I made these a long time ago when I had my camper. I finaly got around to taking some digital pics with the cell phone, now that I have an easy way to take pics and put them on the computer.
The anchors, if I remember all the dimensions correctly after such a long time, are 1/4" tabs welded to short sections of 1.5" x 1/4" wall square tube, maybe 6" long. These end pieces are removeable from the truck and insert into and cross-bolt to a 2x2x1/4" 'hitch' tube that I welded accross the inside of the bumper.
The 2x2 tube welds to the bumper center frame section, which is mostly 3/16" plate, if I remember right, and also is welded to the 1/4" side plates that mount the bumper to the frame. I welded in extra gusseting between the tube, the bumper and the side plates with 1/4 or 3/16" plate, forget which. I also welded the ends of the tube to the inside ends of the bumper, which is why in the pics the chrome is flaked off the bumper next to the end of the tube and painted black.
Underneath the tube, I welded mounting plates for the mud flaps. This tube going accross the back of the truck accomplished strengthening up the bumper as well as providing a rear frame-mounted anchor point for the camper turnbuckles and chains. It is a very sturdy assembly. Cost was.. not much, maybe $40 in steel, at prices from a few years ago.
I lucked out on my hitch and it had a straight though square tube as part of the construction. I got a tube the right size and slid it all the way through sticking out a little on each side. I put a bolt through the tube to keep it from sliding in to far and then a removable pin on the other side to keep it from sliding out. Works good for the back and I have TorkLifts on the front.
Thank you. Your system sounds like it should work good. Yeah, I don't know why more hitches aren't made with the main tube piercing the side plates and open on the ends, that would be a very convenient place to attatch all sorts of cool home-brew devices to.
The tiedown apparatus works great. I used it with my last camper for 3 or 4 years I guess, never a problem. Don't have the camper anymore but will get another some time in the future I imagine (if gas prices ever go back down to sane levels). I do miss camping in it.
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