Recently added 08 F250 Crew cab to the mix and will be setting it up to haul 915 Lance. On 01 F250 I went Happijac tiedowns...have not been an issue. I like the idea of "no drill" Torklift tiedowns. Anyone have any comments pro or con on Torklift system?

I have never had any problems with the HJ system in the 10 years I have been hauling a Lance. The only thing I added was the quick load fasteners when they came out as it makes loading and unloading faster. I am sure the torklift system is good, but is it worth all that extra cash? A tiedown system is just there to help stabilize the camper in the bed, none of them will keep the camper in the bed in the worst case, such as an accident or rollover. Save your money. Be sure and follow the tie down instructions, 3/8" preload on the front and the rear should only be snug. If you over tighten the tiedowns you can damage your truck and or your camper. JMTCW

I have used both the Happijac and Torklift tiedown systems. I used the original design Happijac tiedown on our first Lance in 1986. I thought the design was a bit inadequate. At that time there was no crossbar to stabilize the front tiedowns and the rear tiedown on the bumper was on a Ford truck. At the time, HJ didn't offer a stiffener for the rear bumper and my Ford bumper flexed quite a bit.

When we bought our '00 Dodge 3500 dually, I decided to try the Torklift tiedown system. (We owned a '94 Lance 990 at the time.) We hauled the camper for many miles with the Torklift tiedowns without a problem. During that time, we traded for a '01 Lance 1140 camper and continued to use the Torklift tiedowns. The only irritant with the Torklift tiedowns was having to do something with the Torklift hardware after taking the camper off the truck.

In 2003, we traded for a new '03 Lance 1121 and a new '03 Dodge 3500 dually. The Torklift tiedowns wouldn't fit the new truck because the truck frame was different. Also, with the new body style Dodge trucks, the front Torklift tiedown on the driver side interferred with the fuel fill door on the truck and would require the tiedown to be released to access the fuel fill door.

Between 1986 and 2003, Happijac had redesigned their tiedown system to connect the front tiedowns to the truck's frame, included the cross bar to stabilize the front tiedowns, and didn't interfere with the fuel fill door. I decided go back to Happijac tie downs. I installed them myself in about 3-4 hours. It was an easy install... read the excellent instructions/photos carefully, measure twice, and drill once.

I have been completely satisfied with them with over 30K miles of hauling our Lance. Also when I remove the camper from the truck there isn't a bunch of hardware to stow away as required with Torklift.

Bill

I have the TL and love them. They stay on the truck all time even when the TC is off. What turned me off about the HJ's was having to drill 16 holes in the truck.

I have a Cheby and not a Ford. I understand that on some Fords you have to drill the bumper and that is a weak point and the bumper bends.

F250 and Lance 845 with Tork Lifts and I like them. Everything is attached to the frame no drilling. It may take a couple of minutes to cinch them down but that hasnt been an issue. Would I do it again? Yes.

Interesting posts. I guess I have a modified HJ system. The front including cross bar is, I think, the standard configuration. For the rear my Ford factory hitch allows for an extension out of each end of the main cross tube to be fabricated for tie down points. I attach my rear ties to these extensions instead of the bumper and leave the extensions in as points to tie ropes and such when the truck is not carrying the camper. They are out of the way and turn out to be very handy to have even if not ever used for the camper.

Dennis

I Have had tork lift on both of my trucks, and i love them. When the camper is off the truck, there are no bars sticking out.

I have torklift tie downs. There are two cons with the system. 1st I have to remove the tie down to lower/lift the camper jack on the camper because the front mount tie down bracket is in the way of the camper jack round foot.

2nd I don't like bending over underneath the truck to insert the camper tie down tubes and pins.

3rd once in stalled they make some squeeling noise on my model of truck when the camper is not loaded on the truck (Dodge 2004 2WD 3500 SRWD).

Other than that, I like the torklifts.

Thanks, Guys...leaning towards the HJ's, but about a month out from setting this truck up...so could change. I appreciate all the responses.

