I sold My Arrow a little over a month ago. Because of other priorities (renovating my house) I do not envision getting another TC for quite a long time. Am wondering whether or not to remove and perhaps part with the TL brackets and Fastguns.I recall that installing the brackets that I had to use a spring-type tool thingy to get the hardware in place inside the box hydro-formed frame- they are not easily accessible if I remember. Not sure how easy it will be to disassemble to remove. Has anyone removed TL brackets on 3G Dodge?

If you think you might get another TC and haul it on that same truck, I would just leave them on. Otherwise, I would put them on ebay and if they sell, pull them off and ship them off.I've just removed the oem hitch on our 2018 F350 and replaced it with a 30k Torklift hitch and 4' extension. I'm already planning for swapping it all back and selling the Torklift stuff many years down the road.

I don't remember if getting the front mounts off and re-installed would be impractical. If not, I'd totally take them off and put on Craigslist. Popular model truck, they should sell quick.

Ours used the fishing wire to place 2 bolts, however I do not remember once in place what was involved as far as tightening and getting wrench on it (so what would take to get back off). Worst case is cut/grind off.Curious, actually I just looked, Id try to unbolt but at least 1 and assume the other also is a carriage bolt (probably why I don't remember getting a wrench on it), likely it or frame would yield/spin so cut off wheel (or nut splitter) would be handy and probably easiest from the get-go.However given age and limited range of trucks they would fit I doubt worth the effort. The fronts I think on yours may fit up to an '09 but part number would help to sell for fit. But for 5 year range I wouldn't bother. Might be a plus when if selling truck.The Fastguns easily re-sell. Another suggestion is re-purposing the front mounts and arms. I welded plates on top of insert arms and use as bed access steps when camper not loaded. I reworked some old arms but could be done and still use as camper mounts.I use mine alot for getting in or just standing to reach bed floor.

Why did I not think of this?!! Thanks for that I’m stealing that idea! I have running boards but the rear could use those!

Fishing back some bolts might not be possible even if you saved the wires (I did). If you decide to remove tie-downs, I would leave the bolt in the hole and put a nut with good coat of anti-seize on it. This way you avoid bolts rattling inside the frame and if in the future you will want to reinstall tie-downs, the bolts will be there.

Camper sold... should I remove the Tork Lift barckets?

14 Replies

Camper_Jeff___K
Navigator
Mar 13, 2019
I use my Torklift hold downs as anchor points for cargo straps on my truck when I carry construction materials, appliances, and waste to and from the job site. It's a use you may find very handy! Also as previously stated, makes a great step to reach into or get into the bed. An industrious person could bolt a rail between the front and back hold downs to make a step rail. Might get in the way of changing a flat tire though.
deltabravo
Nomad
Mar 13, 2019
Remove and sell to recoup some money to spend on other shiny objects.
burningman
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2019
All you need to do is buy a few feet of 1–1/2” square tube and weld or bolt whatever sort of step you want to it. Drill the holes for the retainer pin and you’ve just made your own.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Mar 12, 2019
AnEv942 wrote:
Actually, way back when, Torklift did make & sell step to plug in.

Edit: I'll be dipped, plugged in a few numbers and A7008 came up...hitchsource still shows pdf.
http://www.hitchsource.com/docs/tl/A7008.pdf
Torklift no longer lists. I remember unit that plugged in but these adapt to existing arm, found seller on amazon but product must have fallen into the "vintage" category.

I have 2 sets of these.:)
AnEv942
Nomad
Mar 12, 2019
Actually, way back when, Torklift did make & sell step to plug in.

Edit: I'll be dipped, plugged in a few numbers and A7008 came up...hitchsource still shows pdf.
http://www.hitchsource.com/docs/tl/A7008.pdf
Torklift no longer lists. I remember unit that plugged in but these adapt to existing arm, found seller on amazon but product must have fallen into the "vintage" category.
KKELLER14K
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2019
FANTASTIC!....what a great re-purpose idea AnEv942. Now my head is spinning with all kinds of ideas as to use these holdowns when the TC is not being used. They are kind of spendy but I don't think it would be worth the effort to take them off and find someone locally to sell with a like truck..sell them with truck when the time comes...IMHO. I'm really surprised that tork lift doesn't already make these...I checked the site...none there. Someone could make a buck in the aftermarket... it's a great idea.
kohldad
Explorer III
Mar 12, 2019
You can easily uninstall and capture all of the hardware. just tie a string to the bolt before pushing it back into the frame so you can reach in with a hook to grab the string and then pull it out. Even if the string comes off, you can still reach in with one of those extending magnets and fish it out. I pulled mine off my 2004 this way.

What you may want to do is try and sell them before you remove them. If you get a buyer that makes it worth the trouble of removing, do so. If not just leave them on the truck.
work2much
Explorer
Mar 11, 2019
All my past trucks sold with the frame mounted tie downs still attached. If you aren't selling the truck and may mount a new camper at some point I would leave them on unless you are seriously strapped for the cash that selling them could provide.
B-n-B
Explorer III
Mar 11, 2019
I've bought and sold tie downs three times over the course of five TC's thinking "I'll never need these again...." My vote would be to just hold onto them just in case.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Mar 11, 2019
Fishing back some bolts might not be possible even if you saved the wires (I did).
If you decide to remove tie-downs, I would leave the bolt in the hole and put a nut with good coat of anti-seize on it. This way you avoid bolts rattling inside the frame and if in the future you will want to reinstall tie-downs, the bolts will be there.