Aluminum Flatbed Tie Down

[stickynicky]

Hi All!

I just threw a Protech Aluminum flabed on my Chevy 3500 DRW truck and now I can't figure out how to mount my 9.6 BigFoot TC. The bed is 8.6ft wide and my REAR torklift frame mounts will no longer work due to the attachment point on the camper being inside the bed area. I was thinking of attaching to the stake pockets but that is a little sketch. In addition to the tie downs I will be attaching some 4x4 angle to the flatbed to help keep the TC from moving sideways and to help align it when loading.

Anyone have ideas on how to tie down the rear?

 

[Goober]

Something like this?
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Floating-Dock-Hardware-Male-T-Connector&i=35277&aID=602G1&merchID=4006

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Stationary-Dock-Hardware-Backer-Plate&i=75878

 

[stickynicky]

Thank you for the idea! That is a good idea but I am worried about the strength of the aluminum bed. I was hoping to mount it off of the frame on the truck somehow. Do you think the corner of the bed will hold a 4500lb camper?

 

[stickynicky]

I have figured out the front but the back is still giving me my share of problems. I ended up using a ratchet strap hooked over the top of the frame. This will temporarily get me down the road a few miles. Any ideas on how to make this look/work better? I'm thinking my rear torklifts frame mounts might work if I use the ratchet strap setup. It sure looks GHETTO though!!

 

[Goober]

Looks like there's an i-beam running arcross the back, any way to tie from that? or I'd run a 2x8 under the bed side to side and run the bolts for the dock hardware through that and the backing plate under the 2x8 to keep the bolts from pulling through the wood. Not being able to see this first hand it's hard to guess the structure of the bed material.

 

[camp'n_hunt]

Frame mount to prevent twisting/fatigue of the AL Bed. I would make some larger/longer versions of the torklift mounts.

 

[sp6x6]

What kind of clearance do you have over your cab. I want to do same thing

 

[redthies]

Use a hole saw to put a nice clean hole in the deck, and run a chain/turnbuckle to your frame. Personally, I'm getting rid of the flatdeck on my dually, but it isn't as nice as yours. Doesn't look like you plan any off pavement travel with the super low tool boxes, so you shouldn't have too much crazy camper movement.

 

[grillmasterp]

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/Airline-Straps-Hardware

 

[Capt Eddie]

I had the same problem with my bed. Why not reinforce the al bed from underneath with steel. And put a flush mount tiedown. whereever it needs to be. And when you do not have the camper on, the tiedown is recessed.

 

[mpike]

I origionaly just drilled some 1/2" holes for eyebolts as far forward and rearward as possible. My aluminum flatbed might have been heavier duty than yours. I recently pulled out one of my forward tie-down mounts off on a rough Canyonland backroad. I fortunately had some 18" pieces of 1 1/2" angle iron so i attached it to the bottom of the flatbed side rail with about 8" projecting forward beyond the front of the flatbed. I used the jack mount as a front tie-down point and got out of a bad situation. I've since realized that this is a better setup as I do'nt have to drill holes in my side storage boxes to accomodate the tie-down turnbuckles.