Another Turnbuckle Fiasco Averted ....FWC facebook page

[Vic Harder]

yes!

 

[Rogue Juan]

I had the same thing happen to me after a 25mph accident in my Tacoma. Bought a 2015 Tacoma to replace the 2005. I showed the splayed open turnbuckles to FWC and I suggested going with a closed loop turnbuckle & quick links. They said that not even in a rollover have they had a camper fly off. Any suggestions where to get some closed loop turnbuckles with similar specs as the open loop ones they provided?

 

[klahanie]

...FWC.. They said that not even in a rollover have they had a camper fly off.

LOL.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I had the same thing happen to me after a 25mph accident in my Tacoma. Bought a 2015 Tacoma to replace the 2005. I showed the splayed open turnbuckles to FWC and I suggested going with a closed loop turnbuckle & quick links. They said that not even in a rollover have they had a camper fly off. Any suggestions where to get some closed loop turnbuckles with similar specs as the open loop ones they provided?

Look at post #20 for a link.

 

[Rogue Juan]

I followed the lnk to https://www.mcmaster.com/steel-turnbuckles which models should I order for my 2018 Fleet on a 2015 Tacoma Access Cab long bed?

 

[PJorgen]

Go with the Torklift Derringers, I threw away the turnbuckles the first month I owned my Hawk in 2009. Have never had a failure with the Derringers, or them coming loose with camper on full time on my F150 or now on my Super Duty F250. After you adjust them to each position, lock them down, install the lock pins and forget about having any problems with anything coming loose. Would never go back to turnbuckles. Like Vic states "trouble free"

OK, I'm confused, help me understand the Derringers. From the Torklift website it looks like the Derringer Handles fit on the ends of existing turnbuckles https://www.torklift.com/rv/derringer-handle Is this what you're using? If so, did you cut the ends off your turnbuckles or use the hook on the turnbuckle through the eye of the Derringer?

Or, are you using the AnchorGuard Derringer https://www.torklift.com/rv/anchorguard-derringer? Those look to long for the typical FWC installation.

Or, could you be referring to the Fastguns https://www.torklift.com/rv/original-fastguns These seem to be the simplest to use in place of the stock FWC turnbuckles.

I'm searching for a solution as the turnbuckles on my FWC require frequent tightening.

 

[Vic Harder]

I'm using the Fastguns.

 

[Mthomas]

Vic, are these "stock" fast guns, or did you modify the hook portions?

 

[Vic Harder]

i did not modify the hook part. that said, caribiners work great for extending them. i did buy an assortment of 1/2” loops for the bottom and also cut those to length

 

[crashmaster]

I'm seeing a price of close to 800 USD for 4 Fastguns from etrailer. Is that about the right price for those?

 

[PJorgen]

I'm seeing a price of close to 800 USD for 4 Fastguns from etrailer. Is that about the right price for those?

I was about to post the same question. That price seems outrageous!

 

[buckland]

Now that somebody said it i will agree more money than I could pay.McMasters hardened steel with lock nut for a tenth the price seems a reasonable way to go especially if you buy the ones with the pin instead of a hook.

 

[EDR]

Check out the happijac qwik load upgrade. A set of four are $113 on Amazon, and they are basically the same thing as the fast guns. You’ll just need to add turnbuckle hooks or eyes of the correct lengths and you’ll be set.
And not sure if they are a standard size, but be sure to match the turnbuckle thread size with the supplied nuts so everything will go together.

 

[Karlton]

I just received a Torklift S9012 Hook to Hook Turnbuckle from Amazon as a spare turnbuckle. It came with two jam nuts. But the Fleet arrived with no jam nuts. I'm surprised FWC doesn't supply jam nuts, at the very least. Hmmm.

When I had my Hawk installed at Boise Spring Works in 2017, the turnbuckles were equipped with lock nuts. And I was told about the importance of the lock nut when tightening the turnbuckles. Seems as though this varies among dealers/installation centers.

 

[Rogue Juan]

I got my 2018 Fleet factory direct without jamnuts. When I showed them my 4 turnbuckles with splayed ends, after just a 25 mph front end collision that caused the cab over to crease my cab,they didn't seem at all concerned. In their own words: "Even in a rollover we've never had a camper fly off of a truck".

 

[fish more]

You can purchased the Torklift Fast Gun Derringers from Amazon for under 200.00 US, then purchase some 1/2" hooks from Fastenal, measure and cut the 1/2" treaded part to the proper length and screw them onto the Derringers, I use one quick link on each camper mount, hook the Fast Guns to the bed eyebolt and upper quick links, clamp down, install lock pins and forget about any problems of turnbuckles coming loose.

 

[nstad@live.com]

I have a 2003 Tacoma with Fleet camper on rubber mat. The turnbuckles were continuing to come loose even with constant retightening! Yes, a few bent the hooks and fell off somewhere in the Baja desert. Subsequent investigation revealed that the mounting eyebolts in the bed where pulling the bed sheetmetal up and actually fracturing the metal bed by tearing it. Every effort to tighten the turnbuckles just caused the metal truck bed to deform even more. The current mounting of the camper to the sheet metal bed is not working. It needs to be mounted to the frame. I wish 4WC would address this issue properly and devise a frame mounted system. Any input on where to attach to frame is appreciated. I'm going to install spring loaded turnbuckles from the rear bumper mounting bracket to an appropriate tie down spot on the camper . Not sure about the front mounting. There is tremendous ballistic force exerted on the turnbuckles when hitting a bump so spring loaded makes sense to me as they will "give a bit" then return to static position. Any feedback welcome.
Dave in Baja.

 

[Vic Harder]

Spreading the load makes a big difference. I installed the latest version of FWC mounting kit (you can retrofit yours by ordering from their very helpful parts dept). Using huge 4'x 5' 1/4 alum backing plates under the truck bed is much stronger than the more usual fender washers.

Not sure the springs would make much of a difference... how much range/give do they have?

 

[nstad@live.com]

The Fleet is 2 years old and has the 4x5 plates installed. Still deformed the bed. Don't know how much the spring loaded turnbuckles compress, haven't installed them yet. In the meantime I relocated the bed eye bolts to a more secure location near the frame.

 

[patrkbukly]

1/2" 6"x12" 6061 T651 Aluminum Tooling Flat Sheet Plate Bar Mill Stock

I bought this on Amazon when I switched to a 2017 F250 with the aluminum body.
I cut it into approximately 6" x 4" pieces and replaced the washers underneath.

Cost me $20.