How to Load a Truck Camper
Truck campers are the perfect mix of functionality, convenience, and comfort. They allow you to maintain the usability of your pickup truck throughout the year, but they also give you an extremely comfortable and easily portable source of lodging when you need it. Loading them onto your truck, however, can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to the process. Truck campers are heavy and they sit high in the air. Luckily the process isn’t too complex as long as you know a few tricks, which is why we designed this guide. Read on to learn this fast and easy way to load your truck camper. If you’re in the market for a new model, stop by Broadmoor RV. We’re located in Pasco, and we proudly serve customers from as far away as Seattle and Spokane, Washington!
Why You Should Choose a Truck Camper
When you really love camping but need more flexibility than what is offered by a motorhome, a truck camper is an excellent choice. Like motorhomes, truck campers put everything you need to travel in one vehicle, including lodging, food prep, and even leisure space. But truck campers offer things that neither traditional motorhomes or travel trailers can offer. For example, truck campers offer more flexibility than you get with a motorhome because you can always unload your camper for easier, more nimble driving when you want to make a day trip on your camping adventure. You also still get your truck whenever you’re not camping. Unlike travel trailers, truck campers don’t require towing and the challenges that come with that. The flexibility in combination with all of the amenities you get make for a truly unique RVing experience.
Placement
Getting the placement of your truck camper right when you’re installing it is probably the most nerve wracking part. It’s no wonder why, either: truck campers sit on skinny legs and the hoist a lot of weight high in the air. As long as you have a spotter, though, the process should be safe and relatively easy.
Start by raising the camper until it’s about six inches above the height of the truck bed. Use a tape measure to determine the level in front and in back so you know that you have enough room on both sides. Once the camper is at the right height, back your truck under it. Make sure your spotter is around to help guide you back. You’ll want to make sure you’re reversing straight back so that the camper sits correctly in the bed of the truck.
It’s helpful to have a rubber bed liner in your truck to keep your camper from moving and to also protect your truck bed from the camper. While the camper is still in the air, put your truck into park and connect any wiring you might need for brake or turn lights. Once this is connected, lower the camper into place. Make sure you drop the front end first, as this will help to evenly distribute the weight onto the truck.
Tie Down
When the camper is in place, you’ll need to secure it. By this point, you should already have tie down anchors connected to the frame rails of your truck. (Some models connect to the bumpers, and these are fine if it’s what you have available.) Tie down anchors are something your truck camper dealer should go over with you beforehand, but make sure you have them in place before you load your camper because it might be harder to install them if the weight of the camper is compressing the suspension and lowering the ride height. If yours are installed, use ratchet straps or chains to tighten the camper down. You want these to be firm as this is what’s keeping your camper in your truck!
For most camper models, that should be all you’ll need to do in order to load your camper. If you have trouble, or even if you’re looking for your first camper model, don’t hesitate to stop by Broadmoor RV in Pasco, Washington. We proudly serve the areas of Seattle and Spokane and we’ll help you make sure you leave fully equipped and ready for your next adventure.