Land-roamer
Advanced Member
I decided to start another thread to continue this discussion, for others who may be interested.
This is the original link where this was discussed (and which includes pictures of my setup):
My link
To summarize, I mounted my 10' NCO into the bed of my Dodge 2500 with 8' bed, on top of a 2x6 and styrofoam insulation platform in the bed of the truck (which extends out over the lowered tailgate). The platform sits on top of the rubber bed mat, and its purposes are to provide additional insulation to the camper floor, and preserve the floor from rot. I did NOT bolt the platform to the bed of the truck (and probably should have). Then the camper is held on by frame-mounted tie-downs at each corner, with spring-loaded Torklift turnbuckles.
Someone suggested bolting the platform to the bed of the truck to prevent its sliding out from under the camper.
Someone else suggested bolting the camper itself to the bed of the truck.
I found this post on rv.net:
In the past I would take an Alaskan camper on dirt roads, some pretty rough (washboard type surface). I never had a problem. I found that the tie downs should be only handtight, never tightened with a wrench and for off pavement surfaces you might loosen until just the point that there is no slack in the chains. That allows the camper to not hop up and down in the back as you describe nor does it allow for excessive stresses on the eye bolts when the body and bed flex in response to the irregularies of the dirt road surface. If you use TorkLifts be sure to allow for some movement as that type of system ties the camper to the frame alowing little if any wiggle room for the bed to flex in response to the road surface. If the tie downs are too tight, something will give. For off road applications, there can be a case made to use the Happi Jac system as it allows the camper to flex with the bed.
Since my use of the Dodge-Alaskan will be partly on lengthy gravel roads up North, and maybe some off-roading, I am concerned that bolting the camper to the bed may result in camper damage due to truck bed flexing.
SO: I am now thinking of bolting the platform to the bed of the truck, but not the camper itself. Thoughts?
Thanks,
--Robert
This is the original link where this was discussed (and which includes pictures of my setup):
My link
To summarize, I mounted my 10' NCO into the bed of my Dodge 2500 with 8' bed, on top of a 2x6 and styrofoam insulation platform in the bed of the truck (which extends out over the lowered tailgate). The platform sits on top of the rubber bed mat, and its purposes are to provide additional insulation to the camper floor, and preserve the floor from rot. I did NOT bolt the platform to the bed of the truck (and probably should have). Then the camper is held on by frame-mounted tie-downs at each corner, with spring-loaded Torklift turnbuckles.
Someone suggested bolting the platform to the bed of the truck to prevent its sliding out from under the camper.
Someone else suggested bolting the camper itself to the bed of the truck.
I found this post on rv.net:
In the past I would take an Alaskan camper on dirt roads, some pretty rough (washboard type surface). I never had a problem. I found that the tie downs should be only handtight, never tightened with a wrench and for off pavement surfaces you might loosen until just the point that there is no slack in the chains. That allows the camper to not hop up and down in the back as you describe nor does it allow for excessive stresses on the eye bolts when the body and bed flex in response to the irregularies of the dirt road surface. If you use TorkLifts be sure to allow for some movement as that type of system ties the camper to the frame alowing little if any wiggle room for the bed to flex in response to the road surface. If the tie downs are too tight, something will give. For off road applications, there can be a case made to use the Happi Jac system as it allows the camper to flex with the bed.
Since my use of the Dodge-Alaskan will be partly on lengthy gravel roads up North, and maybe some off-roading, I am concerned that bolting the camper to the bed may result in camper damage due to truck bed flexing.
SO: I am now thinking of bolting the platform to the bed of the truck, but not the camper itself. Thoughts?
Thanks,
--Robert