Welcome to the seventh entry in April’s Medium Mod Contest. One Medium Mod will be published in every Email Alert in April. At the end of the month, we’ll hold a reader vote to determine April’s winner. Click here for information about the 2022 Mod Contest, including how to enter.
James Thomas, Belen, New Mexico
Off-Truck Camper Support System
2013 Ford F-350
2020 Northern Lite 10-2EX CD LE
Northern Lite suggests using a full belly support, which is something I had done in the past as well. We had tried using saw horses but, feel much safer using the Eaz-Lift supports. They are also much easier to adjust to the terrain.
We don’t usually remove the camper from the truck during a trip (we tow a vehicle or ATVs). If we do remove the camper, I use the same method for short-term and long-term storage. As a side benefit, we place the 3/4-inch plywood sheets under the truck bed mat for additional camper to truck cab clearance.
The Eaz-Lift jack stands have gotten expensive since we bought ours in 2013. Look at the aluminum jack stands to see if they work for you as they are usually the same 6,000-pound rating, albeit much cheaper.
Set up involves removing the camper from the truck and leaving it on the same plane/level as the truck. Remove the 3/4-inch plywood from under the truck bed mat. The full sheet of plywood is split in half lengthwise for handling ease by one person.
The six jack stands are then set up and spaced (per black tape marks on camper belly).
The 4-inch channel steel is placed across the top of the two jack stands, then the two plywood sheets are placed on top of the channel steel.
The channel can be used flat-side up or down. My personal preference has been flat side up for better plywood support/strength.
Lower the camper down to your preferred height and the jacks/plywood are raised until snug against the belly of the camper. Keep the camper jacks in contact with the ground for additional stabilization.
This mod has worked well for the two different campers we have owned. It is fully adjustable and quick to set up. You don’t usually need to level the camper if you are just storing it, so I usually leave the camper as it was (level wise) on the truck to make it easier to load the next time it is used.
As pictured, the camper jacks are left down for additional support as well.
I bought the Eaz-Lift adjustable supports at Camping World. I also used 4-inch channel steel. I got three pieces cut to length for camper belly width from a local steel supplier. The horse stall mat was from Tractor Supply. It was not required and I probably wouldn’t use it again but, I had glued it already to the channel steel for a previous camper.
The 3/4-inch plywood cut in half lengthwise and latex paint and primer to extend/preserve plywood was from Lowes Home Improvement. The cost of the mod for us was a bit less than shown as most items were bought BC (Before COVID).
It took me two hours to complete this modification and cost me approximately $185. In my opinion, the skill level of this modification is easy.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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