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In the market for a truck camper but not sure what you are getting yourself into? Already purchased a truck camper and not sure what to do next? To ensure the utmost safety of your vehicle, camper, and passengers, you will want to make sure you have the appropriate equipment required for hauling your truck camper. Torklift TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs are the only truck camper tie downs that bolt to the strongest point of your truck: the frame. Here are the four most important steps to installing your frame-mounted truck camper tie downs:

1. Check your fitment

The first step in getting your TRUE Frame Mounted Camper Tie Downs installed on your truck is to be sure you have appropriate parts for your vehicle. Each Torklift camper tie down kit is custom designed to perfectly fit the frame of your truck. With that being said, each truck camper tie down kit is extremely specific to the vehicles year, make, model, etc. Be sure to use our Find Your Fit Guide to locate the correct part numbers or give our tech support team a call at 800-246-8132 to confirm the fitment.

Once you confirm your fitment, you may be wondering which style of camper tie down will best suit your truck – the original steel or the aluminum Talon tie downs. The Talon camper tie downs are crafted out of high impact powder coated, lightweight military grade aluminum alloy and stainless steel. The Talon tie downs are designed to handle in the toughest climates and terrain. We highly recommend upgrading to Talon camper tie downs if you live or travel in areas with high levels of salt on the roads or if you tow a boat and offload it into salty water. Aside from our Legendary Lifetime Warranty, Torklift Talon Tie Downs also come with rust-free corrosion protection for life.*

2. Bolt on your tie downs

Once you have your correct fitment and have selected the style that would best suit your needs, it is time to install your truck camper tie downs. Torklift tie down kits feature DIY designs that are 100% no-drill because our engineers utilize factory pre-drilled holes that are already in your truck frame for ease of installation. Some modification may be required for vehicles older than 2001. Each TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Down kit comes with all the hardware needed for installation and includes detailed instructions that include a parts inventory and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the installation. Once the receiver tubes are bolted on to the frame of your truck, the tie down inserts slide in and you’re done!

3. Make sure you pair your TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs with spring-loaded turnbuckles

With Torklift TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs you will want to be sure to tie down your camper using spring-loaded turnbuckles. The use of a spring-loaded turnbuckle protects the truck camper anchor points and tie downs from damage as well as protects the cargo and passengers in the vehicle. We offer a variety of truck camper turnbuckles – check out our best selling Original FastGuns.

4. Keep your equipment safe

Once your Torklift camper tie downs and spring-loaded turnbuckles are installed, your truck camper is ready to go and you are ready to hit the road! The last thing you want to worry about on your off-grid adventures is the safety of your equipment. To deter thieves, makes sure to add Tie Down Locks and FastGun Locks to your truck camper set up.

If you have further questions about your Torklift tie down and turnbuckle set up or how to install, please contact us by phone at 800-246-8132 or by email at support@torklift.com. Our customer service team is available Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm PST.

*For more details, call us at 800-246-8132.

There are generally two reasons someone gets a truck bed camper.
1.) So they can go horse camping or boat camping which means towing your horse trailer or boat trailer behind your camper
OR
2.) Wanting the ability to go off grid into anywhere – because there are just places you can’t go with a fifth wheel or other large towables

Where do you start?

Before you start looking into what products you need, you have a few things to consider. The main thing that needs to be looked at before you begin is what you are wanting to tow and the weight associated as well as what your truck is rated to tow and haul.

Can I increase the towing capacity on my truck?

No aftermarket products you purchase will be able to increase your truck’s towing ratings. Let us repeat: No aftermarket products will increase your towing capacity beyond what your truck’s original rating from the manufacturer is. Products that make that claim are hogwash. If possible, we recommend determining what you would like to tow before you purchase your truck and then purchase a truck capable of those towing needs OR learn what your truck can tow and match yourself with a trailer within those limits.

How do I figure out how much I can tow?

It is critical to know your GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating to be able to tow safely and within legal limits. This term describes the total weight carrying capacity of your truck. A common mistake is using the dry weight of your truck camper instead of the wet weight. The wet weight includes the weight of your truck camper once fully loaded (cargo, water, etc). These things can really add up so it is important to factor them in. There are many additional factors to determining what set-up you can use. Check out this great article by Truck Camper Magazine and Torklift that goes over factors that you need to consider before embarking on your truck camper or trailer adventure. 

