New 2017 F250SD

I would add timbrens or stableloads, nothing more.

Imo everybody should go with frame tie downs, its not because of aluminium bed, frame tie downs are just way better

hrose wrote:
I would add timbrens or stableloads, nothing more.

Imo everybody should go with frame tie downs, its not because of aluminium bed, frame tie downs are just way better

Ah yes, a personal opinion not base on fact. There are a lot of TC'ers on here, myself included that use Happijac tie downs without any issues at all.

I'll go along with your In my Opinion, because it is just that, an opinion and we all know what opinions are similar to.

Been hauling campers over hill and dale (literally) with HJ's for years...no issues.

Having said all that, I believe the OP will have an issue with the Big Foot fitting in the bed of the new Ford pickup, but I could be wrong.

Torque lift frame mounted tie downs, period.


Put the camper on e truck, you know what to do mod wise for suspension. Many ways to do, pick your poison.

Nice truck BTW, love mine!

SidecarFlip wrote:

hrose wrote:
I would add timbrens or stableloads, nothing more.

Imo everybody should go with frame tie downs, its not because of aluminium bed, frame tie downs are just way better

Ah yes, a personal opinion not base on fact. There are a lot of TC'ers on here, myself included that use Happijac tie downs without any issues at all.

I'll go along with your In my Opinion, because it is just that, an opinion and we all know what opinions are similar to.

Been hauling campers over hill and dale (literally) with HJ's for years...no issues.

Having said all that, I believe the OP will have an issue with the Big Foot fitting in the bed of the new Ford pickup, but I could be wrong.

You also own a truck of the vintage that still had not only a steel bed, but heavy gauge steel. I had a 95' F350 and used happyjacks on without issue. However these new Fords are aluminum and not only would I say NO to body mounts on it, I think would destroy the truck as well. With these truck manufacturers going to aluminum bodies you will be seeing the happyjacks go away. So, my opinion is based on having used both and actually owning an aluminum body truck. So, please don't point this guy in the wrong direction without you having facts and experience in this area.

Vinsil wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

hrose wrote:
I would add timbrens or stableloads, nothing more.

Imo everybody should go with frame tie downs, its not because of aluminium bed, frame tie downs are just way better

Ah yes, a personal opinion not base on fact. There are a lot of TC'ers on here, myself included that use Happijac tie downs without any issues at all.

I'll go along with your In my Opinion, because it is just that, an opinion and we all know what opinions are similar to.

Been hauling campers over hill and dale (literally) with HJ's for years...no issues.

Having said all that, I believe the OP will have an issue with the Big Foot fitting in the bed of the new Ford pickup, but I could be wrong.

You also own a truck of the vintage that still had not only a steel bed, but heavy gauge steel. I had a 95' F350 and used happyjacks on without issue. However these new Fords are aluminum and not only would I say NO to body mounts on it, I think would destroy the truck as well. With these truck manufacturers going to aluminum bodies you will be seeing the happyjacks go away. So, my opinion is based on having used both and actually owning an aluminum body truck. So, please don't point this guy in the wrong direction without you having facts and experience in this area.

I didn't. If you read his comment it said...Everyone should use frame mounted tie downs.... and thats false. Only Ford is using an aluminum box (presently) not GMC or RAM.

I agree on the Ford but I think his issue will be cab over sleeper clearance with a Bigfoot to the top of the cab in as much as Ford changed that dimension in 2017, the cab is taller.

You are correct, I have some steel in my bed and tailgate. My tailgate weighs 2 times what my buddy's 16 Sierra tailgate weighs.

Don't believe HJ's will go away until every P/U bed is aluminum and I don't see that happening for a long time.

Not trying to steer anyone in the wrong direction, just clarifying opinion versus real world usage.

I don't like blanket opinions or assumptions based on nothing more than a personal preference. Nothing more, nothing less.

Vinsil wrote:
Torque lift frame mounted tie downs, period.


Put the camper on e truck, you know what to do mod wise for suspension. Many ways to do, pick your poison.

Nice truck BTW, love mine!

The NORTHERN LITE might do well as I measured 44" from bed to top of cab on BOTH my 97' and 17'. If Ford changed the bed-2-topofcab measurement, I don't see it.

I'll drop a 1-2" styrofoam sheet in the bottom if I need more clearance.

This will be my 1st Powerstroke, I think I'm way over powered. :)

I'll try the stock suspension 1st. While I had added Airbags to the 97' I really did not need or end up using them. Inflated the camper bounced to-fro to much. It did "level" the load front-2-back.

Thanks for the productive responses...

You asked specifically for helpful comments, so if we can move past inane personal superiority commentary and on to your questions, I think everyone agrees that frame mount tiedowns are the best approach for the new aluminum bed Super Duty.

I put the Torklifts on mine. The front tie-downs are specific to what running boards you have or plan to install, and the rears are specific to what hitch you have or plan to install, so the part numbers I ordered may not be the ones you would need. The tiedowns, like much of what Torklift sells, are pretty tightly price-controlled such that almost all places are exactly the same price, but FWIW I bought mine when I bought them a couple months ago from hitchsource.com. At the time, they had 10% off if you bought a front and rear set together, so that saved me about sixty bucks versus other sellers I checked.

