Well something new

[Led_67]

I was cruising through the CL ads today and found something I have never seen before but immediately caught my attention. Just thought others might be interested.

Something new


OK I have had this rattling around in my head all night...If a person was to modify this to a 4 pocket system that woud bolt directly to the frame rails with underbed cross support then maybe it would work for small to mid size campers, No I am not saying it would be better than the Torklift system, along with built in guides to act as supports for the uprights it might be something.

[gbw]

Seems like it could work. The only issue I would have is storing a huge, heavy, awkward 6.5' x 5'(wide) x 2'(high) metal bracket. I guess you could somehow rig it up to sit under the camper when stored but that just seems like a lot of extra effort. That is a deal killer for me. I just have enough room for my camper in my rv pad in my back yard, I don't need something else with almost the same footprint as my camper. Also, it looks like you'd need to build a 1" support or pad for the spaces in between the metal brackets running out to the edges of the bed. I wouldn't want my camper just sitting on the bracketry yet unsupported in the areas near the wheel wells. Not complicated to do but requires some work and effort to do.

I do agree that the ball can support 20-30k of gooseneck trailer but that force is directed right above the ball and the leverage on the plates is smaller. Force is not but the leverage of that weight is significantly smaller. You are now extending quite a leverage force out beyond the beds of the truck bed. There are 4 bolts holding it down but I bet that system extends another 2.5' out to the sides, let alone the fore and aft lengths. As another poster mentioned, on road - maybe, offroad - no way Jose.

[DWeikert]

Steelhog wrote:

Sheriffdoug wrote:
Yeah, what stops the whole thing sliding off. Torklift Frame mount is the only wat to go!

The 3" square shank that locks into the gooseneck socket will prevent sliding. Very different but in theory it should work for most non off-road applications. If I recall the B&W gooseneck on my F250 is something like 7500lbs on the ball and 20 or 30K on total weight. Point being you can almost hang your truck on it so it should hold down a TC. I still trust my TorkLifts. Four connection points to the frame. But even then you are only looking at 300lbs X4 for pull down with traditional spring loaded tie downs.

But there's nothing to prevent the camper from sliding around on top of that frame, other than the centering guides. Also there's a lot of the bottom of the camper left unsupported. Interesting concept and I see some things I like, but a lot more that I don't.

[Desertboy]

I really like that a lot, I don't like all the hardware all under my vehicle. I have the Brophy stake pocket tie downs for backup. I have been thinking there has to be a way to do this, And here it is.

[Steelhog]

Sheriffdoug wrote:
Yeah, what stops the whole thing sliding off. Torklift Frame mount is the only wat to go!

The 3" square shank that locks into the gooseneck socket will prevent sliding. Very different but in theory it should work for most non off-road applications. If I recall the B&W gooseneck on my F250 is something like 7500lbs on the ball and 20 or 30K on total weight. Point being you can almost hang your truck on it so it should hold down a TC. I still trust my TorkLifts. Four connection points to the frame. But even then you are only looking at 300lbs X4 for pull down with traditional spring loaded tie downs.

[Sheriffdoug]

Yeah, what stops the whole thing sliding off. Torklift Frame mount is the only wat to go!

[joeshmoe]

What keeps the camper from sliding around and gouging the corners? Also, doesn't seem enough surface area to support the bottom. I guess that could be remedied with some additional cross members and a bed mat, but then you're adding unnecessary weight. I don't know.

As far turnbuckles and tie downs go, at least you wouldn't need to spend money on those.

[Sparky87k5]

Doesn't look as strong as my Torklift frame mounts. Could be OK with a light weight camp though.