Finding a set of slide in camper jacks used is a total game-changer when you're trying to get your rig road-ready without draining your bank account. If you've spent any time looking at the prices for brand-new electric or even high-end manual jacks, you probably had a bit of a "heart attack" moment. A full set can easily run you north of two thousand bucks, which is a lot of gas money and park fees down the drain. Going the secondhand route is often the only way to make a truck camper project actually affordable, but you've got to be careful.
The used market for camper parts is a bit like the Wild West. You'll find everything from "basically new" sets that someone took off a 2023 model to crusty, rusted-out relics that look like they've been sitting in a swamp since the late 80s. Getting a good deal means knowing exactly what to look for so you don't end up with four heavy paperweights.
Why it makes sense to go secondhand
Most of the time, we're looking for ways to save, and jacks are one of the best places to do it. Unlike a fridge or a water heater, which have all sorts of internal electronics that can fail without warning, a jack is mostly a mechanical beast. Even the electric ones are just a motor strapped to a gearbox and a threaded rod. If the bones are good, you can usually clean them up and have them working like new for a fraction of the cost.
I've seen people pick up a full set of manual swing-out jacks for a couple hundred bucks on Facebook Marketplace just because the seller was upgrading to a remote-controlled system. If you don't mind a little "arm day" workout every time you load the camper, those manual sets are bulletproof. Plus, if you decide later that you're tired of the hand crank, many of these older units can actually be converted to electric later on with the right kit.
The "Must-Check" list before you hand over the cash
When you go to meet someone to look at a set of slide in camper jacks used, don't just take their word for it that they "work fine." You need to get your hands on them. The first thing I always look for is a bent inner leg. This is a deal-breaker. If someone tried to drive away with the jacks down or if the camper caught a heavy wind while it was up high, those inner tubes can get a slight bend. If they're even a little bit crooked, they'll bind up when you try to retract them, and there's really no fixing that safely.
Next, look at the feet. Are they rusted through? Are they bent? Replacement feet aren't too expensive, but it's a good bargaining chip. More importantly, look at the mounting brackets. If the jacks don't come with the brackets that attach to the camper, you're going to have to source those separately, and that can be a headache depending on the brand and age of the jacks.
If you're looking at electric models, you absolutely have to see them move. Bring a 12V battery and some jumper leads if the seller doesn't have a way to power them up. Listen to the motors. A healthy motor has a consistent hum; if it sounds like it's grinding coffee or struggling to turn, the internal gears might be stripped. Replacing a motor on an old Rieco-Titan or Happijac can cost a few hundred bucks, which might ruin the "deal" you thought you were getting.
Where the best deals are hiding
You probably already know about the usual suspects like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, but those aren't the only spots. If you live near any RV dealerships, especially the smaller, independent ones, it's worth giving them a call. Sometimes they take in old campers for salvage or parts, and they might have a set of jacks sitting in the back of the shop that they haven't bothered to list online yet.
Another overlooked goldmine is RV salvage yards. It's a bit of a treasure hunt, but you can often find high-end components on campers that were totaled due to water damage or a roof leak. The camper might be junk, but the jacks are usually made of sturdy steel and aluminum and survive just fine. Just make sure you bring your own tools to pull them off the rig.
Compatibility: Will they actually fit your rig?
One thing people often forget is that not all jacks are created equal. You can't just grab any set of slide in camper jacks used and assume they'll bolt right up. The two big players in the game are Happijac and Rieco-Titan, and their mounting systems are completely different.
Happijac systems usually rely on a vertical plate and a specific corner-stress distribution system. Rieco-Titans are more of a traditional bolt-on style. If your camper is already pre-drilled or has reinforced corners for one brand, switching to the other might require you to drill new holes or even add structural reinforcement to the camper body.
Also, check the weight rating. If you have a massive triple-slide hardside camper that weighs 4,000 pounds, don't try to save money by buying a set of lightweight jacks meant for a pop-up. Each jack has a "lifting capacity" and a "static capacity." You want to make sure the combined lifting capacity of the set comfortably exceeds the wet weight of your camper. Safety first, always.
Giving your used jacks a new lease on life
Once you get your "new to you" jacks home, don't just bolt them on and head for the woods. Take an afternoon to do some basic maintenance. If they're manual, crank them all the way out and wipe down the inner legs. If there's old, crusty grease on there, clean it off with some degreaser and apply a fresh coat of high-quality lithium grease or whatever the manufacturer recommends.
For electric jacks, check the wiring. Used jacks often have frayed wires or corroded connectors where they've been exposed to road salt and rain. Snip off the old connectors, strip back the wire to find some clean copper, and crimp on new, weather-sealed terminals. It takes ten minutes but will save you from a massive headache when you're trying to unload your camper in the dark at a rainy campsite.
A quick word on safety
I can't stress this enough: used jacks are great, but they are holding up thousands of pounds of your "home away from home" right above your truck's bed. If you see any cracks in the welds or significant "pitting" from rust on the main load-bearing parts, walk away. It's not worth the risk of a jack buckling while you're inside the camper or, worse, while you're underneath it trying to line up the truck.
Also, if you're buying electric jacks, try to get the remote and the control brain as part of the package. Buying those components separately can be incredibly expensive. If the seller "lost the remote," proceed with caution. You might end up spending more on a replacement remote than you did on the jacks themselves.
Wrapping it up
At the end of the day, hunting for slide in camper jacks used is one of those chores that eventually pays off. It takes a bit of patience and a willingess to drive out to someone's garage in the middle of nowhere, but the savings are real. Just keep your eyes peeled for those bent legs, test the motors if you can, and make sure they're beefy enough for your specific camper. With a little elbow grease and some fresh lube, a secondhand set will serve you just as well as the shiny new ones from the showroom floor—and you'll have an extra thousand bucks in your pocket for your next big road trip.