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What do I need to haul a truck camper?
Truck Camper Tie Downs and Turnbuckles
Well, the first thing would be a pickup truck! But seriously, we receive several calls every week from customers new to the slide in camper world wondering what type of equipment they need to purchase in order to tote their new (or new to them) slide in camper unit.
The most common situation is the person who already owns a pickup and has purchased a pre-owned camper to see if they like this type of RV camping. Very often they have made the deal and need to go pick up the unit but have no hardware to attach the camper once loaded. If purchasing from a dealer they may be able to make recommendations based on the camper and truck combination in question.
Many people get ahead of the game and make the camper purchase before
determining if their existing truck is up to the task! Check the GVWR and cargo load
capacity of your pickup to determine if you're on the right path. Almost all RVs,
including slide in campers, have a data plate attached from the manufacturer with the
weight listed. A good rule of thumb is to add at least 20% to the weight listed on the
tag for the "real" weight.
Can your truck handle this legally and safely? Take a look at this picture. Would you
guess this heavy duty dually pickup loaded with a 9-1/2' camper is legal. Well, you
might be surprised. This truck/camper combo actually weighs around 1,600 lbs. more than
the GVWR for the truck. Now imagine this same camper sitting on a 3/4 ton truck. We see
that situation practically every
day!
There is an almost limitless variety of aftermarket accessories to
help your truck carry the camper you choose. Keep in mind though, the specifications
listed on the data plate of your tow vehicle will never change, no matter how many
suspension upgrades you add. And even the heavy duty "dually" pickups available can
still be made to do the job better. Modern campers are typically heavy due to all the
amenities available. Most cab over truck campers are tall, making them top heavy so the
truck wants to "rock-n-roll" traveling down the road. Some suspension enhancements can
help with this situation.
High quality tie downs are important to keep the camper firmly in place. This includes
the anchor points on the truck AND camper, as well as the turnbuckles you choose. The
whole system needs to be up to the task. And DO NOT be tempted to use only front tie
downs. The camper needs to be held firmly at all four corners to prevent movement, or
in the worst case, tipping forward.
When shopping for used campers, the corner mounting brackets for the
loading jacks and also the turnbuckle anchor points are often overlooked. Check these
out to be certain no damage has taken place here. Most camper frames, especially older
units, are made of wood. Over time the lag bolts used to attach the brackets can become
loose. Because the camper is outside most (or all) of the time, loose bolts will allow
water to penetrate causing the wood to rot. Loose camper jack brackets or tie down
anchor points can be extremely difficult and expensive to fix, and a deal breaker if
you aren't prepared to spend some extra cash or do some major surgery yourself. This is
the first thing I would look at before even opening the camper door! Remember, you will
be lifting all the weight of the camper with the corner brackets and holding all that
mass in your truck with the anchor points.
All of the images below can be clicked to enlarge.
Once you've determined that your truck is within the capacity range
needed and you have a camper lined up you'll need the tie downs on the pickup and
turnbuckles to attach the two together. The size of your camper will be a factor in the type of tie downs you want. These
can range from the old standard "stake pocket" mount style up to the frame mounted
style.
If your truck is older, meaning pre 80s era, the
sheet metal and pockets will be a little stronger than the newer trucks and may be able
to handle the stresses involved with the pocket mount hold downs.
For very light campers it can sometimes do the job.
If you choose this type be sure to look for a design that either bolts or clamps
solidly to the truck, otherwise they have been known to pull out. Remember, since
these mount in the truck's stake pockets, there's always a risk of damaging the truck
bed.
Bed and
bumper mount style tie downs are step up for small to medium size campers. These
have been around for many years and have proven to work better than the pocket mount
type for a little heavier campers. The front (bed mount) is a plate that attaches to
the front of the pickup box, between the cab and bed, a few inches down from the bed
rail. The plate protrudes out from the side of the truck and has an anchor hole for the
turnbuckle. Too much tension on the turnbuckle can bend this plate back into the box,
damaging the bodywork so be careful!
The rear (bumper mount) anchors include a bumper bolt or "button" and an anchor plate which slips slips on to the bolt for attaching the rear turnbuckle. As with the front bed mounts care must be taken to not bend the truck bumper when tightening the turnbuckles.
"Direct to frame" mounts are the same principle as the bed and bumper mount but with
the added strength of extra brackets that attach to the truck frame in the front along
with a stabilizer bar to tie the two sides together. For many applications there are
also rear bumper braces available.
"True Frame Mounted" tie downs
utilize 4 independent units bolted to the frame and or receiver hitch for a solid
connection between the truck frame and camper. There is a separate tied down "receiver"
for each corner with removable inserts for turnbuckle attachment. This system is very
similar to the design of a receiver hitch and slide in ball mount. These tie downs are
designed to fit specific vehicle makes and models to allow the best fit and strongest
attachment to the truck. In most cases they bolt on to the truck with no drilling
required. No belly bar is needed, allowing full access to the underside of the truck.
Many dual rear wheel trucks have running boards extending back on the box to the dually
fenders. A special adjustable version of the front tie downs is available with longer
inserts that can extend out far enough to accommodate this situation.
Once the truck is outfitted you will need
attaching hardware from the camper anchor points to the truck tie downs. This needs to
be substantial enough to handle the loads encountered. A basic chain and turnbuckle
with hooks of some type is the entry level setup. 
There are several turnbuckle systems available that
eliminate the need for chain. These generally have a hook on each end, and a threaded
rod that screws in or out of a threaded center section for tightening. Basically just a
fancy turnbuckle, usually with some type of spring load or cushioning, that connects
directly to each anchor point with enough length to eliminate the need for chain or
separate hooks. Different lengths and styles are available for use with bed &
bumper mount 
or frame mount
Some tighten down using a lever action design that speeds up
installation and removal. 
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