Plywood & Rubber mat question ( Who's on first )

PRodacy wrote:
If you put a thin rubber mat on the bed of the truck, then the plywood with another rubber mat on top of the plywood for the camper to set on, it won't move. Remember, though, that unless the rubber is fairly thin, it'll be heavy. Check McMaster-Carr for thin rubber sheets.

Bigfootchevy wrote:


Thanks Jim:

Just so I clearly understand you put your camper directly on the plywood and not on the rubber mat.

Paul

bobndot wrote:
Paul, I sent a PM to you (see if GM changed the way the 2015 bed is mounted) but then found this old post.

Posters here offer some things to try to help you narrow things down. ( one thing mentioned, the new trucks shocks might be different than the old truck and someone mentioned how to adjust your mirrors to view the camper in relation to the bed)

You need to know if the camper moving in the bed or the bed moving the camper.

You might need a second person to drive next to you . Shoot a video . That's how I improved my golf swing.

Bob

covered wagon wrote:
I tried the foam but it stressed areas of the camper bottom that had weak areas.

Tired of the heavy rubber matt, I cut 3 strips of plywood 1 foot wide and stapled 1 foot wide strips of rubber to the bottom of the plywood. Using stainless staples it's held up and easy light weight to just slide in the three rubber strips of ply into the truck bed. The ply gives even pressure to the camper bottom.

bigfootford wrote:

Bigfootchevy wrote:
Thanks for all the replys. Today I decided to try a 1 inch sheet of foam instead of plywood.

I believe I will put the foam on the truck bed and the rubber on top of it, with the camper on the rubber mat.

Hopefully this will work.

Paul

Paul, I did the foam thing. What you will find is the camper will compress the foam along the areas where the water tank access plate is attached to the outer perimeter of the camper. All the weight on the front and drivers side of the camper is supported by about 2-3 inches of fiberglass around the perimeter.
That will put stress on the screws and thin fiberglass plate thus elongating the holes and if not corrected will cause the screws etc to become loose and the glass to wear to the point of not being functional.
Along with this issue the camper will finally sit low on the flattened side and will have a tendency to rock.

I did the rubber pad thing. The same issue the camper ate into the pad around the same area I described to you..

Best I have found is the 3/4 plywood cut to fit tight in my bed. 5 individual sections. My camper does not move around. the screws have made impressions in the plywood and you can see that the camper is not scooting around.
Using the plywood you can not make the camper sit in the exact spot each time you unload it so you will have many screw impressions after a couple of years but who cares.

Just my experience.

Jim

Farmerjon wrote:
Paul, That really is a puzzle. I would replace the foam with plywood. Just to make sure it is solid. Some of the rocking may be the bed moving separate from the cab but you would have seen that with your other truck also.
good luck ,

Jon

Bigfootchevy wrote:
Thanks for all the replys. Today I decided to try a 1 inch sheet of foam instead of plywood.

I believe I will put the foam on the truck bed and the rubber on top of it, with the camper on the rubber mat.

Hopefully this will work.

Paul