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My Camper is Moving Sideways in my P/U Bed

bobinyelm
Explorer
Explorer
I have an '03 Dodge quad-cab dually in which I had a 11ft6" Lance truck camper that the front end tended to shift to the right as I drove, and now my new-to-me 9.5 Bigfoot camper is doing the SAME thing-even faster.

On Interstates, the front of the lighter Bigfoot shifted 4" right at the front to where the LF jack post is basically touching my LR door handle in only 400 mi.

The camper started perfectly aligned 2 days ago when installed, and properly tied down with Torque Lift frame-mounted devices with Happy Jack tie downs and threaded rod (not chains).

The Happy Jacks are properly tensioned tow here the 4 camper attach points are even flexed down a bit under tension, so I dare not apply more pressure. The prior owner said he used LESS tension w/problem.

This is only in 400mi of smooth Interstate highways, so I can only imagine what will happen on rougher, more cambered secondary roads. (The heavier Lance moved only 3" in 2500mi by comparison).

Anyone experience this, or have suggestions?

Thanks,
Bob
39 REPLIES 39

whizbang
Explorer II
Explorer II
Plastic bedliner = Teflon coating.

The camper won't stick to the truck or your money back. Guaranteed!
Whizbang
2002 Winnebago Minnie
http://www.raincityhome.com/RAWH/index.htm

bobinyelm
Explorer
Explorer
I have my camper off the truck at my intermediate destination, and plan to build a duplicate in the next few days!

HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Explorer
If you look closely at the picture you will see that I did mine in three pieces: one is 4 ft long and about 5 ft wide at the front, extending to the bed sides to make sure it doesn't shift sideways. The other two are left and right halves about 5 ft long aft. The aft pieces overhang the end of the bed by about 8" to ease the 'hard edge' at the end of the bed. That ends up taking 3 pieces of plywood (with a bunch left over) if you don't want more joints. I did it that way so it would lock into place and still each piece be small enough to carry. But there are plenty of variations on this theme. I only allowed about a half inch total sideways clearance (the Bigfoot has rounded corners which effectively adds a bit to that), and it helps as a guide to getting it lined up perfectly when you put the camper on. If you are traveling it is pretty easy to knock that together in a Home Depot parking lot with a battery powered sawsall. In finishing mine, I lined the rails on the sides with 1/4" polyethylene sheet material - but I don't think that was really necessary at all. The camper doesn't seem to rub much on the rails.

Like you, I liked the poly bed liner for its protection, starting again I would have kept it. In fact I may put it back in one day...
Bigfoot 10.4E, 2015 F350 6.7L DRW 2WD, Autoflex Ultra Air Ride rear suspension, Hellwig Bigwig sway bars front and rear

bobinyelm
Explorer
Explorer
Wow!!

THAT is the simplest solution YET, and I like it the BEST.

I was thinking of using angle iron (bolted to the bed floor) with carpeted wood on the inside to protect the BF's gel coat.

But simply form-fitting two pieces of plywood into the bottom and gluing/screwing 2X2s to the plywood is GREAT!

It's intuitive, though I didn't think of it, and my bed liner won't interfere if I choose to drive home w/ it and remove it there.

I've carried all manner of really bad (sharp) stuff in my truck, and the bed liner has been bullet-proof, and allows stuff to slide easily (if I want) or not if I use the thick rubber liner on top.

Not sayin' they're perfect, but they're not all bed, either.

Bob

HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Explorer
I have carried two Bigfoot campers in my F350 (not at the same time!). I had a plastic liner in for the first one (9.6) with a 2" platform on top. It didn't move much. The 10.4 Bigfoot seemed to move more, and on the advice of people on this forum I removed the plastic liner and put in Line-X. The camper moves just as much with Line-X as it did on the plastic liner. The camper sat on a rubber pad in both cases. I had it move quite a lot on one particular trip, heavy crosswind bumpy two lane with semis blowing by the other direction. I ended up making a 3/4" plywood platform that fit the bed of the truck pretty close so it wouldn't move, and putting low rails on it to keep the camper in place. This has been completely successful.

Conclusion: 1) there was no difference in camper shifting between the poly bed liner and the Line-X.

2) A rubber pad might help, but will not always solve the problem.

3) Line-X is nice paint, but is expensive does not protect the bed like a poly liner will.

4) Especially since you need the 2" platform anyway, just add to it so that it is corralled by the bed and won't move, and put low rails on it (2" high is plenty, these are 1.5") so that the camper cannot move on it.

This is all you need:



As an aside: if you put a poly liner in a pickup, you need a liner liner. This is 1/8 inch polyethylene foam sheet, under the poly liner (accessory stores sell it, or you can just buy the material). It keeps the dust and grit from destroying the paint on the bed. My poly liner was installed by the dealer when I picked up my new truck. I took it home and immediately installed the liner liner under it. When I removed the poly liner at 13 years old and 83,000 miles, the bed looked like it had just come from the showroom. There were only two or three very small places (far less than 1 sq in total area) where the liner liner was rubbed through and the paint was worn to shiny metal. Everywhere else the paint was perfect. This is the 3rd truck I have done this to with the same result (first one I owned had no liner liner and the liner ate the paint). At this point I regret paying for the Line-X- cost money, does not protect the bed very well, and solved no problem.
Bigfoot 10.4E, 2015 F350 6.7L DRW 2WD, Autoflex Ultra Air Ride rear suspension, Hellwig Bigwig sway bars front and rear

The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Explorer
10-4. Thanks!
The Mad Norsky, Doll, Logan and Rocky
2014 Ram 3500 w/ Cummins/Aisin
2019 Northern Lite 10-2 EX CD LE Wet Bath
RV'ing since 1991

I took the road less traveled .....Now I'm Lost!

kerry4951
Explorer
Explorer
The Mad Norsky wrote:
kerry4951:

what type of rubber did you use??? And how did you attach it???

