Alignment unit for campers and method of use
A camper alignment system for use in guiding a pickup under a camper for loading of the camper uses a light source and a target for alignment. The pickup has a pickup cab and a pickup bed having a bed length. The camper has a camper front portion and a camper base. There is a light source capable of emitting a beam of light in the visible light spectrum when in operation. The light source is affixed on the camper front. There is a beam target disposed along the bed length. The beam target is substantially perpendicular with respect to the rear edge of the pickup bed. When the beam of light is substantially parallel to and projecting on the beam target, the pickup can be safely backed up toward the camper front portion and under the camper base for transport of the camper with the pickup.
1. A truck camper alignment system for use in guiding a pickup under a truck camper for loading of the truck camper, the pickup having a pickup cab and a pickup bed having a bed length and a bed rear edge, the truck camper having a truck camper front portion and a truck camper base, comprising:
a light source capable of emitting a beam of light in the visible light spectrum in the form of a laser line at least 8 feet long, when in operation, said light source affixed on the truck camper front portion; and
a beam target disposed along the bed length, said beam target is substantially perpendicular with respect to the bed rear edge;
wherein, when said laser line beam of light is substantially parallel to and projecting on said laser line beam target, the pickup can be safely backed up toward the truck camper front portion and under the truck camper base for loading and carrying of the truck camper.
2. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser with a line generator producing a line at least 8 feet long.
3. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , wherein said laser line light source is essentially centered on the truck camper front portion projecting a laser line toward the front of the pickup bed.
4. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting base fixedly attached and essentially centered on the truck camper front portion, wherein said light source could be permanently or temporarily attached to said mounting base during truck camper alignment and removed if temporary mounted until needed for subsequent truck camper alignment and loading.
5. The truck camper alignment system of claim 4 , further comprising said mounting base could be substantially off center with the laser target mounted in the pickup bed equally off centered mounted tin the pickup bed.
6. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , wherein said light source is powered with a battery attached proximate said light source.
7. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , wherein said light source is powered from a power source within the truck camper.
8. A method for aligning a truck camper to a pickup for loading using a system recited in claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
raising the truck camper to a level wherein the truck camper base is higher than the pickup bed;
activating said line generating laser light source;
backing the pickup proximate the truck camper front portion wherein said line generating laser beam of light projects proximate said beam target;
aligning the pickup bed until said line generating laser light beam
is substantially centered on and substantially parallel to said beam target; and
backing the pickup toward and under the truck camper base until the truck camper front is sufficiently close to the pickup cab for carrying and safe transport.
9. The method for aligning a truck camper to a pickup for loading using a system recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
attaching the light source to the truck camper front portion, if mounting is temporary, prior to activating said light source; and
removing the light source, if mounting is temporary, prior to completion of backing the pickup under the truck camper base.
10. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , wherein a width of said beam target is approximately one inch wide strip of reflective tape or said width could be varied to cause wider or narrower tolerance during loading.
11. The truck camper alignment system of claim 1 , wherein a width of said beam target is approximately one inch wide painted stripe or said width could be varied to cause wider or narrower tolerance during loading.