Mounting Your Truck Camper

Truck campers have come a long way from their humble origins in the mid-20th century. These recreational vehicles aren’t vehicles in the typical sense; rather, they are separate enclosed units that require you to have a pickup truck with a bed that’s sufficiently large enough to hold them.

A truck camper is a great RV for anyone who wants to camp on a small scale, but wants the security offered by a typical trailer or motorhome. You can upgrade your experience significantly from tent camping with a truck camper, and its small footprint means it can go anywhere that your truck can go.

However, the process of mounting a truck camper can be a challenge for the uninitiated, which is why your friends here at Schwab's RV World of Leduc have prepared this brief set of instructions for you.

1. Raise the Camper

First, you’ll need to lift up the truck camper about 4” above the bed of your truck. Raise it slowly so that you don’t overshoot your target. It can be helpful to start with the front of the camper so that the back won’t flip forward suddenly, causing damage to your vehicle or your camper. You need your truck camper to be high enough for you to back your truck underneath it.

2. Reverse Your Truck

Now it’s time to get in your pickup and begin the process of reversing beneath the camper. Have someone outside who can help to direct you so that you don’t hit anything. You want the camper to clear your wheel wells and to remain centered over the bed. Don’t rush this step! It’s a somewhat delicate operation, so be patient and take your time. You can always pull forward to try again if you miss the mark.

3. Hook Up Wiring

You should park your truck and get out once it’s almost completely under your camper. Take the time to hook up the wiring, since it will be easier at this juncture than it will be later on. You can then finish the process of backing up under the camper without hitting the bumper or taillights. Make sure that the camper won’t sit on top of any of the wiring.

4. Lower the Camper

Now that the truck is completely beneath your camper, you can begin the lowering process. This time, start with the back first so that you can avoid the unit tipping forward. Lower the back, then lower the front in small increments until the camper is nestled in the truck bed.

5. Secure Everything

Finally, you can secure your truck camper into place. You’ll need to attach turnbuckles to the anchor points on your camper, then attach tie-downs to the truck and tighten them into place. Avoid applying too much pressure during this step; you can invest in turnbuckles that have indicators to show you the proper tension (usually about 300 ft. lbs.). Having some kind of indicator is worth the extra money to avoid damaging your tie-downs or tearing out the anchors.

Your truck camper should now be completely secured into place inside your truck bed! Once you’ve packed up your truck with all of your camping necessities, you should be ready to hit the road. Enjoy the security and comfort provided by your truck camper wherever you choose to go. Still in the market for a camper? Visit our dealership in Leduc to scope out our new and used truck campers for sale, as well as other types of RVs. Schwab’s RV World serves the entire province of Alberta, including the city of Edmonton.