Hello all,I recently purchased a 2005 Northstar 850SC. There are eye bolts behind each of the rear tie down points (see pic.) I want to use the eye bolts as an attach point for my rear Happijac turn buckles but I want to make sure it is OK. No help from the manufacture or dealers. The manufacture needs to see the camper to give an answer and dealers don't give an opinion because of liability concerns. Any insights appreciated.

Why are there duplicate posts?Why are there duplicate posts?

Can you see how the eyebolts are fastened?The original anchor points are likely reinforced from behind, and distribute the load evenly into the camper frame. The eyebolt may or may not be fastened right. For all I know, one of the previous woners may hae put it there for a clothesline...The eyebolt itself may or may not be strong enough - you don't know how much load it can take before it breaks. Probably/possibly less than the original anchor.I guess that is why the manufacturer wants to see how it is done, and what was done.The eyebolt doesn't look to be very far behind the original anchor point. Is there a specific reason why you can not use these?

Thanks for the response. Sorry for the posting confusion.The eye bolts appear to be manufacture installed. I not sure what purpose they would serve other than an attachment point for something. I want to use the eye bolts to attach the rear turn buckles because it's less distance between the eye bolt and the rear bumper. When I use the attachment in front of the eye bolt the turn buckle is maxed out, not many threads grabbing.

The only way to know for sure is to figure out how it's mounted. If it's just screwed into the plywood it will tear right out. If it's just through-bolted to the plywood, it will just tear a bigger hole.It's also a bent-wire eyebolt, and not a very big one. These tend to want to straighten if any real tension is put on them. My camper has these eyebolts but they are quite large and heavy. Ideally we should both have forged eyebolts.That factory tiedown point ahead of the eyebolt is attached to a reinforced area of the camper. *IF* the eyebolt is through-bolted to the same reinforced area, it *COULD* work.

Thought this over a bit. If this is the driver side then that would be directly under my propane compartment. Not much support there. If this is the passenger side, it would be under the cassette toilet compartment. Even less support on that side. I'm just going off the picture and your reference in the duplicate post of wanting to tie down to your bumper and my 850sc camper. Unless somebody did some major bracing on your camper I would not be using that as the tie down point.

Northstar pop-top question. | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

rider997
Explorer
Sep 18, 2015
realter wrote:
GeoBoy wrote:
whizbang wrote:

Manfred,

What you want to do is put a "quick link" screw chain link on the tie down points so you can shorten the distance and use more thread turns.

X2

I was told by Torklift not to use these. They are the "weak link" in your tie down system.

My Torklift Fastguns shipped from Torklift with quick links in the box... A decent 5/16" quick link will be rated at about 2,500lbs WLL. Go with a 3/8" link rated at 4,000 lbs if you're paranoid :-)

You might not want a Chinese one from the big box hardware store, but quality quick links will by no means be a weak spot in your installation. The tie down points on the camper itself may yield before the quick links do.
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Sep 18, 2015
Those eye bolts were also on our previous 850SC.

I doubt that it would be for a roof tiedown considering what an awkward angle it would create.

Someone at the N* factory couldn't give you an answer? Really? Did you send them a picture so they didn't misunderstand your description?
s1214
Explorer
Sep 18, 2015
realter wrote:
GeoBoy wrote:
whizbang wrote:

Manfred,

What you want to do is put a "quick link" screw chain link on the tie down points so you can shorten the distance and use more thread turns.

X2

I was told by Torklift not to use these. They are the "weak link" in your tie down system.

These are available in various weight capacities. Go with the appropriate rated ones and you should be fine.
realter
Explorer
Sep 18, 2015
GeoBoy wrote:
whizbang wrote:

Manfred,

What you want to do is put a "quick link" screw chain link on the tie down points so you can shorten the distance and use more thread turns.

X2

I was told by Torklift not to use these. They are the "weak link" in your tie down system.
Big_Rig1
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
Had the same problem when I changed to a new Arctic Fox 990. The dealer added the quick links to solve the problem. Must be a pretty common fix.

Big Rig (John)
Manfred
Explorer
Sep 13, 2015
Thanks for the advice. I won't use the eye bolts for a tie down point. The camper has racks on the top so perhaps a canoe or something was secured using the eye bolts. I'll use the quick link in the back. Will feel more comfortable grabbing more threads on the turn buckle.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Sep 12, 2015
whizbang wrote:

Manfred,

What you want to do is put a "quick link" screw chain link on the tie down points so you can shorten the distance and use more thread turns.

X2
radio1960
Explorer
Sep 12, 2015
Hello Everyone:

I have the Northstar Laredo which will fit on either a LWB or SWB. I also have the eye hooks. The eye hooks are located where the extra storage boxes would go if the TC would be loaded on a SWB. Have never used them to secure my Happi Jacks.

Radio
whizbang
Explorer II
Sep 12, 2015

Manfred,

What you want to do is put a "quick link" screw chain link on the tie down points so you can shorten the distance and use more thread turns.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Sep 11, 2015
The eyebolts are not factory standard equipment. The previous owner must have installed, I would not use them to tie down the camper to the truck.