originally posted by mbaston

What am I thinking



as my camper is wider, I will have a bit more clearence. Still will be tight though.

 

[mbaston]

the round plate type

 

[TowPro]

Originally posted by mbaston

the round plate type

I think I found the answer to my problem

A flat round plate, then the tire can drive over it



How wide is the plate that came on yours?



Besides, those feet on mine are pretty weak looking, 2 of them are already bent, if the rig ever did get pushed over, it would be the feet that failed first.

 

[RADdodge]

After going to 19. 5" wheels, the tires stuck out an additional 3" past the fenders! The loading of the camper was a definite no go. I bought some 3" SS plate and extended the swing-out jacks myself. They work fine. If you're interested in a picture, I can post one.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Do you swing?

With Rickson 19. 5s and my Lance 1130 slide-in complete with swing-out front jacks from Attwood, my '01 4x4 1 ton will squeeze between the front jacks with about 1 inch to spare on both sides.



In my experience, when buying a camper from a reputable dealer, a couple of very quick questions right at the outset, regarding truck and camper dimensions will determine whether regular or swing out front jacks are required AND should effectively forestall any misunderstandings and disappointments.



Remember the "PPPPP" saying

(PM me for the PPPPP translation)

 

[mbaston]

They are probably about 6 inches across. Normally, they work fine. In soft stuff or snow/ice, I have some blocks I use. I learned to do this after having to spend a few hours chipping the bottoms out of 3 or 4 inches of solid ice!

 

[TowPro]

Thanks. I think I will throw a couple of these together this weekend!



This morning as I read the news, I figure that being as I live on the East Coast, west of Phila, I think I better get my camper ready to move west (up wind) if I have to. As it stands now, the new truck don't have the 5er hitch on it yet (keeps on snowing), and it will not fit between the jacks of the slide-in camper

Originally posted by mbaston

They are probably about 6 inches across. Normally, they work fine. In soft stuff or snow/ice, I have some blocks I use. I learned to do this after having to spend a few hours chipping the bottoms out of 3 or 4 inches of solid ice!

 

[mbaston]

the HappiJacs won't work on the atwood jacks. The company will let me return them, but it is going to cost me 45 bucks to ship them back.



HappicJac is an incredible company to deal with. Really nice people. Very helpful and obviously believe in quality customer service!!



People think the happi jack swingouts are expensive; the Atwoods are 250 bucks!!!

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

You get what you pay for.....

and you pay for what you get... .



Well my Lance 1130 uses the Attwood swing out jacks on my 1 ton front end and its been okay for the past two years. I have also found the Attwood customer service to be exceptional as one of my mounts developed a crack and they replaced the front end pair complete and shipped them to me in Europe at their cost. Now That's what I call service.