Homemade Truck Camper Tie Downs

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In this video I show you how I make bulletproof truck camper tie downs that allow for frame flex and are easy on the wallet.
Edit: I am no longer using WD40 as a drill lubricant.
Edit: I switched to slightly stronger springs. See link below.
www.truckcampermagazine.com/o...
U-Bolt, Standard, 304 Stainless Steel, Plain, 3/8"-16, 1 1/4 in Thread Length, PK 10
www.grainger.com/product/FABO...
Die Spring, Medium Duty, 3/4x1In
www.grainger.com/product/RAYM...

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Опубликовано:

30 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 80

@byesundown4bz282 5 лет назад

Thank you for this video! I now am comfortable with picking up a free truck camper. I no longer have to sleep in my truck. You sir have made a friend🙏🏽🤠

@stevelyons3891 5 лет назад

Clever design. Thanks for sharing this. I'm just in the process of buying an ATC Bobcat and need to put on tie downs. I like that you've figured out how to give it room to flex. Wishing you the Best.

@NorthernExplorerOverland 5 лет назад

Thank You!

@jackconway3248 Год назад

Thanks again for posting the how-to video. I'm a believer, even though I know your camper is much lighter than many. I built a set of 6 as per your specs. I used 3 on each side after reinforcing my single-walled upper F150 pickup box giving it more strength and using brophy mounts. I just returned from a 1300-mile trip with tail and crosswinds from 7 to 45 mph with quite a few semi trucks on the road. My camper did move some but didn't rip any camper eyes or damage anything structurally inside the camper where they're bolted. Four would have probably been sufficient but it was quite a long round trip and I plan to do more and want the piece of mind. They were easy to make and powder coat the square plates.

@alansmith2203 3 года назад

Great Video. Well thought out and well documented in the video. thanks for sharing...

@rsig1973 3 года назад

You..my friend..are a genius. You just saved me a TON of money!! Thank you so much!

@NorthernExplorerOverland 3 года назад

Thanks, I plan on doing a follow up video at some point. These are the springs that I ended up using. The green ones in the video were a little to light. www.grainger.com/product/RAYMOND-Die-Spring-44U501

@Sully1three 3 года назад

Thanks for this video! Just put a custom flatbed on my truck. Camper is 2000lbs and will be making this setup to tie it down to the flatbed!

@NorthernExplorerOverland 3 года назад

I'll have a follow up video showing installation eventually.

@carlcraft9237 2 года назад

Subscribed! You are a Man of detail.

@droptopcampersrental78 5 лет назад

Creative solution. I like it.

@jeffreywanderson9 3 года назад

Thank you for this video! I am seriously considering trying this out and building myself a set. I have a 2016 Tacoma and FWC Fleet. The stock turnbuckles seem to only be decent for on pavement driving. After 55 miles of off roading all 4 of my stock turnbuckles were compromised. Each one had one of the “J” hooks bent to a 90 degree angle and they just slipped off. I’ve looked at ways to improve on my setup and this seems to be exactly what I need. I would love an update video or any update in recommended hardware you’d use with my setup. You’re the man!

@NorthernExplorerOverland 3 года назад

These should really help with your needs. An update video is planned but I have a lot going on right now. Sometime this winter for sure.

@grapplerguy2007 5 месяцев назад

turnbuckles work fine on the small campers. not much worry with a 400 500 pound camper.

@colliefury2257 3 года назад

Nice

@scottbakewell639 2 года назад

Can you add a photo of the finished product installed on the truck?

@FrankGreenway Год назад

Looks good if you have a machine shop. Or you could just buy a turnbuckle with a spring inside if you don’t have a machine shop

@thomasdipaolo2349 5 лет назад

Ingenius

@NorthernExplorerOverland 5 лет назад

Thank you.

@johnchapman5757 4 года назад

HI! Wicked awesome tuckbuckle hack you came up with. I’m working on building my own overcab camper for my 6.5’ Sierra. Building it out of 1/4” ply, 2” foam, and 2x3. Think these would hold up for me? Otherwise ill just get the Happijac Springloaded turnbuckles. Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks, well done on these!

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

No guarantees but I do think they would be strong enough. I think they are best suited for internal tiedown points like what is used with the Four Wheel Camper. Make sure your anchor points are super strong.

@johnchapman5757 4 года назад

Northern Explorer Overland Thanks for the reply. I watched the Four Wheel Pop up install today and was planning on using the same forged steel eye bolts they recommend and just attach them to my bed. Might consider making these rather than buying turnbuckles, we’ll see!

@ellenturner4408 9 месяцев назад

I am going to use this method for attaching my slide in pop up scamper to the bed of my first generation Toyota Tacoma. Is there any ideal angle these should be set at in respect to the bed hooks and attachment hooks on the camper? Thank you!

@NorthernExplorerOverland 9 месяцев назад

I’m not sure what the ideal angle would be but just make sure the front attachments are pulling forward and the back attachments are pulling backwards. The need to pull against each other to really hold the camper in place.

@ellenturner4408 9 месяцев назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland Thanks so much!

