missing eyebolt on front corner of camper

[bsamot69]

the front left eyebolt for fastening camper to truck is missing. can a new one be installed? appears to have pulled out of camper. suggestions?

[burningman]

That's what I've always done with old campers - just attach the front tiedowns to the jack brackets.
Done.

[mike_kellie]

Truck Camper Magazine just published it's "medium mods" winner and one of the contributors had the same thing happen to him while on a road trip, only it was the rear. If your camper has jacks, this guy drilled out the lowest mounting hole to accept his tie-downs. The picture shows the eye bolt and because of the terrain, he removes his jacks from the camper. Check it out-

[SidecarFlip]

bsamot69 wrote:
I am definitely a newbie to the camper world. The camper is a Dreamer(?), 1978 vintage. The wood the bolt pulled out of is pretty crumbly, means wood frame? The other bolts are tight, however, I am apprehensive to undo one to determine if it is bolt or screw. I am not able to find a way to access from inside to see if "nuts" are involved. (sorry, my attempt to be lighthearted) The attaching spaced out angle brackets sounds intriguing. Does that mean that screwing lag type bolts into wood of camper is accepted and possible and suitable for securing? thank you in advance!

A '78 anything as a truck camper is ancient and I'm sure if it wasn't kept indoors except when in use, it's probably suffering from internal rot, how bad, who knows. Do you really want to find out or would you just prefer to use it until it's not useable anymore? If it was me, I'd just use it. Rebuilding an old girl like that is a long, tedious and expensive job that requires serious wood working skills and serious time.

'Crumbly' tells me the story of internal rot. The eyebolt was probably secured on the top side with a flat washer and everything pulled out and the rest are probably weak. I'd replace all of them with angled flat brackets lag screwed into the lower header with as long of lag screws as you can use, the header is probably 1 - 1/12" thick. You can buy them on Flea-Bay, or make your own from 1x1 angle iron, 6" long with a 5/8" hole drilled at center on the vertical angle to accept a turnbuckle.

Believe me, even with excellent care over the years, your TC has seen better days. Next stop will be the landfill or a burn pile so enjoy it for what it is and at some point dispose of it.

[bsamot69]

I am definitely a newbie to the camper world. The camper is a Dreamer(?), 1978 vintage. The wood the bolt pulled out of is pretty crumbly, means wood frame? The other bolts are tight, however, I am apprehensive to undo one to determine if it is bolt or screw. I am not able to find a way to access from inside to see if "nuts" are involved. (sorry, my attempt to be lighthearted) The attaching spaced out angle brackets sounds intriguing. Does that mean that screwing lag type bolts into wood of camper is accepted and possible and suitable for securing? thank you in advance!

[guidry]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Myself, I would remove all the eyebolts (which is very old school stuff) and install 4 angled flat tiedowns with multiple fasteners spaced out. Much less strain on the camper frame and much more secure.

This; and you want to be careful of any water damage rot that may have caused the bolt to come out in the first place.

[SidecarFlip]

Myself, I would remove all the eyebolts (which is very old school stuff) and install 4 angled flat tiedowns with multiple fasteners spaced out. Much less strain on the camper frame and much more secure.

[Itchey_Feet]

Can you tell if it was the type that screws into wood or if it may have had a nut on the end that was holding it to the camper? What is the brand of camper is it, it is not mentioned in your profile. Is it a wood framed camper or one that has an aluminum frame?