Ratchet Straps: Can You Tie Down a Truck Camper With Straps?
One thing about ratchet and similar straps. They do come in sizes that allow them to hold down many heavy objects you do not want flying off your truck. The key is to make sure they are strong enough for the tasks you have in mind.
Generally, you only need about 4 tie down straps to hold your camper in place. Two in the front and two in the rear. When you are ready to go camping or to your home, you can use ratchet straps to hold the camper in place. The front straps should be angled forward and the rear straps angled towards the back of your truck.
To learn more about this important topic, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can use the right straps all the time. Making your sure your truck camper is secure is a primary task that should not be left to inferior straps.
Ratchet Straps 101
Do You Need Tie Downs For a Truck Camper?
Yes, you do. The weight of the camper itself is not going to be enough to hold it in place. Due to the wind resistance, the camper can fly off, if it is not secured properly to your truck bed.
There are four types of tie downs you can use. You just have to pick the ones that provide the most security when you travel. Keep in mind tie downs are different from tie down straps. The 4 tie downs are as follows:
1. frame-mounted- this is directly attached to your truck’s frame with bolts. They go on all four corners to make sure you have the camper secured in all spots.
2. custom frame -mounts- they are permanently attached to your truck’s frame with secure bolts. The difference between these and 1 is that these are custom-made to fit your make and model truck.
3. bed-mounted- these tie downs are bolted to the side of your truck bed using a steel plate. These tie downs are not the most secure and should be used with options 1 and 2.
4. bumper mounted- like number 3, these tie downs also are only added support and work with 1 and 2 quite well. They are bolted to your truck’s back bumper and come with hooks for the tie down straps.
Can You Tie Down a Truck Camper With Straps?
Once you have the permanent tie down mounts in place, you can use a good set of tie down straps to hold the camper steady. A good set of straps would be the ratchet web style and you should have them at least 1 1 /2 inches wide to be effective.
When you go shopping for these tie down straps, you want them to be weather resistant, made from high-grade and durable materials, and high-rated break strength. Not to mention solid hooks and a well-built no-slip ratchet handle.
Look for top brands to buy as this is an area you do not want to skimp. using inferior straps is only asking for trouble. Do a test with them if you can before you buy. That way you will have a good idea if they will hold or not.
Plus, you want them as strong as possible to make sure your camper does not move an inch when you are traveling.
How do You Tie Down a Truck Camper?
The first step is to find the right tie downs to use. of the four mentioned earlier, the first two options are your best. The second two are your support tie downs and are only needed if you like to be totally secure with your camper.
The second step will be to have those tie downs mounted properly to your vehicle. You need one in each corner of your truck to make sure you have equal strength in holding the camper in place.
Then you need to buy turnbuckles or a good set of ratchet straps. These need to be nearby as they go on after the next step. Step three is to raise the camper up high enough so you can back your truck underneath.
You do this by raising the front a few inches first, then the rear to the same height and repeat this until the camper is high enough. You are using the camper jacks to lift the camper. Do not raise the rear higher than the front as this could tip the camper over and cause some damage.
Once the camper is high enough, back the truck underneath and slowly lower the camper into place. Make sure to have a spotter helping you and do not hit the jacks as you go back.
After the camper is in place use the turnbuckles or the ratchet straps to secure the camper to the tie downs. That is it. Just double-check to make sure the turnbuckles or straps are tight enough.
Can You Use Ratchet Straps To Tie Down a Camper?
You can and it is done all the time. Especially when the camper is not that heavy. Not everyone is on board with this option though. Most people prefer to use turnbuckles as that is a safer option.
Straps are okay if you are not going over a lot of rough roads, like when you leave the highway and venture out into the unexplored wilderness. Good ratchet straps will be okay and safe to use. Just make sure their break strength is rated really high.
Also, make sure the hooks and anti-slip devices are made from top-quality materials. Inferior parts will not be safe even if you save a lot of money on the purchase price. The best thing to do is do your own research on this issue.
There are plenty of top-quality ratchet straps that will work without trouble. Compare the different options to make sure you get the right one for your adventures. Nothing beats good research in these matters.
