Why cant I use ratchet straps for tie downs????

You can certainly get away with rigid tiedown chains or straps.

Lots of people get away with lots of things. Often for their entire lives.

Doesn't mean it's the right way, or even the wrong way. It's just a way.

However, when you have the chance to add features, and cover certain situations the first time around, for a few dollars more, why would you NOT?

In most cases new TCers don't have anything at all to secure their TCs. Since they have to buy turnbuckles anyway, it only makes sense to buy the purpose-built spring-loaded turnbuckles!

What doesn't make sense is buying rigid turnbuckles, only to find out that they're not going to work for you, and you have to spend even more money on a SECOND set of spring-loaded turnbuckles.

Hopefully if I say the same thing over and over, in different ways, people will get the message:

Don't buy twice when you can spend a little extra the first time around and have all your bases covered.

Basic chain rig for the last 14 years. I don't tighten them much and the camper will move a bit in the first part of the trip then a quick adjustment lasts the rest of the trip. Did move back 3 or 4 inches once when I let someone else attach the back and I didn't pay attention.

byronlj wrote:
I had a camper in the mid 90's. We never heard of fast guns. We used chains with a turnbuckle. Is it technology or just a way to get more money out of your pocket?
Dave

That is what I am still using, no problem so far.

You made the right choice, mon. You don't want to go cheap when it comes to safety and an expensive truck and truck camper.

Mello Mike..the truck might be expensive,...but the camper?????
btw mike its me..from your blog (rastaman) Yeh mon

rastaman33609 wrote:
Being the OP, I pondered all the reply's, In spite of having over 12-14 straps on hand I broke down and went with the Torklift 'basic kit' turn buckles spring load and chains. $73 a pair. So now I am protecting the TC, safety conscious and only a little "hillbilly." ;-)

You made the right choice, mon. :) You don't want to go cheap when it comes to safety and an expensive truck and truck camper.

Being the OP, I pondered all the reply's, In spite of having over 12-14 straps on hand I broke down and went with the Torklift 'basic kit' turn buckles spring load and chains. $73 a pair. So now I am protecting the TC, safety conscious and only a little "hillbilly." ;-)

My bro John uses (4) 800-1K pound ratchet straps to keep his OUTFITTER!!!! in the bed of his F-250. The rig does have the "floats". On an Eastern Sierra trip in Sept., I had to winch his OUTFITTER!!!! back into position on the bed because, silly me, I talked him into leaving his jax at home. One problem is his lack of centering guides.One of the straps failed. We stopped by Kmart in Bishop and picked up another quartet of cheapo straps, red ones this time. I cannot say that they kept the box squarely in the bed, but they sure did not pull the camper apart either. Pick your poison.
jefe

Saw a camper at the Quartzsite show the other week that had a ratchet strap tiedown. "A" as in "one". Sure hope it was bolted on somewhere else...it was the only visible attachment.

Assuming they are rated for the load, most 2"+ wide high-quality "ratchet straps" should work to securely fasten your TC to your truck… However most nylon webbing, once tightened, is for all intents and purposes inelastic, and as a result it will not provide "enough give" to protect your TC from the stresses caused by the flexing of the truck frame. Over time you are virtually guaranteeing that you will cause damage to your TC unless you use some device to reduce the stress.

If you are going to use ratchet straps, do yourself a couple of favors; #1 make sure the straps are load rated, and #2 add a set of inexpensive TorkLift SpringLoads. These cost ~$65/pair…which is considerably less than it will cost to repair your TC after you tear out one of the anchor points ;)

Personally, I choose to us use TorkLift FastGuns… not because of pride or appearance, but because they are quick, simple to use, and offer an easy way to correctly set the tension pre-load. Yes, they're expensive, but for me the convenience was worth the cost.

Cheers,
-Mark
On edit: I learned how to spell expensive correctly.

Will the straps work - without a doubt if they are properly rated. Matter of fact that is exactly how I brought my TC home 500 miles. 2" straps in the front to a temp belly bar and 1" straps in the rear. Never had a worry or second thought the whole way home.

Just make sure you don't over tighten them or you will rip the anchor points out of the camper.

Depending on which camper you have will determine where to secure them to the truck.

Our old Franklin had chains and turnbuckles from the cab-over down to the truck frame in the front. In the rear, just turn buckles down to a real bumper (3/16" steel). My father probably put 100k miles on it before we took it apart due to rot. Not once did we have a problem with the tie down points.