Back in 07' I built some centering guides for my 96'. They are posted in this TCU University thread There was some interest in people wanting some built but no way for me to economically build them to sell. This weekend I built a new set for my 2015 F350. Rather than going with steel I switched to aluminum and rather than welding they are all bolt together. Going this route anyone should be able to build a set. Pictures will basically explain the construction. The front are Happijac FM-GL9 centering guide locks mounted on a piece of aluminum channel. I have Torklift tie downs so didn't have a crossbar to mount the guides on. The channel is bolted to the front of the bed with five 5/16 rivet-nuts. I used the rivet-nuts as there is no room between truck bed and cab for your hand and the rivet-nuts make for quick removal/installation of the guide. The tool and rivets can be found at Amazon link. For the rear I used 3/16x1-1/2 aluminum flat bar. Once again I used the 5/16 rivet-nuts for installation. The bar can easily be bent by heating with a standard propane soldering torch or whatever you have. Doesn't take much heat. Wrapped the guides with 1/4" UHMW using stainless countersunk bolts. Loaded the camper yesterday and they worked great. Anyone should be able to build these as all that's needed is standard hand tools and no welding required.

That is a sweet looking setup you have.. I have a completely off topic question about it though. Your tires you have, how do you like them? I have the same size toyo's in the Mud terrain also with the 4080lb of load rating. Would you be willing to post a closeup picture of your wheel/tire? Im considering going to the AT tires soon when i replace mine. Love the color of that truck!

I've seen a number of of these kits and DIY projects and follow the threads. Although I do not use them, I always thought that when my camper starts sliding around I would end up doing something like this. Well, even with my flatbed, I have not seen more than 1/2" of movement (rough roads on CA's HWY99). Are you driving miles of washboard or going to locations with pitched bumpy roads to get so much movement? Even on a forest road with some washouts, my Arctic Fox stayed planted.

Bedlam wrote:I've seen a number of of these kits and DIY projects and follow the threads. Although I do not use them, I always thought that when my camper starts sliding around I would end up doing something like this. Well, even with my flatbed, I have not seen more than 1/2" of movement (rough roads on CA's HWY99). Are you driving miles of washboard or going to locations with pitched bumpy roads to get so much movement? Even on a forest road with some washouts, my Arctic Fox stayed planted.These are centering guides not movement preventers. I like my camper perfectly square and with guides I can just back under it and drop it without any messing around. The tie-downs are always the same length and the camper is always perfectly centered. I guess they would prevent it from sliding around on a slick bed liner or something but with horse-mat and tie-downs it ain't moving.

Dirtpig wrote:That is a sweet looking setup you have.. I have a completely off topic question about it though. Your tires you have, how do you like them? I have the same size toyo's in the Mud terrain also with the 4080lb of load rating. Would you be willing to post a closeup picture of your wheel/tire? Im considering going to the AT tires soon when i replace mine. Love the color of that truck!Tires are awesome. Previously I ran the toyo M/T. These are much quieter and handle better. Not as good in the mud but just as good or better on snow/ice.

Centering on the flatbed is a pain and I have to use a spotter who matches up center lines on the camper and bed, but we are getting better this each time. Loading my AF into a pickup bed was pretty simple since I could just watch the tailgate opening as I backed up. Right now I'm pretty happy with my spotter (DW) and don't think I need to replace her with guides. Twice I have loaded my TC without help, but it took multiple trips in and out of the cab to make sure I was still centered since I cannot see the reference lines.

Centering Guides 2.0 | Good Sam Community

Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 31, 2015
Centering on the flatbed is a pain and I have to use a spotter who matches up center lines on the camper and bed, but we are getting better this each time. Loading my AF into a pickup bed was pretty simple since I could just watch the tailgate opening as I backed up.

Right now I'm pretty happy with my spotter (DW) and don't think I need to replace her with guides. Twice I have loaded my TC without help, but it took multiple trips in and out of the cab to make sure I was still centered since I cannot see the reference lines.
Crumm
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Dirtpig wrote:
That is a sweet looking setup you have.. I have a completely off topic question about it though. Your tires you have, how do you like them? I have the same size toyo's in the Mud terrain also with the 4080lb of load rating. Would you be willing to post a closeup picture of your wheel/tire? Im considering going to the AT tires soon when i replace mine. Love the color of that truck!

Tires are awesome. Previously I ran the toyo M/T. These are much quieter and handle better. Not as good in the mud but just as good or better on snow/ice.
Crumm
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Bedlam wrote:
I've seen a number of of these kits and DIY projects and follow the threads. Although I do not use them, I always thought that when my camper starts sliding around I would end up doing something like this. Well, even with my flatbed, I have not seen more than 1/2" of movement (rough roads on CA's HWY99). Are you driving miles of washboard or going to locations with pitched bumpy roads to get so much movement? Even on a forest road with some washouts, my Arctic Fox stayed planted.

These are centering guides not movement preventers. I like my camper perfectly square and with guides I can just back under it and drop it without any messing around. The tie-downs are always the same length and the camper is always perfectly centered. I guess they would prevent it from sliding around on a slick bed liner or something but with horse-mat and tie-downs it ain't moving.
Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 31, 2015
I've seen a number of of these kits and DIY projects and follow the threads. Although I do not use them, I always thought that when my camper starts sliding around I would end up doing something like this. Well, even with my flatbed, I have not seen more than 1/2" of movement (rough roads on CA's HWY99). Are you driving miles of washboard or going to locations with pitched bumpy roads to get so much movement? Even on a forest road with some washouts, my Arctic Fox stayed planted.
Dirtpig
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
That is a sweet looking setup you have.. I have a completely off topic question about it though. Your tires you have, how do you like them? I have the same size toyo's in the Mud terrain also with the 4080lb of load rating. Would you be willing to post a closeup picture of your wheel/tire? Im considering going to the AT tires soon when i replace mine. Love the color of that truck!

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