I have just one small rub spot on my SnowRiver from those same Lance guides.

Saw your photo and an AHA! moment ensued.

Glued down to the top side of the guide I am guessing here.

But anyway, main question is where did you get those rubber strips?????

Myself, I was thinking of an old bicycle tire, but unsure if that would work.

I dont recall what specific rubber that I used. I know I had a piece lying around the shop. I would equate it to something like the harder rubber used for the rubber truck floor bed mats that most of us have. I use "The Gluesmith" industrial adhesive glue. Its a cyanoacrylate product that Ive been using for years and would not be without it.You can find it on: www.thegluesmith.com
2009 Silverado 3500 dually D/A, Supersprings, Stable Loads, Bilsteins, Hellwig Sway Bar.
2010 Arctic Fox 1140 DB, 220 watts solar, custom 4 in 1 "U" shaped dinette/couch, baseboard and Cat 3 heat, 2nd dinette TV, cabover headboard storage, 67 TC mods

mooring_product
Explorer
Explorer
I have the same issue. I put two pieces of 6x6x12" blocks in each corner of the front. Works great and they aren't permanent..
Pete
2012 RAM 3500 Mega DRW. Stable Loads and Torklift tiedowns.
2006 Lance 881 Max.

The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Explorer
kerry4951:

what type of rubber did you use??? And how did you attach it???

I have just one small rub spot on my SnowRiver from those same Lance guides.

Saw your photo and an AHA! moment ensued.

Glued down to the top side of the guide I am guessing here.

But anyway, main question is where did you get those rubber strips?????

Myself, I was thinking of an old bicycle tire, but unsure if that would work.
The Mad Norsky, Doll, Logan and Rocky
2014 Ram 3500 w/ Cummins/Aisin
2019 Northern Lite 10-2 EX CD LE Wet Bath
RV'ing since 1991

I took the road less traveled .....Now I'm Lost!

tonymull
Explorer
Explorer
Seems like all the things being considered are way harder than just taking that plastic bed liner out! It's not so hard and you can just trash it. You will be lucky if you can give one of the things away on craigslist anyway.

mkirsch
Nomad II
Nomad II
The truck rides so hard because you've put too many suspension doodads on it for the weight you're carrying. May as well have a section of well casing jammed between the axle and the frame.

This is also why you think you need to "level the camper out." The weight of that camper should take most of the "rake" out of the truck's suspension, so it's riding within 1" of level front to back. That will have NO detrimental effect on the transport or usability of the camper.

Let the air out of the bags, get rid of whatever helper springs or extended bumpstops may be installed.

Put a full 1.5" platform in the bed front to back if you feel you need to raise it to clear the cab. Build the platform so that it fits around the wheel wells and prevents side to side movement.

Put your rubber mat on top of the platform. Load the camper. I guarantee it will NOT move.

The reason your Bigfoot, and your previous Lance, move/moved is because you're insisting on doing "weird" things. You tried it your way, and there's nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, it didn't work. Now try something tried-and-true. I bet you'll be much happier.

Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.

bobinyelm
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks, all.

I have resolved to build centering blocks or rails for my drive home, and when I return home to see about removing the liner and most probably doing a spray-in liner. That will allow fastening of various things to the bed, if necessary, as well.

In any case, I will build a full floor raised by 1.5" in the front to permit entry and to level the camper out, and will retain the blocks/rails.

Thanks all!

Grey_Wolf
Explorer
Explorer
Bob I would vote for the carpet covered blocks myself.

Also a Line-X, my friend owns a shop and I've seen a lot of bed damage with the inserts. But hey that's just my two cents worth.

I hope the rest of your trip goes well:) GW
'93 LE Dodge Reg Cab W250 Cummins 3.54, 5 Spd, D-Celerator Exh. Brake, 341,000 Miles.
'06 Dodge 2500 4X4 SLT SRW Quad Cab Cummins 3.73, G56, Big Horn Edition, D-Celerator Exh. Brake.
'04 Wildcat 24RBS, HA. Retired

bjbear
Explorer
Explorer
bobinyelm wrote:


I had to raise the front of the BigFoot 1.5" so my doors would open (the BF has contoured edges to the overhang), and this levels the camper since my dually is 2wd and the tall rear springs make it tail-high unless I have 2 tons back there.
.


Could this be the problem? If you used a 2 x 4 under the front edge of the camper, you would greatly reduce the contact surface area between the camper and truck bed. Less surface area = less friction to hold it in place. I had to raise mine, but I used flat plywood fastened to the bed. The camper sits flat on the plywood and the is no sliding around.
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