OK, so looking at all types of truck camper pictures, both on and off trucks I have noticed that most all truck campers are "tied" down to truck with the same type frame mounted system from various manufacturers, but basically the same concept.I am referring to the type like the Torklift systems.Every picture I see of a camper on a truck with this system, the mounting parts, happyjack, turn buckles etc. are all vertical. Straight up/down from the mounting point on the truck and camper.So what keeps the camper from sliding out the back of the truck on steep inclines or any other situation where the truck would be pitched to where something would slide out the back.With the "ties" vertical, there would be, what about 2 foot of room for them to slide backwards (away from the cab). The front of the bed keeps it from moving forward(toward the cab) but what keeps it from moving out the back?Again, just looking at pictures it looks to me if you pulled off a little hard on a incline, the thing would slide back a few feet. So tell me why it wont.

I personally would much rather cross the mounting ties, the front point on the camper to the rear point on the truck, the rear on the point of the camper to the front point of hte truck.

pratmaster wrote:OK, so looking at all types of truck camper pictures, both on and off trucks I have noticed that most all truck campers are "tied" down to truck with the same type frame mounted system from various manufacturers, but basically the same concept.I am referring to the type like the Torklift systems.Every picture I see of a camper on a truck with this system, the mounting parts, happyjack, turn buckles etc. are all vertical. Straight up/down from the mounting point on the truck and camper.So what keeps the camper from sliding out the back of the truck on steep inclines or any other situation where the truck would be pitched to where something would slide out the back.With the "ties" vertical, there would be, what about 2 foot of room for them to slide backwards (away from the cab). The front of the bed keeps it from moving forward(toward the cab) but what keeps it from moving out the back?Again, just looking at pictures it looks to me if you pulled off a little hard on a incline, the thing would slide back a few feet. So tell me why it wont.Most, if not all, truck camper manufacturers recommend that a rubber bed mat be installed between the truck bed and the camper bottom. This mat keeps the camper from sliding front to back and side to side. Pickups do not have enough power/traction to climb a hill so steep that the rubber mat would allow the camper to slide rearward. The front bulk head of the truck bed keeps the camper from sliding forward during a very harsh sudden stop.LeRoy

The fact is, the tie downs do not do as much as most people think they do. They are not intended to hold the TC on the way truckers use big straps to hold loads on. They are intended to prevent the minute vibrations from walking the TC back and forth on the truck. Especially to keep it from walking out the back of the truck.Ideally, you would have the two tiedowns at front at an angle opposite the rear. If the tie downs are straight up and down, they will minimize the distance the TC can travel, but not as efficiently as if they were mounted at an angle.The TC will move around a little, but not come off the truck under normal use of the truck/TC.Wayne

Reddog1 wrote:Ideally, you would have the two tiedowns at front at an angle opposite the rear. If the tie downs are straight up and down, they will minimize the distance the TC can travel, but not as efficiently as if they were mounted at an angle.Much like the bow strap and transom strap on my boat. The bow strap prevents the boat from sliding back on the trailer and the angle of my transom straps prevents the boat from sliding forward into my truck. On dually trucks, the rear tiedowns are a challenge because of the fender hips being in the way. If the tiedowns are straight vertical on a SRW truck, the mounts on the camper likely need to be moved.

Not a dumb question at all, I think the tie downs are not understood by a lot of people.I was not aware truck camper manufacturers recommend that a rubber bed mat be installed between the truck bed and the camper bottom. It does certainly help preventing the TC movement. I definitely remove a plastic liner from the bed. I would definitely use a rubber mat on the plastic bed liner. I do think the plastic on the bed would still allow a lot of movement.Wayne

Dumb question about truck camper tie downs | Good Sam Community

Reddog1
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2014
The fact is, the tie downs do not do as much as most people think they do. They are not intended to hold the TC on the way truckers use big straps to hold loads on. They are intended to prevent the minute vibrations from walking the TC back and forth on the truck. Especially to keep it from walking out the back of the truck.

Ideally, you would have the two tiedowns at front at an angle opposite the rear. If the tie downs are straight up and down, they will minimize the distance the TC can travel, but not as efficiently as if they were mounted at an angle.

The TC will move around a little, but not come off the truck under normal use of the truck/TC.

Wayne
Homeless_by_Cho
Explorer
Jan 31, 2014
pratmaster wrote:
OK, so looking at all types of truck camper pictures, both on and off trucks I have noticed that most all truck campers are "tied" down to truck with the same type frame mounted system from various manufacturers, but basically the same concept.

I am referring to the type like the Torklift systems.

Every picture I see of a camper on a truck with this system, the mounting parts, happyjack, turn buckles etc. are all vertical. Straight up/down from the mounting point on the truck and camper.

So what keeps the camper from sliding out the back of the truck on steep inclines or any other situation where the truck would be pitched to where something would slide out the back.

With the "ties" vertical, there would be, what about 2 foot of room for them to slide backwards (away from the cab). The front of the bed keeps it from moving forward(toward the cab) but what keeps it from moving out the back?

Again, just looking at pictures it looks to me if you pulled off a little hard on a incline, the thing would slide back a few feet. So tell me why it wont.

Most, if not all, truck camper manufacturers recommend that a rubber bed mat be installed between the truck bed and the camper bottom. This mat keeps the camper from sliding front to back and side to side. Pickups do not have enough power/traction to climb a hill so steep that the rubber mat would allow the camper to slide rearward. The front bulk head of the truck bed keeps the camper from sliding forward during a very harsh sudden stop.

LeRoy
pratmaster
Explorer
Jan 31, 2014
I personally would much rather cross the mounting ties, the front point on the camper to the rear point on the truck, the rear on the point of the camper to the front point of hte truck.

Forum Discussion

Dumb question about truck camper tie downs

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Truck Camper Mileage (Question Answered)

Tire PSI and truck camper question

Battery question in conversion camper

camper van question

Questions for new seasonal camper