Buying camper, have question about Tie Downs

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I wouldn't use those tiedowns. It doesn't look secure to me. I don't know how much your camper weighs, but the camper could rip out the hooks in your truck bed. I'd rather use a set of Torklift tiedowns that attach to the truck frame and secure the camper.

 

Those rope hooks, even if not rusted (lol) are meant for smaller cargo in the bed.

Go with the proposed solution above my post.

 

Besides them probably not being strong enough, those would be a pain to attach once the camper is in the bed. Also, get rid of the weak "S" hooks for some quick links

 

Ya thats what I was thinking, just wanted some reassurance. So the rope hooks are just attached to the bed then? Theres no metal plate or backing behind them? Because I read that the 2nd and 3rdgen rope hooks have a metal backing.

 

Only thing we share with later gens is the name, and the wheel bolt pattern.

 

I don't want to insult your possible purchase, but the camper in question looks like it's homemade and the hooks for it are poorly located & not reinforced. It might break off while driving on the street or highway. I wouldn't use the truck bed hooks to secure it either.

 

Here is some pics of how to make new mounts for that camper, and a vid on how to make/mount mounts in your bed. To get it home I have thrown straps over the camper as well as bolting a piece of plywood in the bed and then screwing through the camper and into the ply. Then when you get home you can make your bed mounts so that they dont interfer with sliding the camper in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNeVnxHRuU

 

Google “FWC mounting” and you will have tons of info to read. Wanderthewest forum is full of 1st gen tacos with campers mounted on them. But seriously, thise mou ts on that camper look to be the bent rod type and they will straighten under and real load. Have to use lifting eyelets/elevator eyelets

 

Theres a hole in the camper interior where you can attach them, dont think its as hard as it looks. But I'm gonna pass on it anyways.

Not insulted lol. It's a cheap little camper, definitely homemade, I figured it would be an okay purchase for 1700CAD, but I'm gonna pass on it now because after reading this thread, I don't think it will be secure enough.

 

Very little trust in you truck they will work.

 

This is how I got my latest camper home. Screwed to plywood and strapped to my front mounts and rear hitch. 4 hour drive with plenty of passes and didnt budge.

 

I did the same thing with nylon ratcheting straps when I bought my camper. It was a scary white knuckle ride driving home! The camper was making the truck rock like a boat in choppy waters due to the winds on the highway. The plastic bed liner made the camper shift it's weight around. The stock leaf springs were sagging. The 15" wheels with 225/65/15 tires rated for C load couldn't handle the load. I did every newbie mistake of what not to do and I was surprised that I didn't drop it in the street or highway.

 

Yeah I had already installed airbags cause I use this truck mainly for towing. And yes if you have a plastic bedliner you need to get a rubber mat to keep the sliding down.

 

how much did you pay for the camper? Looks like an older fwc

 

Its a 99 FWC with a rotten floor pack. I did a full rebuild. Got it for a grand.

 

I'm in the process of getting a Line X bedliner and have already bought a rubber bed mat. I've also upgraded to 16" wheels with Cooper AT3 tires with E load rating. I'm also planning on buying the airbags and Daystar cradles as well. Thanks for sharing your suggestions.

 

I also used to own an older '80s FWC Fleet pop up camper with missing gear that I sold to a Canadian buyer.

 

I have the daystar cradles and love them. I have the factory bedliner and the plywood camper base sticks good to it, but with the mat it all sticks together even better. I check my turnbuckles every month and they havent budged, whereas on WTW people have to tighten theres pretty often until they pull their plastic bedliner and install a mat.