Truck Camper Tie Downs and Turnbuckles selection

The first items you will need to ensure you have would be truck camper tie downs and turnbuckles to hold your truck camper to your truck. We recommend our TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs for any sized truck camper. This will ensure that you are connecting your camper to the strongest portion of your truck (the frame) rather than the bed or bumper which is a thin sheet of aluminum.

Next up is a good truck camper turnbuckle system. The camper tie down turnbuckles are the portion of your set-up that connect the truck camper anchor points to the tie downs. There are several different truck camper tie down turnbuckle systems that we offer which include Torklift Original FastGun Turnbuckles, Springload XL Turnbuckles, and Basic Springload Turnbuckles. Not sure which turnbuckle system would be best for you? Click here to learn more about the Good, Better, and Best turnbuckle systems and which is best for you. 

As you can see from this photo, the customer is using Torklift TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs and Torklift Original FastGun turnbuckles.

Truck camper trailer hitch

Now that you have your truck camper tie downs and turnbuckles selected, the next item that you will need is a truck camper hitch and a truck camper hitch extension that will safely tow the trailer that you are looking to tow.

Torklift offers the SuperHitch Outlaw Series which offers three different hitches with ranging capacities of 15,000 lbs to 30,000 lbs pull when coupled with weight distribution. These high weight capacities are critical in ensuring that you are safely towing your load. But what if we told you that a high weight rating that at least matches the tow capacity of your truck so that you are not limited by the hitch is only the second most important factor with towing capacities? The first most important factor is making sure your truck camper hitch has an appropriate tongue weight rating.

What is tongue weight?

Tongue weight is the pressure of items and weight seated at the front of what you are towing and often times – this area tends to get over loaded. When using the Torklift SuperHitch Magnum combined with weight distribution, 3,000 pounds tongue weight can be achieved. Again – never tow or haul beyond the limits rated by your truck manufacturer. Not using a truck camper trailer hitch with the correct tongue weight is the most common cause of hitch failure. You don’t want to go there – it is incredibly dangerous. Torklift hitches feature the highest tongue weights available when used with weight distribution.

Truck camper hitch extension

The SuperTruss Extension is a dual receiver extension and comes in eight lengths from 21” to 60”. It only works with the SuperHitch Towing Series trailer hitches featured on the truck above. As you can see, there are two stacked receivers. The purpose for this design is to allow for the SuperTruss Extension to fit into each receiver at the same time. The SuperTruss Extension is a dual truss system – the only dual truss system available – designed for safety. Single truss extensions have a tendency to flex, bow and break under pressure. You will want a truck camper hitch extension when your truck camper hangs over the rear of your truck bed because you will need to have a way to bridge the truck camper hitch to your trailer tongue and the extension is that bridge.

SuperTruss Features

• Spring-loaded design ensures a safe ride for your family and your truck camper
• Protect your truck frame and camper anchor points from damage
• Adjusts in minutes, built in spring tension indicators
• High strength forged steel
• Special oil tempered chrome silicon springs for maximum longevity
• Legendary Lifetime Warranty
• Proudly made in the USA

 Have further Questions?

If you have further questions on truck camper tie downs and turnbuckles maintenance, our team is ready to take your call or answer your email. We are open Monday – Friday 8:30 am PST to 5 pm PST, excluding holidays. You can contact our team by calling 800-246-8132 or emailing support@torklift.com.

Looking for Torklift camper tie downs for sale? Find a dealer in your area or online!

Where to Buy

When someone starts truck bed camping, a necessity is having gear that holds the camper to your truck: tie downs and turnbuckles. There are many options out there for camper tie down turnbuckles, but we will be highlighting the top 3 options for truck camper turnbuckles for your camper. Regardless of what you choose, you can’t go wrong!

Best: FastGun Turnbuckles

Are you looking for the best of the best?
Then you need to check out the Torklift FastGun system! The FastGun turnbuckle is a stainless steel quick disconnect turnbuckle so that no matter where you go, you can quickly remove your FastGun turnbuckles to offload your truck camper or maybe you just need to get access your gas tank with ease. They are also designed with two sizes so that no matter the tie down system you have (Torklift TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Down system or alternative brand bed mounted systems) the FastGun turnbuckles will work. A benefit to the FastGun turnbuckle is once you set your tension with the tension indicators you are done adjusting.

