[Timpala]

Howdy y'all.

We are borrowing a friend's 1994 Lance camper (don't yet know the model number). We need to have tie-downs added to our 2001 F-350 to keep the camper with us as we travel.

Trouble is... The camper is in Idaho and we're in Arizona. Truck and Camper won't meet until September. How do we find out where the tiedowns should go etc.? Are these standard or particular to each camper? There aren't any tiedown points under the truck now.

Thanks for leads in the right direction.

 

[smotu]

Check these two out. I've had both, and while the Happijac's are okay, for a light camper, I am sold on the Torklift's. However, the Torklift's are a spendy set up.

http://www.happijac.com/td/tdprodov.php

http://www.torklift.com/solidreasons.htm

 

[T_Bone]

Hi Tim,

What ever you use just make sure they tie to the frame. I worked with a guy in the 70's that used in four cornners of 12"x12"x1/8" plates, one plate on top of the 3/4" marine plywood floor and one plate under the steel pick-up bed, with a 1/2" bolt to complete the sandwich.

He was going down I-25 just north of Denver with his 3 girls in the camper when a 60mph wind gust ripped the plates thru the STEEL of the pick-up bed. He said he watched in his mirrors as his camper flipped upside down onto the InterState. One daughter had a scratch on her elbow and the other two girls wasn't hurt. Lucky that no one hit the camper!

That was a 69' Ford pick-up and the bed steel is alot thicker than on the new ones. Amazing that the 3/4" plywood held and the bed steel did not.



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[j_apetersen]

Since you know that the truck has nothing what does the camper have. most have Something already mounted to the frame of the camper and you must adapt the truck. most of the campers i have seen have steel plates that mount to the frame and come out under the bed. and then turn buckles that mount the camper to them.

 

[FordCummins1]

I would do a frame mount system and take plenty of heavy chain, quick links and hacksaw to make them work.

This assumes the have the turn buckles provided with the camper or bought them with the mounts.

Don't forget you will need to plug in the turn signal, brake and running lights at the minimum. Instead of cutting a hole in the front of the bed for a trialer plug, I made a lond pig tail that ran from the factory plug at the bumper.

 

[Monte1]

Go to a camper dealer and look at the various electrical and mechancial setups you'll need. I agree on the "tie to the frame" concept. Is your F350 a dually? If so, you'll need swing-out brackets on the camper to get the legs to miss the rear fenders for loading and unloading. If the camper extends out beyond the bed, you may have to remove the stock bumper if you have one. Good luck!

 

[DaveSparkman]

Torklift and happijak are the two major tiedown companies. Most people like the torklift better. If this is a one time camper borrow, the happijaks I believe are a bit more affordable. I would ask the camper owner what he is using, if you have the same model truck just emulate his setup.

On your year of truck I believe you will need to build a spacer for the camper to sit on or the bottom of the camper overhang will rub the top of the truck cab. Go read the post on woodalls.com or rvnet regarding this. I think several are just using a sheet of 3/4 ply sitting on top of four or five 2x4s layed sideways.

-Dave-

 

[DRJ48]

I have used the Happy Jack tiedowns for years and have never had any problems. You can preinstall the kit and tie into the trailer tow harness ( for electrical ) on your truck and the Lance will fit fine. You will have to add about 3 inches of spacing between the truck bed and camper to get cab clearance with a 94 Lance,( especially with clearance lights ). I use 2 sheets of 1.5 in laminated flooring that I picked up at Home Depot. My 95 Lance would fit fine on my 94 F250, but would not fit on my 02 F350 without lifting it 3 in. I believe the truck cab height was increased when Ford changed body styles.

 

[duallycruzer]

The position of the tie downs is pretty much standard. I deffinatly would not use the Happy Jack tie downs. The steel on the beds of these new trucks is not heavy enough. The Tork-Lift setup is good but spendy. Most places that do welding and fabrication have there own style that attach to the frame. Call around. Have them put in a 7-way plug in the bed of your truck while they're at it.