Camper jacks

[JoeKan]

I know this has been discussed before in the past but was hoping we could discuss this one more time at least. I'm needing new camper jacks and I don't like the old system with using a jack for each side. Is there a way to properly lift the camper up by using skid steer forks? How/where would you set your forks? Can I put a strap around it and then lift it with the forks? Or would the strap damage it? My other option is buying 3 cable camper jacks, at least 3 will be a lot better than 2. If I go that route, who make a good jack?
Thanks for the help,
Joe

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Joe, Brophy here in the Portland area makes a good cable jack. I bought a pair to remove the canopy from my F350. It’s shaky, but safe once you get the balance point. Reico and HappiJac make good mechanical jacks. IIRC, Alaskan used (maybe still does) Reicos that pivoted up when not in use. I think they used 3. The mounting flange goes under the camp wings, or at least that’s what I remember. They have a tripod foot. If it were me, I’d probably go with the Reicos, but it wouldn’t hurt to call Bryan Wheat at Alaskan and ask for guidance.

https://www.crbrophy.com/coupjack.html
https://www.riecotitan.com/
https://www.etrailer.com/Camper-Jack/HappiJac/LC736514-4.html?feed=npn&gclid=CjwKCAiA6bvwBRBbEiwAUER6JXBGAfH_bb3gOnhmyORA4sFfHv7qz80lX7yOiMYUTHoqbWvt7sEnlBoCtgMQAvD_BwE

 

[DavidGraves]

Hi Joe

I can think of no way to set or remove the camper on your truck using a forklift.

Do you have the corner mounted jack brackets ?

Are you having difficulty with the jacks ?

I nearly always hit my garage entrance when I back in with the jacks mounted.

David Graves

 

[klahanie]

X2 on the Brophy cable jacks. I bought the basic ones new from a rental outfit many years ago and they've worked well and still look new. Only thing I did was put a thin sleeve in the base socket to tighten up the fit with the pole in there. That took out the wobble.

On the forklift idea, well, I'd never say never because I've been around some pretty haywire lifts. It's going to depend on the fork length.

I think I've seen a pic of Alaskan or FWC factory moving their campers around with one. If so prob picked up from underneath rather than slung from the top but again, long forks

 

[JoeKan]

Thanks for the advice! I did call Bryan and he suggested Reicos, he also suggested using 4 jacks instead of 2 or 3 which is by far the safest way.
I'm having a car hauler deliver an Alaskan to me and I'm not sure how to get it off his trailer. Since it will be on a car hauler trailer which is much wider than a pickup, my camper jacks won't be able to get in close enough to lift it. That was why I was asking about a fork truck but after thinking about it some more, I'm sure that won't work.
Any ideas on getting it off? If I could lift one side of it and stick conduit under the camper and then roll it towards the end of the trailer until I can get the jacks under might work, but not sure?? Haven't had to experience this one before.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

How will they get it on the trailer? You should be able to reverse that process. It might be that a fork lift with long forks could come from the side.

 

[JoeKan]

The guy who is going to load it says he used a skid steer with straps. I wasn't sure about that but he said they've done it before and never had any problems with it. I don't see a single mar or scrape on it from the pictures he's sent me.

 

[JoeKan]

This is what I'm thinking of getting. What do you all think? The weight is 1000lbs each and the camper weighs around 1800.
https://www.riecotitan.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=208

 

[cwdtmmrs]

Those should work. I use 2 sets of cable jacks on each side. Very stable that way. One set works well once you find the true balance point though. Seems scarier that bit it is.

 

[klahanie]

Unloading: maybe lift the camper high enough off the trailer deck to put 2 beams under the floor. These being long enough that they clear the deck sides and can be used with your new camper jacks. Then lift the camper by the beams high enough to clear the trailer wheels if it is a lowboy. Drive the trailer out, lower camper onto blocking or a stand, remove beams, reposition camper jacks and load to pick up as normal.

This is how we load/unload our camper to our flatdeck, using using 3 or 4 bottle jacks under the camper wings to lift off the deck and 8ft beams under the camper floor. You'd prob need 10+ ft. beams and could maybe lift the wings with a forklift, if you have one, and blocking.

Or, unload with fork lift per the carrier either at your place (might need to rent) or arrange to unload at a warehouse that's willing.

I think this is the pic I was thinking of earlier, fwiw and just to give an idea of scale.

 

[Soundsgood]

This is what I'm thinking of getting. What do you all think? The weight is 1000lbs each and the camper weighs around 1800.
https://www.riecotitan.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=208

Those will likely work but for the extra $125 I would buy the heavy duty ones. That is what came with my new to me Alaskan. The jacks need to be raised to the maximum height to be able to get the camper on the truck. At that height the camper can sway a little so I am glad to have the stronger jacks.

 

[PackRat]

Buy FOUR of the Reicos.....

 

[JoeKan]

i just purchased 4 heavy duty Rieco-Titan with extended #! brackets. I know it's overkill but I'll never have to worry about dropping the camper. Btw, I officially bought a 1964 10' NCO today that is in immaculate condition. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get it to Kansas.

 

[JoeKan]

I bought 4 of the Rieco Titan heavy duty stands with the extended brackets. 2 of the brackets bent the first time I used them. I called them today and they are sending me 2 new brackets. In fairness, they said what caused the bending was when I did not bolt the extended brackets on a bracket that was supposed to have been furnished by Rieco. They didn't send the camper brackets so they're sending me 2 new ones. I have to pay shipping but I'm okay with that.

 

[Keith in Co]

While it is possible to load with two jacks, it is way safer to use four. Dumping a camper would likely permanently damage it (I’ve seen Alaskans for sale with crushed corners), and could badly injure someone.

When I had a 10’ CO, it took six jacks to clear the fenders on my Chevy dually, as I had to reposition front to back as the truck backed under the camper.

Loading my 8’ NCO on my 2001 Dodge 4x4 requires “4 blocks on the jacks to gain enough height.

 

[Denis]

I'd like to know the company shipping your Alaskan. I bought one in Minnesota and need to have it transported to North Carolina.