happy jacks tearing up bed frame

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Hey gang major problem with Dodge sheet metal that is tearing through channel under bed. I have had this happen on mine at spot welds and my brothers truck is tearing at the side of the channel where it meets the frame. Anyone having a large camper (I have a Lance 900) needs to inspect the front bed cross member for metal fatigue. My dealership rewelded the channel, however his dealer is washing their hands of the issue. If this area cracks enough you will surely lose your load and possibly a loss of life may occur.

 

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Are you using the Stabilizing Bar?
Quote from Happi Jac site:
"The "SB" series STABILIZING BAR is a 1" x 1. 5" steel tube with black powder coat finish, which provides additional strength to the front anchor systems. It is required with 9. 5' or larger campers, especially when loaded on extended frame trucks or 4 x 4 units. NOTE: Cannot be installed with most bed liners. We strongly discourage loading campers on plastic bed liners. The slick plastic between the camper and truck bed allows excessive movement of the camper within the bed, greatly increasing the chance of damage to truck or camper. A rubber bed mat is a better alternative.

 

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I agree on the bar. My Happi Jac tie downs were very flexible before adding the bar. I also read this in trailer life. They said the Dodge bed was very thin and needed the stabilizing bar. No problems at all with the bar installed.

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Ron

'96 Club Cab 2500 4x4, 4:10LS, Auto, BD Pressure Loc, Mystery Switch,TST 230/605, Cummins Chrome, Mag-Hytec rear and trans covers, Boost, Pyro and trans gauges, Optima Red Tops, All black. Tow 14k HitchHiker triple glide 5th Whl. Also use 9. 5' Lance. NRA Life Member.

 

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I have the bar, also. No problems noted so far... hope it stays that way!

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Rob Hanson
1999 "Big Red", 3500 SLT QC 4X4 6 spd, 4. 10 LSD, Braided SS fuel lines, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins E-Brake, Blue Box, Bosch 275HP injectors, All-steel Cowl Induction Hood, Rhino, Rosewood Kit, Scotty System, SportComp Gauges, TorkLift SuperHitch, Cobra CB, DeeZee Running Boards, Member of BOMB! (WW NW Chapter)

MyPics.com (pics updated 6/30/00)

I'd rather be... .
Cummin than Strokin.

 

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My camper weights in at 4000lbs and has been on my truck for 60,000 miles. Some of those miles have been rough dirt roads. I only have the bed and bumper ties downs, No problems so far.
Arlan

 

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I wanted to give you all more details and an update. Both trucks are using rubber bed mats, and cross members. Cracks run from outside towards centerline, and on one there are also 8" cracks on the channel that bolts to the frame of the truck.
First, mine uses channel steel 1/4" thick as a cross member, his the happyjack cross member.

The welds are either under the bed at the cross channel where it meets the frame or are seen in the bed above at the spot welds.

Lance Camper and Happy jack have both become interested in this issue, and are seeking clarification from DC regarding these reported cracks.
Dodge is alleging that the happyjacks were installed incorrectly, Happyjacks argument is that installation is per specs.
The issues are:
1. Does Dodge need to clarify if these trucks can carry this load, and what the owner needs to do to make things work properly. (we know it has ability) but the sheet metal isn't up to par.
2. Both manufacturers (Lance and Happyjack) appear to want Dodge to initiate a recall or advise owners of fix to avoid possible damage. The other option is make the supporting channel thicker. If you inspect your truck and find cracks please drop me a line directly not here, we are beginning to gather data for NHTSA for possible recall or fix for this situation.

 

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Is this problem from carrying the weight of the camper or is it from the way the Happijacks are connected to the bed of the truck? I have frame mounted anchors with a 9. 5' camper, will this affect me?

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2001 black dually,4x4, 6 speed H. O. ,loaded up. Jacobs E brake, lighted running boards, toolbox, solor visor, mag hytec cover, rhino lined, diamond tread rail protectors, mud flaps with genos chrome plates, megs exhaust tip, VDO vision series pillar mounted pyro & boost gauges (to be changed), rerouted blowby bottle, torklift class 5 double tube extension hitch and frame mount camper anchors... Its not a hobby anymore, its an addiction!

 

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Originally posted by DUNE RACER:
Is this problem from carrying the weight of the camper or is it from the way the Happijacks are connected to the bed of the truck? I have frame mounted anchors with a 9. 5' camper, will this affect me?

No I believe that the weight is fine. It appears that it is the way the Happyjacks attach to the truck bed, forcing unreasonable flexing on the bed for those that have larger campers (cabovers and extended rear). I went to the torklift attachment because that transfers all the load to the frame and bed, load, and truck all move in concert. Not just the bed of truck and it's load, in this case a camper.

 

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I have a 9' 6" lance on my 99 std cab and I have no sign of any cracks yet. Can someone tell me about this stabilizer? My Hapijacks are bolted through the front of the bed with no other support. Do I need an upgrade to prevent this?
Thanks, Mike

 

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Mike-

The stabilizer bar is highly recommended for "big" slide-in campers. It is simply a 1" x 1-1/2" steel bar that fastens to the inside brackets of the front tie-downs. It reinforces the flimsy boxes that they are putting on the newer trucks. See: http://www.happijac.com/AppProdGuide.htm#StabBars

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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, 5. 9L HO Cummins Diesel (ETH), 6-Speed HD Manual (DEE), SLT+, 3. 55 Anti-Spin Axle, Camper Special Group, Trailer Tow Group, Leather, Sliding Rear Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine oil temp. ), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, AND functional Halo light!
"Diesel, it's not just for breakfast!"

[This message has been edited by dresslered (edited 08-11-2000). ]

 

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I just went and checked underneath my truck bed. There are no signs of cracks in the bed crossmembers or the angled pieces that bolt to the frame. I have used the crossbar on the tiedowns from day one. I would think that the spring action in the Happi-Jac tiedowns would help to prevent cracking. My Lance camper is not real large, 9'4", and weighs about 2700 lbs. I have driven it over many different kinds of roads and many forest roads during hunting season. My truck is a 4x4. I will keep an eye on the parts of the bed that were mentioned as a possible problem area.