How Tight Should Camper Turnbuckles Be? 8 Steps to Making Sure Your Camper Stays Put (and You Don’t Lose Your Mind)

So, you've packed your camper, double-checked your route, and even remembered the marshmallows. But have you thought about your turnbuckles? Because if those aren’t set correctly, your camper might decide to start its own adventure... without you. After you've selected turnbuckles for your truck camper, it's crucial that the turnbuckles are installed and adjusted properly. Because, let's face it, nobody wants their camper to make a dramatic exit off the truck bed. A very important aspect of installing turnbuckles on a camper is applying the correct amount of tension. Proper tension on a turnbuckle is designed to correctly connect the truck camper tie downs to the truck camper anchor points and protect your camper and anchor points from damage.

How do you know how to find the proper tension on a truck bed camper turnbuckle?

Wondering how to find the perfect tension for your truck camper turnbuckle? Camper manufacturers recommend a precise 300 pounds of tension for securing your camper. Thankfully, you don’t need to become a human calculator. Just use our patented spring tension indicator with FastGun, SpringLoad XL, or AnchorGuard Derringer turnbuckles, and you’ll have the right tension without breaking a sweat.

 Black FastGun turnbuckle (S9529)

If there’s not enough tension, you might just experience the thrill of losing your camper—or watching it do a little dance within the truck bed. And if there's too much tension? Well, you might as well start shopping for new anchor points. Torklift turnbuckles are spring-loaded to avoid any potential damage to tie downs or camper anchor points.

 Example of damage to camper anchor point

Avoid damage to your camper and truck by using spring-loaded turnbuckles with the proper amount of tension applied. Torklift’s patented spring tension indicator is a round O-ring used as a gauge to set your spring tension.

Spring Tension Indicator on FastGun Turnbuckle

Follow these 8 easy steps to determine the correct turnbuckle tension with a Torklift International FastGun turnbuckle:

1. Hang the FastGun truck camper turnbuckle upper hook from the camper anchor point.
2. Adjust the threaded hook bolt so the bottom of it is approximately 1/2 inch above the tie down insert (The handle on the FastGun turnbuckle should be in closed position).
3. Open the handle on the FastGun turnbuckle.
4. Hook the bottom hook bolt into the tie down anchor point.
5. Pull the lever handle down until you begin to feel spring tension. Hint: The hole for the snapper pin should be nearly blocked halfway.

6. Adjust the round O-ring up against the bottom of the FastGun turnbuckle.
7. Snap down the FastGun handle.

8. Snapping the handle down should result in the round O-ring being spaced approximately 1/4 inch below the body of the FastGun turnbuckle.

Spring tension indicator on FastGun turnbuckle

The ¼ inch space visible between the O-ring and the body of the turnbuckle indicates the internal spring within the turnbuckle is activated and compressed. You have now achieved the proper 300 pounds of tension.

Now that you’ve successfully secured the camper turnbuckles, avoid stolen turnbuckles by securing them with the FastGun turnbuckle locks. With a keyed-alike snap lock design, they come in a set of four and have weather caps to protect from debris. Because nothing says 'bad day' like discovering your perfectly tensioned turnbuckles are missing.

By following these 8 simple steps, your camper is now securely fastened and won’t be making any unscheduled exits from the truck bed. Enjoy your journey and remember, the only thing more fun than a secure camper is a secure camper with a lock on it. Because, let’s face it, the only thing worse than losing your camper is the look on your face when you realize it’s gone.

To learn more about how to install truck camper turnbuckles, watch a full demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZNyocP_e6w&t=52s