Cabover/truck Struts

Saves your money, imho they are not needed. We have been on several x country trips and never had a problem. Sure you get some bounce, US route 36 thru Mo. is a good one for that. They put added strain on the camper framwork.

Thanks everyone.

Reddog1 .....no I didn't ask. I wanted to hear their opinion and price them. Right now I'm going without them. The bouncing wasn't that bad on some bad bumps in the road.

Spur Of The Moment wrote:
... The camper is tied down pretty good. I called Lance and they recommend them but they charge $560 for them I wonder if they are just trying to make a sale.

I do not think it makes any difference as to the tie down method. It is a result of the frame/suspension flexing I believe.

I have to ask, did you ask why only Lance recommends them or sells them? I think it is a fair question.

I've had and not had them in the past. Usually only because the truck camper/truck combo already had them. I added them once to a truck for an older huge camper and didn't notice any difference. It all depends on the truck/camper combo and driving conditions I believe. My current Lance has the mounts on the camper and the previous owner had them on his truck, but I don't have them on mine and wanted to experience it without them before I start investing $$ and such. I've driven it on rough roads/freeways, twisty mountain roads and it actually feels better than the smaller camper I sold to get this one. That said, I have no intention on adding them. Try it without them first before spending your time and money. Just my opinion.

Good luck!

Dak

Thanks Wayne........I was watching the cabover through the sun roof and it bounced very little even on bumps. I use Torklift tie downs and Fast Gun buckles. The camper is tied down pretty good. I called Lance and they recommend them but they charge $560 for them I wonder if they are just trying to make a sale.

Lots of controversy on that subject. I encourage you to do a search on RV.NET for hours of reading.

Are they needed? How many TCs do you see with them? How many TCs come with them from the manufacture? How many companies manufacture them?

From all I have read, some truck/TC combinations on some roads have issues with porpoising. The cement highways usually are the worse. Long story as to why. Usually this is an indicator of the need for stronger shocks.

The truck frame flexes between the cab and the bed. Lots of stress there. It should be expected the cab over will move independently from the cab. When you install the struts, they are absorbing lots of this stress. If the struts are connected at the cowl of the truck, and on the end of the cab over, does it not make sense that those two areas now have that stress. Is your TC designed to stand this stress? You might ask the manufacture of your TC. I have seen damage on the mounting points of the struts, usually on the TC. I also question the added stress on the overhead framing of the TC.

From what I have read soft suspension (including soft shocks), on cement roads at certain speeds make the truck/TC the most vulnerable to porpoising. I personally would not use struts. I would look for solutions to the porpoising, including heavier shocks, increasing or decreasing my speed on that stretch of highway.

Wayne

One of the reasons for asking is because of the age of my camper. I know the newer ones are made stronger.

I'm curious about this myself. I have the mounts for them on my camper, just never installed htem.