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I just wanted to chime in with the pro-Tork Lift group. I haven't used anything else, but I am very happy with mine. The front ones bolt right onto the frame and the rear ones slide into my existing Titan V hitch tubes. When I tighten them down the camper feels like it is an integrated part of the truck. I had read a few horror stories about happijac around the web before deciding to go with Torklift. Some said their bed was damaged and/or their bumper ended up looking like a banana. Now, I have personally had none of the negative issues with Torklifts mentioned here with my particular truck/camper set up. Taking them off is painless and does not require going under my truck and I have had no interference with the Fuel fill door or camper jacks, but maybe I'm just lucky.

Don't wanna start a war, just my two cents. ;o)

I have had both the hj, and the tl. I currently have an 05 Lance 1181, on a 200 F-350 dually. The hj I had used the drill method for the front plates, and the bumper "buttons" for the back. This was ok, on my Elkhorn. But, when I got the lance, I was not comfortable. I noticed some slight flexing on the bumper, well, ok, a lot! And some slight flexing on the bed, even though I had the crossbar. I ordered, and installed the no drill tl. They are great. solidly attached to the frame, using existing bolt holes. Much beefier mount, for the camper to attach to. And I had them installed in about an hour. Overall, I would definitelty, positively recommend the tl over the hj. I think both are a great product, but with my weight of camper, I prefer the tl. Just my opinion.

I wanted to clarify my experience with Torque Lift ties downs. My partical make and model of Truck (2004 Dodge RAM 3500 Single Rear Wheal Drive) required drilling holes and attaching part of the tie down tube to the existing bolt holes that hold down the bed of the truck which is what is squeeling.

Anyway, each make and model of truck has a different front mounting bracket so everyone's going to have a different experience.

I went with TL because I tow a hughe 3 horse trailer behind my camper and it is the only system I trust with a live load. However, there is always room for improvement.

I plan on call TL to see what I can do about the squeeling noise when my truck is unloaded. The squeeling noise only occurs when I don't have the camper on my truck which is most of the time.

I love my TL Tie downs as well. I have never had HJ's so I can't comment, my previous truck had dealer installed belly bars which eventually bent. The TL's are far superior.

If you have never used the HJ's, how would you know that the TL's are superior other that they cost a lot more? The HJ system is more than adequate for controlling the camper and for a lot less money.

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Myers:
If you have never used the HJ's, how would you know that the TL's are superior other that they cost a lot more? The HJ system is more than adequate for controlling the camper and for a lot less money.

I agree. Also 2003 and later model Lances are designed to work with the HJ frame mount tiedown system. The plastic rub rails on the front of the Lance matches with the blocks/guides on the HJ tiedown front cross bar... no black rubber blocks/spacers are needed.

Bill

I called TL and the company suggested that I put a washer in between the front tie down strap and the frame of the truck (where the bed connects to the truck frame).

Anyway that got rid of the squeeling. Apparently the front tie down was rubbing up against the frame in a spot.

Hence, I am truly a hapicamper now. I have no complaints now with my system. I guess good installation is the key to a good system.

I will tell you that my camper once tied down with the fastguns and TL system feels like it is part of the truck.

My friend uses HJ for their system. I can tell you that that system seems to work well as well.

I went with TL because I have to haul a 3 horse trailer behind my camper. Hence, TL is the only company that has a very high towing capacity on their hitch extensions and I didn't want to mess around with pulling a live load behind my camper.

I will tell you that the TL hitch extension is everything TL says it is.

P.S. One thing I need to tell everyone is that MOST NOT ALL TL tiedown systems are NO Drill systems.

My Particular make, model, and year required drilling . 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Single Rear Wheel Drive requires drilling for the front tiedown system. I would definitely recommend professional installation since trying to get a drill motor, drill bit, etc. in a tight space is impossible without special equipment.

quote:

If you have never used the HJ's, how would you know that the TL's are superior other that they cost a lot more?

I was refering to the belly bars not the HJ sustem.