Depends on the weight of your camper and the design of the tie downs and the stake pocket. You may also consider the way the camper sets in the bed and the kind of off road use you travel. ( A rubber mat keeps the camper from moving around. You could also block it from moving.)I got caught up in the HD undercarriage type and built a system that bolts to the frame.That reduced my road clearance. I could have used the stake pocket design on my #1300 Pop-up Sunlite. There are substitute designs similar to the Brophy Mfg. I just sold a set that were much better and much heavier.
niftypkg wrote: ... There are substitute designs similar to the Brophy Mfg. I just sold a set that were much better and much heavier.
I really do not see where being heavier is better. The damage I have seen through the years is to the bed, not the bracket. The type that goes into the pocket, and clamps inside the bed are the best in my opinion. The ones I have go in the pocket, and have a pin on the bottom that goes through the hole in the bottom of the pocket. The pin does help distribute the stress.
I have never seen the pocket type tie-downs simply fail while someone is driving down the road. It is a pretty long process. The bracket simply flexes the pocket metal back and forth, bending, distorting and/or cracking the metal around the pocket. I have seen some really messed up pockets, bit it did not inter-fear with tying down the TC.
I have never seen any of the brackets themselves fail. I have seen the end of the tie down the connects to the TC, pull out of the TC. Actually, when only an eye bolt was used, it was pretty common as the TC became older, usually due to dry rot.
".........I have never seen the pocket type tie-downs simply fail while someone is driving down the road. It is a pretty long process. The bracket simply flexes the pocket metal back and forth, bending, distorting and/or cracking the metal around the pocket. I have seen some really messed up pockets, bit it did not inter-fear with tying down the TC......."
Point well taken Wayne. Off road or highway. Weight? Use? Condition of the pockets. Many factors to take into consideration. True they are a poor substitute for a correctly installed and maintained frame mount but for some they maybe the easiest and cheapest trade off.
Tom
Tom, overall we are in agreement. Having personally used no less than three different sets on four different TCs through the years, I can say they have their application. They are not the weak part, some truck beds are. Always highway, with relatively smooth roads and a light (preferably low) TC, they are fine.
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