Securing a camper to my f150

[DBL R]

Hey all. I’m new to the camper game and I was hoping for some insight with securing a camper to my f150 power boost. Some back story, my goal is to have a lightweight camper with off grid power capability and to be comfy in the wilderness. The camper I’m purchasing this weekend is a roamin’ chariot which weighs approximately 600 lbs. The camper’s base is 6 feet in length and my Ford has the 6.5 bed. I’m planning on having space for some additional gear storage and to retain the factory tailgate. My questions are for the best means of securing the camper to the truck.

I understand most larger and heavier campers install eye bolts into the bed of the truck or have separate external turnbuckles and brackets attached to the frame. Looking through small camper forums, it appears that many secure their camper to the truck via ratchet systems or internal anchor points within the bed. I’ve noticed my truck has 4 black anchor points, 1 on each corner. Does anyone know the load capacity of these anchor points? I am debating securing the camper using these anchor points with either 4 beefy ratchet straps or 4 turnbuckles.

is it a better option or entirely necessary to not utilize the current in bed mounting and instead install eye bolts?

I’ve attached images of the anchor points, camper on a 6’ bed tacoma, and the camper’s securing bolts for reference.
any constructive input is greatly appreciated.

Sponsored

 

[John_C]

Hey all. I’m new to the camper game and I was hoping for some insight with securing a camper to my f150 power boost. Some back story, my goal is to have a lightweight camper with off grid power capability and to be comfy in the wilderness. The camper I’m purchasing this weekend is a roamin’ chariot which weighs approximately 600 lbs. The camper’s base is 6 feet in length and my Ford has the 6.5 bed. I’m planning on having space for some additional gear storage and to retain the factory tailgate. My questions are for the best means of securing the camper to the truck.

I understand most larger and heavier campers install eye bolts into the bed of the truck or have separate external turnbuckles and brackets attached to the frame. Looking through small camper forums, it appears that many secure their camper to the truck via ratchet systems or internal anchor points within the bed. I’ve noticed my truck has 4 black anchor points, 1 on each corner. Does anyone know the load capacity of these anchor points? I am debating securing the camper using these anchor points with either 4 beefy ratchet straps or 4 turnbuckles.

is it a better option or entirely necessary to not utilize the current in bed mounting and instead install eye bolts?

I’ve attached images of the anchor points, camper on a 6’ bed tacoma, and the camper’s securing bolts for reference.
any constructive input is greatly appreciated.

Although I am not sure of the official rated weight capacity of those tie-downs, I can tell you that they hold quite a bit. I regularly use those to secure loose items in my bed, and I have tightened ratchet straps to the point of the straps snapping (went over some iffy railroad tracks), and the tie-downs didn't even have a scratch. Same thing with the set of plastic tie-downs that came with the truck. I was skeptical of those, but man have I tightened some straps to those and they have yet to fail as well.

 

[Aron]

Are you looking for options to secure it from theft, or to secure it from shifting around?

 

[DBL R]

Are you looking for options to secure it from theft, or to secure it from shifting around?

Not worried about theft, more concerned about making sure the camper is safely attached to the truck.

Sponsored