Bumper for front of truck bed?

[180pilot]

My 99 Grandby now on it's second Chev. 1/2 ton is moving enough forward with turnbuckles tight to break spot welds on front panel of truck bed. Seems new truck sheet metal is crap. Anyway, I called FWC and they have what they call "bumpers" for $ 40, I know you guys must be using something else to put down in bed in front of camper? I suppose most anything waterproof and elastic without compressing to much would work. I'm thinking it has to be about 1.5 to 2 inches thick? Maybe like these dock bumpers at Overtons $15 a piece:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Dock-Edge-ProTect-Straight-Bumper&i=74432

 

[billharr]

The dock bumpers should work, may be a little softer than the FWC bumpers.
See pic below, the black bumpers on the front my camper on each side.

I don't think they will keep the camper from moving much, just keep the camper from hitting the front of the bed.

 

[180pilot]

Kind of look like dock bumpers from Graingers:

http://www.grainger.com/product/22NT80?cm_sp=HIOHIDPRR_VTV_P&cm_vc=IDPRRZ11&zoneId=IDPRRZ11

How thick are they?

 

[billharr]

Camper on the truck now can not measure now. I would say 1 1/2" to 2".

 

[180pilot]

thanks, ordered two from Grainger $11

 

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

I just tossed a 2x4 on edge between the camper and the front wall of the bed.

 

[180pilot]

With good piece of sealed and painted wood should work OK, I have a fiberglass 2x4 that could be used, but thought on washboard rd. I might hear it bouncing...?? Now have to get truck over to welder and get spot welds re-done.

I also can where I bolts through bed sheet metal are starting to lift the metal!!! And, I used large fender washers, may need some welding there too....

 

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

With good piece of sealed and painted wood should work OK, I have a fiberglass 2x4 that could be used, but thought on washboard rd. I might hear it bouncing...?? Now have to get truck over to welder and get spot welds re-done.

I also can where I bolts through bed sheet metal are starting to lift the metal!!! And, I used large fender washers, may need some welding there too....

With all the other noise on washboard, I don't think that 2x4 is much of an issue. On my rig it's pretty much pinched in place, anyway.

 

[DanoT]

I seems to me that if the bumpers are mounted up high near the top of the front panel of the pu box, then this creates a lever with the fulcrom being where the bottom of the front box panel meets the pu box floor. If the 2x4 on edge is mounted on the front of the floor of the pu box then there is no lever and the force puching against the pu box will be greatly reduced.

 

[180pilot]

Yes, this must happen mostly when tie down turn buckles vibrate loose, particularly the rear ones.
Factory bumpers are mounted at bottom of camper. For now, I'm just going to release tie downs back off camper and put the rubber bumpers I just got from Graingers in bottom of bed then slide camper back up against them. May screw them to Camper frame in future like factory installation.