I also put Timbren springs on the rear axle. I called and spoke to an engineer at Timbren, and for slide-in camper use he recommended the "severe service" FRTT350J, which fits both 250 & 350, over their standard rear spring, based on the high center of gravity of a truck camper. I installed the Timbrens in about an hour at a relaxed pace and was quite happy with the how the truck and camper rode bringing it home 800+ miles after purchase.

Good luck with your new truck, camper and accessories.

SidecarFlip wrote:

Vinsil wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

hrose wrote:
I would add timbrens or stableloads, nothing more.

Imo everybody should go with frame tie downs, its not because of aluminium bed, frame tie downs are just way better

Ah yes, a personal opinion not base on fact. There are a lot of TC'ers on here, myself included that use Happijac tie downs without any issues at all.

I'll go along with your In my Opinion, because it is just that, an opinion and we all know what opinions are similar to.

Been hauling campers over hill and dale (literally) with HJ's for years...no issues.

Having said all that, I believe the OP will have an issue with the Big Foot fitting in the bed of the new Ford pickup, but I could be wrong.

You also own a truck of the vintage that still had not only a steel bed, but heavy gauge steel. I had a 95' F350 and used happyjacks on without issue. However these new Fords are aluminum and not only would I say NO to body mounts on it, I think would destroy the truck as well. With these truck manufacturers going to aluminum bodies you will be seeing the happyjacks go away. So, my opinion is based on having used both and actually owning an aluminum body truck. So, please don't point this guy in the wrong direction without you having facts and experience in this area.

I didn't. If you read his comment it said...Everyone should use frame mounted tie downs.... and thats false. Only Ford is using an aluminum box (presently) not GMC or RAM.

I agree on the Ford but I think his issue will be cab over sleeper clearance with a Bigfoot to the top of the cab in as much as Ford changed that dimension in 2017, the cab is taller.

You are correct, I have some steel in my bed and tailgate. My tailgate weighs 2 times what my buddy's 16 Sierra tailgate weighs.

Don't believe HJ's will go away until every P/U bed is aluminum and I don't see that happening for a long time.

Not trying to steer anyone in the wrong direction, just clarifying opinion versus real world usage.

I don't like blanket opinions or assumptions based on nothing more than a personal preference. Nothing more, nothing less.

It will happen sooner than you think.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2017/02/spied-2019-chevrolet-silverado-1500.html




As for the OP, I'm happy with stableloads and would start there for suspension help, as you found with bags and too much pressure.

NGaMountains wrote:
I think everyone agrees that frame mount tiedowns are the best approach for the new aluminum bed Super Duty.

I put the Torklifts on mine. The front tie-downs are specific to what running boards you have or plan to install, and the rears are specific to what hitch you have or plan to install, so the part numbers I ordered may not be the ones you would need. The tiedowns, like much of what Torklift sells, are pretty tightly price-controlled such that almost all places are exactly the same price, but FWIW I bought mine when I bought them a couple months ago from hitchsource.com. At the time, they had 10% off if you bought a front and rear set together, so that saved me about sixty bucks versus other sellers I checked.

I also put Timbren springs on the rear axle. I called and spoke to an engineer at Timbren, and for slide-in camper use he recommended the "severe service" FRTT350J, which fits both 250 & 350, over their standard rear spring, based on the high center of gravity of a truck camper. I installed the Timbrens in about an hour at a relaxed pace and was quite happy with the how the truck and camper rode bringing it home 800+ miles after purchase.

Good luck with your new truck, camper and accessories.

The truck came with factory tow package (likely will never use) and running boards. I'll have to drop by a camper dealer next weekend to see what Torklifts (I thought there was a "Q" in there) I need to order. I'll have to get turnbuckles as well. (sigh)

I like the idea of an extra leaf. Thanks for the Timbren PN#. It will be wait and see. Ditto on the camper/cab clearance.

I've already had one offer on my classic and I'm not ready to sell it until I get the camper fitted on the new truck. Silly people just driving by "hey are you selling that old truck!?!?!"

I plan on moving my 19.5's over to the new truck.

I'm guessing your truck doesn't have the camper package which adds the overloads and the rear sway bar, probably should have went with the 350.

The factory sway bar isn't that great anyway, I believe an aftermarket one is thicker.

No idea on adding the overload, I'm sure something is available from the aftermarket.

I have torklift tiedowns, have never tried the Happijac ones.

I had two issues mounting my camper on my '17.

1. The rails are now 21" tall, I had to put a sheet of that dense insulation foam in to raise it up. I also added the Ford Factory bed mat, bit pricier but it fits the entire bed not just a 4x8 sheet.

2. The 'upturns' on the bumper come rather close to my plumbing, I only have about 1 1/2 of clearance.

just a couple things you will want to watch for.