Original FastGun Features

• No. 1 selling patented quick disconnect truck camper turnbuckle in the world
• Recommended by Lance Campers, Northern Lite, Northstar Campers, Lance Owners of America, Arctic Fox, Northwood Manufacturing, BigFoot Campers, Travel Lite and more
• Original FastGun turnbuckles serve as the connection bridge between the truck camper tie down and the camper anchor point
• Connects and disconnects in seconds - Quick release handle allows for easy tool-free adjustment
• Adjust once and you’re done
• You will especially love the quick disconnect handle if your turnbuckle is near your gas cap
• Spring-loaded design ensures a safe ride for your family and your truck camper
• This spring loaded truck camper turnbuckle prevents your truck camper anchor points from ripping out due to the constant fatigue that happens during regular travel because it acts as a shock absorber
• Tension indicators determine proper tension to hold down truck camper while in use which prevents common wear and tear as well as ripped out anchor points
• Only turnbuckle with spring tension indicators to ensure the pull down strength is within range of ALL truck camper manufacturer’s requirements to avoid camper damage
• Composed of 100 percent aircraft grade aluminum and stainless steel featuring several different finishes to customize the look of your truck and camper
• This stainless steel and aircraft grade aluminum truck camper turnbuckle does not rust – no more rust stains on you or your vehicle and never deal with degrading, swelling and deforming of your truck camper turnbuckle ever again
• Available for frame-mounted or bed-mounted tie downs
• Lockable to secure your truck camper (locks sold separately)
• Legendary Lifetime Warranty
• Proudly made in the USA

Guess what? That’s not all! Not only do you have all these amazing features for your FastGun turnbuckles, you also have the option to choose between four different finishes so you can match your truck and camper. The color options include Snowstorm White, Revolver Grey, Polished Stainless Steel, and Chasm Black.

Better: Springload XL Turnbuckles

The next turnbuckle is the Springload XL Turnbuckle. This truck camper turnbuckle is only designed to be used with TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs. This product, like the FastGun turnbuckle, is a truck camper spring loaded turnbuckles system and has internal springs and spring tension indicators. A difference between the Springload XL and FastGun turnbuckles is the quick disconnect feature that allows you to easily remove your truck camper tie down turnbuckles system.

SpringLoad XL Features

• High impact powder coated stainless steel
• Reaching 35” to 45”
• Spring tension indicators
• Can be used with Derringer Handles
• Legendary Lifetime Warranty
• Proudly made in the USA

Good: Basic Springload Turnbuckles

Last but not least, is the Basic Springload turnbuckle. The kit includes two quicklinks, two spring-load canisters, two heavy duty steel turnbuckles, and chain.

Basic SpringLoad Features

• Spring-loaded design ensures a safe ride for your family and your truck camper
• Protect your truck frame and camper anchor points from damage
• Adjusts in minutes, built in spring tension indicators
• High strength forged steel
• Special oil tempered chrome silicon springs for maximum longevity
• Legendary Lifetime Warranty
• Proudly made in the USA

 Have further Questions?

If you have further questions on truck camper tie downs and turnbuckles maintenance, our team is ready to take your call or answer your email. We are open Monday – Friday 8:30 am PST to 5 pm PST, excluding holidays. You can contact our team by calling 800-246-8132 or emailing support@torklift.com.

Looking for Torklift camper tie downs for sale? Find a dealer in your area or online!

Where to Buy

Are you looking for a new camping adventure? Truck camping is the perfect way to get off the grid and get to places you’d never be able to make it to in a travel trailer. As a new truck camper, you may be wondering where to start. First thing is first, you will need to know how to set up a truck camper.

Make sure you have the right equipment

The most important thing to think about when tying down your camper trailer is the equipment you will need. The essentials that you will need are camper tie downs and spring-loaded turnbuckles.

Truck Camper Tie Downs

Your camper tie down is going to be the anchor for your turnbuckles to attach to and secure your truck camper. The Torklift TRUE frame-mounted™ camper tie down system bolts directly to the strongest point of your truck: the frame. Frame-mounted tie downs dramatically improve vehicle stability and are the safest way to haul a truck camper due to the reduction in sway and excess camper movement. Plus, the Torklift camper tie downs are specific to the year, make, and model of the truck – ensuring for customized fit. To find your personalized truck camper tie down fitment, visit our Find Your Fit page.  

FastGun Truck Camper Turnbuckles

Your other essential piece of equipment to ensure the safe hauling of your truck camper is your spring-loaded turnbuckle. Turnbuckles serve as the bridge between your truck camper tie down and your camper anchor point. Why does spring-loaded matter? Being set up with spring-loaded turnbuckles ensures the safety of your passengers as well as the integrity of your truck and camper. The internal spring mechanism of the turnbuckle acts as a shock absorber and protects your truck camper anchor points. Each style of Torklift turnbuckles is equipped with this spring-loaded mechanism to provide you with maximum security while hauling your truck camper.

