So I unloaded my truck camper this weekend and found cracks in the bed of my truck. I know it is a heavy camper, Arctic Fox 990 but hauled it around in the back of my 97 for a couple of years and never had any problems.

Think Ford will help out on something like this? Or am I on my own?

Right Side.






Left Side.

 

I just really don't know.

I am inclined to weld the crack and then smooth it down.

I have never seen something like that with your use.

 

If the camper is within spec of the payload capacity, why not see what Ford can do? Worst they can say is no, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Maybe they'll cough up a sprayed in bedliner out of the deal.

 

I agree with Matt, take it to Ford Tim

 

Tim...I don't really know how to respond to that to be honest. You have a huge slider and the bed damage doesn't surprise me at all. However, you have a truck that is designed to haul that kind of camper. I think the dealership should look at it and fix that. I wonder if some sort of isolation material (such as a piece of think plywood or a thin bed mat would help that (wood might spread the loading a little bit).

 

Good luck Tim

 

Tim,

I had my dealer spray in Bed liner before I saw the truck so I am not sure what this looked like before. But Mine has a "weak" spot at the same place. I do not have tearing like you do , yet, but I was not real pleased with the fitment of the brand new bed. As you can see the same spot that you have tearing - mine has a hole where the bed seam is...

I hope that they don't tell you that it is "Within Spec"!!

 

Tim, I cannot tell from the pics what kind of tie-downs you have. I hauled a Lance 915 on my 97 F250 for years without issue using HappiJack tiedowns. On my (new to me) 2012 F350, I installed the TorkLift Frame Mounts. I had heard horror stories of the HappiJack types causing a 'tearing' of the bed and bending of the rear bumper. I'm betting the Arctic Fox is heavier than my Lance, and let's face it...today's steel is not the same as it was 15+ years ago. I'd have Ford take a look, for sure, but I'd also recommend frame mounted tie downs for a camper that size.

 

I have sent the photo's to service rep that know at the dealer, he was going to show them to the service manager. I haven't heard anything from them yet. My thought is that that part of the bed is not lined up with the rest of the bed, it looks a little higher if that makes sense. I need to get a straight edge on and see what that looks like.

I use a rubber bed mat in the truck and always have even in my old truck as well. I do have the TorkLift frame mounts for the camper as raycrawf mentioned and by the way welcome to FTE recrawf.

The Arctic Fox is heavy but that is why we got the big truck, it should be able to haul the camper without cracking up.

If I get time tonight when I get home I will put a stright edge on it and check it out a little more throughly.

 

Tim, be sure to let us know the outcome. I haven't had a slide in since 1976. So I just don't know.

 

Well I found out what went wrong and it looks as though I will have to assume responsibility for what has happened. When I bought the truck it had the 5th wheel option already installed, one of the first things we did was install a rubber bed mat. By the time we got around to putting the camper on I never even give it a thought that they would be a problem. The pictures might be a little hard to figure out unless you there, but hopefully it will make sense. I believe the camper was tilted backwards setting on the plastic covers of the hitch mount and most of the weight was setting on the very rear of the bed.

Straight edge with plastic cap in place.


Straight edge with both plastic caps removed.


This one shows the angle with the tip of my straight edge setting on the plastic cover. Now this was off of the center cap not the side ones which I think the camper was setting on. Kind of like a tetter totter but more weight on the rear.

 

That makes some sense Tim. Sorry you discovered this post damage, but at least before major damage.

 

Makes sense that the camper was tilted towards the back.

 

Tim. I see what your saying, but wouldn't them plastic plugs put indents in bottom of camper and let it sit flat on the bed. Or at least sunk into bed mat. Just thinking

 

I hope that is it Tim. Is the bottom of the camper a steel plate that can't accommodate any inperfection or do the "supports" just happen to line up with the plastic caps? Asking cuz I don't know what the bottom of a camper looks like