brophy tie downs vs others?
I have searched the forum before posting this and did not find my answer, bc all previous posts had different (newer) trucks and campers. I recently bought a TC, (see signature for rig set up), and...
Forum Discussion
AnEv942 wrote:
I ah gotta ask SidecarFlip, what ARE you going off about?- replied to wrong thread? No one mentioned Torklift was the best. No one mentioned camper sliding on the spray in lining. Closest was me saying IF it was actually moving a mat would help or the other was IF it had a plastic liner to remove.
The thread is about a new TC owner asking about couple of things shes not comfortable with..one being the Brophy mounts. The other how much camper moves. Few who have never driven truck with a T/C would not find the camper nose bobbing around a bit disconcerting.
Probably because I read on here about how superior TL tie downs are.. They aren't.
now, interestingly, the guy who bought my Lance has a plastic bed liner in his new Ford (factory liner) and we added a sheet of marine plywood and it's not moving either. He bought the TL front tie down's and we fabricated the rear tiedown set using the Ford factory receiver hith and square tubing inserted in the ends. works great.
I agree with Burningman, the older the truck the better the Brophy's work because the beds are stronger (thicker metal). The new stuff is thin and flexes a lot more.
Finally, my comment to the young lady is, That shadow cruiser weighs a lot more than the weight sticker on the camper states. I believe builders, for years, have 'guesstimated' camper weights based on a camper without anything inside, just the complete shell and basic appointments. I bet it weighs at least 700-1000 pounds more. The only real way to find out is weigh the truck without the camper and the load the unit and weigh again, then add an additional 500 - 750 pounds for 'stuff'.
On the plus side, older trucks (like my 1997 F350) came with much heavier spring packs from the factory than new trucks come with today. Back then, a 1 ton rode empty like a lumber wagon,because they had serious springs but people want a 'car like ride' today so manufacturers complied with softer springs. Is there a 1 ton 4x4 built today with leaf springs on the front? Not sure but I don't believe so. I do know that the empty ride on my F350 is punishing for my wife, but with a load in the bed (my TC) the ride is much softer.
Never had either of my campers move at all and I have a spray in bed liner and nothing between the camper and the bed, well, my camper has steel channels affixed to the bottom so it sits on the steel channels on the bed.
Considering the age of her pickup, I don't see why the Brophy tie downs won't work.
