Wildernest Camper Ripping Bed Apart?

[GRM]

I'm running into an issue - last weekend I ran through the Rubicon for the first time with my Wildernest camper on the back of the Toyota. At the end of the trip, I found that the tailgate wouldn't shut! Upon inspection, I found that the wildernest camper is pulling the bed rails apart.

When I went to install the camper, I found a guy who installed them in the 80's. His recommendation was to use a ratchet strap (or similar) to pull the back of the camper together, so that the camper lines up parallel with the bed and so the tailgate lines up with the seals. After doing it this way, the body lines (were) in place, but now everything is catawampus.

Can I get some recommendations on how to go about getting the bed to stop ripping apart?

 

[Motafinga]

Ouch! Looks like the combo of the flexing and weight of the camper are taking their toll. It doesn't look like the bed rails are strong enough to handle the stress you're putting on em and need reinforcement. Maybe some kind of big steel L brackets/gussets in the rear section of your bed would help. I'd use a come along to straighten it back out and make the gussets just inside the tailgate section. maybe use steel tubbing for that. OR build something off of your lower rock protection cage to brace it from the outside..

 

[grnhornetcustoms]

The Rubicon will find any weaknesses in a rig and exploit them for sure. I would try a couple of attachment points on the inside at the top of the tailgate with a ratchet strap to hold everything snug and go run the trail again to be sure it works.

I towed my M100 trailer through last September. It has a modified tailgate added. Knowing that was a weak point I built my lid to overlap holding the sides in place. After that trail things have never been quite to the same tolerances I started with. Now I need to convince my wife I need to go back.


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