Questions concerning adding a slide-in camper to my truck

[AH64ID]

Really? Well there's the answer. Buy a Ford.

lol, no…

You think that means the last 23 years of Ram HD trucks weren’t camper capable?

 

[MEGA HO]

... Unfortunately, Torklift doesn't make rear tiedowns for RAM trucks with a rear step unless you want to remove the step. So I'll probably wind up making some custom tiedowns for the rear.
...

I have a rear flip down step and I installed Torklift front and rear. Flip step doesn't flip up all the way, maybe like 99% or so, which is good enough for it to stay up. I've wrapped around and zip tied some thick rubber to make a bump stop so the step doesn't hit the frame mount with a BANG! Works like a charm

 

[SpeyRam]

I have a rear flip down step and I installed Forklift front and rear. Flip step doesn't flip up all the way, maybe like 99% or so, which is good enough for it to stay up. I've wrapped around and zip tied some thick rubber to make a bump stop so the step doesn't hit the frame mount with a BANG! Works like a charm

You Macgyver you!

 

[RKCRLR]

I had the same dilemma with my 24 3500 SRW that came with the rear step and installing tie-downs for my Lance slide-in camper. I ended up running Torklift frame-mounted tie-downs in the front closet to the cab with Torklift FastGun turnbuckles and Hapijac bumper mounts in the rear also with FastGun turnbuckles. I've had this setup in the most gnarly of mountain primitive roads and it works securely. I've had some bad experiences with Happijac quality control for their front-mounted tie-downs that require you to drill through the bed to the frame so I switched to TorkLift. But this combo Torklift/Happijac hybrid setup works well.

I contacted Happijac about the rear tie-downs and they actually recommended going with Torklift.

I agree about the Happijac quality control. I initially contacted them to find out if they would sell the RAM anchor plates and L brackets separately (I was going to modify the other components from my K3500 installation). The warranty manager offered to put a kit together that would be to replace all the components that couldn't be reused and the price was reasonable. The first shipment (actually a split shipment) was missing some parts. I then discovered that the anchor plates were tapped with the wrong threads and now I'm waiting for my 4th shipment. But their customer support is great and they didn't charge me for anything after the first split shipment.

One of the problems with the front Torklift tie-downs for my application is the turnbuckles would interfere with the dually fenders. They make an adapter bar to move the camper tie-down locations but I didn't want to go through this.

 

[RKCRLR]

I have a rear flip down step and I installed Torklift front and rear. Flip step doesn't flip up all the way, maybe like 99% or so, which is good enough for it to stay up. I've wrapped around and zip tied some thick rubber to make a bump stop so the step doesn't hit the frame mount with a BANG! Works like a charm

Could you post a picture? I'd like to make sure the configuration is the same for my truck. Torklift told me they use the location the step is mounted to attach the tie-downs. Torklift tie-downs aren't cheap but it might be worth saving me the hassle of making my own.

 

[MEGA HO]

Could you post a picture? I'd like to make sure the configuration is the same for my truck. Torklift told me they use the location the step is mounted to attach the tie-downs. Torklift tie-downs aren't cheap but it might be worth saving me the hassle of making my own.

I'm at work for another week, if I don't get back to you by Thursday - Friday next week, PM me with a reminder.
Worth noting that my flip step is from AMP (I've somehow missed it when factory ordering my truck) but as far as I know it's nearly identical to the RAM step and uses the same mounting points.
When ordering Torklift frame mounts, my thinking was, if they interfere with one another, I'll modify the step mounts or take it off. Camper mounts are much more important and I wasn't going to settle for anything other than Torklift.
When I take pictures you should be able to compare to what is there under your truck.

 

[SpeyRam]

I contacted Happijac about the rear tie-downs and they actually recommended going with Torklift.

I agree about the Happijac quality control. I initially contacted them to find out if they would sell the RAM anchor plates and L brackets separately (I was going to modify the other components from my K3500 installation). The warranty manager offered to put a kit together that would be to replace all the components that couldn't be reused and the price was reasonable. The first shipment (actually a split shipment) was missing some parts. I then discovered that the anchor plates were tapped with the wrong threads and now I'm waiting for my 4th shipment. But their customer support is great and they didn't charge me for anything after the first split shipment.

One of the problems with the front Torklift tie-downs for my application is the turnbuckles would interfere with the dually fenders. They make an adapter bar to move the camper tie-down locations but I didn't want to go through

I contacted Happijac about the rear tie-downs and they actually recommended going with Torklift.

I agree about the Happijac quality control. I initially contacted them to find out if they would sell the RAM anchor plates and L brackets separately (I was going to modify the other components from my K3500 installation). The warranty manager offered to put a kit together that would be to replace all the components that couldn't be reused and the price was reasonable. The first shipment (actually a split shipment) was missing some parts. I then discovered that the anchor plates were tapped with the wrong threads and now I'm waiting for my 4th shipment. But their customer support is great and they didn't charge me for anything after the first split shipment.

One of the problems with the front Torklift tie-downs for my application is the turnbuckles would interfere with the dually fenders. They make an adapter bar to move the camper tie-down locations but I didn't want to go through this.

Yup I felt your pain! Those damn L brackets. Every pair customer service sent me was so out of alignment they looked like they were machined by 4th graders.

 

[RKCRLR]

I had the same dilemma with my 24 3500 SRW that came with the rear step and installing tie-downs for my Lance slide-in camper. I ended up running Torklift frame-mounted tie-downs in the front closet to the cab with Torklift FastGun turnbuckles and Hapijac bumper mounts in the rear also with FastGun turnbuckles. I've had this setup in the most gnarly of mountain primitive roads and it works securely. I've had some bad experiences with Happijac quality control for their front-mounted tie-downs that require you to drill through the bed to the frame so I switched to TorkLift. But this combo Torklift/Happijac hybrid setup works well.

That is a good data point in case I change my mind and go with the Happijac rear tie-down. My K3500 never had a problem but its bumper was about 0.09" thick. My Ram's bumper is about 0.06" thick and I can make it flex by pushing on it. The Happijac rear tie-downs would be a lot easier/cheaper. Also, my Bigfoot 10.6 is probably heavier than your SB Lance and my truck is a long bed so that might make a difference also.