Camper Anchor Repair and Relocation Kit

Okay so you didn’t take our advice on getting springloaded turnbuckles the first time you tried truck camper turnbuckles – if that was you, read on. This kit is designed for folks who accidentally ripped out their camper anchor point by not using a spring-loaded truck camper turnbuckle. This kit allows you to repair the anchor point (which is required for holding down your truck camper). It can also be used to re-locate a truck camper anchor point in case it is in the wrong spot. How could a truck camper anchor point be in the wrong spot? Here is an example – you bought a dually truck and the fenders stick out which lead to your fender coming into contact with your turnbuckle. Moving the anchor point allows you to situate the camper anchor point in an area to avoid that interference.

Put together your products

Once you have established the proper camper tie down fitment for your vehicle, all you have to do is install! The good news about the Torklift TRUE frame-mounted™ camper tie downs is they are 100% no-drill designs for all trucks after 2001, making them as DIY friendly as possible. Got a truck older than 2001? No problem, we’ve got an application for that but some modification could be needed. Every part number comes with detailed instructions to assist you every step of the way through install. If you need additional assistance on how to install truck camper tie downs, our tech support team is available Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm PST by phone, email, or Facetime.

Depending on which Torklift turnbuckle kit you choose to go with, assembly may vary. Not to worry, each turnbuckle kit also comes with detailed instructions and we have Youtube videos for reference available for each kit! (see below)

Basic SpringLoad Kit 

SpringLoad XL Kit 

FastGun Kit Assembly 

FastGun Kit Installation 

Once you have your truck camper tie downs installed and your spring-loaded turnbuckles assembled and tensioned to 300 ft/lbs, you are ready to get your truck camper on the road!

Aftercare

Getting your Torklift camper tie downs and spring-loaded turnbuckles assembled and installed is the majority of the work. You are going to want to invest some time into the maintenance of your products to be sure they last as long as possible. Here are 3 tips to maintaining your camper tie downs:

1. Clean them regularly. To avoid any excess debris or surface rust, we recommend cleaning up your truck camper tie downs and turnbuckles any time you’d wash your vehicle.
2. Use a rust inhibitor. To further combat surface rust, use a rust inhibitor after washing. A commonly used one is Rust-O-Leum.
3. Use the Tie Down Finishing Kit. When tie downs are not in use, remove inserts and use our capping kit to protect tie downs from additional environmental damage. 

If you have any further questions about how to tie down your truck camper, please give our customer service team a phone call at 800-246-8132 or by emailing us at support@torklift.com. If you would like to locate a dealer in your area, please visit our dealer portal. 

You’ve just invested a hefty amount of money on your truck camper, and now you are thinking “Where do I go from here?”. Well, the answer is simple! You want to make sure that you have all the appropriate equipment to haul your truck camper safely. To secure your truck camper to your truck, you will need an appropriate tie down and turnbuckle system.

What is a truck camper turnbuckle?

Your truck camper turnbuckle is going to be the connection bridge between your camper anchor points and your Torklift camper tie downs. Turnbuckles are a necessary piece of equipment within a truck camper and tie down system to ensure the safe travel of your camper and passengers.

What does it mean to be spring-loaded?

A turnbuckle is considered spring-loaded when it is equipped with an internal spring mechanism that allows for slight movement when placed under impact.

3 reasons you want your turnbuckles to be spring-loaded

1. Safety first!

Your truck camper turnbuckles are a very important piece of equipment that are a part of your Torklift truck camper tie down system. Each style of Torklift turnbuckle is equipped with an internal spring-loaded mechanism, when this spring-loaded mechanism is tensioned properly and engaged, it acts as a shock absorber to make the overall ride of your truck camper more smooth and comfortable. This also ensures the safety of your cargo and passengers.

2. Ensures that there is no damage to the vehicle and truck camper

Since the spring-loaded mechanism of the turnbuckle acts as a shock absorber, a spring -loaded turnbuckle would take on any impact that may be experienced during a rough ride – in turn, the use of spring-loaded turnbuckles also protects the anchor points on your truck camper and the attachments on your truck camper tie downs as well. The last thing you want to deal with on your camper is the costly task of repairing or replacing your truck camper anchor points. With that being said, the shock absorption from the spring-loaded camper turnbuckles ensures the preservation or your true frame-mounted tie downs. In fact, as long as you are using any of our fully spring-loaded turnbuckles with our frame-mounted camper tie downs, we warranty the truck frame and camper anchor points for the extent of the camper manufacturer warranty.

