Newbie Question About Tie Downs

[moonlitsouls]

Hi everyone! im really excited to say ill be moving out of my apt and getting a truck camper soon. I have a 2006 ford F350 SRW which ill be pairing with a 2019 Eagle Cap 811. I am in the process of searching for proper tie downs and i was looking online at etrailer.com but there seems to be a wide variety and im on a tight budget. Any suggestions? thanks !

[jaycocreek]

Your camper weighs in at about 4400+ pounds according to Eagle Cap buyers guide..Any of the setups will work with that camper..What you chose is a good choice if you can afford it,I couldn't and why I have Happijac's which has quite a following and are good tie downs..

Had I not already had them,I would have had my welder friend make some..Belly Bars were quite popular back in the day and basically the same thing as Torklift except it was a tube attached to the frame east to west that the actual tie downs attached to..One piece was the only one I saw.,then one of the hitch kinda..lol

The good thing is,the ones you bought won't depreciate to badly if you ever want to sell them...Enjoy

[moonlitsouls]

Bert the Welder wrote:
Call me "Nutty", but 'buy once, cry once' is kinda on the mark.
Sometimes cheap is double the cost.

Yes well based on the feedback i got on this thread, it seemed like this was definitely worth investing in the higher quality stuff. hope i wasnt wrong.

[moonlitsouls]

Grit dog wrote:

moonlitsouls wrote:
ok i shelled out the cash for the torklifts with the fastguns , hurt my wallet bad

If your budget is tight why did you spend money on the fast guns?

i got the impression that was not an area it was safe to go cheap on.

[sapperb]

I fabbed up my own. Work like a champ...so far. Have yet to take it on it's maiden voyage, but that will change in about a week.

[Bert_the_Welder]

Call me "Nutty", but 'buy once, cry once' is kinda on the mark.
Sometimes cheap is double the cost.

[d3500ram]

You won't regret it.

[Grit_dog]

moonlitsouls wrote:
ok i shelled out the cash for the torklifts with the fastguns , hurt my wallet bad

If your budget is tight why did you spend money on the fast guns?

[moonlitsouls]

ok i shelled out the cash for the torklifts with the fastguns , hurt my wallet bad

[JohnJM]

Ive used Happi jacks for 20 yrs. Lots of time bouncing around on the beach. Never had a problem.

[deltabravo]

Torklift Frame mounted are what I'd use on a camper as big / heavy as an Eagle Cap.

[Grit_dog]

Personal opinion, newer truck beds are pretty lightweight. I honestly wouldn’t tie a camper to the top of them. I’ve bent a lot of newer truck beds doing far less.
If you’re strapped for cash, can you make some?

[moonlitsouls]

TxGearhead wrote:
You could save some money by using hardware store turnbuckles. I'm not talking about some light duty household turnbuckles. Look for some with 3/8" or 1/2" threads. You will need to attach them to the camper tiedown eyes with maybe a shackle. Use good size chain to go from the turnbuckle to the truck tiedowns. Then save your money for Torklift Fastguns.
I don't know how heavy your camper is. I would ask for comments from other members about using stake bed hold downs. Probably not for off road use though.
edit add: The Brophy tie downs may be what I'm referring to as stake bed tiedowns.

ok thats good to know, i have a 4x4 truck , F350 long bed. The rig is going to be over 4k wet. And yes, i do want to be able to travel off the beaten path without worry. Im going to call brophy myself and keep asking around

[moonlitsouls]

Grit dog wrote:
I’d rate them in order from best on down:
Torklift
Hapijac
Brophy.

And those are basically the only options I’m aware of.
As said, you have a very popular model of truck, should be able to score some used mounts if you keep your eye out for some. That would be the best low budget alternate save for making your own.

ok thanks, im going to have to go with the brophy if i cant find a used set asap

[TxGearhead]

You could save some money by using hardware store turnbuckles. I'm not talking about some light duty household turnbuckles. Look for some with 3/8" or 1/2" threads. You will need to attach them to the camper tiedown eyes with maybe a shackle. Use good size chain to go from the turnbuckle to the truck tiedowns. Then save your money for Torklift Fastguns.
I don't know how heavy your camper is. I would ask for comments from other members about using stake bed hold downs. Probably not for off road use though.
edit add: The Brophy tie downs may be what I'm referring to as stake bed tiedowns.

[ppine]

For larger campers, and longer trips you want tie downs that bolt to the frame.