Now we're home in Albuquerque, with presumably no irreparable damage done. We haven't pulled the truck off the camper yet because we're just finishing a car port which currently just has loose dirt under it. We should get to that within a few days.
However, we're pretty sure about a few things at this point.
1) The turnbuckle system should be upgraded. It looks like Torklift suggests using this system on frame-mounted tiedowns: http://www.torklift....les/anchorguard
See photo below copied from their web site.
2) The rearmost 2x4 rib under the camper should be moved forward so it sits on the bed and can't wedge off the back end.
Also, it seems like the lack of pull in a forward direction may be a problem we'll have to continue to contend with unless the front tiedown point on the camper is moved back so the turnbuckle can keep forward pressure on the camper. We could mount another bracket to the edge of the underside of the camper on each side, like the rear tiedowns. The only real concern with that is whether the brackets would be strong enough to withstand the force of rugged dirt road driving. The rear brackets were already pulled away from the camper at the outside screws (see photo below) when we had the camper mounted, but the two bolts further back in are solidly attached; the folks at Hallmark said not to worry about the outer screws, the brackets wouldn't fail. I guess I'm learning to worry when I hear the words, "don't worry." If we attach new brackets, should we be doing it differently so the outer screws don't give?
Another thought: Perhaps we need to factor in a little bit of give in the system and I shouldn't be thinking in this zero-tolerance mode. After all, any force on a rigid system will be a shock load, and that's probably the main reason one of our open chain links blew, and one of our turnbuckle hooks bent out to a right angle (we improvised temporary fixes with tie-down straps and pool noodles until we got to a hardware store in Leadville where we bought quick links and a new turnbuckle). I'm guessing the spring-loaded/ cushioned turnbuckles made for attaching campers are supposed to allow for a little bit of sliding with up/down hills and bumps, but probably not 2 inches of back and forth (which is what it probably took to get the 2x4 under our camper pushed off the back end of the bed).
In any case, I'm inclined to do something about the angle of the front tiedown, not just from the standpoint of
wanting some front-directional pull, but also because the current measurement between attachment points in the front is about 15 inches, which is shorter than the minimum distance of adjustment for the Torklift Anchorguard turnbuckles. I suppose we could get some custom-made Fastguns that can bridge a shorter distance, but I'm less inclined to do that.
Does anyone have any advice for us at this point? Do we really need to have frontward-directional pull to keep our camper from sliding backward in the bed? Since the front tiedowns seem to be holding up very well, we're thinking maybe we'll put a heavy duty quick link into the front lower tiedown attachment point so we can attach a second set of mounting brackets further back on the camper in addition to the existing attachments. That would build redundancy into the system and ensure that whatever happens we won't lose the camper, while doing a better job of keeping it from sliding back. Is this overkill?
Photos:
1) Torklift Anchorguard turnbuckle mounted to front tiedown (photo taken from Torklift's web site - this is NOT the way our truck is currently tied down). Note the angle which exerts forward force against the camper's tendency to slide backward when going uphill
2) Brackets tying down the rear of the camper (located on edge of underside of camper) - note how the outer screws have pulled part-way out but the bolts are in solid.
Edited by DoGMAtix, 09 September 2015 - 11:01 PM.