3. If you have frame-mounted tie downs

As long as you are using TRUE Frame-Mounted Tie Downs, you are going to need spring-loaded turnbuckles to guarantee the safest set up. In the case that your truck is equipped with bed-mounted camper tie downs, you would want to opt for the Torklift AnchorGuard Derringer turnbuckles or the FastGun .45 Turnbuckles. The Torklift AnchorGuard turnbuckles are equipped with two spring-loaded turnbuckles for your front mounts and two cushioned turnbuckles for the rear mounts.

If you are interested in getting set up with a set of our spring-loaded turnbuckles or would like to talk further about which design would be best for you, please give our customer service team a phone call at 800-246-8132 or by emailing us at support@torklift.com. If you would like to locate a dealer in your area, please visit our dealer portal here.

Looking for the perfect way to get off the grid and go camping, but still able to camp in an RV? Truck Bed Camping is the perfect way to hit the road and go camping and allows you to go in further off the beaten path. There are many truck camping options out there, but the starter pack would include the truck, truck camper and equipment to tie the camper to the truck.

Torklift Camper Tie Downs

Truck Camper Tie Downs are a necessity to securely attach a truck camper to a truck. There are two options in truck camper tie downs for vehicles older than 2017 which include Torklift Frame-Mounted Tie Downs and the alternative option of bed mounted tie downs. (Torklift makes truck camper tie downs for 2017 plus as well). By going with frame mounted tie downs, you are attaching to the frame of the truck as opposed to attaching to the aluminum body of a truck or bumper which often can cause damage to your pickup truck. Torklift frame mounted tie downs are manufactured to fit specific trucks and truck frames and due to this are sold in a set of two for front Torklift camper tie downs and a set of two for Torklift rear camper tie downs.

How to maintain the life of Torklift Tie Downs

Although products manufactured by Torklift International come with a Legendary Lifetime Warranty, finish is something that is not under warranty due to the camper tie downs being exposed to the natural elements that can cause corrosion when steel is exposed. If you are interested in corrosion resistant truck camper tie downs, click here to determine if the Torklift Talon Tie Downs upgrade are for you.

There are two steps to maintaining your Steel Camper Tie Downs which include:

1) Regularly inspect and clean your tie downs. As previously mentioned, your vehicles are exposed to elements that may cause corrosion to steel such as road salts, salt water, etc. By inspecting your camper tie downs regularly and cleaning off any chemicals your truck may have come into contact with while driving on the roads, you are able to prevent the potential of rust. If you are dip the rear of your truck into salt water while off-loading your boat for a fishing trip, you will absolutely want to hose down the underbody to prevent rust from all aftermarket steel products installed on your truck.

2) If you do begin to see rust due to exposed steel, touch up the Torklift Tie Downs with an enamel or urethane-based aerosol paint products such as Rust-Oleum.

Like any great product, some maintenance may be required even if that just means wiping them down after your camping trip.

How to maintain the life of Torklift Fastgun

Torklift Fastgun Turnbuckles are what you would use to attach the truck camper to the frame mounted camper tie downs. This springloaded system for truck camper turnbuckles allows you to set tension of the turnbuckle system once – that’s right, once, and with the easy quick release handle, you are able to remove the tie downs easily at the end of each trip or when you want to remove your truck camper.

Just like the camper tie downs, you will want to maintain the truck camper turnbuckles as well. An easy way to clean off the turnbuckles and to avoid the possibility of corrosion, is to use a WD-40 and microfiber towel or cloth to wipe them down. If you are looking to polish the Fastgun turnbuckles, specifically the polished stainless steel Fastguns, we recommend using a stainless steel chrome or aluminum wheel polish.

Another way to maintain the life of the product is to add a level of security. The Torklift Fastgun locks are a great addition to your camper tie down system and allow for added security while you are on your camping trip.

Have further Questions?

If you have further questions on truck camper tie downs and turnbuckles maintenance, our team is ready to take your call or answer your email. We are open Monday – Friday 8:30 am PST to 5 pm PST, excluding holidays. You can contact our team by calling 800-246-8132 or emailing support@torklift.com.

Looking for Torklift camper tie downs for sale? Find a dealer in your area or online!