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Hi there I’m new at this and it’s been awhile since I’ve been out with a camper.
I recently purchased an 2008 Lance 825.
I’ve been told that I can unload it at my campsite and use it while it’s on jacks. ‘
Is that safe?
I searched the forums for this but did not find any info..
Just wondering if I should make some supports for it..
Thanks In advanceSome folks do carry supports, but the manufacturers say it is fine without. I think you will find manufacturers input if you go to FAQ on some sites. It often turns up in the list. Yes, it is safe.
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCX2
I would hesitate doing this IF there’ll be much water weight in the tanks…My camper’s tanks are suspended to the floor only by flimsy plumbers tape, though they actually rest upon the basement floor, which itself is what rest upon the truck bed…Because the weight is actually borne by the truck bed, I always drain the tanks before unloading the camper from the truck…JMO
Phil, you bring up a good point that not all truck campers are built the same.
It’s always a good idea to check with the manufacturer. Northwood told me years ago their Arctic Fox freshwater tanks are supported within the frame to allow for the TC to be lifted with a full load of water. They also said the Happijacs were strong enough to allow for the TC to be supported while camping without the need for underneath support.
Lance does have a video on their website showing two families using their rigs off the vehicles with only jac support.
Phil, you bring up a good point that not all truck campers are built the same.
It’s always a good idea to check with the manufacturer. Northwood told me years ago their Arctic Fox freshwater tanks are supported within the frame to allow for the TC to be lifted with a full load of water. They also said the Happijacs were strong enough to allow for the TC to be supported while camping without the need for underneath support.
Lance does have a video on their website showing two families using their rigs off the vehicles with only jac support.Thats a fair point Sir, I truly cannot say this applies to other manufacturers, and when I first asked the Eagle Cap factory manager about this method of support issue, he felt that the water weight issue (60 gal fresh, 32 gray, 28 black = 500 lbs FW) was nothing to be ‘too concerned’ about…
For unladen tank servicing purposes only (post underside 2” thick vacuum-bonded board removal), the tanks are held in place from interior floor with only plumbers tape, but when laden and in use, they actually rest atop wooden sleepers (to allow warm air circulation) upon the 2” vacuum-bonded underside – thus, there are no metal support members to provide 500 lbs of ‘water weight’ support…The 2” bottom vacuum bonded board (camper’s underside) appears to be very stiff, and uber robust (in fact, I was challenged by the factory to stand and even jump on one without any disappointment!), but is held in place only by a group of parameter screws (3” long drywall-type) into the aluminum frame surround…
So it’s been my practice to empty the tanks prior to unloading the camper from truck…
Being a newbie myself, I’ve as some concerns about the possibility of the camper tiping over with two adults in the north-south queen bed. My Lance 845 weighs around 2800# wet. Is it worth carrying supports to place under the cabover when off the truck?
2016 Ford F350 SRW
2004 Lance 845Not really worth it Gary. The center of gravity is not the point of concern. For 2 adults to be able to tip the camper, they would have to equal the weight of the entire camper back of the 2 front jacks. If your camper weights 2800 lb. sit is very unlikely that the weight of the camper behind the 2 front jacks is above 2,000 lbs. if not a lot more. The 2 people in the cabover would have to weigh about 1,000 lbs. each…..If that is the case, I would be more worried about your helth than the camper’s. 😉
There is some concern about moderate side to side and front to back sway when resting on jacks only. There are a couple of brands of horizontal stabilizers available to mitigate that. However vertical weight on the jacks is of little concern (to me). The key is in how the jacks are attached to the camper. Corner brackets attached with screws to the frame should be plenty strong considering the sheer strength (greater than 1000 lbs per screw) of the screws. There is some slight concern over screw pull out in the case of lateral movement but this is minimized by the number of screws used to attach the brackets to the camper frame assuming that the wood is in good condition.
However the older tripod (three jacks as opposed to four) jack system would not be stable enough for camper use while unloaded.
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