Moving camper while lifted?
 

I have a 94 Funchaser 22L and will be using it for the first time later this month. I will be using it to live in while I work out of town. I will setup in a Corps of Engineer campground for a month. The only downside to a Corp park is they require you to move sites every two weeks. My question is, if I am only moving the camper a few sites away on good ground and road can I leave it in the lifted position to save time. It would make the move easier one evening after work while daylight is short. This may have been already covered in the forum but I can't find it. I don't know if anyone has even tried it. Thanks for any insight.

Hi Don - I wouldn't. It really does not involve that much effort to lower the camper to move it. I've done it several times. When I do, I don't bother to completely hook up the WDH, and I have even left the trailer unplugged electrically from the tow vehicle. If the refrigerator is running on propane, I just leave it that way and the same for the hot water heater.

About the only things needed are to retract the awning if extended and to put anything that would interfere with the top inside down on the floor. And, I close the front window and the rock guard of course.

Yes, it may not hurt anything to move it with the top up, but it is not built to take any stress in that configuration. You could break the guide blocks on the slides and there would possibly be twisting stress on the top that could damage it.

- Jack

Thanks Jack.

I think you will find most people here agreeing with jack on this- just in case you are wondering.

Enjoy it!

Rick

Ditto on that!

Hello Don,

I've moved mine lifted once for 60 miles (just forgot to lower it). It used more gas, due to wind resistance.

Technically, I see no problem, provided the hydraulics are in good condition and the safety latch is correctly in position. But practically, there is less risk and better gas mileage when towing it lowered.

Luisa

You were lucky it didn't damage something!

Agree with Rich R, here. The trailer is not engineered to handle the forces that could impact it while being moved in the up position. And how does one know if they did any 'damage" or not? Items could have been stressed right up to the point of breaking and the final straw on the camel's back just hasn't shown up yet. Im glad it hasn't, but I'm loathe to move one more than a few yards on level ground with the top extended.

Rick

just food for thought, What is the wind rating on the HILo? When would you put it down in heavy winds or thunder storm?

Hurricane/ Tornado. I would put it down n both situations. :). However, moving with top up is not a a concern about wind. It s a concern with twisting and torque of two independently built structure held together by some cable. I have camped in my hi lo with consistent winds above 40 mph. Not an issue unless you open the door--- then hold on or in my case hook up some bungy cord to keep the door from from smashing against the trailer side and bending the door frame. In fact. The weight of the hi lo and lower profile even when up is a benefit when stationary in wind.

Rick

Thanks hilltool I have always been wondering about the wind.