Trying to get ready

With June 6th departure date rapidly approaching there are lots yet to do to get ready.  We solved the load capacity of our trucks rear wheels and tires by trading trucks for one already capable of the load.  That brought up a new situation.

The camper is 8 ft. wide and the jacks at each corner are centered at that same 8 ft. width.  To load the camper I have to back the truck between the front camper jacks.  Wait a minute, the fenders around the rear duely wheels on the new truck are also 8 foot wide so will not pass through.  Campers built for duely trucks have hinges on the front jacks that allow them to swing apart far enough for the truck fenders to clear.  So, I ordered a pair of hinges to make it work.

That order was placed over a week and a half ago with a stated 3 day delivery time from somewhere in KY.  Apparently someone in the shipping department thought that MO was the two letter abbreviation for Montana as the shipment arrived in North Dakota before someone read the zip code and then sent the package on to Missouri.  Instead of 3 days, I received it one week later and the package was all beat up with lots of clear packing tape wrapped around it.  After it was opened I found that one of the pair of hinges had apparently fallen out and was not in the package.  I'm already 4 days late in delivery and have to reorder to get the proper product.  The original provider was not receptive to an expedited re-order and just told me to return the partial shipment for a refund and to go some place else for a new set of hinges.

I found another provider that agreed to a rush 2-day UPS Air delivery which did arrive last Thursday, OK!

Yesterday I began the installation.  I blocked up the front of the camper so the jacks could be removed and started with the passenger side, right, front corner.  All seemed to go well as it was simply unbolt the jack, bolt the hinge in that location, and then bolt the jack to the hinge.  Here is the finished installation.

Good news, it did clear the bottom of the awning arm attachment, where the arrow is pointing.

Now all that is needed is to push up on the bottom of the hinge, where arrow is pointing, and the hinge will swing out moving the jack wider for the truck.  BUT wait, bad news, it will not push up because it is against the awning bracket attachment.

 For a solution I have ask a local machine shop to make me a pair of extensions that will move the hinge 2 inches forward.  They will be stainless steel so I don't have to wait for paint to dry.  Because of the holiday weekend, it will be Tuesday before I have those extensions to complete this installation.

Getting close, but still on track for our trip East and looking forward to it.