first TC random questions

Pretty much, unless the seller has the exact same model and year truck, everything will be different.

When I brought mine home, I used stake pocket tiedowns and 2" load straps thrown right up over the roof of the camper, but it is a light camper. I wouldn't have done it that way if it had been a heavy camper.

The straps did rub a bit on the wall of the camper, marring up the graphics in one small area. It annoys me every time I look at it. You'll probably want to take some measures to prevent rubbing if you decide to go this route.

Call Torklift - In Seattle Wa ... they will tell you if the same tie-downs he has will fit. IF not, they might have a kit that gives you what frame mount is different ... A person actually answers the phone there too ...

Explain what you have, they will let you know.

Whatever you do, definitely get your truck set up to haul a camper before you go get the camper.
You'll be in for a long frustrating day otherwise. Have the electric connector plug all wired in and ready to go at the front of your truck box, have some sort of tie-downs figured out and installed, and bring some 2x4s or a 4x8 sheet of rigid insulation foam (my favorite) so you can raise the camper up a few inches in case there are clearance issues. There frequently are.

TetonSkid wrote:
thx all for the help, my next issue is finding the correct part number for the torklift rear tie downs. I found the front tie down is part tlf2000 but the torklift website claims there is only aftermarket rear tie down options. Anybody with a 97 ish F250/350 know anything about this? thx again for the help. Very flustered with this all

Um hadnt seen this earlier but looking at Torklifts application chart Im unsure if the #F2000 is correct for '97 short bed F250?
http://www.torklift.com/documents/appguides/application_guide2016_web.pdf
The rear, what Torklift is saying is that year did not come with factory hitch-if it has reciever hitch then its either dealer or P/O installed aftermarket. Just need to verify theres is room for 4" square of the tie down mount to be bolted on the side plates of the aftermarket hitch.

My first TC setup was a 91 F250 and a Lance 300. I used the TL front frame mounts with fastguns and the Happijac rear bumper buttons and chain and turnbuckles. The older trucks have limited parts available. If you have the factory plastic bedliner in yours, you may want to consider a rubber mat.

You can also just use some heavy ratchet straps from the inside corners of the bed to the campers tie down rings to get that camper home. I used that method to get my current camper home when I bought it.

Let us know how it works out for you.

thx all for the help, my next issue is finding the correct part number for the torklift rear tie downs. I found the front tie down is part tlf2000 but the torklift website claims there is only aftermarket rear tie down options. Anybody with a 97 ish F250/350 know anything about this? thx again for the help. Very flustered with this all

You can get happijac tie downs for your truck. They aren't necessarily truck and year only specific. They make a few and they work and come with the instructions to work on a few different applications.

I could be completely wrong about the next thing I'm going to type, but I don't believe that his 3rd gen ram happijac tie downs will work on your 97 f250. I have a 96 f350 and a 97 dodge. I ordered the same exact kit for both trucks. The instructions have three different ways to install them, one for each different manufacturer. It was as simple as using a different hole.

I will say this. I believe that they only make one type of bracket for the fronts, so the only difference really would be the length of the bar that ties it all together. Not all of it would work, but it may get you home. I would just order the proper kit for your truck so you're not drilling any holes in your bed that aren't exactly where they need to be when installed correctly

You need frame mounted tie-downs for your truck - I don't think Ford/Dodge part numbers are the same. However, everything else should be okay.

The tie downs, the parts that bolt to the frame of the truck, are truck specific. I couldn't use the tie downs from my 2006 GMC on my 2014 Chevy. Check out the Torklift website for all of their products.
www.torklift.com I am sure there is something similar for Happijac, but I have had Torklift on both trucks since I bought the camper.
The turnbuckles ( Fastguns )that go from the tiedowns to the camper are universal, but there are different lengths. Long ones for frame mounted tiedowns and short ones for the Happijac system that mounts to the truck box.
I think you would be best to buy the tiedowns before you leave home, and then he should have the rest.
Good luck
OH and welcome to the forum. Lots of great people with lots of knowledge on here.