Steep Off-Road Grade with Truck Camper

.060" thick EPDM commercial roofing membrane works great for friction under the bed without adding any significant weight. That's what I use. You can get scraps free from your local commercial roofer if you ask nice or bring him a 6 pack.

First bed mat, 2nd good tie downs 3rd if the Jacks hit hill was to steep.

I have gone as far as you can with out the jacks hitting. Towing a 20ft trailer If it any steeper we dont belong there in a 5k+ camper.

Andy

Back about 5 years ago I went up Fish Creek hill on the Apache Trail I think it is about a 19 percent grade and rough and washboarded. No problem but I was worried about my home made tiedowns. Next time I went on it I went down the hill:) That section has since been closed due to a flood and is blocked with Huge boulders. Hope they can eventually reopen it as it was a Great scenic drive...

Dee Zee bed mat get one from Amazon .

Hold downs should do their job. I've done a couple grades that creeped me out before and I came through ok. As a rule of thumb, if the grade you are planning to drive is proceeded with "Hey everybody, watch this" don't do it.

I have a DeeZee mat which is about 3/8" thick in my dually that works great for me. If you want something thicker go to your local farm supply store and get some horse stall mats which are 3/4" thick. Either will provide a great "sticky" surface to hold the camper in place.

Get a truck bed mat….

Thanks everyone! I have the torque lift tiedowns at a good angle so that should help but it sounds like I need to get a rubber mat. How thick do you think I should go on a rubber mat? And as tempting as it is to send it, I will make sure to creep along.

Best, Mike.

If the camper is on a greased cookie sheet (IE sitting on steel truck bed) you could slide it backwards easily with just a good boosted launch on a flat surface.
If it’s on a bed mat with or without bedliner you’d be hard pressed to launch it out the back with anything you’d be able to reasonably tackle with a dually with a 3’ long 8’ wide 5000lb tail.
Presuming of course you’re not planning on goin all Whistlin Diesel on it…IE no full sends!
How steep you can go is a function of friction, tie downs and common sense/skill.
I’m sure I pulled some 30% or so grades with the ole AF in the back of the ole Dodge without issue.

I’ve gone up a lot of steep terrain with a TC loaded with a rubber mat and Line-X. I’d add a rubber mat if I was you because it also protects the bottom of the TC a bit.

I think it’s pretty unlikely to make a 4000=5000 lb TC to slide out.