- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I just bought a pretty clean, smaller Lance camper tonight. Need to attach it to the truck. Torklift, Happijac or ???? Needs to fit a 2nd Gen Dodge.
Not sure how "backcountry" this is....Attaching camper to truck solutions?
- Thread starter mbryson
- Start date
I have some "Fastgun" tie downs that I really like. I hook them to cheesy bed-mounted tabs, and the little buttons on the rear bumper. Not so stoked on those.
Mesha made some nice frame-mounted tie down points that work very nicely. Essentially receiver hitch pieces welded onto the frame, and arms made from 2x2 that extend outside the body when installed, that the tie downs attach to. Similar idea to the Torklift parts, but home made and probably beefier.
Mesha made some nice frame-mounted tie down points that work very nicely. Essentially receiver hitch pieces welded onto the frame, and arms made from 2x2 that extend outside the body when installed, that the tie downs attach to. Similar idea to the Torklift parts, but home made and probably beefier.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Pics! Duh!
I had the happijack setup with bumper buttons and tie plates across the front of the bed. It worked. Made me nervous, but it worked. In all my years on the road I've only seen a truck camper come off once, and that was because they used a single small ratchet strap for tie downs. I guess injun ears know their stuff.
I liked the idea of frame mounted receiver tie ins, but never got around to it.
I had the happijack setup with bumper buttons and tie plates across the front of the bed. It worked. Made me nervous, but it worked. In all my years on the road I've only seen a truck camper come off once, and that was because they used a single small ratchet strap for tie downs. I guess injun ears know their stuff.
I liked the idea of frame mounted receiver tie ins, but never got around to it.
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gijohn40
too poor to wheel... :(
- Location
- Layton, Utah
since when did you get a Dodge? I can't keep up with your truck buying habits!
Unimog
Eric
- Location
- Stansbury Park, UT
When I was working in the camper business, happijac was the gold standard. I've installed many and never seen a failure.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Also, get airbags on your truck, if you haven't already got them. I consider them mandatory with a truck camper.
sawtooth4x4
Totally Awesome
- Location
- Land of East Laytonshire
Happijac are pretty nice. I used them on my first camper.
I always tied to the bed and bumper mounted brackets. A better system would be nice.. but I don't think it's required. If you are in a situation where the bed points are not secure enough, you are already losing your truck and camper IMO.
Lets see a pic of this camper!
Lets see a pic of this camper!
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I'd be real interested in taking a look at that stuff. I have to pick up a Jeep for my 20 year old (that comes home in 6 weeks
) this evening but maybe I could run down tomorrow night and we could strike a deal?Truck already has those
Have you been talking to my wife? I hear this a lot. For the record, I've had this truck 1 year now
. I bought it to flip it but it's a decent truck (fantastic for a Dodge) and its stuck around. I'm sure the automatic trans will puke any day? I bought it from a guy that his dad bought it new. Really well kept. Service records, all the Dodge fixes and stuff.Attachments
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- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Looks good. That was a very popular design for a long time. James K ran that same setup for several years. He built his own hitch extension.
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- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
This is definitely not huge at all. JUST big enough to have a shower/toilet. I think it's 8.5' (didn't break out a tape measure)? Guy used it on a shortbed Tundra and is giving me a hitch extension and such with it. Should fit my bill between a roof top tent and a massive toyhauler OK? Everything is a compromise. Time will tell. I shouldn't lose a lot of $ if this doesn't work out? I'm sure it'll work for at least a couple years. I think it'll be ok if it's just me and a kid or myself and my wife. If it's all 5 of my family, it's insanely small. Both of my boys (17 and 20 years old) will have their own Jeeps on a Jeep trip. Both are hammock sleeper guys. We'll see how it goes.
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- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
You probably only need half of that extension length.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
We'll have to see once it's on the truck. Picking it up on Friday
jeepin4x4james
WAAAAA
- Location
- Bluffdale, UT
Congrats, I've got a '98 Squire and love it!
No hitch extension needed for a long bed with that camper.
The Happijac front bed mount tie downs aren't bad, the bumper ones not so much... thin bumpers bend/twist too easy. There are kits to 'stiffen' your bumper but I think they're a waste. It's common to see Happijac front and Torklift rear tie downs because of this (and to save $$ opposed to all Torklift.
I just put a 1/4" thick rear bumper on and tie to that [emoji16]
No hitch extension needed for a long bed with that camper.
The Happijac front bed mount tie downs aren't bad, the bumper ones not so much... thin bumpers bend/twist too easy. There are kits to 'stiffen' your bumper but I think they're a waste. It's common to see Happijac front and Torklift rear tie downs because of this (and to save $$ opposed to all Torklift.
I just put a 1/4" thick rear bumper on and tie to that [emoji16]
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I like that suggestion. It would also be great if you can avoid a hitch extension.
Pile of parts
Well-Known Member
- Location
- South Jordan
I have a 9' camper that I ran on my 2001 Dodge, longbed. No extension needed for the jeep trailer but I did use an 18" (I think) for my boat. The car hauler hitch went under the camper and the deck was low enough/back far enough, where the bow of the boat ended up being too close to the back door.
I'd be real interested in taking a look at that stuff. I have to pick up a Jeep for my 20 year old (that comes home in 6 weeks
Let me know your plans. I can be here tonight if you're coming down, otherwise I'll be at UVU doing some welding on my Jeep. I also have a small extension that I can throw in with the other stuff. I like the camper and came close to that same direction.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I can meet you at UVU if that works better for you? What time works for you? I can leave work about 4:30 or so. Should take me an hour to get to UVU?