I have a 2000 F-250 SD I am putting an 8 foot overhead camper on. I would like to tie it down from inside the bed. I was going to drill holes through the bed and add flat metal plates for support, but I noticed the factory tie downs inside the bed are attached low to the bed stake pockets and seem to be very sturdy. Will they support tying down the camper here? There is one on each corner.
Thanks for any input.

 

>I have a 2000 F-250 SD I am putting an 8 foot overhead
>camper on. I would like to tie it down from inside the bed.
>I was going to drill holes through the bed and add flat
>metal plates for support, but I noticed the factory tie
>downs inside the bed are attached low to the bed stake
>pockets and seem to be very sturdy. Will they support tying
>down the camper here? There is one on each corner.
>Thanks for any input.


You don't state the weight of your camper, but regardless, you shouldn't secure a camper to the "cargo hooks" inside your bed. A plate in the bottom is questionable as well. Look into a Happijack system (torquelift is even sturdier) instead. At least the camper will be in your truck when you arrive at your destination.:-)

 

Don't drill..
I used the bed ties when I was toting my old mitchell 8footer.
Worked fine but...
I installed tork-lifts when I bought my new 8footer.
Nice to know it's tied to a sturdy foundation.

Seems Ford updated my bed with some 00 cable running through the bed supports and tied to the frame. Ford did this on my tank recall.
Did Ford have some issue with campers twisting the bed off of the frame?. Hmmmm. They only did it to the camper specials.
With that in mind I changed to the tork-lifts.
I didn't consider happi-jacs

99.5 Ford Super Duty F-250 XLT 4x4. S/C L.W.B. PSD Auto loaded.
4 in. Pro-Comp lift. 35 x 12.5 x 16.5 BFG AT/KO. Weld SSII 16.5 x 9.75. Rancho 9000's Dual Front.
Warn M12000 in Semi-hidden mount. Astro-start Supreme 3006.

 

I agree. Having hauled a 9' 6" 2000lb. camper around for the last ten years, I wouldn't even think about not tying it to the frame. I had my local welding shop rig up some custom tie-downs from 2" square tubing. The forward units are bolted to the frame and the rear goes right through the trailer hitch. Removable inserts of 1 1/2" tubing slide into the four pieces similar to the trailer hitch sliding into the receiver. They are held in place with a 1/2" bolt and the chains are attached by "quik-links". When the inserts are removed, the bolted tie-down "receivers" are hidden under the body. All this for $150.00.

Happy Trails
Rick

2003 F350 SD Supercab dually, V10, Auto, 3:73LS.

 

>I have a 2000 F-250 SD I am putting an 8 foot overhead
>camper on. I would like to tie it down from inside the bed.
>I was going to drill holes through the bed and add flat
>metal plates for support, but I noticed the factory tie
>downs inside the bed are attached low to the bed stake
>pockets and seem to be very sturdy. Will they support tying
>down the camper here? There is one on each corner.
>Thanks for any input.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that if the camper is not a newer one, it most likely will have to be shimmed up to accomodate the extra height of a Superduty cab. Make sure you check this prior to lowering it into place...OUCH

On another note, your 2000 may be out of warranty by now, but if not, Ford does NOT like their frames drilled....its an excuse for them not to warranty a frame issue.

 

A lot depends on how heavy your camper is. I suppose you could bolt through the camper floor onto the truck, but unless you go through the frame I wouldn't trust the bed sheetmetal. That's the problem I have with the traditional Happi Jac mounts; they rely on the front of the bed and that wimpy bumper for strength. Apparantly they have a stronger version now. Another option I don't like is the old stake pocket tie-downs like these: http://www.crbrophy.com/tdhd.html . The also rely on a wimpy bed. Personally, I really like the Torklift frame mounted tie downs available here: www.torklift.com .

For lots of great camper info, check out the only slide-in specific forum on the net that I'm aware of at www.irv2.com .

Harald

2000 F350 4x4 CC DRW V10 4.30ls Lariat LWB.
Firestone Ride-rite airbags, Rancho RS9000 shocks and Torklift Superhitch.
1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11'10" camper held on by Torklift tie downs.
Remove I_HATE_SPAM_ from email address to email me.

 

Don't attach it to the bed...see my post on this forum "Heavy Duty?" I don't think I'd tie a kite to my stake pockets, let alone a camper.

 

 

>>I have a 2000 F-250 SD I am putting an 8 foot overhead
>>camper on. I would like to tie it down from inside the bed.
>>I was going to drill holes through the bed and add flat
>>metal plates for support, but I noticed the factory tie
>>downs inside the bed are attached low to the bed stake
>>pockets and seem to be very sturdy. Will they support tying
>>down the camper here? There is one on each corner.
>>Thanks for any input.
>
>Oh, I forgot to tell you that if the camper is not a newer
>one, it most likely will have to be shimmed up to accomodate
>the extra height of a Superduty cab. Make sure you check
>this prior to lowering it into place...OUCH
>
>On another note, your 2000 may be out of warranty by now,
>but if not, Ford does NOT like their frames drilled....its
>an excuse for them not to warranty a frame issue.

Thanks for the info. It is an older camper. There is plenty of cab clearance, but I'm wondering how much weight should be on the bed rails. I would think not much, but some. What is the best way to shim the camper? Plywood? Still looking for an economical way to attach the camper to the truck. A lot of things come in to play when you get an camper that you dont think of ahead of time. I appreciate your input.

 

I used the stake pockets in the front of my Chevy the first time out with my camper, twisted the pockets all over the place.
I just mounted the happijac utility plates to my F250 today, matter of fact. I had to blast and paint them (seems like hitches have the same problem with holding paint!).
They work pretty well with a limited effort for installation. I rarely use the $200 camper, so I did not want a huge investment or major mods to the truck to be able to safely attach it. It is a heavy beast of unknown vintage and they do not recommend the system I have for extended cab or 4x4 without the cross piece. but hey-- it worked on the whimpy C2500.... I don't know why it would not work equally well on a FORD!!!