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Truck & camper Insurance/choice & purchase

Posted: August 21st, 2014, 8:26 pm
by zildjian
The questions everybody needs answering.....

how to choose & attach truck to camper, so here's a quick guide using pictures to help anyone.

First your vehicle,
many of you will be using pick-ups of one sort or another and these will likely be either;
Single, King, or Double cab, and these dictate the length of camper suitable.


Generally the single cab & camper were the earlier camper combinations and although they still come up for sale on a weekly basis, the market is mostly for the larger cab vehicles for which modern campers are designed.

Campers; in simple terms your choice is either,

Pop-top

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Hard-side

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Either will fit any Japanese camper with little effort,
most pick-up will already have some form of load restraint hooks in each corner of the load bed,
(or you can add these readily available threaded eye bolts through camper bed instead)

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and campers have a corresponding hook as well, so a connection using turnbuckles; are suitable for all but most serious of off road campers,

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Re: Truck & camper FAQ's

Posted: August 22nd, 2014, 8:34 am
by zildjian
Air bag kit on rear axle

Although your pickup is well within its weight limit carrying a camper, fitting a kit from the supplier listed will correct the slight lowering of vehicle that carrying a camper almost always causes;

http://www.marcleleisure.co.uk/store/-c ... 77458b11fe

Noticeably improving the ride on the road and cornering, lowers the headlight beam properly back on the road ahead and most agree completes the couple of mods needed.
Kit comprise a pair of air bags to bolt above rear axle,

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some push fit piping and fittings terminating in a pair of tyre type valves these are where you add/remove air,
either on a forecourt or carry a cheap tyre inflator powered off the cigarette lighter socket.

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Typically around 5-600 pounds, rising if you wish to include built in gauges/controls/compressor (though bit posh really and not necessary)

Installation is medium difficult but can be tackled by any garage though in an hour or so

Re: Truck & camper FAQ's

Posted: August 25th, 2014, 6:18 pm
by zildjian
Insurance

Campton insurance Surrey, http://www.campton.co.uk/
01883 742460

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As you can see not a call centre in Bangalore but a personal service!

had a policy with them now for a couple of years, used it once and they were quick to sort out my claim.

Insure the truck, truck & camper or camper standing outside on its own so seemingly pretty comprehensive

Additional towing plug (electrical)

Posted: August 25th, 2014, 6:25 pm
by zildjian
Grey plug

In addition to the normal electrical towing plug alongside towbar usually,

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camper benefits from additional socket or 'grey plug' it offers a further supply of power to things like Fridge, Leisure battery charging on the road and possibly reversing lights as well

Insurance & where to get it

Posted: March 9th, 2015, 4:43 pm
by Bookend
Who do you guys use for insurance?

Campton won't just insure the demountable :cry:

My pickup is covered on my company policy so I only need cover for the camper

EDITED 2017; I called Campton this morning (28th Dec) I am covered by them on my truck and demountable he confirmed that demountable campers are covered separately and together he was concerned that people are being told that this is not the case.MIKE

Re: Insurance

Posted: March 9th, 2015, 6:20 pm
by Peaky
I had the same problem, I ended up having to cancel my company insurance & getting a refund less admin charge. Then re-insuring the entire unit with Campton. It is now insured for 20k miles per year, split 12k for business & 8k private. The camper is then covered if it's on the truck or demounted on my driveway or on a site. It was pricey though, must be my postcode £850 fully comp :(

Re: Insurance

Posted: March 9th, 2015, 7:46 pm
by Bookend
I'm hoping to find insurance just for the camper as my pickup is insured for free through our work policy.

Re: Insurance

Posted: March 9th, 2015, 8:06 pm
by Peaky
You'll struggle, try the caravan & camping club.
Good luck, as I couldn't manage it :-(

Re: Insurance

Posted: March 9th, 2015, 11:11 pm
by keeflester
Try Adrian flux. They did mine separately. The demountable cost a lot less than the truck although I don't remember the exact price

Re: Insurance

Posted: March 10th, 2015, 6:06 am
by Bookend
Thanks

I'll have a ring round today.