Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Truck Campers: A new adventure for me.


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specta

utah

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Joined: 06/18/2001

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Posted: 12/10/21 01:06pm

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It ended up being a beautiful drive to work this morning.

Its supposed to get down to 15° tonight, no biggie.
I will leave the water heater on and leave the space heater on too.
I head out at about 2:30 PM and get back at 5:00 AM the next morning so I'm not here when its really cold.

Clear blue skies and 43° right now.

Kenny
1996 Jayco 376FB Eagle Series TT
1997 Jayco 246FB Eagle Series TT
1976 Ford F-250 4wd Mercury Marauder 410 - 4V
Regular cabs. The best looking trucks.

BigSwick

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Joined: 08/19/2021

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Posted: 12/10/21 02:29pm

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I am new to truck campers, so there is a lot I don't know. But curious about the tiedowns. Looks like a big camper to be just attached just to the bed and not the frame. I know with my Cirrus 820 and an aluminum body truck I wouldn't want to do it.

MORSNOW

Mountain Home, ID

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Joined: 10/29/2013

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Posted: 12/11/21 08:40am

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BigSwick wrote:

Those are HappiJac tie downs and they do go to the frame. The front has brackets that bolt down thru the box into the frame and are secured to the front of the box with more bolts and a load spreading bar. The rear tabs are bolted thru the bumper where an additional bracket goes from the bumper up to the trucks frame. I have been using this same set up for 9 years and driven off road all over Alaska and now the western US. It holds the camper in place much better due to the angles of the tie downs. https://happijac.com/tie-downs.html

2014 Wolf Creek 850SB
2012 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD

7,220# Truck/10,400# Camper Fully Loaded

specta

utah

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Joined: 06/18/2001

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Posted: 12/11/21 11:22am

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BigSwick wrote:

I wouldn't want to do it.

Neither would I. [emoticon]

jimh406

Western MT

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Posted: 12/11/21 11:30am

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BigSwick wrote:

Believe it or not. Happy Jack was the recommended brand for Lance at least years ago. I don't know if they still are or not. Lance has done a few things differently including their front struts.

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member

specta

utah

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Posted: 12/11/21 12:01pm

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Happijac was recommend by Lance for YEARS!!! Almost forever.

BigSwick

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Joined: 08/19/2021

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Posted: 12/11/21 03:38pm

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Thanks to all for the information. It appears they don't make tie downs for Ford, GM, or Ram newer than 2017.

specta

utah

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Posted: 11/22/22 08:44pm

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I bought these 12v tank heaters and installed them back in November.
They included heating pads for both drain valves.

I have two group 29 batteries and the second one is in the bed of the truck.
They are connected in parallel and I connected the heaters to the one in the bed.

I had an issue with the water line going to the toilet when the temps
dropped into the low teens so I bought a 12v heat tape, zip tied it to
the water line and covered it with pipe insulation.

Right now its 21° outside and the heating pads are 42°.

All of them are self regulating so there's no reason to turn them off.
I do unplug the power source once the warmer weather returns.

Reality Check

North Bend

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Joined: 08/29/2007

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Posted: 11/23/22 08:03am

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Nicely done. Good to hear from you too!!

'16 F550 CC, 4x4 with Link Ultraride air suspension, '18 AF 1150. Just so we can play with our snowmobiles, dirt bikes and fishing boat. And new 20' tag along...kayaks, bikes, mc's and extra water and food!!