Camper Tie Down With Ratchet Straps
These two parts are sold separately. Be ready for a shock. A set of 4 tie downs can set you back almost $800 in some cases. Some options are even more than $800 and some are less than that. But these items should be top-quality and able to handle the weight of your camper.
Then some of these options are made for specific vehicles. You just can’t walk into the store or go on Amazon and select the first ones you see. You have to make sure they are made to fit your specific vehicle.
The straps are a different story. They are not that expensive and a set of 4 will only set you back between $50 to $100. The good news is that their break strength will range between 1500 pounds to over 5000 pounds.
You can purchase these straps in different colors and there is a full set of 4 with some extras included in the box.
How do You Tie Down a Camper Trailer?
Most people do get the professional tie downs and have them put on by experienced mechanics so that there is no trouble down the road. They are not hard to attach to your truck and you may be able to do it yourself but leaving it to the professionals lets you focus on other aspects of your camping trip.
Then the majority of camper owners use turnbuckles. They say it looks better, works better, and has more strength than the ratchet straps. All you have to do is hook the turnbuckle to your camper, then hook it to your tie down. Once that is done, you simply tighten the center holder till the turnbuckle is tight and your camper is secure.
Some owners use a spring-loaded option. The advantage to this system is that your camper has some flexibility to it and does not take hard shocks. The springs help protect the camper when you hit some hard bumps or holes.
No matter which method you use, you will always need the permanent tie downs to hook them to.
Do I Need Camper Tie Downs?
Yes, the main reason is that if you secure the camper to your truck frame directly, you could cause a lot of damage to the frame when you have an accident. Not only that but if your camper is unsecured, you can cause a lot of damage to it when you go uphill, hit a bump, and so on.
The tie downs may cost you almost $800 to $900 but that expense is far cheaper than repairing the damage done to your truck or camper. The added straps or turnbuckles do not cost that much so for an investment, you are buying a lot of peace of mind.
Now, you could make your own set if you want to. The key would be to use top-quality materials to make sure your tie downs have the strength to hold your camper in place. This would be a cheaper way to go about accomplishing your objective.
Some owners have done this and their handiwork seems to have paid off for them. You would need a good plan to follow to make sure your version is as good as the commercially sold ones.
Best Tie Downs For a Truck Camper
Happijac seems to be a good brand to go with. On one top ten list, they placed 4 of their models. They make a variety of styles so you can find the right one that will fit your vehicle.
CR Brophy placed 2 of their models on the same list but the one that landed at number 3 cannot be used on trucks newer than Ford Rangers from 1988 onward. They are also not to be used for campers longer than 8 feet or on 2011 or newer pick-up trucks. But that does not stop CR from making good tie downs.
Another competitor who placed 2 models on the same list is Torklift. They have some good designs and can handle the weight. They are said to be the safest models you can use.
Lukyer and JCHL also made this list and their options are rated to be very good. These are just some of the tie down brands you can go with. The best model to use will be the ones that are similar to #1 and 2 we mentioned at the beginning of this article.
Those designs should be best and all other designs may be best saved for back up security.
RV Hurricane Strap Kit
There are a lot of brands that will meet this situation. Their straps are designed to have a high break point which means they should work well when hurricanes come your way.
JACO and RoofPax brands make some of their ratchet straps to withstand over 5000 pounds before they will break. Camco and Sunferno have listed some of their models which are rated to not break until the tension reaches over 2500 pounds.
There will be other brands that will have models of straps that will compare to these 4. The best thing to do is do some research, some comparison shopping, and see the difference for yourselves.
Then pick the straps that you think will work best in this situation. Make sure to contact the companies and ask them about this problem and see what they say about their own straps.
Some Final Words
Getting the right equipment to hold your camper on the back of your truck is essential. This is no time to skimp on cost or materials as the end result may be more expensive than if you paid the purchase price upfront.
While you can use ratchet straps, do some research to make sure they are the best option available. The lighter the camper the more practical ratchet straps become.
