"Slide in camper accessory"

[jcosola]

I have a 2001 2500. 4x4 diesel. I would like to mount a older 9ft Dolphin camper on it. I have been told that the normal tie downs will not suffice on these newer truck beds and extra bed strenghtening hardware is needed. I have recieved conflicting suggestions regarding this. I would like suggestions regarding this. Also are air bags needed also?:confused.

 

[illflem]

Not sure on the rest but they could be the least of your problems if the camper is older than early the '90s. Older campers are too wide for the tailgate opening. Better get out the tape first.

 

[Mr.Goat]

9715



Not knowing exactly what your refering to by normal tie downs. This is what I,ve done with my 03 and I also used this system on the 95. It has worked perfectly for me in both trucks with no problems to truck or camper. This of my own invention.



I installed two heavy duty stainless "U" bolts in each front corner of the box floor. Backed up underneath with the biggest piece of 3/8" plate you can fit in. Which in the 2003's case is only about 1" x 4" so I also added a piece of angle iron to help stiffen the plate.



The camper has "U" bolts mounted directly above these. These are joined by large heavy duty turn buckles when the campers in place. I use one more turnbuckle in the left rear corner which runs from the camper to the factory tie down cleat. Can't get at the "R" corner because of the washroom.



My camper is of a mid 70's vintage weighs in at almost 3000Ib's loaded. I've carried it all over the States and Canada on some very rough roads and never had a problem with this set up.



As illflem has pointed out though most older campers are to wide at the back for the newer trucks. This is a matter of cutting down the flanges on either side the required amount. Which is not a big deal if you have some basic carpenter skills and take your time.

Hope this answers your concerns or helps a bit. Pete

 

[krs]

The bedtop type tiedown is a thing of the past. There isn't enough wall strength to support them in newer (post 1985 or so) pickup beds.



IMO the Torklift http://www.torklift.com/ camper tiedown system is the best because it goes directly to the vehicle frame without stressing the bed at all.



Illflem is right about problems with width. Older trucks had tailgate openings of 64" or more and campers were built to fit. Newer trucks (Dodge anyway) have a tailgate opening width of 60". Older campers are often too wide to slide in. Some people have had success in cutting into the camper and rebuilding the lower sides where they fit inside the bed. Some use fiberglass, some wood, whatever works. It depends a lot on the locations of holding tanks and buildins in the old camper. A shower, for example, would be tough to cut and reduce.



You'll probably find that the old Dolphin camper is way overweight for your truck, at least insofar as a strict reading of the GVWR and load capacities is concerned. A 4x4 QC 2500 can only carry about 1200 lbs in the bed they say. The truck will handle the weight of that camper without a sagging, but it won't be kosher if anyone should ever raise the question. This is all stuff that you'll have to make your own choices about risk as it could go to liability issues should there be an accident.



First thing - measure your tailgate, then measure your camper. Good Luck!



(I have a 8. 5' alpenlite rated at 2300 lbs. on my '97 2500. I did put in air-lift bags but don't think it needed them really. My camper makes my truck overgross by the factory rating though I did have the registered GVW changed up to 10,000 lbs. Washington state allows this, and I figure that it'll at least create a troublesome counterargument to someone making a case against me. Maybe I'm just full of hope and hot air too. )

 

[jcosola]

Thank you all for the information. The width of the truck will handle the camper but I will have to put the camper on the truck to get it to the scales to find out what it weighs. The problem is I do not want to invest in the time and money to put into what is needed if the truck will not handle it. I suppose I can put it on and creep the 40 mile roundtrip to the scale and back without tie downs. I will have to think that one out.



John: