So, you have a truck now? Maybe you enjoy camping as much as we do, or perhaps you need to be mobile for a while for work or an emergency. A camper with electric jacks can be a cost-effective and fun solution. A lot of people use them for all of the above. A camper with electric jacks can be a lifesaver in a pinch.
What are electric jacks on a camper? Electric jacks on a camper provide a person the ability to raise or lower the camper without the need for manual cranks. This makes loading, unloading, and stabilizing much easier.
There are many stories from the old days of camping. Most of these range from campers with no jacks that took several people to move. Some of them are stories about manual jacks that froze in place making things very difficult. Gone are the days of slide-out campers and manual jacks!
If you are thinking of buying a camper you have come to the right place. We recently took a look at the market for new campers with electric jacks. Here is the best information that we could find. Please read on and let us help make things easier
Why Do I Need a Camper with Electric Jacks?
Campers, not to be confused with truck toppers, are heavy. They are difficult to lift or remove from your truck without jacks. Anyone who has ever attempted this can tell you a story or two!
Crank Jacks
Crank jacks were a great solution. They were typically mounted on all four corners of the camper and provided a more stable lift. Most of them came with a tripod mount that fits the bottom of the jack. You could turn the crank and lift the camper from your truck.
Hydraulic Jacks
Hydraulic jacks took things a little further. While you still had to crank them, it took less effort. This meant that you could load or unload the camper easily.
Electric Jacks
Electric jacks are the best idea yet. They still have the same tripod mounts at the bottom, but the beauty in these comes from the ease and lack of physical labor. With the push of a lever, you can load, unload, or level your camper quickly and efficiently.
How Do They Work?
The concept behind electric jacks is simple. An electric motor takes the place of the manual crank. When the control switch or lever is pressed, the motor drives the jack. The screw inside the jack can go up or down based on the direction of the motor.
In a camper, the design varies from company to company. The options are as different as the people that own them. Find the setup that works the best for you. If you are looking at a camper that does not have electric jacks, ask the dealer if they can install them.
Different Types of Camper Jacks
As you start thinking about buying a camper with electric jacks keep some things in mind. Consider what you will be using it for. Don’t buy it for looks alone. Here are some tips about the differences between jacks.
Manual Crank
Pros:
- Easy to install.
- Easy to repair
- Not expensive.
Cons:
- It will not last long with use.
- Manual cranking takes time.
- Known to rust
- Requires multiple people
Electric Jacks
Pros:
- Easy to Use
- Efficient for lifting the weight
- Can be used by a single person
- It requires very little physical effort.
- Can be used manually if needed
Cons:
- Cost
- Need to be watertight to keep out water
Tips For Finding a Camper With Electric Jacks
- Know the towing capacity of your truck
- Think about what you will use it for.
- Will it be staying in your truck?
- How often will you be loading and unloading the camper?
- How much does the camper weigh?
Truck Campers with Electric Jacks
This list highlights some of my favorites. It is by no means all-inclusive. All these campers either come standard with electrical jacks or you can get them as a fairly inexpensive option. All of them require jacks. Just make sure that the camper that you are considering will fit correctly in the back of your truck.
The POLAR 990 Rugged Edition
This is an amazing camper. It has all the comforts of home. If you want to camp in style this is the way to go. It has remote controlled electric jacks. Click here to see it.
The POLAR 990 Residential Edition
This camper is a luxury in your truck! You will have to see it to believe it. There are even ceramic backsplashes in the kitchen and bathroom. This is a bit heavier though! Click here to see it.
Adventurer Truck Camper Model 910DB
Up next on the list is this awesome camper! It is lighter than the previous campers, but it does not leave out any comfort. This camper loads and unloads with ease. The base model comes with manual jacks but there is an option for remote-controlled electric jacks. Click here to see it.
LANCE 1172
This brand has been around for a long time. If you are looking for a camper that can do it all here it is. This camper is fairly cost-effective. It comes with or without electrical jacks. Click Here to see it.
LANCE 825
Here is a great basic camper. It has all of the amenities that you could need. It is lightweight and inexpensive. It comes with or without electrical jacks and has many packages. Click here to see it.
Hallmark Everest
This camper is a great midrange camper. It was a bit smaller than my current needs, but it is worth a nod. It comes in two base models and electrical jacks are part of the package. Click here to see it.
Hallmark Cuchara
I really enjoyed the basic layout of this model. It is spacious and not too heavy. This camper will load and unload very easily. It comes with electrical jacks. Click here to see it.
Arctic Fox Camper 992
Hold on to your seats! This camper comes standard with electrical jacks. It has everything you could need. Make sure that you have a truck that can handle it because it has quite a bit of weight. Click here for model information.
Bigfoot Truck Campers 2500 Series
This was another great camper for the list. It is spacious and fairly heavy. This camper comes with electrical jacks with remote control. It is for sure worth a look. Click here for model information.
What if I like the Camper That I Have?
We saw this question a lot while researching. A lot of campers have old manual jacks that are starting to fall apart. It is possible in some cases to remove these jacks and replace them with electric jacks. The new jacks generally mount right up to the original holes, which makes for easy installation.
If you have some basic mechanical and electrical knowledge you can install an electrical set. This ends up being the route that a lot of people go for. This works particularly well if you enjoy a camper that you already own and do not want to purchase a new one.
What Type of Electric Jack Do I Need?
The answer to this question really depends on weight. You should also pay attention to the jack configuration that is on your camper. This will give you an idea of what you need. In order to do this, you will need to know how much your camper weighs.
Buying electric jacks to replace old ones is a cost-effective solution. Pricing is standard and costs less than buying a new camper. Putting this type of jack on your camper can be an enjoyable experience.
Here are some guidelines that I found helpful. The links below will take you to the site where I bought my jacks. You can also find them in several locations including Amazon. A little research is all that it takes to find the right jack for you.
Tripod Jack Guidelines:
- Use 3 standard jacks for campers 1,500 lb. or less.
- Use 4 standard jacks for campers under 2,300 lb.
- Use 3 heavy-duty for campers under 2,300 lb.
- 4 heavy-duty jacks will handle the weight of any size camper.
Safety is always your top priority. Make sure that you understand how the electrical jack kit installs. It is ok to over support your camper. This is a common solution. This will reduce wear and the need to replace them again.
Don’t ever install jacks that will not support your camper! This can prove to be very dangerous. If you don’t know what size jacks you need, you should contact a professional. There should be a plate that contains the weight and balance information for the camper. Many people find that the identification plates have worn down with age making them unreadable. This information should be available online or from a dealer.
Get used to using your electric jacks. The process will be a little different than manual jacks. They move a lot faster! It will take some time to get things down but once you do, it will be an excellent experience. Loading and unloading will be a breeze. Happy camping!