L track on outside of camper

[strotman]

Has anyone installed L track on the outside of the camper to carry things like shovel/axe recovery boards etc. Looking to add some to my camper but looking or advice and pictures before I do.

 

[ETAV8R]

Interesting idea. I've not seen it used thus far so you may have to be a guinea pig.

 

[Josh41]

I am considering something similar. Some of the flat beds have two parallel tracks off the back, I think they are are heavy steal.
I have a shell and may experiment with running two 80/20 aluminum T-tracks along the driver side between the jack brackets.

 

[rando]

I have 80/20 across the jack brackets on the back of my flatbed and use it to carry recovery boards and mount my cell booster antenna. It works well. My experience with L-track is using it for tie downs - how would you secure something besides tie downs to it?

 

[nikonron]

The 80/20 makes more sense, more versatile. Not sure that I'd want much of anything on the sides of the camper though. Ron

 

[Vic Harder]

This guy posted here a while back with L-tracks on the side of his camper

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/15805-hi-lift-jack-axe-shovel-rotopax-gas-pack-mount-on-10-co-wpics/

 

[CougarCouple]

It is an idea, but that stuff is heavy. But that looks like an Alaskan. And with the way the camper opens he is limited to the sides.

Russ

 

[rando]

This guy posted here a while back with L-tracks on the side of his camper

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/15805-hi-lift-jack-axe-shovel-rotopax-gas-pack-mount-on-10-co-wpics/

I think that is actually uni strut, which is more like a steel version of 80/20 than L-track. It is also super heavy.

 

[Vic Harder]

oh, ok... Thanks for the correction Rando. Still, same concept being discussed here, no?

 

[ntsqd]

For L-track there are fittings made with threads. A member here showed them to me, he used to use them to secure his bed shell in place. Examples:
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/L-Track-Stud-Fittings-Accessories/Double-Stud-Fitting-w-Bolt-Thread
&:
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/L-Track-Stud-Fittings-Accessories/L-Track-Double-Lug-Threaded-Stud-Fitting


Since you're likely to only need one of the slots in an 80/20 extrusion I'd use this: https://8020.net/shop/1050.html
or this: https://8020.net/shop/1050-black-fb.html (but note the substantial price difference!). With the right OD counter-sink could drill and c-sink where you need to and have screws flush to the bottom of the slot w/o compromising the rail.

There is also a two parallel slot extrusion made: https://8020.net/shop/2012.html & https://8020.net/shop/2012-black-fb.html

I see L-track as being more adaptable to short term needs and 80/20 more useful for longer term installs. Primarily because it is quicker & easier to place an anchor in the middle of L-track than it is in 80/20. Can be done w/o too much pain with 80/20, but L-track is faster & easier still.

 

[Josh41]

If you go with the t-slot like the 80/20, you could use rectangular head bolts for quick installs, they come in lots of lengths too. I have L- track on the inside and use it for rings, to tie things down, there are really limited fittings for L-track. The bolt on version is only 1 size and one length, so for instance, you could not mount a long bolt and send it through your shovel shaft, and it is too thick for most quick fists.
Depending on what type of 80/20 you get, you can get the ends tapped so you could bolt them to the jack stands.
My $0.02