notsobigjoe
southeast
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Joined: 09/15/2016
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Wow, just beautiful work Dan and where the heck are you posting pics from?
Fantastic refit, I'm proud of you. not easy to do.
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JoeChiOhki
Sauvie Island, OR
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Joined: 11/20/2003
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It may be a good time to put a stable lift on that unit, it was designed for underwing loading and unless you rebuilt the frame to properly carry the load along the truss, you have face issues again.
A stablelift would be similar to how it was originally setup for jacks and you wouldn't have to worry about it tipping over a second time.
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notsobigjoe
southeast
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JoeChiOhki wrote:It may be a good time to put a stable lift on that unit, it was designed for underwing loading and unless you rebuilt the frame to properly carry the load along the truss, you have face issues again.
A stablelift would be similar to how it was originally setup for jacks and you wouldn't have to worry about it tipping over a second time.
My stable-lift weighed over 500 pounds installed. That's a-lot for an old camper.
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Dave Pete
Wyoming
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Joined: 02/16/2013
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Dan your camper looks to be in excellent original condition for the most part. Amazing find, no water damage apparent like in the front cab-over v-wall. Very nice. I like your poster above the sink. I'll have to send you more files. I have that picture in an original sales brochure on pdf.
It's too bad the photos all went away (that whole photobucket thing back ago) because the write-up loses a lot without them. I have pdf files on the entire project with pictures I could send you. I think it was in Chapter 3 - Structure, where I described in detail how I beefed up my corners.
In the meantime it looks like you are doing under wing mounts, which may be add-ons or may be originals. I'm sure you'll get it how it needs to be.
Yes, I still have a set of Safe-T-jacks laying out in the field. I used them once - when we picked up our first (10.5') Travel Queen in the pasture as described. Lil Queeny is our second and an 8'. Those under wing mounted grids have pipes in them to receive the flip-up Safe-T-jacks. The pipe placements in the grids actually set the four jacks for that camper's center of gravity. My 10.5 is in the landfill. It's not easy to take out a grid - they are quite integral to the box and wing framing.
Let me know if you want need the entire series with the original pictures. Many chapters were one pdf file, but several of the chapters generated GOBS of pdf files for just the one lengthy chapter. I used this site's print feature. It was a lengthy process, but I got them before Photobucket fully flushed.
Good luck!
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Bedlam
PNW
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Joined: 06/13/2012
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Maybe running full-length angle on the inside and outside corners with through-bolts would strengthen the corners enough for your jacks.
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DanLevitan
NC
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Joined: 06/24/2021
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Hey Bedlam, it might but frankly I don't want to try the corners anymore. I'm a bit gun shy at this point. Also, I know the wing brackets worked fine for this camper for many years so I think thats the route I'm going to go. I would like to see how the grid integrated the wing mounts if you have any pictures David. I might make my own grid. It looks pretty straight forward. Actually my V-wall was a total loss and had to be duplicated. That was a fun project. I was shocked it turned out good on the first try. Stuffing it back in the front and getting everything lined up was a treat. Thanks Notsobigjoe. It's been a labor of love. BTW, I'm in NC, south of Raleigh.
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Dave Pete
Wyoming
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Oh that's fantastic Dan. When I get back on my other computer I'll zip up those other chapters so you'll have a pictorial reference to the text.
The one file I sent (Jacks and Tie-downs Chapter) has the details of the grid you mention. Early pictures in the chapter are hard to see it plain, because of the under spray coating on it. Late photos in the chapter show real good detail.
I was mistaken before. The grids aren't integral (and hard to remove), I meant the 2x2's method of fastening to the wing board and the camper box board (that right angle) was a major assembly with staples - hard to separate cleanly. Just saying - the grids come in and out easy.
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DanLevitan
NC
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That would be great! Yes the wing board was a pain to remove. When I fixed mine I removed the right side completely. The left wasn't as rotted and I spliced in just the outer half.
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Seminoe Joe
Texas, Wyoming, or somewhere in between
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The inside of that camper is spectacular! Full of character and gorgeous detail. So glad it’s survived it’s ordeal intact!
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DanLevitan
NC
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I finally have all three jacks reinstalled. They are mounted under the wing now instead of the four jacks I previously had on the corners. The mounts I built are heavy duty and run the entire width of each wing. Additionally I added 3/4" plywood the full length of each wing to provide added support. I moved the jack points rearward about 5" to account for a calculated shift in the CG since the A/C and gray tank were not OEM installed. I jacked it up a few inches tonight and it was still creepy although I'm probably a little gun shy after recent events. There was creaking I never noticed with the corner jacks. It did seem the right rear jack was already deflecting forward even with the little bit I raised it. I hammered the foot back straight before lowering it back on the pallets.
I have a question for anyone with experience with truck campers with ONLY 3 jacks. Is the procedure different than with 4? Do I still need to keep the front 4" higher than the rear? Seems level is better for 3 legs. How do you handle jack deflection? My aircraft jacking experience makes me want to hit the foot back straight when I notice it.
Here it is standing on it's own 3 feet. I hope to have it back in my truck this weekend.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/dFiceY4l.jpg)
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