18 replies to this topic

[pvstoy]

You by all means do not offend me as there are different ways to mount the camper and there are many different abilities of the person to accept or fight the process.  I have had 3 FWC and all of them have been bolted through the floor. For me it has never been a PITA process.  The latest one we bought is a 2015 FWC Hawk flatbed.  It has 6 bolts through the floor.

 

I did need to separate the camper from the truck to do some electrical wiring.  As I have done with the other campers I use a sharpie and make a series of reference lines bed to camper.  Upon getting the remount close, you don't need to be perfect just get the reference lines somewhat close back.  Don't drop full weight down and that allows bolts to be dropped from the inside.  If some are off a little just nudge the camper that direction will drop into place.

 

You ask why do it this way?  I accept this is the way I want it and have extreme patience for going slow.  It is not that any way is better or you have to do it this way and your way is wrong, it is more up to who is on the other end of the tool doing the task.

[kmacafee]

Well put. Given you are an experienced camper and flatbed owner, you obviously understand the mechanics and physics of the bolt thru method. My concerns are now that flatbed campers are becoming more popular, new owners might not have the same success you’ve had given your experience.

I came from a FWC Eagle on a Tacoma and always hated the internal turnbuckle method they use. I was very surprised they used an internal bolt process with their flatbeds which is one of the reasons I went with a different manufacturer.

Cheers


quote name="pvstoy" post="212880" timestamp="1551651951"]
You by all means do not offend me as there are different ways to mount the camper and there are many different abilities of the person to accept or fight the process.  I have had 3 FWC and all of them have been bolted through the floor. For me it has never been a PITA process.  The latest one we bought is a 2015 FWC Hawk flatbed.  It has 6 bolts through the floor.
 
I did need to separate the camper from the truck to do some electrical wiring.  As I have done with the other campers I use a sharpie and make a series of reference lines bed to camper.  Upon getting the remount close, you don't need to be perfect just get the reference lines somewhat close back.  Don't drop full weight down and that allows bolts to be dropped from the inside.  If some are off a little just nudge the camper that direction will drop into place.
 
You ask why do it this way?  I accept this is the way I want it and have extreme patience for going slow.  It is not that any way is better or you have to do it this way and your way is wrong, it is more up to who is on the other end of the tool doing the task. [/quote]

[rando]

To me, the bolt through mounting is just a mechanically superior solution to turnbuckles.   However, everyones requirements are different, and if I were frequently removing my camper, I might consider turnbuckles.   

 

It seems that most folks with flatbeds have the mounted pretty much permanently, and for this application the annoyance of the alignment is far outweighed by the security of the bolts.   With four (or six in the case of larger campers) bolts, you have a multiply redundant way of securing the camper.   With the turnbuckles you really don't.  If one turnbuckle were to loosen or break, you may be okay, but if two were to loosen or break then the camper can shift, releasing the tension on the other two in which case they can pop off.  There are at least two recent threads where this actually happened, so this is not just a theoretical discussion. 

 

Ask me again, this summer after pulling my camper on and off and I may be singing a different tune. 

[kmacafee]

I completely agree that turnbuckles are an inferior way to attach a camper. I’m using Fastguns which are much stronger and are used to mount campers weighing significantly more than mine.

To me, the bolt through mounting is just a mechanically superior solution to turnbuckles.   However, everyones requirements are different, and if I were frequently removing my camper, I might consider turnbuckles.   
 
It seems that most folks with flatbeds have the mounted pretty much permanently, and for this application the annoyance of the alignment is far outweighed by the security of the bolts.   With four (or six in the case of larger campers) bolts, you have a multiply redundant way of securing the camper.   With the turnbuckles you really don't.  If one turnbuckle were to loosen or break, you may be okay, but if two were to loosen or break then the camper can shift, releasing the tension on the other two in which case they can pop off.  There are at least two recent threads where this actually happened, so this is not just a theoretical discussion. 
 
Ask me again, this summer after pulling my camper on and off and I may be singing a different tune.

[No longer here]

Throughbolts on mine done by Mainline. Big honker grade 8 or 10 bolts. Figure that if and when I take it off I won't cry if I have to take 30-45min trying to line up bolts. For the weight of this camper I am NOT interested in it falling off in the places I wander off to.

[nico]

Hey everyone. Been lurking for a while...

We’re in the initial planning stages of a FWC flatbed setup and I’m curious if anyone is using turnbuckles from their jack brackets to the bed instead of through-bolting the camper. If so, what are you using for attachment points on the bed itself? On a bed with a rub rail and external stake pockets, anyone have experience with stake pocket D-rings like these?

https://www.etrailer...em/PK-SPTD.html

Thoughts?

I ask because I foresee the camper being loaded/ unloaded frequently as the platform would be a work truck as well. We’re thinking of using FastGuns...

Thanks all!

Maxstar,

I am curios what you ended up doing with your camper as it sounds like we are/were in the same in terms of use. I have a worktruck that the camper is on and I intend to take it off quite frequently. Its a flatbed grandby and its bolted through with 6 bolts. I have not taken it off yet (only had it for a few weeks) but i am realizing the bolts are not the way to go if you are taking it off frequently. I am srongly considering the fastguns method that macafee does. Curios where you ended up ?

[MaxStar]

Hey Nico,

I never got around to coming up with a way to quickly remove the camper; it’s been bolted on since we got it. Good luck!

[nico]

Hey Nico,

I never got around to coming up with a way to quickly remove the camper; it’s been bolted on since we got it. Good luck!

 Ok. Did you end up getting a new truck? Im gonna try the fastguns method and I will report back to you how it goes. Hoping i dont hae to buy another truck, at least for now.

[MaxStar]

No, I just have a smaller commuter. It would be super nice to be able to take the camper off easily, but I also don’t have a place to store it when it’s off the truck…