What's under your camper?

[Amyinaz]

I'm a newbie to truck camping and this site so first, thanks to everyone for the info, experiences, and inspiration shared here! We just got a used hawk shell and are working out the install for it.

My question -- what, if anything, is under your camper? In other threads I've seen references to plywood, bed mats, and closed cell insulation. Our camper is a good fit so we don't need to raise it. But I'm curious if you're placing something under the camper to improve performance (reduce movement, add cushioning, etc)?

 

[MarkBC]

I don't put anything between the bottom of my camper and the bed of my truck, and If was was to guess I'd guess that is what most people do -- nothing under the camper.

There might be some advantage to doing so for certain situations, but I haven't.

 

[camelracer]

I have a bed mat under mine because I had one in the truck when I bought the camper and figured I might as well use it. It keeps the camper from moving which helps on the road but makes centering the camper a 2 person job.

 

[longhorn1]

If you go to the FWC website, click on the top tool bar that says "Shopping Tools" and then click on truck preparation. I believe this was set-up for customers that are purchasing new campers so that they are prepared when they go to pick-up their camper and have the install done. My Grandby will be delivered to Wisconsin this Sunday. We had a plastic bed liner in our bed and FWC required that be removed. I had Ziebart spray in a bed liner and then I purchased from Dee Zee a bed mat for our 8' bed. You want to minimize any movement of the camper in the bed. Best of Luck.

 

[Cayuse]

Pressure treated 2x4's under mine but that is because I need to raise it a bit for the sides of the bed. Have thought about building a 6-8" deep 'basement' to keep skis in but not sure I want the extra cabover height.

 

[Amyinaz]

Pressure treated 2x4's under mine but that is because I need to raise it a bit for the sides of the bed. Have thought about building a 6-8" deep 'basement' to keep skis in but not sure I want the extra cabover height.

We've discussed ski storage (and possibly chairs and fly rods) under the trailer too. Don't know if raising the center of gravity will make much difference on rough roads. For now, I think we're going with a Yakima box on the roof for skis.

 

[captainphx]

I have a truck under my camper!

 

[craig333]

Nothing under mine and I've never noticed the camper move.

 

[Riverrunner]

I've got my bed rhino lined and I use a rubber bed mat. The mat is 1/2 or 5/8" thick. Had it when I had a hardside and didn't see where it would hurt for the FWC. I've also got 2x4's that run across the bottom since my camper was for a Chevy. I kinda like that there is a gap so air can get around and under it.

 

[Kispiox]

I am curious if anyone else has run into this one? I have horse mats under mine to level it with the truck,.. I'll explain. First know I have a Hawk on an 2011 F-250, 6 3/4 bed. When I picked up my camper looking at it in side elevation it was higher in the front than in the back. The camper was square but the truck wasn't. In other words the truck bed was 3/4 inches deeper in the front than the back. The FWC folks all scratched their heads and said it didn't matter but I didn't like the way it looked.

Brenda came up with the solution. I went down the street to a feed and grain store and bought two horse mats, the kind you put on the floor of a horse trailer. One was 3/4" thick and the other 3/8, may have been 1/2? I cut a 12" strip of the 3/4 and a 24" strip of the 3/8 and placed the thicker shim across the back and centered the other. This leveled the camper so it was parallel with the bed rails when viewed from the side. I jacked it up at the feed store, cut the mats and positioned them right there.

Any one else need to do anything similar? I have done two trips Skeena River in BC, Death Valley and fished WA and OR with no problems off road on gravel bars etc.

 

[photohc]

Originally had a truck bed mat made of rubber. Probably weighting in at 40#. Replaced with insulation sheathing, about 1/2" and weights next to nothing. Cheap. Find it here: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-R3-Squared-Edge-Insulating-Sheathing-1-2-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-36L/100320356

 

[billharr]

Another with just my truck under my camper.

 

[Espresso]

Rubber mat. I prefer the camper rub off a little rubber than rub off a little paint.

 

[Alley-Kat]

Slightly sticky rubber mat, 1/8" thick, probably a floor runner, from Orchard Supply Hardware. Doesn't even have to go all the way between the wheel wells. In the early days of ownership, when I didn't get the turnbuckles tight enough to "stay tight", I had all 4 of them be slightly loose (3/8" or so, but, not come out of the rings), and the camper never moved, driving on both dirt and pavement.

 

[Bwht4x4]

I put a perfectly cut piece of 3.4" plywood under mine. I use mine on hunting trips and all the jostling I was afraid would prematurely wear the bottom of the camper. With the plywood under the camper, the bottom of the camper looks new. I also use the plywood on top of three saw horses that my camper then sits on. This allows me to get into the camper when it's off the truck.

 

[Oryguntroutbum]

I have a thin rubber mat, probably 5 mm or so. I think it helps keep the camper from sliding around on the bed.

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

FWC recommends a bed mat. I did NOT have a mat under the 99 Tacoma and the camper floor squeeked. We jacked up the camper added the mat and the squeek stopped. The camper has "joists" running the same direction as the ridges on the bed. Don't believe the floor is totally supported and squeeks if the joist is partially sitting on ridge.

 

[ntsqd]

3/8"-1/2" thick rubber bed mat. Our camper was moving around in the bed enough to cause me concern and cut short our trip down Hole in the Rock road. After the install we happened on some washboard in the same class as Hole in the Rock at the south of end of the Carrizo Plain. The camper was stable and fairly stationary on that road so I think that some sort of bed mat is a good plan.

 

[Amyinaz]

Thanks for all the feedback! Especially the tip to put a truck under our camper.

 

[MarkBC]

Thanks for all the feedback! Especially the tip to put a truck under our camper.

Remember, it's tight turnbuckles that keep the camper from shifting in the bed of the truck -- even without a rubber mat.