Frame mount or Bed mount

Question

I am shopping for mounts.I have a pair of those that drop into the bed rail holes.  This is how I intended to get TC home a rainy 6 hr drive at night.I am looking at Amazon reviews on the Broady ones that mount to top rail.  Everyone loves them and no reported issues for holding the Tc to the truck. I know they are not meant for 3500lb TCs either, but mine is just 1,900.My method is I actually have a bolt go through the side to the bracket and pinch to tighten against the wall.  This would have to rip a lot of truck metal to pull out.  This is just how I made it work on my truck (got these with a previous TC and no idea of history)Why would I want to go with a $400+ frame mounted tie-down bracket?If anything I would make a frame mount bracket, but that is lots of fab work.For the rear I may just put a tab on the rear bumper.  Again, I think the fiberglass TC would splinter before the bumper would bend.What am I missing?this is getting it home, I did not have short enough anything to tie to the brackets so tied to the nerf bar. The camper actually was sitting on the bed rails, not the floor, so at least it was super stable. I intended to use the brackets, but the strap is from camper to nerf bar, not the bracket.Should I find some short turn buckles, or just run a long bolt from camper to the bracket?

burningman · Answer

I used the Brophy clamp on tiedowns for years with several campers and they work, but they’re a pain in the butt to have to bolt on every time you load the camper, or super ugly if you just leave them on. The other thing that you’ve already discovered is they give you very little room for your turnbuckles. They do work, but I got tired of mine.

You’re supposed to use tiedowns that are spring loaded, most turnbuckles sold as camper tiedowns are, if you use solid frame mounts. Otherwise the flexing and bouncing wild driving tries to rip your tiedown brackets out of your camper. The clamp-on Brophys have a bit of flex to them and might be OK without something spring loaded.
I can’t seem to find them anymore but there used to be a thing called a belly bar. It was a piece of square tube that went under the truck from left to right and had brackets to attach it to the frame.
Then you had little removable pieces that fit into each end to attach your turnbuckles, just like the popular Torklift frame mounts do. I have one on my truck. You could make one pretty easily.

I welded 7” of 2” square tube onto each end of my trailer hitch so I could slide smaller square tube into it to hold my rear turnbuckles. When the end pieces are removed you don’t even see it, it just looks like the hitch is wider.

ppine · Answer

Frame mounts are superior. Try some better straps.

kayteg1 · Answer

I am metal fabricator and hate to pay a fortune for something I can make myself in couple of hr, but front frame-mounted brackets would take long hr of fitment, so I did not hesitate to spend the money with Torklift.
Rear is easy to DIY

anev942 · Answer

While I would first address the fact camper setting on bed rails, frame mounts may not be ideal if your interest is truly off roading (other thread). happijack mounts maybe an option.

jefe_4x4 · Answer

I'm with AnEv. If you are even remotely thinking of taking the rig off road or getting your axles twisted up at all, then the tried and true Happy Jack tie downs are good enough. These are old tech but very well designed with real world calcs. I've had no trouble with them over some noxious real estate. However, I do keep adjusting them tighter or looser, depending on how much the truck frame is flexing. Here are the features I see:
*Nothing hanging down to be bent or ripped off by a passing rock.
*The full sheet of the front of the bed acts as a shear plate.
*Front tie downs are spring loaded to keep from pulling your TC apart.
*Front tie downs are at an angle to keep your TC from moving rearward, or sliding out the back on steep upgrades.
*Rear tie downs go to the bumper with buttons.
*Rear tie downs at an angle to keep the TC in position.
*Rear tie downs have no spring load. Mfgr. calculated the rear bumper will bend enough to reduce the need for springs.
I'm still enjoying the simple pair of 3/4 inch open end wrenches style of adjustment and keep the pair at hand for a quick readjustment. I really don't see a better mouse trap out there. More expensive ones out there? Yes. Sexier ones out there? Yes.
jefe

Forum Discussion

Frame mount or Bed mount

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

generator mount

mounting dish

TAILGATER MOUNT

Hubcap and mounting frame

Mounting Items