Slide In / Demountable Camper Attachment Methods

[CJV8]

We're currently working on a design for a slide in camper for our Toyota Hilux, however the attachment of the camper to the truck bed is causing some head-scratching.

All the designs I've looked at use either hooks, chains and turnbuckles, or ratchet straps to attached to the tie-down points in the truck bed. Most campers have quite large voids along the sides which allow access, however I'm hoping to maximise the bed space as best as possible, which means I'd like the camper sitting close to or on top of the bed sides, and this in turn means access to secure the camper can be from the inside. That's fine in itself as removeable panels can be made, however on the Hilux the 4 tie-down points are quite high up meaning the camper end of the tie-down needs to be quite high in order to allow sufficient length for the hooks and turnbuckles etc, and this then eats into the space I'm hoping to maximise.

Are there any alternative attachment methods people have seen or used? Options I'm considering are having a pin and receiver arrangement for the front of the camper, so as the camper is installed it needs to be sat on the bed and push forward so the pin locates in the receiver. Access to the rear tie-downs is much easier, so a more usual means of attachment can be used. The other idea is to fabricate new attachments for the bed that secure to the tie-down point threads, but then provide much lower tie-down points to allow the use of hooks, chains and turnbuckles etc.

Appoligies for the thinking out loud tone of the post, I may not be explaining things very well. It may be that I need to accept some loss of space to accomodate suitable attachments, after all a space efficient camper is little use if it detaches itself... Just thought I'd see what other ideas, if any, are out there.

Edited to add: Just in case it's relevant, the camper design will be something along the lines of an Alu-Cab Khaya or Gazell in terms of size and shape, constructed from an angle section exoskeleton with bonded in composite panels, so I'd expect weight to be in the 250 - 400kg range.

 

[simple]

Have you have considered external tie downs and are you only interested in internal?

 

[AstroQuest]

Nice project, a pin and receiver setup at the front could work well, and for the rear, adjustable tie-down brackets might help lower your attachment points without compromising bed space. Custom brackets could also offer flexibility while maximizing space.

 

[CJV8]

If by external you mean the type that sit outside the truck bed and attach to the chassis via some bracketry, no I'm not considering that. I want to keep the truck at the standard width, we have a lot of single track roads here in Scotland which can be a tight squeze in a small car, so I'd like to keep any protrusions to a minimum.

 

[CJV8]

I think custom brackets will be the way to go, it'll allow me to have a lower attachement points for the rear as it'd be good to be able to have the rear turnbuckle/strap arrangements pointing down as well as forwards to better secure the camper. Thanks all, gradually homing in on a workable solution!

 

[NOPEC]

CJV8 Here is something that might interest you...

I just built a cable and pulley system for a new camper that utilizes bed mounted tiedown points and both secures and tightens all four corners from the back (I actually needed one set on each side....) I used the factory bed tiedown points which GMC promised me will hold 600 lbs each.... So with a fully equipped 1100 lb. camper, I should have considerable freeboard for ballistic loading. I used a HD RV type spring loaded turnbuckle (Torklift brand) in line for my set up but I am sure you could use a HD expansion spring just as effectively. Here are a couple of not very good photos but should give you a rough idea.....

In the "distance", you can see a pulley which is tethered to the factory truck bed front tiedown point. The quick links helped with fine tuning where the horizontal cable needs to go. The front cable is swagged unto the SS camper tiedown point, it then goes through the pulley and then is attached to the "hook" end of my turnbuckle. In the foreground, you can see a second cable which is also swagged to the camper tiedown which goes through the tethered back pulley (more quick links) and then attached to the "bolt end" of the turnbuckle... Adjustment of tension in the system is simply made by tightening or loosening the turn buckle by reaching into the bolt's nut and lock nut. For me, I just wasn't interested in cutting any holes in the camper to access the forward attachment setups and I wasn't interested in any ratchet system that used fabric webbing although I am sure those systems are highly engineered and are bomb proof. And as far as engineering goes, the hi tek piece of 1/2" wooden dowel gorilla taped to the front of the turnbuckle is to prevent it from rotating as you tighten it. Equally hi tek string was for pulling it all forward to hook up.... I was on a trip pending deadline and both will it will get new versions in the spring!!!

I am delighted with how well the system has functioned so far.



This was the first prototype which I used to get the camper home from the factory on the highway and it worked perfectly fine. I know lots of folks use a regular turnbuckle only system for tying down their camper which probably is fine if you stay strictly on good roads but I wanted something with some give....

 

[CJV8]

That's a novel solution, quite impressive!