Happijac front bed tie down...Ding!

[DOITHARD]

Hello to all,

Not sure if my issue has been discussed in the past!

I installed Happijac front bed tiedowns because the conflict with the fuel door. And, now I'm not sure if it was a wise decision. The bracket has flexed dinging the corners of the bed...its not big dings but it bothers me...not sure if it get worse with time or stops? Has this happened to anyone else? And, what was the remediation? I hate to now go buy Torklift frame mounted tie downs for the front. I have them on the rear.

IMHO, there should have been a spacer (maybe high density rubber?) for the gap that exist between the bracket and bed corner.

[_DJ_1]

The problem is these trucks no longer use steel in the boxes, just sheet metal. I'd put on the Tork Lift frame mounts with Fast Guns and do away with the HJ. I can access my fuel door in a second plus it acts as a locking gas cap!!

[HMS_Beagle]

Well, you don't need to fab whole new ones. The main problem with the front Happijac tie downs is there is nothing but sheet metal holding them, and they are sheet metal themselves. My old ones I simply welded a piece of fairly light channel (1 1/2 x 5/8) across the two. This has two structural benefits: it resists the upward twist, and stiffens the stamped plate by several times against flexing back. The turnbuckles try to flex them back against the edge of the bed, twisting them upwards at the same time. On their heavy duty option they have a light sheet metal channel bolted on to attempt the same thing, but it isn't as effective as welding, and does not carry the channel out near the turnbuckle hole.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Beagle, that's some very nice fabrication! You have some patience to TIG all of that too.

[jimh406]

DOITHARD wrote:

jimh425 wrote:
The front tie downs aren't that expensive. I'd replace them if it was me, and it was bothering me.

Did you also ding the bed corner prior to the Torklift front tie down installation?

Sorry, that was supposed to be " and if it was bothering me."

[DOITHARD]

MORSNOW wrote:
I have Happijac brackets for the same fuel door clearance issue you mentioned and use Torklift Fastgun tie-downs for ease of use. How tight do you run your tie-downs? I've been using my Happijac brackets for three years, with some pretty major off camber truck/camper twisting, and haven't seen any bending of the front brackets. The spring loaded tie-down shouldn't be over tightened and should be stretching/contracting as needed without bending the brackets.

I believe, I followed the instructions and also have the Fastguns. I have a 2016 Lance 1172...its pretty heavy!

[DOITHARD]

HMS Beagle wrote:
You can reinforce them with a little welding. They are pretty floppy as packaged. In this thread are some pictures of my Happijac tie downs reinforced, and the much stronger version I made for the new truck. It clears the fuel filler door.

My issue with the Torklift is they cantilever a long ways out from the frame, depending on the model of truck and don't have much forward pull.

You are a talented man...what a great job. That's not just a little welding. lol Would you make a pair for my truck ('12 F450) and would be more than happy to pay for the fabrication. Being a TC compadre it would only be fitting to help a firsttime tcer.

[MORSNOW]

I have Happijac brackets for the same fuel door clearance issue you mentioned and use Torklift Fastgun tie-downs for ease of use. How tight do you run your tie-downs? I've been using my Happijac brackets for three years, with some pretty major off camber truck/camper twisting, and haven't seen any bending of the front brackets. The spring loaded tie-down shouldn't be over tightened and should be stretching/contracting as needed without bending the brackets.

[DOITHARD]

jimh425 wrote:
The front tie downs aren't that expensive. I'd replace them if it was me, and it was bothering me.

Did you also ding the bed corner prior to the Torklift front tie down installation?

[HMS_Beagle]

You can reinforce them with a little welding. They are pretty floppy as packaged. In this thread are some pictures of my Happijac tie downs reinforced, and the much stronger version I made for the new truck. It clears the fuel filler door.

My issue with the Torklift is they cantilever a long ways out from the frame, depending on the model of truck and don't have much forward pull.

[jimh406]

The front tie downs aren't that expensive. I'd replace them if it was me, and it was bothering me.