Camper belly bars?
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All Star
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 981
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From: Langley, BC, Canada
Camper belly bars?
Hey guys,
I know its been a while since ive been here, but i have a question.
Im building camper tiedowns for my truck, and would like to see what the rest of you have done for the front mounts. SPECIFICALLY shortbox 2500/3500s . I originally wanted a belly bar that went straight accross, under the frame rails, but upon further inspection, found that was impossible due to fuel tank/drivshaft/muffler clearence issues. I would also like to make them completely removable. I hate the look of the bars on the truck when there isnt a camper on.
Let me know what you guys have, and pics would be a great help as well.
P.S. I have already built the rear bars, so I dont need any info on them.
I know its been a while since ive been here, but i have a question.
Im building camper tiedowns for my truck, and would like to see what the rest of you have done for the front mounts. SPECIFICALLY shortbox 2500/3500s . I originally wanted a belly bar that went straight accross, under the frame rails, but upon further inspection, found that was impossible due to fuel tank/drivshaft/muffler clearence issues. I would also like to make them completely removable. I hate the look of the bars on the truck when there isnt a camper on.
Let me know what you guys have, and pics would be a great help as well.
P.S. I have already built the rear bars, so I dont need any info on them.
Champion
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 1
From: ohio
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
From: Selkirk Manitoba Canada
My camper came with a set of tie downs for the pockets on the top of the box. If they don't fit, I will make em fit! I have used them in a ford and a GMC so far, so I don't think it should be a stretch to fit em in the Dodge!
Either way, if I remember tomorrow, I will try them out for fit. If they do, I will take a picture for ya... If I remember...
Either way, if I remember tomorrow, I will try them out for fit. If they do, I will take a picture for ya... If I remember...
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 18
Sorry I don't have any good pics of mine but on their website they show you pretty well what the deal is better than any pictures I could take. They are not technically a belly bar but frame mount tie downs. Solid as a rock too. I have the Torklift adjustable set which is probably more complex than a DIY build would entail since you could just make them fit whatever you have. Torklift -> http://www.torklift.com/p.php?w_page=tie_downs
They are a bit spendy indeed but are solid as hell. I'm a bit paranoid and potentially want to do some pretty rough terrain for a camper. When I saw the pictures on the website of that truck which rolled down a mountainside off a logging road and still had it's camper attached, albeit bashed up, I knew these ones were for me. I'm not a welder per se so buying was a good option for me. I would think a good fabricator could come up with smething as good if not better through careful planning.
The other positive thing I'd add about the Torklifts is with their Fastgun turnbuckles the whole system only takes a couple minutes to get set up for a trip once it is properly installed.
Edit: one more thing about the torklifts... they come with extensions that go into the frame mounts that are removable. The extensions go from the mounts and hang out the underside of your truck so you can add turnbuckles. In other words when you aren't camping the extensions come off and go in the garage or whatever and you just reinstall them for trips. It's a simple 30 second install much like putting on a hitch reciever. When they are removed after the trip the mounting system is mostly invisible. I say mostly since there is still a hunk of metal hanging down from the underside of the truck. It's just that it doesn't hang down very far and everything is all back underneath the truck, ie nothing hangs out the side. In other words you can see it if you know what to look for but IMO isn't an eyesore or anything.
They are a bit spendy indeed but are solid as hell. I'm a bit paranoid and potentially want to do some pretty rough terrain for a camper. When I saw the pictures on the website of that truck which rolled down a mountainside off a logging road and still had it's camper attached, albeit bashed up, I knew these ones were for me. I'm not a welder per se so buying was a good option for me. I would think a good fabricator could come up with smething as good if not better through careful planning.
The other positive thing I'd add about the Torklifts is with their Fastgun turnbuckles the whole system only takes a couple minutes to get set up for a trip once it is properly installed.
Edit: one more thing about the torklifts... they come with extensions that go into the frame mounts that are removable. The extensions go from the mounts and hang out the underside of your truck so you can add turnbuckles. In other words when you aren't camping the extensions come off and go in the garage or whatever and you just reinstall them for trips. It's a simple 30 second install much like putting on a hitch reciever. When they are removed after the trip the mounting system is mostly invisible. I say mostly since there is still a hunk of metal hanging down from the underside of the truck. It's just that it doesn't hang down very far and everything is all back underneath the truck, ie nothing hangs out the side. In other words you can see it if you know what to look for but IMO isn't an eyesore or anything.
Last edited by Ugly1; Jul 16, 2010 at 10:55 AM.
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 18
Another mount system that alot of people like that cost less than Torklifts is HappyJack. I've looked at pics of their front mount and it looks pretty solid.. It would likely be what I had now if I hadn't found the Torklifts. I can't remember right nw but I'm thinking the Happijacks might be an actual belly bar as well unlike the Torklifts but I'm going off my admittedly hazy memory.
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
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belly bars
hey all, im looking into making some sort of tiedown system for my truck when i have my newly aquired camper in the back. Iv been looking at the Torklift system, very expensive for a FREE camper but thats ok i have the technology to build any kind of bar set up i could imagine! does anyone have pictures of their set up, perhaps how it mounts to the frame? id like to make it bolt to the frame with a large plate and then have extensions pin on when i put the camper in the back, and when not in use make it so it does not look like i have them when the camper is off the truck. Any pictures would be awsome! thanks all!
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Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,133
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I wont be near my truck during light hours until probably this weekend. I can try and get some pics of my Torklifts then. It ws a bitspendy but after watching the video of the rolled chevy being extracted with camper still attached was a good illustration for me. It's pretty much not coming off of ther without dynamite unless you unlatch the mechanisms.