@shaneandwendy4743 4 года назад

What’s your thoughts on going with a higher spring rate , vrs the 167 lb/in listed in your spec sheets . Maybe a 300 or even 500 lb / in. ?

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

The first set I made (for my camper that I rolled) were with the 500 pound spring rate springs. They were way to stiff. With the way I have my tie downs made, the springs work in parallel. So it's X2 for whatever spring rate you pick. You don't want to have it so stiff that your anchor points rip out before the springs have a chance to compress.

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

I have switched to a spring with a 320 pound spring rate. The 167's were a little to week. I plan on making a follow up video at some point.

@davidtaylor2455 4 года назад

I have them on my truck and camper. I must be missing something. How do you install so there is no slack? Do you tighten the nuts to remove slack? Thanks.

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

That's correct. Tighten the nuts...but this will only give you about .5 to .75 inches of adjustment. You must have the least number of chain links in order to reach. If I recall, I connected the u-bolt that does not house the spring directly to the truck camper eye bolt. Then I ran chain down to the eye bolt on the truck ending with a heavy duty quick link. Setting it up takes a bit of effort but any installation after that will go fast. Pause the video at 7:34 and you can see how it is attached to the camper eye bolt. You can also kind of see how big the chain links are that I used.

@jackconway3248 2 года назад

***Use the quick links rated for your application.

@MrIllPerspective 4 года назад

Awesome idea... could I not just weld the unlit without the springs?? Or should I let that side float too to allow adjustments?

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

You are going to want it to be adjustable on both sides. As it is you only have about 3/4 of an inch to draw it tight. Figuring out how many links of chain you need above and below will take a little time. After the first setup they are easy to use. Thanks for watching.

@MrIllPerspective 4 года назад

Northern Explorer Overland thanks so much...I’ll be working on my set up this weekend. I’ve got a 2006 Skyhawk SB in for my Tacoma and this feels like a better choice than standard turn buckles! Thanks for sharing.

@4me2poop0nU 2 года назад

Looks good. Where did u attach the brackets to the camper and truck?

@NorthernExplorerOverland 2 года назад

Scroll down to “camper installation and wiring.” You can see how they have the provided turnbuckle set up. fourwheelcampers.com/model/hawk-model-pop-up-truck-camper-leader-full-size-trucks/woolrich-hawk-model/build/

@madel4902 4 года назад

Weakest link (no pun intended) is the quick link. I'm guessing they are not nearly as strong as the chain. Can you test them to see when they might fail?

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

Edit...see below.... Good question. All of the quick links that I saw at the hardware store had the rating on the package (and I believe also stamped on the link). The best ones I used were rated well over 300 pounds. I think the anchor points on the camper would rip out before the link broke. My home made tie down should prevent any ripped out anchor points. EDIT...the quick links used in the video are not the ones I used to mount the camper. Those were just for the video.

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

Just picked up the supplies I need to mount my new camper to my truck using my system. The 5/16 quick links are rated at 1540 pounds. The 3/16 chain is rated at 800 pounds.

@robertvolesky5485 2 года назад

True turn buckles used for bed mount truck campers are spring assisted to allow flex. The turn buckle shown in the beginning of this video is NOT a proper turn buckle for a camper and should never be used. Neat video and cool little cost saving mount but you’re stepping on yourself here. It’s not that it’s functionality is better.. it’s simply more cost effective. Highly recommend fastguns with frame mounts from torklift.

@NorthernExplorerOverland 2 года назад

Thanks for watching my video. A few things… every Four Wheel Camper sold (new) is mounted with the basic turnbuckle that you saw in the beginning of the video. They do this because the internal mounting system does not leave enough room for fastguns or any other type of on the market mounting system. That being said, some Four Wheel Camper owners do go with external mounts which attach to the corner jack bracket and then to the Torklift system. I went with my solution because it allows some frame flex while still being internal.

@BillWhetstone Месяц назад

Grainger has discontinued this spring. I will be near one later today, hope to maybe get something close. Any ideas on an alternate source?

@BillWhetstone Месяц назад

K, stopped in at Grainger today, The springs are either discontinued or you have to buy 3 packs of 10, raising the rice d admission to over $150. So, I am on hold. The U-bolts were available, the steel is easy as are the locking nuts. Any ideas on an alternate source for the springs? I was considering a DIY of the HappiJac style, Eye bolt thru a cap, spring essentially preset. Screw on or press fit then weld the cap to the tubing, welded nut at other end. Ever consider one that way? The spring would need t be about double the in/lbs you used. And you would need to be real confident on your welds.

@NorthernExplorerOverland Месяц назад

Sorry I don't have an alternative. I remember it being hard to find those.

@BillWhetstone Месяц назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland Have you published the upgrade you did?

@NorthernExplorerOverland Месяц назад

@@BillWhetstone I'm actually working on a video now (don't hold your breath as to when it will be out). Those tiedowns that I made have a lot of advantages but the big disadvantage is how difficult they are to install. I have not used them since I built my couch on the passenger side of the camper. To difficult to reach that area. I am now using ratchet straps and bolting the camper down in the back. Everything will be explained in the video.

