Even if that means having to buy a 4500 or 5500 pickup truck. If you need to, and you have the means, buy a larger truck with a higher GVWR/payload. If you’re way overweight and you get in an accident, you’ll get screwed by the insurance companies. That’s what the GVWR/payload sticker located on the door jamb is for. Only the manufacturer and a few select shops can do that. Why not just buy the right truck to begin with? Yes, we know all of the tricks to “raise” the GVWR/Payload of a truck, like buying larger wheels and tires with higher load ratings and installing helper springs to support the rear suspension, but none of these things will technically increase your truck’s GVWR/payload. The common refrain we hear is that most truck camper owners are overweight, meaning they’re over their truck’s payload rating and GVWR. Exceeding Your Truck’s GVWR and PayloadĪ truck camper pitfall many truck camper owners are guilty of. It’s up to you if you think doing this is worth the time, effort, and risk. The thought of what might happen if we ever forgot to pull up the jacks prompted us to stop doing this. When we first got our truck camper, we used to extend our jacks all of the time, but with time we found the process too time consuming, especially for stays involving a single night.

Forgetting to do this can rip the jacks away from your camper’s frame when you drive away, creating thousands of dollars of damage to your camper. Just remember to retract them before you leave the next morning. Some owners like to extend their jacks when camping to keep the camper firm during windy weather or to level it. Forgetting to Retract Jacks Before Hitting the RoadĪ serious mistake that can cause significant damage to your camper. Otherwise, you’ll be sure to end up with damage when you hit a pothole or a bump as shown in this photo. Oh, and make sure the turnbuckles you use are spring-loaded. A gap of 1/4-inch between the “O” ring and housing after clamping the lever down indicates the correct amount of tension.

This indicator consists of a rubber “O” ring that you cinch up to the bottom of the FastGun’s housing before locking the lever down. A good example of this are the Torklift FastGuns, which have a patented, built-in feature called the tension indicator to help get things right. Instead, tighten your turnbuckles using the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t do that! Overtightening them can rip the anchor bolts and the mounting plate out from underneath the wings of your camper. We don’t know why, but some truck camper owners feel like they need to go “medieval” on their turnbuckles when tightening them.

Without a doubt one of the top 10 truck camper mistakes and pitfalls. What causes truck camper owners and truck camper newbies the most trouble? Here’s our top 10 list: 1. Truck camper owners can also get into trouble as well. Sure, his rig was a lot larger than a truck camper, but this should’ve given him even more reason to pause. Not only did this error in judgement cause thousands of dollars in damage to his fifth wheel, but also stopped traffic, both ways, on the busy two-lane highway for several hours. He underestimated the height of his rig and lost his air conditioner, among other things. Speaking of embarrassment, I remember watching a YouTube video of a guy who tried to take his fifth wheel through a small tunnel on the Needles Highway in South Dakota. By reading this article on our top 10 truck camper mistakes and pitfalls, you can avoid the most common gaffes, thereby saving you aggravation, time, money, and embarrassment. Fortunately, you don’t have to follow in the footsteps of others. These errors can be caused by a lack of knowledge, a careless moment, inattention, or a simple case of driver’s fatigue. Because of this, there are several mistakes and pitfalls that truck camper owners make on a regular basis. This difference brings with it numerous benefits, but also some disadvantages. Without its own chassis and running gear, the truck camper is a real oddity in the RV marketplace and must be hauled by a truck like regular cargo. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” This is a great proverb, especially when it comes to owning a truck camper. An enlightened man once said that, “only a fool learns from his own mistakes.

Top 10 just cause 2 mods