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Crumm

Fairbanks Alaska

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Joined: 03/01/2007

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Posted: 03/29/07 06:17am

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I spent the night setting up some camper guides and now I hope they work. Thought I would post up some pictures so you guys can pick them apart [emoticon]

Front ones are standard Happijac guides with some minor modifications so they would fit on my old style Happijac cross-bar. I had to cut the back of them open a little wider so they would fit over the bar and change the mounting system a little.

For the rear I built them out of 2"x3/16" flat bar, 1/2" square tube and some UHMW. The square tube is for support and so I can haul small items in behind them without the items falling out. I am hoping that a 1 gallon gas can will fit in there for generator gas but we will see.

I will be putting two strips of UHMW on the front of the camper for the Happijac guides to slide on and some 1.5"x1.5" rolled angle on the rear underside corners for protection where they will slide down the rear guides.

I didn't know about a few things such as how much space should be between the guides but I made them so there will be about 3/8" gap. That gives about 3/16" on each side which should be sufficient, if I decide to tighten it up I can get some thicker UHMW.

[image]

2015 F350 SuperDuty, SC, LB Torklift hitch and tie-downs, LT285/75R18 Toyo AT II 4080@80psi
96' F350 PSD with smoke added, Airbags, Trailmaster SSV shocks, 315/75R16 Toyo M/T, Centering guides.
06' Adventurer 90FWS

jnesta

SE PA

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Posted: 03/29/07 07:46am

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I don't know much about these TC setups, but I'm impressed! And envious that #1 - you know how to fabricate like that and #2 - you live in Alaska! I'll make it there some day, and not by plane either - that's cheating!

Sorry this is a little off-topic...

'02 Suburban 2500 4x4 8.1 3.73 (Sold!)
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joe_jeep

hazel park, mi

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Posted: 03/29/07 04:20pm

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very nice! you should sell those to members on here cheap! ever heard of ebay?

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capterik

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Posted: 03/29/07 04:27pm

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Nice work, it gives me some ideas of doing simalar in front and rear to the existing tiedown mounts, using thier bolts and holes, and leaving them in there permanently.

2003 Kodiak 5500
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v6toy4x

Union City CA

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Posted: 03/29/07 10:09pm

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Very Nice!!!

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1985 toyota 4-runner geared down and locked up
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hcpgrammy

Jackson, California

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Posted: 03/31/07 10:11am

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Did you drill and tap holes to mount to the truck bed or are there existing? Did you used some kind of sealant to help locate it? Are they going to be taking much bump when loading? Let us know how they work. With two welders in the garage and being in sheetmetal by hubby could do this. He was thinking of shaved off wood blocks front and rear for guides.

Happy trails...

BradW

Mayor of Flat Rock

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Posted: 03/31/07 12:54pm

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Good info. Added to the TCU Thread.

Thanks,
Brad

Wake Up America
1996 Lance 500 and 2006 F-350 PSD 4X4 DRW
Our Truck Camper Photos

Zig

Indiana

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Posted: 03/31/07 01:44pm

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I really like the rear spacers. If you could make them adjustable so they would fit different sized gaps for different size campers, you could sell them. [emoticon]

Better to Zig then Zag!
Go To "MY PICTURES"
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Crumm

Fairbanks Alaska

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Posted: 03/31/07 01:59pm

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hcpgrammy wrote:

Did you drill and tap holes to mount to the truck bed or are there existing?

I drilled them and put flat washers/locknuts on the backside. The upper nut is in behind the tailight and the lower nuts are under the bed.

hcpgrammy wrote:

Did you used some kind of sealant to help locate it?

Sealant? There is rubber between the guide and truck bed.

hcpgrammy wrote:

Let us know how they work.

I am going out right now to install my Energy Suspension overload spring perch spacers and then I will load up the camper and see how they work. I will report back in day or two.

BradW wrote:

Good info. Added to the TCU Thread.

Thanks,
Brad

Now I feel important [emoticon]

Zig wrote:

If you could make them adjustable so they would fit different sized gaps for different size campers, you could sell them. [emoticon]

I am not really in the manufacturing business. I am just more of a tinkerer. I think I spent about 4 hours building these not counting paint drying time. I would guess that if I was to sell them they would sell for what $50 to $100? That would put my labor down there pretty cheap. To build something like this too sell a guy would have to have a jig and be able to make them pretty fast in order to be profitable.

Crumm

Fairbanks Alaska

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Posted: 03/31/07 04:58pm

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Loaded up the camper and the guides worked great. I backed in pretty good so they did not have much work to do but I am sure I could be a couple of inches off either way and they would center it right up.

Here are the action shots:

I added front bumper UHMW pads to the front:
[image]