@BillWhetstone Месяц назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland Interesting. I am currently using the Brophy wie doowns, just reinstalled them today. The guy I bought the camper and tie downs from had them installed wrong, and I didn't know any better. I had them all backwards. Put them in right. Used Nutserts instead of trying a nut from bottom because the bottom of the rail is essentially closed up. I still have regular turnbuckles, and I have a HappiJac system on my Amazon shopping cart., if I am still dissatisfied with the Brophys.

@henryq9390 3 года назад

I just pulled a 1963 Lobo camper off a 63 Chevy never been removed before it was held on by one bolt not even a nut me and the guy who did it couldn't stop laughing about it and the messed up jackes trying to fall off

@NorthernExplorerOverland 3 года назад

Sounds like a fun project.

@henryq9390 3 года назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland it is looking like a complete remodel perfect design for my 1964 Chevy c20 stepside restomod

@GrizAdams111 Год назад

So did you use grade 8 u bolts?

@NorthernExplorerOverland Год назад

www.grainger.com/product/GRAINGER-APPROVED-Standard-U-Bolt-304-Stainless-3XTA6?cm_mmc=EMT-_-OrderConfirmStandard-_-GuestOrderConfirm-_-sku&RIID=323585315&GID=&mid=OrderConfirmation&orderNumber=1272506545&rfe=a8c0ac6d287e214dea47c1335fb76447785b230a49af77dea674bf5046c9b9f9&origin=prod

@marineswarm 4 года назад

do you make and sell?

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

No, sorry.

@jeanniew8321 2 года назад

Do you sell these by any chance?

@NorthernExplorerOverland 2 года назад

No. Sorry. I plan on making a follow up video at some point. They work really well when installed but they are not exactly user friendly to get them installed.

@offroad4x4nhlife45 4 года назад

like id truck that w a 3k lb camper?!?! your crazy

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

Clean your glasses and read it again.

@offroad4x4nhlife45 4 года назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland ya ok dude, the only safest mount, is directly to the frame.

@406Steven 4 года назад

@@offroad4x4nhlife45 Watch through to the end, he said he wouldn't do this with a 3k lb camper but a lighter camper (like you'd use in a Tacoma or other mid-size truck) it should be OK. My worry would be how thin modern beds are but if you bolt the bed portion of this contraption through one of the cross-members and make another plate to support the nuts and washers it should be fine for one of those lightweight campers. Honestly, I think this would be more secure than the HappiJac mounting solution.

@offroad4x4nhlife45 4 года назад

@@406Steven i get what you're saying, but i was taught old school with campers. i grew up camping every summer on the beach with a 70's coachmen knight slide in 12' long 3k lbs. i still have the same camper today mounted to my 76 f250 4wd an chained directly to the frame. (only way i'd trust moving a camper) brackets mounted to my frame w 3" square tubing running the width of bed an 5" beyond the bed. both front an back of bed.

@offroad4x4nhlife45 4 года назад

@@406Steven both happyjack an that torque quick grip are junk in my book. all i use is good grade chain and turnbuckle on each corner. i have a ful sheet of 3/4" marine plywood an 2x4 at frnt of my bed. same thing my granddad did all those 20+yrs, neither of us had any issues. on my bed

@DixieNormas 3 года назад

Turn down that stadium lighting bruh, that was you don't have to rock the shades inside...

@timarc2000 4 года назад

not good for me. I had a similar anchor and I rip the rear corner of my camper when a catch a big bump and the camper jump up. better invest in a good product. to repair was more expensive

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

Can you provide a link to the "similar anchor". Also, can you provide a link to the "good product" that would have prevented the damage when you hit the big bump.

@timarc2000 4 года назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland the one I had was made with a spring double the length of you're with the same compression acting between 2 chain . what I learn is when you hit a bump or a pot hole the camper will jump, all depend on how strong you ancor are to hold it back. the damage on my camper was so severe that I rebuilt the whole corner and sold it to a guy that will use it only for hunting because the structure was to weak. I know they are some systeme that will unleash if the pressure is too high to protect the camper, I'm not here to do any advertisement. I share my bad experience with those it might interest. think about it and if you want to learn by yourself, free to you.

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

@@timarc2000 Been running a truck camper since 2008. I put this system on my old setup in about 2011. I completely rolled my truck in a bad accident in 2016 and the camper never came off and there was no damage to the anchor points of my truck or camper. If your camper jumps when you hit a pot hole it's probably not secured properly to the truck.

@timarc2000 4 года назад

@@NorthernExplorerOverland If you never got any problem , good for you, I never got any problem until a rum on this big bump and all the problem was because it was too much secure to the truck. if you want to promote your kit, go for it, it's your problem if anyone got damage because of it. I just told you I got problem with a kit similar to this and it was shit Everyone is free to do what they want, but the experience of others is free

@NorthernExplorerOverland 4 года назад

@@timarc2000 So again I ask, can you provide a link to a "good product" as you say, that would have prevented the damage that you encountered? Furthermore, it doesn't get anymore "to much secure to the truck" than with a turnbuckle that has no give whatsoever. My setup (that I don't sell) is designed to have some give.