Moving a large camper with my stepside. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**LostMy65** · 11-21-2020, 03:57 PM

I just need to move it about 50 feet. Would this camper fit in my 65 shortbed stepside good enough to move it?

oem4me · 11-21-2020, 05:45 PM

Yes, it should work. Is the camper an eight footer? That is, not counting the overhang? Your short box is six feet and if you leave the tailgate down on chains it should support nearly the whole box. The overall weight is also a concern, especially because the load is shifted aft a bit, but for just fifty feet my guess is your truck could take it.
P.S.- just a tip for you. Cut four blocks of 4x4 lumber to fit between your trucks inner bed sides and the camper box. Just sit them on the floor of the bed in each corner and the camper box will not slide around and get off-center.
EDIT: Derr... the corner blocks apply mostly for a fleet side. I guess there's not much room to get sideways in a step side. My goof.

**LostMy65** · 11-21-2020, 05:54 PM

Thanks

66x3 · 11-22-2020, 11:37 AM

Cool camper, what are your plans for it?

**LostMy65** · 11-22-2020, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66x3

Cool camper, what are your plans for it?

It's not that one, but one a lot like it.
And, it's not mine. It's just one I need to move.

oem4me · 11-23-2020, 02:12 AM

Do you have working jacks?

**LostMy65** · 11-23-2020, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oem4me

Do you have working jacks?

Yes, it's on camper jacks.
But it's longer than I thought.

**pdxhall** · 11-23-2020, 03:53 PM

If you don't mind sacrificing your truck go ahead. I wouldn't even think about it. Those older campers can be very heavy and I don't think it's worth the risk. This is my humble opinion but I have hauled campers for many years including full time for 2 years when we retired and traveled the country. We had a camper similar to this when I was a kid. We pulled it with a 62 3/4 ton GMC with helper springs. Just my worthless input.

oem4me · 11-23-2020, 05:48 PM

PDX isn't wrong. The camper units length kinda puts it over the line on sketchiness. There's the extra weight of the extension, and then the fact that its way way back behind the rear axle. Even if it didn't crush your 1/2 ton rear suspension, it might be kinda hard to steer with the front wheels in the air.

**LostMy65** · 11-24-2020, 01:01 AM

Thanks for the heads up.

11-21-2020, 03:57 PM	#1
LostMy65 But Found Her 25yrs Later! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 10,460	Moving a large camper with my stepside. I just need to move it about 50 feet. Would this camper fit in my 65 shortbed stepside good enough to move it? __________________ I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035

11-21-2020, 05:45 PM	#2
oem4me Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 3,055	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. Yes, it should work. Is the camper an eight footer? That is, not counting the overhang? Your short box is six feet and if you leave the tailgate down on chains it should support nearly the whole box. The overall weight is also a concern, especially because the load is shifted aft a bit, but for just fifty feet my guess is your truck could take it. P.S.- just a tip for you. Cut four blocks of 4x4 lumber to fit between your trucks inner bed sides and the camper box. Just sit them on the floor of the bed in each corner and the camper box will not slide around and get off-center. EDIT: Derr... the corner blocks apply mostly for a fleet side. I guess there's not much room to get sideways in a step side. My goof. Last edited by oem4me; 11-21-2020 at 07:59 PM.

11-21-2020, 05:54 PM	#3
LostMy65 But Found Her 25yrs Later! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 10,460	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. Thanks __________________ I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035

11-22-2020, 11:37 AM	#4
66x3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Bellevue, MI Posts: 118	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. Cool camper, what are your plans for it?

11-23-2020, 02:12 AM	#6
oem4me Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 3,055	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. Do you have working jacks?

11-23-2020, 03:53 PM	#8
pdxhall Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 2,057	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. If you don't mind sacrificing your truck go ahead. I wouldn't even think about it. Those older campers can be very heavy and I don't think it's worth the risk. This is my humble opinion but I have hauled campers for many years including full time for 2 years when we retired and traveled the country. We had a camper similar to this when I was a kid. We pulled it with a 62 3/4 ton GMC with helper springs. Just my worthless input. __________________ Sanity'66 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=515110 Long bed, Fleetside, Small back window I've Done So Much, With So Little, For So Long, That Now I Can Do Anything With Nothing.

11-23-2020, 05:48 PM	#9
oem4me Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 3,055	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. PDX isn't wrong. The camper units length kinda puts it over the line on sketchiness. There's the extra weight of the extension, and then the fact that its way way back behind the rear axle. Even if it didn't crush your 1/2 ton rear suspension, it might be kinda hard to steer with the front wheels in the air.

11-24-2020, 01:01 AM	#10
LostMy65 But Found Her 25yrs Later! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 10,460	Re: Moving a large camper with my stepside. Thanks for the heads up. __________________ I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035



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