Best For Light-Duty Use: CR Brophy Machine Works HSSF Brophy Black Finish Heavy Duty Tie Down

Let’s talk truck camper tie downs!

There are four basic types of tie downs for truck campers (yes, those campers perched on the top of pickup truck beds): custom-fit frame mounted, bumper mounted, frame mounted, and bed mounted. This article focuses on the last two types, as they are the most common.

The type of design you choose comes down to how you use your truck camper. Are we talking occasional short trips on paved roads? In that case, a light duty bed-mounted tie down should do the trick. 

For longer trips on rougher roads, a frame-mounted tie down is recommended. This provides a more secure fit for the camper, which is preferred for longer drives or bumpy roads. 

For the best light duty truck camper tie down, we like CR Brophy’s HSSF model. It does the trick for light campers and is very secure, said our readers who recommended this model.

What We Liked

• Easy to install.

• Best for lighter campers (under 2000 lbs.—perhaps best at under 1400 lbs).

• Best for highways or paved roads.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Not so good for dirt roads.

• Sticks out a bit from the truck frame.

Best for Occasional Use: ENIXWILL Truck Camper Tie Down with Black Finish fit for Ram

To research an article like this, we often speak to experts in the industry—in this case, two folks who have a combined 27 years of experience in the camping/RV biz. One thing we learned is that a lot of truck campers only do occasional trips . . . and only need a tie down like this one by ENIXWILL. It is affordable and does the job. 

What We Liked

• Heavy duty.

• No need to drill holes.

• Affordable.

• Great for weekend warriors,

What Needs Work

• Some readers say it can be challenging to install.

Best Frame-Mounted Tie Down: Torklift F20q1q Frame Mounted Front Tie Down

When we asked both the camping enthusiasts among our readers and experts from the field about frame-mounted tie downs, one brand came up time and time again: Torklift. Yes, they are pricey, but the quality is solid. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Designed for Ford trucks (check for compatibility for your model.) 

• Heavy duty.

• Easy to install.

• Great for longer trips or on rough roads.

• Well engineered.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Only two settings for how far the mount sticks out behind the truck frame.

Best for Dodge Ram Trucks: Torklift D2101 D3109 Pairs of Front and Rear Camper Tie Downs for Ram 2500 3500 HD

This tie down is similar to the last pick (the same brand) with a couple main differences: it is designed for Ram Trucks and is a pair of tie downs (one for the front and the other for the back).

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!