Avid Fox wrote:
Sorry about duplicates, it's harder to post pics on a phone...
Anyway, it's on both sides of bed. At about the same intensity.
I did bolster the tail of the camper for a while, to stop movement, but I think it just made it worse, as the forces were increased on the trail of the bed, rather than just letting it rock around on the rubber mat.
Next time it's going to be an F550 or Ram 5500. I blame the aluminum bed currently.
Everything you posted here is an accurate assessment after looking at your pics just now.
Has nothing to do with the front HJ tie downs. Has nothing to do with the rear bumper tie downs and nothing to do with not being TL tie downs.
Has everything to do with a heavy camper beating on the back portion of the truck bed.
Either from the cantilever of the camper off the back, the crown in the bed or both.
Like I said previously, my campers and most others I’d imagine, are hard on truck beds.
Mine was dented significantly where yours is damaged. And half the time is was hauling with the tailgate on, which provided addl support and also dented.
Couple suggestions.
1. If you’re talking flat beds, why not just get one for this truck ? Moving to a 5500 is a futile move imo unless you truly need the weight capacity or gearing. They don’t ride like pickups
2. Spread the load out. Figure out the camber issue if that is really affecting it. Shim the front of needed so the rear sits flat. And use 2 sheets of 3/4 ply. Side by side, cut pieces around wheel wells so that the load in back is spread across that seam and not right on it.
3. Fix the cracks now. Those would take about a half hour for someone to TIG back together.
Betting if you do that and full plywood this will be behind you forever for not much money.
