Mixing tie down systems

[RZAR66]

Does anyone see a problem with using Torklift mounts on the front and Happijac bumper buttons on the rear? Truck is a 1995 F350 crewcab dually. I'm guessing the truck is old enough to have the "good" bumpers.

[MORSNOW]

Nice to see others mixing the two brands up also. I've been using Happijac tie downs mounted to my truck and Torklift Fastgun turnbuckles for three years now. No issues whatsoever. Newer truck bumpers are fine with the additional supports included with the rear buttons...don't let the tie down police see this 😛

[3_tons]

RZAR66 wrote:
Does anyone see a problem with using Torklift mounts on the front and Happijac bumper buttons on the rear? Truck is a 1995 F350 crewcab dually. I'm guessing the truck is old enough to have the "good" bumpers.

No problemo, the rear is downs don't really do nearly as much as the fronts, got thousands of travel miles this way with about 4,900 lb TC loaded...

[jmcgsd]

I've used Happijacs all around since 2005. First on a '89 F250 diesel and now on a '91 F350. Never a problem with the buttons and these old Ford bumpers.

[mellow]

Torklift up front and eyebolts on my back bumper, I don't travel very far in my camper, maybe 40-60 miles each way.

[GeoBoy]

From what I read the Ford bumpers are a little flimsy on the corners. I would go with Torklifts all the way around but it's your truck and camper.

[delosholly]

We do that. We have Torklift on front and Hapijac on back bumper. Have gone around 6000 miles with this combo with no problems. Camper, loaded, weighs around 3400lbs.

Del

[trailgranny50]

We use the Hapijack system and are happy with it after 15,000 miles. That being said, we haul a lighter camper than seems the norm nowadays at 3,000# fully loaded on a 2004 model Duramax 1 ton DRW truck that came from the factory set up for camper use. The bumper is a stout bugger with 4 braces on each end and toward the middle. It doesn't move. We carry the bulk of weight in camper low and toward the front, very little at the back. We also have installed a pair of buttons at each end of our receiver hitch mounted cargo tray/steps to the bumper with Derringers for that piece's stability. This arrangement effectively counterbalances any possible uplift from the camper on the bumper. To mix the systems on today's trucks it would seem to make more sense to Hapijack the front and Torklift the back. Just my thoughts, not gospel in any conversation.

[Victory402]

victory402 wrote:
It's exactly what I use, no problems, 5k miles and going strong.

I should add that my camper only weighs around 1300lbs.

[Bedlam]

If the bumper moves under your weight, it will move even more if used as a camper tie down. The buttons are fine for light campers everything else needs a better tie down anchored to your frame or receiver.

My camper is tied down to a steel deck. I looked into aluminum decks but none of the manufacturers wanted me to tie a corner down of a 4000-6000 lb TC to their aluminum deck. What do they know that button tie down manufacturers don't?

[Crumm]

RZAR66 wrote:
Does anyone see a problem with using Torklift mounts on the front and Happijac bumper buttons on the rear? Truck is a 1995 F350 crewcab dually. I'm guessing the truck is old enough to have the "good" bumpers.

My 1996 has a better bumper than my 2015 but It still flexed a quite a bit with the happijac buttons so I reinforced the ends a little.

Simple flatbar from receiver to the inside of the bumper behind the button does the trick.

[Victory402]

It's exactly what I use, no problems, 5k miles and going strong.